Seeding next to previous year’s crop row (near-row sowing) can increase grain yields on water repellent soils
M. M. Roper
A * , P. R. Ward A , G. Betti B E , S. L. Davies B , N. Wilhelm C , R. Kerr A , S. F. Micin A and T. Blacker D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Private Bag No. 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.
B Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, PO Box 110, Geraldton, WA 6531, Australia.
C South Australian Research and Development Institute – Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia, Waite Research Precinct, Hartley Grove, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia.
D South Australian Research and Development Institute, 119 Verran Terrace, Port Lincoln, SA 5606, Australia.
E Present address: CSIRO Agriculture and Food, PMB No. 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
Soil Research 60(4) 360-372 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR21142
Submitted: 27 May 2021 Accepted: 8 November 2021 Published: 6 December 2021
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
Context: The combination of no-till and stubble retention has been shown to preserve old crop roots, which behave as pathways for water infiltration into water repellent soil, by-passing repellent surface soil layers.
Aim: To evaluate the benefits to soil properties and crop performance of seeding close to the previous season’s crop rows (near-row sowing) compared with inter-row sowing on water repellent soils.
Methods: At four field sites, near Moora, Pingrup and Calingiri in Western Australia and Wanilla in South Australia, measurements were made of: (1) crop performance of near- and inter-row sown crops (Moora and Wanilla); and (2) differences in soil properties between the crop row and inter-row at Wanilla, Calingiri and Pingrup.
Key results: Biomass accumulation (Moora) and grain yields (Moora and Wanilla) were significantly improved by near-row sowing compared with inter-row sowing, particularly under no-till and stubble retention, but these differences were reduced after cultivation, which either buried repellent surface soils or disrupted root pathways. At Calingiri and Pingrup, where near-row sowing had been practised for ≥4 years, and at Wanilla, soil water contents were higher in the crop row than the inter-row by up to 4% v/v, and this was associated with significantly reduced repellency (Calingiri and Pingrup) and larger communities of wax-degrading bacteria (Pingrup).
Conclusions: Near-row sowing may enhance crop production directly through improved water infiltration down root pathways, and indirectly by reduced soil water repellency in the row.
Implications: Near-row sowing is potentially a low-cost management for enhanced crop production on water repellent soils.
Keywords: crop establishment, crop row placement, non-wetting soils, on-row sowing, preferential water infiltration, siliceous sand, soil water repellency, soil water repellence, strategic tillage, wax-degrading bacteria.
References
Alexander M (1982) Most probable number method for microbial populations. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. Chemical and microbial properties’. 2nd edn. Agronomy Monograph No. 9. (Eds AL Page, RH Miller, DR Keeney) pp. 815–820. (ASA-SSSA: Madison, WI)Blackwell PS (2000) Management of water repellency in Australia, and risks associated with preferential flow, pesticide concentration and leaching. Journal of Hydrology 231–232, 384–395.
| Management of water repellency in Australia, and risks associated with preferential flow, pesticide concentration and leaching.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bond RD (1964) The influence of the microflora on the physical properties of soils. II. Field studies on water repellent sands. Soil Research 2, 123–131.
| The influence of the microflora on the physical properties of soils. II. Field studies on water repellent sands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Davies SL, Blackwell PS, Bakker DM, Scanlan CA, Gazey C, Hall DJ, Riethmuller GP, Abrecht DG, Newman PD, Harding A, Hayes DW, Smart SD (2013) Deep soil cultivation to create improved soil profiles for dryland crop production. In ‘Proceedings Society for Engineering in Agriculture (SEAg) conference – innovative agricultural solutions for a sustainable future, 22–25 September 2013’. (Eds T Banhazi, C Saunders) 11 pp. (Australian Society for Engineering in Agriculture, Engineers Australia: Mandurah, WA)
Davies SL, Armstrong R, Macdonald L, Condon J, Petersen E (2020) Soil constraints: a role for strategic deep tillage. In ‘Australian agriculture in 2020: from conservation to automation’. (Eds J Pratley, J Kirkegaard) pp. 117–135. (Agronomy Australia and Charles Sturt University: Wagga Wagga, Australia)
Dekker LW, Ritsema CJ (1994) How water moves in a water repellent sandy soil: 1. Potential and actual water repellency. Water Resources Research 30, 2507–2517.
