Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > AN > EA04097
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(3)

Improved soil and irrigation management for forage production 3. Plant–soil–water relationships

G. N. Mundy A , K. L. Greenwood A B , K. B. Kelly A , S. M. Austin A and K. E. Dellow A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Primary Industries, 120 Cooma Road, Kyabram, Vic. 3620, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: kerry.greenwood@dpi.vic.gov.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(3) 327-335 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA04097
Submitted: 13 May 2004  Accepted: 7 April 2005   Published: 28 March 2006

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted from January 2000 for 2.5 years, at the Department of Primary Industries, Kyabram, in northern Victoria. The experiment determined the effect of soil modification, with and without subsurface drainage, on the yield and water use of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), lucerne (Medicago sativa), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) under 2 irrigation frequencies. The soil was a red-brown earth.

The forages were spray irrigated from August to May when evaporation minus rainfall (E – R) reached 45–50 mm (frequent) or 90–100 mm (infrequent). The depth of irrigation water applied was equal to the soil water deficit (SWD) of each treatment, measured before each irrigation.

Soil modification did not change the plant available water content of the soil (about 115 mm). The apparent depth of water extraction was initially different between soil management treatments but, over time, these differences disappeared. There were consistent differences between the forage species in the apparent depth of soil water extraction. Lucerne extracted water from deeper in the soil than phalaris followed by tall fescue and then perennial ryegrass. In general, the infrequently irrigated forages extracted water from deeper in the soil than did the frequently irrigated forages.

The frequently irrigated treatments received slightly more water than did the infrequent treatments. The depth of water applied to the control and modified soil was similar, whereas the drained soils received more water than did the undrained treatments. There were differences between the forages in the depth of water applied, with lucerne receiving up to about 1500 mm/year and the grasses about 1100 to 1300 mm/year. Water use efficiency [kg dry matter (DM)/ha.mm] of the forages ranged from 14 to 18 kg DM/ha.mm in 2000–01 and up to 24 kg DM/ha.mm in 2001–02. The relatively high water use efficiencies were largely due to the high yields achieved, as water use was similar to that of district farms.

Additional keywords: lucerne, pasture, soil modification, water use, water use efficiency.


Acknowledgments

Financial support for our research was provided by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and Dairy Australia, through Murray Dairy. We thank Neil Penfold and Barry Collins for their assistance. We acknowledge Jim Maden, Leigh Callinan and Sorn Norng for providing biometric advice on the work presented in this paper.


References


Armstrong D , Knee J , Doyle P , Pritchard K , Gyles O (1998) ‘A survey of water-use efficiency on irrigated dairy farms in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales.’ (Department of Natural Resources and Environment: Kyabram, Vic.)

Armstrong DP, Knee JE, Doyle PT, Pritchard KE, Gyles OA (2000) Water-use efficiency on irrigated dairy farms in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 643–653.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Blaikie SJ , Martin FM (1985) The water use and growth of irrigated perennial pastures in the Goulburn Valley. In ‘The challenge: efficient dairy production. Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Societies of Animal Production dairy production conference’. (Ed. TI Phillips) pp. 40–41.

Blaikie SJ , Mason WK (1992) A new approach to improving yield of white clover — role of roots. In ‘Proceedings of the 6th Australian agronomy conference’. (Eds KJ Hutchinson, PJ Vickery) pp. 292–295. (Australian Agronomy Society: Parkville, Vic.)

Blaikie SJ, Martin FM, Mason WK, Connor DJ (1988) A basis for improved soil and water management for irrigated pastures in northern Victoria. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 28, 315–319.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Bridge BJ, Tunny J (1982) The effect of gypsum and irrigation frequency on irrigated white clover pastures grown on three soils of the Riverine Plain of south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 22, 194–200.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Bush B , Finger L , Bethune M (2000) Irrigation scheduling techniques for border irrigated perennial pastures. In ‘Proceedings of the Irrigation Association of Australia conference’. pp. 423–429.

