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Journal article
Strategic deep tillage of deep sand soils impacts the sorption and biological availability of trifluralin
Soil & tillage research, Vol.258, 106997
2026
Abstract
Deep sand soils are inherently fragile with surface layers that are very low in organic matter and clay. Previous studies demonstrate that strategic deep tillage such as soil inversion and deep soil mixing can increase crop production on these soils in Southern Australia. However, the majority of the organic matter and nutrients are concentrated in the top organically stained layer and deep tillage incorporates 50-60 % of the organic layer into the subsoil below 200 mm. The physical composition of the soil (percentage of sand, silt, clay and organic matter) and the chemical properties of the soil (pH, nutrient levels, cation exchange capacity) can strongly influence the soil adsorption of trifluralin. Modest levels of organic matter and clay particles in the topsoil particularly following deep tillage equate to the scant attenuation of herbicides on sandy textured soils. Soil samples (0-100 mm) were collected from three experimental sites; two Arenic Solonetz soils near Esperance and one Arenic Arenosol soil near Geraldton in Western Australia. At all three sites, three experimental treatments were sampled; control (no tillage), deep mixed with a spader to 350 mm and soil inversion with a mouldboard plough to 350 mm. Soil samples were taken on two growing seasons post tillage at Geraldton, three post tillage at Esperance TJM and twelve post tillage at Esperance E1. Tillage reduced the measured soil-liquid partition coefficient (Kd) of trifluralin (p <= 0.05) at all three experimental sites. A greenhouse bioassay was developed to determine if soil changes from strategic tillage at one of the Esperance sites and the Geraldton site could be directly related to herbicide bioavailability at two of the experimental sites. Intact cores were used to maintain integrity of the field soils. Cores from both field sites demonstrated that soil inversion reduced the effective dose of trifluralin (p <0.01) for the bioassay species Lens culinaris. Together these experiments illustrate that strategic deep tillage can increase the bioavailability of trifluralin. These findings offer a valuable insight into the soil behaviour of trifluralin and can help farmers estimate the risk of phytotoxicity based on measurable soil characteristics.
Details
- Title
- Strategic deep tillage of deep sand soils impacts the sorption and biological availability of trifluralin
- Authors/Creators
- Tom J. Edwards - Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentStephen L. Davies - Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentRon J. Yates - Murdoch University, School of Agricultural SciencesMichael T. Rose - Wollongbar Primary Ind Inst, New South Wales Dept Primary Ind, Wollongbar, NSW 2477, AustraliaBenedict Arthur - Murdoch Univ, Ctr Sustainable Farming Syst, Legume Rhizobium Sci, Perth 6151, AustraliaJohn G. Howieson - Murdoch Univ, Ctr Sustainable Farming Syst, Legume Rhizobium Sci, Perth 6151, AustraliaGraham O'hara - Murdoch University, School of Agricultural SciencesEmma J. Steel - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Farming SystemsDavid J. M. Hall - Grains Soil Sci & Crop Nutr, Dept Primary Ind & Reg Dev, 3 Baron Hay Ct, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia
- Publication Details
- Soil & tillage research, Vol.258, 106997
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V.
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- DAW1901_RTX / Grains Research and Development Corporation; Grains R&D Corp DAW1901_RTX / Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- Identifiers
- 991005851088707891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Agricultural Sciences; Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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