| How water moves in a water repellent sandy soil: 1. Potential and actual water repellency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Desbiolles J, McBeath T, Barr J, Fraser M, Macdonald L, Wilhelm N, Llewellyn R (2019) Seeder-based approaches to mitigate the effects of sandy soil constraints. In ‘Proceedings of the 19th Australian agronomy conference – cells to satellites, 25–29 August 2019’. (Ed. J Pratley) 4 pp. (Agronomy Australia: Wagga Wagga, Australia). Available at www.agronomyaustralia.org/conference-proceedings
Doerr SH, Shakesby RA, Walsh RPD (2000) Soil water repellency: its causes, characteristics and hydro-geomorphological significance. Earth-Science Reviews 51, 33–65.
| Soil water repellency: its causes, characteristics and hydro-geomorphological significance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Franco CMM, Tate ME, Oades JM (1995) Studies on non-wetting sands. 1. The role of intrinsic particulate organic-matter in the development of water-repellency in non-wetting sands. Soil Research 33, 253–263.
| Studies on non-wetting sands. 1. The role of intrinsic particulate organic-matter in the development of water-repellency in non-wetting sands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Franco CMM, Clarke PJ, Tate ME, Oades JM (2000) Hydrophobic properties and chemical characterisation of natural water repellent materials in Australian sands. Journal of Hydrology 231–232, 47–58.
| Hydrophobic properties and chemical characterisation of natural water repellent materials in Australian sands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gavito ME, Miller MH (1998) Changes in mycorrhiza development in maize induced by crop management practices. Plant and Soil 198, 185–192.
| Changes in mycorrhiza development in maize induced by crop management practices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gupta VVSR, McBeath T, Kroker SK, Hicks M, Davoren CW, Greenfield P, Llewellyn R (2018) How far is too far: precision sowing drives microbiology trade-offs with soilborne diseases. In ‘Proceedings of the 10th Australasian soilborne diseases symposium – paddock to plates, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 4–8 September 2018’. (Eds VVSR Gupta, SR Barnett, S Kroker) pp. 88–89. (Australian Plant Pathology Society). Available at https://www.appsnet.org/publications/proceedings/ASDS%202018%20Proceedings.pdf
Hall DJM, Davies SL, Bell RW, Edwards TJ (2020) Soil management systems to overcome multiple constraints for dryland crops on deep sands in a water limited environment on the South Coast of Western Australia. Agronomy 10, 1881
| Soil management systems to overcome multiple constraints for dryland crops on deep sands in a water limited environment on the South Coast of Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harper RJ, Gilkes RJ, Hill MJ, Carter DJ (2010) Wind erosion and soil carbon dynamics in South-Western Australia. Aeolian Research 1, 129–141.
| Wind erosion and soil carbon dynamics in South-Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Isbell RF (2016) ‘The Australian soil classification’. Revised edn. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Jeffrey SJ, Carter JO, Moodie KB, Beswick AR (2001) Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data. Environmental Modelling & Software 16, 309–330.
| Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jones JN, Moody JE, Lillard JH (1969) Effects of tillage, no tillage, and mulch on soil water and plant growth. Agronomy Journal 61, 719–721.
| Effects of tillage, no tillage, and mulch on soil water and plant growth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kabir Z, O’Halloran IP, Fyles JW, Hamel C (1997) Seasonal changes of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as affected by tillage practices and fertilization: hyphal density and mycorrhizal root colonization. Plant and Soil 192, 285–293.
| Seasonal changes of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as affected by tillage practices and fertilization: hyphal density and mycorrhizal root colonization.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
King PM (1981) Comparison of methods for measuring severity of water repellence of sandy soils and assessment of some factors that affect its measurement. Soil Research 19, 275–285.
| Comparison of methods for measuring severity of water repellence of sandy soils and assessment of some factors that affect its measurement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lal R, Kimble JM (1997) Conservation tillage for carbon sequestration. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 49, 243–253.
