Morven Lime Trial Site
The replicated farm-scale trial site tests a combination of different lime rates, with and without incorporation, and investigates the impact of different soil pH targets on ameliorating subsurface acidity in the short term.
The trial consists of 7 treatments (Table 1). A total of 28 plots (7 treatments replicated 4 times), 63 m × 9 m in size, were marked out in October 2019 and NSW DPI used their direct drop spreader to apply the lime on the plots. The 3 buffer strips between each replicate had elemental sulphur applied to acidify the soil and simulate what soil pH would be in 5-10 years time if no lime was applied.
Plant species grown at the trial site are dictated by the host farmer and they manage the site the same as the remainder of the paddock. After lime application in 2019, the site was in crop for three years then sown to a lucerne and chicory pasture in September 2023.
Table 1. Morven trial site treatments and descriptions. Lime was applied in October 2019 and incorporation was completed to approximately 10cm depth with two passes of a disc harrow and one pass of a scarifier
Current funding:
Not currently funded
Previous funding:
- Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) (2023-2024) ‘Action learning on crop response to acid subsoil stratification and amelioration benefits’ (UCS2204-001RTX)
- Australian Government’s National Landcare Program (2019-2022) ‘New approaches to tackling and monitoring soil acidity in perennial pasture systems’ (Activity ID 4-BA9OHOX), with cash co-contributions from Grasslands Society of NSW and Holbrook Landcare Network, and in-kind support from NSW DPI
Resources:
- Read 2024 season summary and trial site background here
- Effective management of soil acidity, NSW DPI presentation summary, March 2021
