Enhancing Crop Yield with Deep Ripping and Satamap
Agronomy Focus Pty Ltd
Esperance, Western Australia
Introduction: In 2015, Quenten Knight conducted a deep ripping trial to address soil compaction issues on sandy soil. Using Satamap imagery, Quenten was able to monitor and validate the effectiveness of the deep ripping treatment, leading to significant improvements in crop yield.
Challenge: Soil compaction caused by random traffic, clay spreading, and incorporation was negatively impacting crop growth. The compacted soil limited root penetration and access to deeper soil moisture, reducing overall crop yields.
Solution: Quenten implemented a deep ripping trial in March 2014, using a Grizzly deep digger to rip the soil to a depth of 600mm. The goal was to decompact the soil and improve root access to deeper moisture levels.
Implementation:
Initial Trial:
The trial strip was deep ripped in March 2014. A 12% yield increase was observed in the 2014 season, indicating initial success.
Monitoring with Satamap:
Satamap images were used to monitor the crop biomass response in the trial strip. The images provided visual evidence of the treatment's effectiveness.
Two key images were taken on 30th September 2015 and 10th October 2015, showing the crop biomass response in Fathom Barley.
Observations:
The ripped treatment handled the dry spring conditions better than the non-ripped areas, accessing soil moisture deeper in the soil profile.
The visual response observed in the Satamap images suggested a much larger yield response for the 2015 season compared to 2014.
(Left) Imagery on 30 September 2015. Crop planted was Fathom Barley.
(Right) Imagery on 10 October 2015. Note the change in crop biomass response.
Results:
Improved Yield: The deep ripping treatment resulted in a 12% yield increase in 2014, with expectations of an even greater yield response in 2015.
Enhanced Moisture Access: The ripped soil allowed roots to access deeper soil moisture, improving crop resilience during dry conditions.
Validation with Satamap: Satamap imagery provided valuable visual validation of the deep ripping treatment's effectiveness, supporting the decision to implement this practice on responsive soil types across the entire farm.
Conclusion: Quenten Knight's deep ripping trial, supported by Satamap imagery, demonstrated the significant benefits of addressing soil compaction. By improving root access to deeper soil moisture, the treatment enhanced crop yields and resilience. Satamap proved to be an essential tool for monitoring and validating the trial's success, paving the way for broader implementation of deep ripping on the farm.