Information
The effect of sheet erosion on wheat yield and quality
Level 1 General description
Purpose:
To provide information on the magnitude of production loss of wheat that could be expected as a result of sheet erosion.
Methods (brief)
The study was implemented across five Research Stations within the NSW wheat belt. The study was implemented on 2 blocks within each site and comprised of three treatments:
- Control – no soil removed
- Three inches of surface soil removed
- Six inches of surface soil removed
Three replicates of each treatment were randomized on each of the two blocks. The first block had a wheat-fallow-wheat rotation and the second, a fallow-wheat-fallow rotation.
Key findings (brief)
- The removal of top-soil depressed wheat yields and brought about a decline in wheat quality. When 3 inches of soil was removed wheat yields dropped by 20 to 50% and protein percentage of the grain by 5 to 20%.
Location
Soil Conservation Research Station – Inverell.
Related studies
The same study was carried out on the following Research Stations: Wagga, Cowra, Wellington and Gunnedah.