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Deep Drainage Lysimeter (DDL) Trial

Objectives
1. Compare crop water use, deep profile drainage and soil moisture flux under a continuously cropped rotation and a rotation containing a fallow phase.
2. Determine the relationship between crop production, soil moisture and rotation system.

Key activities in current program
This site at the Mallee Research Station (35o 07' S., 141o 58' E.; elev. 85 m) is part of the Central Mallee land system on a plain landform known as a “swale”. It was set up to compare long fallow vs continuously cropped rotations (Table 3). The cropping systems compared were two 3 phase rotations: "fallow" (long fallow-wheat-field peas) and "continuously cropped" (Indian mustard-wheat-field peas). Each phase was represented each year. Data being collected includes, deep drainage via lysimeter wick and rain gauge system, soil water content from neutron moisture meter readings, leaf area, and light inception measurements. Productivity is measured by biomass production at anthesis and harvest. Current and future uses include monitoring of leachates and accretions to ground water.

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