| Conservation tillage for carbon sequestration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Libohova Z, Seybold C, Wysocki D, Wills S, Schoeneberger P, Williams C, Lindbo D, Stott D, Owens PR (2018) Reevaluating the effects of soil organic matter and other properties on available water-holding capacity using the National Cooperative Soil Survey Characterization Database. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 73, 411–421.
| Reevaluating the effects of soil organic matter and other properties on available water-holding capacity using the National Cooperative Soil Survey Characterization Database.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lowe M-A, McGrath G, Leopold M (2021) The impact of soil water repellency and slope upon runoff and erosion. Soil and Tillage Research 205, 104756
| The impact of soil water repellency and slope upon runoff and erosion.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McBeath T, Macdonald L, Llewellyn R, Gupta V, Desbiolles J, Moodie M, Trengrove S, Sheriff S (2019) Getting the edge on improving crop productivity on southern sandy soils. In ‘2019 grains research updates, 25–26 February 2019’. 5 pp. (Grains Research and Development Corporation: Perth, WA). Available at https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers
McCallum M (2007) Multiple benefits from inter-row sowing with 2 cm RTK GPS. In ‘Proceedings of the 5th Australian controlled traffic and precision agriculture conference, 16–18 July 2007’. pp. 118–121. (University of Western Australia: Perth, WA). Available at https://www.actfa.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CTF07-all-papers.pdf
McDonald GP, Davies SL, Bakker DM, Poulish G (2019) Agronomic options to overcome soil water repellence improve crop performance regardless of sowing conditions in a gravelly duplex soil. In ‘Proceedings of the 2019 agronomy Australia conference – cells to satellites, 25–29 August 2019’. (Ed. J Pratley) 4 pp. (Agronomy Australia: Wagga Wagga, Australia). Available at https://www.agronomyaustraliaproceedings.org/index.php/2019
Patrignani A, Ochsner TE (2015) Canopeo: a powerful new tool for measuring fractional green canopy cover. Agronomy Journal 107, 2312–2320.
| Canopeo: a powerful new tool for measuring fractional green canopy cover.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ritsema CJ, Dekker LW (1994) How water moves in a water repellent sandy soil: 2. Dynamics of fingered flow. Water Resources Research 30, 2519–2531.
| How water moves in a water repellent sandy soil: 2. Dynamics of fingered flow.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roper MM (2004) The isolation and characterisation of bacteria with the potential to degrade waxes that cause water repellency in sandy soils. Soil Research 42, 427–434.
| The isolation and characterisation of bacteria with the potential to degrade waxes that cause water repellency in sandy soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roper MM, Gupta VVSR (2005) Enumeration of wax-degrading microorganisms in water repellent soils using a miniaturised Most-Probable-Number method. Australian Journal of Soil Research 43, 171–177.
| Enumeration of wax-degrading microorganisms in water repellent soils using a miniaturised Most-Probable-Number method.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roper MM, Ward PR, Keulen AF, Hill JR (2013) Under no-tillage and stubble retention, soil water content and crop growth are poorly related to soil water repellency. Soil and Tillage Research 126, 143–150.
| Under no-tillage and stubble retention, soil water content and crop growth are poorly related to soil water repellency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roper MM, Davies SL, Blackwell PS, Hall DJM, Bakker DM, Jongepier R, Ward PR (2015) Management options for water-repellent soils in Australian dryland agriculture. Soil Research 53, 786–806.
| Management options for water-repellent soils in Australian dryland agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roper MM, Kerr R, Ward PR, Micin SF, Krishnamurthy P (2021) Changes in soil properties and crop performance on stubble-burned and cultivated water repellent soils can take many years following reversion to no-till and stubble retention. Geoderma 402, 115361
| Changes in soil properties and crop performance on stubble-burned and cultivated water repellent soils can take many years following reversion to no-till and stubble retention.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sanderman J, Baldock JA (2010) Accounting for soil carbon sequestration in national inventories: a soil scientist’s perspective. Environmental Research Letters 5, 034003
| Accounting for soil carbon sequestration in national inventories: a soil scientist’s perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scanlan CA, Davies SL (2019) Soil mixing and redistribution by strategic deep tillage in a sandy soil. Soil and Tillage Research 185, 139–145.
