Effects of gypsum, irrigation and tillage on a sodic Yellow Kandosol at Carnarvon, Western Australia
F. P. Valzano A , R. S. B. Greene
B * , B. W. Murphy B and W. J. Muller C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A 11a Ross Street, Gladesville, NSW 2111, Australia.
B Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
C CSIRO Land and Water, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
Soil Research 60(4) 412-422 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR19360
Submitted: 3 December 2019 Accepted: 9 November 2021 Published: 16 December 2021
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Context: Kandosol soils are widely distributed in Australia and are frequently used for irrigated cropping. However, under intensive irrigated cropping they can degrade due to poor structural stability where surface soil aggregates break down as a result of slaking and dispersion; the slaking is associated with low soil organic carbon levels (<1.0 g/100 g) on these frequently cultivated soils, and the dispersion is related to the moderate level of exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) combined with low electrical conductivity (EC) levels in the soil solution.
Aims: To investigate the effects of applied gypsum (0, 2 and 10 t/ha), irrigation with water of low EC (0.5 dS/m) and low sodium adsorption ratio (≤2), and two tillage practices, i.e. conventional tillage (CT) and reduced tillage (RT), on the structure of a marginally sodic (ESP 6) Yellow Kandosol soil.
Methods: The experiment was conducted at Carnarvon, Western Australia.
Key results: After 2 years the soil EC (1:5) and ESP levels were significantly reduced on all plots at the three gypsum rates. The three gypsum rates also significantly affected exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and soluble Ca and Mg levels, as well as pH and dispersion values. Micromorphological examination indicated less dispersed clay with gypsum application.
Conclusions: The EC results indicated that the soil will require frequent re-application of gypsum to maintain electrolyte levels and prevent dispersion. With some of the variables, RT compared to CT demonstrated greater through-flow, which was attributed to the presence of more macropores in RT.
Implications: A change in management from semi-arid chenopod shrublands used for grazing to intensely cultivated horticulture will require careful consideration of factors causing soil structural instability.
Keywords: clay dispersion, conventional tillage, macropores, micromorphology, reduced tillage, sodicity, soil structure, through-flow.
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