Year of study:
2012-3
Lead Organisation and collaborators:
Bass Coast Landcare Network (BCLN), Park’s Dairy
Contact:
Geoff Trease (BCLN)
Simon Park (Landholder)
Shane Manks (Agronomist)
Best Available Science Assessment:
|
1=Low 2= Moderate 3= High 4 = Very high |
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| Objectives |
Hypothesis |
Design |
Soil Analysis |
Production/ Financial |
Method Reporting |
Data Analysis |
Results reporting |
Publication |
|
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Project details
Objectives:
Test products that claim to increase pasture growth.
Test the cost effectiveness of these products in a perennial grazing system.
Hypotheses:
The use of seaweed as a foliar spray will increase dry matter yield, nutrient levels in the pasture and fungal activity in the soil.
Basis:
Scientific research has shown that the effects of seaweed products can be explained by the
presence of groups of plant growth hormones, namely auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins. These hormones can
increase plant root and shoot development.
A link to one of many scientific articles to support this below.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00344-009-9103-x#
Location details
Paddock: 2.08 Ha predominantly rye grass
Wonthaggi/South Dudley area, flat property, Swamp Scrub landscape,
Soil: Loamy
Rainfall: 900mm
Nutrient status – more figures on page 3
Calcium: 785 mg/kg
Potassium: 142 mg/kg
Colwell Phosphorus – 12.6
Carbon 8.86%
pH water 5.5
Urea: 3:1
Fertiliser and Lime were chosen by the Park’s in consultation with the agronomist to address pH, Calcium and nutrient constraints.
Pre-trial management
Fertiliser application:
September 2011 1 tonne lime/ha, 2011, urea applied 4 times at 100kg/ha, 3:1 fertiliser at 200kg/ha
Grazing history:
The whole paddock grazed every rotation (depending on time of year).
240 cows in paddock for 8 hours.
Rotations:
25 day up to 50 winter and down to 15 Spring
Simon strip grazes occasionally.
Key Findings:
The level of rigour in this demonstration does not allow for any key findings.
One application of seaweed did not show a discernible improvement in dry matter, soil condition or nutrients in plant. Cost effectiveness could not be determined.
A visual assessment on the seaweed plots by the agronomist after a second application of seaweed suggested a possible increase in tillering and 3rd leaf quality, ie slower to senesce. While this visual assessment supports the hypothesis, there is no available data that backs the assessment. Further investigation is required.
The biological test for Total and Active Bacterial and fungal counts and ratios did not provide easily analysed data and was expensive. Our finding is that while biological tests provide interesting information for discussion of soil biology, they do not at this stage provide a cost effective tool for management decisions.
While brix readings are an interesting tool to measure plant sugars, little can be gleaned from the results. There are considerable variations in brix readings depending on time of day, soil moisture etc.
Consideration could have been given to a control without lime.
Results:
Experimental Design:
Treatments:
| Lime – | 1t/ha | $130/ha | spread |
| Granular Fertiliser (Urea and 3:1) |
250kg/ha | $300/ha | spread |
| Foliar Fertilser (Urea and 3:1) |
20ltr/ha | $90/ha | spread |
| Seaweed | 20ltr/ha | $115/ha | spread |
Design/Layout
2.08ha area (260mX80m) 10 strip plots (5 treatments each with 2 replications) Each strip is 80m wide and 26m long and the 10 strips run the full width of the paddock
Measurements
- Standard Chemical soil analysis to view changes in soil chemistry, pH and carbon levels.
- Plant tissue analysis to determine nutrient uptake.
- Dry Matter Yield to determine quantity of pasture.
- Biological testing to give a guide to activity particularly fungal bacterial ratio.
- Brix test to give an indication of plant sugar levels. (Ideal brix reading is 10) – Brix reading vary, with lowest being early morning and highest being mid afternoon – there can be a difference of 3 brix during the day
Reporting:
How results have been reported:
Field day, Gippsland Soil Trial Directory
Level of Review of Results:
Reviewed by Nick Dudley (DEPI) and Tony Gardner (WGCMA)
Soil Measurements
Chemical Soil test
30 cores 10cm taken on a transect line down each plot
Half sent to EAL Laboritories basic chemical analysis. NATA accredited,
pH, carbon, basic nutrient, cation exchange and ratios.
Half sent to Agpath Laboratories Soil Food web analysis – Total and Active Bacterial and fungal counts and ratios.
Baseline Information March 22nd 2012
1 set of samples across trial area
After 1 year March 2013
1 set of samples per plot
Production Measures
Dry matter yield
Pasture plate meter 30 readings
Plant tissue analysis
10 ryegrass samples cut to to grazing height (50mm) randomly selected in each plot,
I bulk sample for each plot sent to EAL-basic plant chemistry
Baseline information March 22nd 2012 1.45pm
Air temp 25 deg, Soil temp 20 deg, Soil Moisture – Slightly moist.
1 full set of above tests across trial area
Pasture plate – 4 times over 12 months
1 brix reading at 2 pm
March 2013
1 Brix reading per plot at 2pm
1 full set of soil tests and dry matter tests per plot
Next steps
To support the hypothesis and assess cost effectiveness requires a longer term more detailed study.