Information
The effect of raised beds on soil structure, water logging, and productivity on duplex soils in Western Australia (Esperance)
Level 1 General description
Purpose:
To determine the effect of raised beds on water-logging, soil structure, and productivity on duplex soils.
Methods (brief)
Five experimental sites were established, monitored, and operated over 5 years as well as 3 larger scale demonstration sites which were operated over 4 or 3 years. Treatments consisted of raised beds and a normal no-till seed bed as the control. The beds were made with a bed former after the soil had been deep cultivated.
Key findings (brief)
- Waterlogging in the raised beds was reduced along with an increase in runoff.
- The average grain yield increase from the beds was 18% for a variety of crops across a range of climate conditions on duplex soils.
- The implementation of raised beds in waterlogging duplex-soil created favourable root zone conditions by reducing bulk densities and waterlogging.
Location
Esperance, Western Australia (33° 37’S, 121°48’E)
Related studies
This experiment was also carried out in Badgebup, Beverly, Cranbrook, Mt Barker, South Stirling, Toolibin and Woodanilling.