Best practice liming to address sub-soil acidity in NE Victoria

Acid soils have long been known to be a major constraint to crop and pasture production in north-east Victoria, with the reacidification of previously limed soils and pH stratification becoming increasingly important issues for the region’s grain farmers.

This project aims to increase awareness of the speed of acidification and stratification of soils in the region, as well as the tools available to assist management decisions.

The project involves the establishment of a replicated lime treatment field trial to demonstrate best practice liming practices and will look at how the incorporation of top-dressed lime can improve its distribution down the soil profile and lessen the impacts of soil acidity on subsequent crops.

The  trial will be established during February 2022 and will compare crop performance of subsequent crops across the different treatments. These results will then be used to inform an economic analysis of the treatment options, while intensive soil sampling will also help to understand differences in nutrient availability, pH and soil organic carbon between treatments.

Some of the techniques which are being considered for the trial include spading, discing, ripping and prickle-chaining, compared to topdressed lime (no incorporation).

The project will also involve a demonstration trial of the impact of different lime types and sources, including an elemental sulfur treatment to accelerate acidification and give an indication of the future effects if lime was not applied.

Outcomes from the project will be extended, including comparisons of the economic and agronomic returns using Acid Soils SA calculator tools through field days, articles and presentations

For further information, please contact Riverine Plains Project Officer Jane McInnes on 03 5744 1713 or email jane@riverineplains.org.au.