Cockroft B , Martin FM (1981) Irrigation. In ‘Red-brown earths of Australia’. (Eds JM Oades, DG Lewis, K Norrish) pp. 133–147. (University of Adelaide and CSIRO Division of Soils: Adelaide, SA)

Doss BD, Ashley DA, Bennett OL (1960) Effect of soil moisture regime on root distribution of warm season forage species. Agronomy Journal 52, 569–572. open url image1

Dunbabin JS, Hume IH, Ireson ME (1997) Effects of irrigation frequency and transient waterlogging on the production of a perennial ryegrass–white clover pasture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 37, 165–171.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Durand JL, Gastal F, Etchebest S, Bonnet AG (1997) Interspecific variability of plant water status and leaf morphogenesis in temperate forage grasses under summer water deficit. European Journal of Agronomy 7, 99–107.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Garwood EA, Sinclair J (1979) Use of water by six grass species. 2. Root distribution and use of soil water. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 93, 25–35. open url image1

Greenwood KL, Mundy GN, Kelly KB, Dellow KE, Austin SM (2006a) Improved soil and irrigation management for forage production. 1. Site establishment and soil physical properties. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 307–317.
| Crossref |
open url image1

Greenwood KL, Mundy GN, Kelly KB, Dellow KE, Austin SM (2006b) Improved soil and irrigation management for forage production. 2. Forage yield and nutritive characteristics. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 319–326.
| Crossref |
open url image1

Isbell RF (1996) ‘The Australian soil classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)

Loveday J, Saunt JE, Fleming PM, Muirhead WA (1970) Soil and cotton responses to tillage and ameliorant in a brown clay soil 1. Soil responses and water use. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 10, 313–324.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

McKenzie DC , Abbott TS , Anthony DA , Hall DJM , Higginson FR (1984) Soil management strategies for improving the yields of irrigated crops in the lower Macquarie Valley. In ‘Root zone limitations to crop production on clay soils’. (Eds WA Muirhead, E Humphreys) pp. 149–161. Symposium of the Australian Society of Soil Science Inc. Riverina Branch, Griffith, NSW.

Martin FM (1974) Interaction between irrigation frequency and soil moisture storage on pasture production. In ‘Proceedings of the 12th international grassland congress’. pp. 92–96.

Mason WK, Small DR, Pritchard KE (1984) Effects of irrigation and soil management for fodder crops on root zone conditions in a red-brown earth. Australian Journal of Soil Research 22, 207–218.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Mehanni AH (1974) Short term effect of some methods for improving soil structure in red-brown earth soils of the northern irrigation areas, Victoria. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 14, 689–693.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Olsson KA , Cockroft B , Rengasamy P (1995) Improving and managing subsoil structure for high productivity from temperate crops on beds. In ‘Subsoil management techniques’. (Eds NS Jayawardane, BA Stewart) Advances in soil science. pp. 35–65. (Lewis Publishers: Boca Raton)

Olsson KA, Dellow KE, Hirth JR, Kelly KB, Greenwood KL, Blaikie SJ (2002) Soil properties, root responses and production of irrigated pasture on a red-brown earth after subsoil modification. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 42, 453–463.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Parker CJ, Carr MKV, Jarvis NJ, Evans MTB, Lee VH (1989) Effects of subsoil loosening and irrigation on soil physical properties, root distribution and water uptake of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). Soil and Tillage Research 13, 267–285.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Prebble RE , Forrest JA , Honeysett JL , Hughes MW , McIntyre DS , Schrale G (1981) Field installation and maintenance. In ‘Soil water assessment by the neutron method’. (Ed. EL Greacen) pp. 82–98. (CSIRO: Melbourne)

Research Services New England (1998) ‘Probe for windows: irrigation scheduling and crop management.’ (Research Services New England: Balmain)

Skene JKM , Poutsma TJ (1962) Soils and land use in part of the Goulburn Valley, Victoria. Technical Bulletin No. 14. Victorian Department of Agriculture.

Stace HCT , Hubble GD , Brewer R , Northcote KH , Sleeman JR , Mulcahy MJ , Hallsworth EG (1968) ‘A handbook of Australian soils.’ (Rellim Technical Publications: Adelaide)

Taylor AJ, Olsson KA (1987) Effect of gypsum and deep ripping on lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) yields on a red-brown earth under flood and spray irrigation. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 27, 841–849.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1