| Soil mixing and redistribution by strategic deep tillage in a sandy soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scott BJ, Eberbach PL, Evans J, Wade LJ (2010) ‘EH Graham Centre Monograph No. 1: stubble retention in cropping systems in Southern Australia: benefits and challenges’. (Industry & Investment NSW: Wagga Wagga, Australia). Available at www.csu.edu.au/research/grahamcentre/publications/monograph-series
Six J, Elliott ET, Paustian K (2000) Soil macroaggregate turnover and microaggregate formation: a mechanism for C sequestration under no-tillage agriculture. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 32, 2099–2103.
| Soil macroaggregate turnover and microaggregate formation: a mechanism for C sequestration under no-tillage agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smettem KRJ, Rye C, Henry DJ, Sochacki SJ, Harper RJ (2021) Soil water repellency and the five spheres of influence: a review of mechanisms, measurement and ecological implications. Science of the Total Environment 787, 147429
| Soil water repellency and the five spheres of influence: a review of mechanisms, measurement and ecological implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tate ME, Oades JM, Ma’shum M (1989) Non-wetting soils, natural and induced: overview and future developments. In ‘The theory and practice of soil management of sustainable agriculture: a workshop of the Wheat Research Council, Canberra’. pp. 70–77. (AGPS: Canberra, ACT)
Unkovich M, McBeath T, Llewellyn R, Hall J, Gupta VVSR, Macdonald LM (2020) Challenges and opportunities for grain farming on sandy soils of semi-arid south and South-Eastern Australia. Soil Research 58, 323–334.
| Challenges and opportunities for grain farming on sandy soils of semi-arid south and South-Eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van Gool D (2016) Identifying soil constraints that limit wheat yield in South-West. Western Australia. Resource Management Technical Report 399. Department of Agriculture and Food, Perth, WA. Available at https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1385&context=rmtr
Verrell AG, Simpfendorfer S, Moore KJ (2017) Effect of row placement, stubble management and ground engaging tool on crown rot and grain yield in a no-till continuous wheat sequence. Soil and Tillage Research 165, 16–22.
| Effect of row placement, stubble management and ground engaging tool on crown rot and grain yield in a no-till continuous wheat sequence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ward PR, Roper MM, Jongepier R, Alonso Fernandez MM (2013) Consistent plant residue removal causes decrease in minimum soil water content in a Mediterranean environment. Biologia 68, 1128–1131.
| Consistent plant residue removal causes decrease in minimum soil water content in a Mediterranean environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ward PR, Roper MM, Jongepier R, Micin SF (2015a) Impact of crop residue retention and tillage on water infiltration into a water-repellent soil. Biologia 70, 1480–1484.
| Impact of crop residue retention and tillage on water infiltration into a water-repellent soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ward P, Roper MM, Jongepier R, Micin S, Davies S (2015b) On-row seeding as a tool for management of water repellent sands. In ‘Proceedings of the 17th Australian agronomy conference – building productive, diverse and sustainable landscapes, Hobart, Tas., Australia, 20–24 September 2015’. 4 pp. (Australian Society of Agronomy Inc.: Warragul Vic., Australia). Available at http://www.agronomyaustraliaproceedings.org
Werner WJ, Sanderman J, Melillo JM (2020) Decreased soil organic matter in a long-term soil warming experiment lowers soil water holding capacity and affects soil thermal and hydrological buffering. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 125, e2019JG005158
| Decreased soil organic matter in a long-term soil warming experiment lowers soil water holding capacity and affects soil thermal and hydrological buffering.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Williams A, Hunter MC, Kammerer M, Kane DA, Jordan NR, Mortensen DA, Smith RG, Snapp S, Davis AS (2016) Soil water holding capacity mitigates downside risk and volatility in US rainfed maize: time to invest in soil organic matter? PLoS ONE 11, e0160974
| Soil water holding capacity mitigates downside risk and volatility in US rainfed maize: time to invest in soil organic matter?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27560666PubMed |
