three site results : match site and results
site ID
soil type
pH (CaCl2)
% Organic carbon (WB)
BLACK
Granite
derived
5.8
0.89
site ID
soil type
pH (CaCl2)
% Organic carbon (WB)
BLUE
Granite
derived
6.7
0.98
site ID
soil type
RED
Granite
derived
pH (CaCl2)
6.7
% Organic carbon (WB)
1. 2
% total Carbon
1.6
% total Carbon
1
% total Carbon
1.5
% total Nitrogen
0.09
% total Nitrogen
.09
% total Nitrogen
0.12
microbial activity (FDA)
(mg fluorescein/g dry soil /45min)
0.31
microbial activity (FDA)
0.25
microbial activity (FDA)
0.34
Biological carbon (MBC) mg/g
0.14
Biological carbon (MBC) mg/g
0.16
Biological carbon (MBC) mg/g
0.14
Look at the Calico strip
Look at the Calico strip
NSW Industry and Investment
2010
Look at the Calico strip
Test
What is measured ?
ORGANIC
CARBON
Measures the carbon from some but NOT all parts of
soil organic matter. It measures humus, small living
organisms (not worms beetles etc) and dissolved
organic matter
TOTAL
CARBON
Measures all the carbon in the soil both living and
dead plant and animal matter roots bugs etc plus
humus and charcoal
Above 2%
TOTAL
NITROGEN
Measures all nitrogen, the nitrogen in organic matter
and the inorganic forms such and ammonium and
nitrate that are available to the plant
?
FDA
The FDA test gives a measure of the total activity of
the fungi, bacterial and protozoans in the soil but not
the diversity of organisms present
Microbial
biomass
carbon, MBC
Measures the carbon in the microbes in the soil.
Sensitive to changes in soil conditions as a results of
management and/or climatic conditions
BULK
DENSITY
Industry
and
Investment
The amount of NSW
soil an
a given
volume
to indicate the
2010
compactedness. A high value indicates more compact
Ideal range
Above 2%
ABOVE 1
?
ratio to TOC of 1
– 5%
0.8 – 1.8 g/cm3
bare with' some highly
decomposed mulch
around the base of each
vine only. Well worked
soil.
Living groundcover not
disturbed for a few years
Mulch applied the day
before samples taken
NSW Industry and Investment
2010
site ID
soil type
BLACK
Granite
derived
bulk density (g/cm3)
pH (CaCl2)
% Organic carbon (WB)
site ID
soil type
WHITE
Granite
derived
bulk density (g/cm3)
5.8
0.89
pH (CaCl2)
% Organic carbon (WB)
site ID
YELLOW
soil type
Granite
derived
bulk density (g/cm3)
6.7
0.98
pH (CaCl2)
6.7
% Organic carbon (WB)
1. 2
% total Carbon
1.6
% total Carbon
1
% total Carbon
1.5
% total Nitrogen
0.09
% total Nitrogen
0.09
% total Nitrogen
0.12
microbial activity (FDA)
(mg fluorescein/g dry soil /45min)
0.31
microbial activity (FDA)
0.25
microbial activity (FDA)
0.34
0.14
Biological carbon (MBC) mg/g
0.14
Biological carbon (MBC) mg/g
0.16
Biological carbon (MBC) mg/g
Look at the Calico strip
bare with' some highly decomposed
mulch around the base of each vine
only. Well worked soil.
Look at the Calico strip
Mulch
was
appliedand
theInvestment
day before
NSW
Industry
samples taken 2010
Look at the Calico strip
Living groundcover not disturbed for a
few years
Trial with mulch in NSW (Tyrrells) vineyard found;
Pros
Cons
Canopy healthier
Impaired accessibility
Disease incidence reduced as bunches
better spaced
Equipment for mulch spreading
Reduced compaction and improved WHC
Interrow activities such as cultivation
and slashing disturbed mulch
Better weed suppression
Easier to prune and tie canes
Higher yield, 2.85 t/ha vs 2t/ha
Better quality grapes for semillon making
Temperatures both soil and above have
reduced maximums (reduced diurnal
range)
Composted mulch was better NSW
at improving
Industry and Investment
yield
2010
NSW Industry and Investment
2010
NSW Industry and Investment
2010
Cherries in USA
• Reduced fertiliser and h-cide application but yield decline
• Incr biodiversity despite normal pesticide applications
Apple cider orchards in Spain
• straw mulched areas had fewer carabid beetles and
tillage and herbicide plots had more
Apple orchard in USA
• BD lower and porosity greater under mulch
• WHC improved under mulch and sod
• Incr BD and reduced infiltration in sod due to machinery
for mowing
NSW Industry and Investment
2010
site ID
BLACK
soil type
clay loam
soil colour
red-brown
bulk density (g/cm3)
0.92
pH (CaCl2)
5.5
% Organic carbon (WB)
2.6
% total Carbon
3
% total Nitrogen
0.32
microbial activity (FDA)
(mg fluorescein/g dry soil /45min)
site ID
WHITE
soil type
clay loam
soil colour
red-brown
bulk density (g/cm3)
0.75
pH (CaCl2)
6.5
% Organic carbon (WB)
4.9
% total Carbon
5
% total Nitrogen
0.43
microbial activity (FDA)
7.1
site ID
YELLOW
soil type
clay loam
soil colour
red-brown
bulk density (g/cm3)
0.88
pH (CaCl2)
6.5
% Organic carbon (WB)
6
% total Carbon
6
% total Nitrogen
0.55
microbial activity (FDA)
5.6
2.1
bare
NSW Industry and Investment
2010
compost
grass
I and I Soils publications
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/resources/soils
Soil Health Card
• Soilcare.org.au
• Jenkins A, 2010, Striking a match: igniting a passion for soils in
Proceedings of 19th World congress of soil science, Brisbane Australia
2010.
Composting on farm
• http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/resources/soils/improvement/co
mpost
• http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/horticulture/vegetables/soil/com
post-factsheets
Soil biology basics
• http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/resources/soils/biology
NSW Industry and Investment
2010