Austrailians Stop Soil Erosion With Cement

Austrailians Stop Soil Erosion With Cement MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 7-5-26 Cement your fields? Australian researchers are working on the concept as a means of preventing soil erosion on light and sandy soils. Ron Shaw, staff officer of Adelaide Brighton Cement Ltd., explains that a specially designed machine, as well as more conventional weed sprayers, have been used to apply a thin coating of cement "slurry" consisting of cement, water and cellulose material that keeps the cement from hardening in the spray tanks. The need for cement slurry arises from severe wind eroison problems in sandy soils of Southern Australia. The light soil doesn't hold water well and strong winds often damage young crops or bury growing seeds to the point where they can't emerge. The researchers' experiments have concentrated on lucerne ù an alfalfa related crop ù planted in rows 7 to 14 in. apart. Testing has also been conducted in barley and onions. The sprayer built especially for the slurry application features a roller which ridges the soil. A spray boom is mounted behind the roller with nozzles spaced 14 in. apart to match the ridges. Plans are in the works to add a seeder to the rig to combine operations. The slurry is first screened through a mesh sieve before being put in the sprayer. The experimental sprayer features a diaphragm pump that recirculates the slurry. The most effective application rate seems to be at .37 ton/acre which puts on a thick enough slurry layer to prevent erosion but thin enough for the crops to break through. "It's essential that the slurry is applied to a still wet surface to obtain a continuous coating and to ensure that the cement sets up properly. Spraying on a dry surface is ineffective. The slurry balls up and no film is formed," Shaw explains. Does the cement have any carryover effects? "I don't expect any effect on harvesting or the next year's crop. The cement breaks up easily when driving over and working the soil. The slight alkalinity and presence of minute quantities of one or two trace elements may even be advantageous. In fact, a possibility is adding suitable trace minerals to the slurry," says Shaw. Key to the success of the slurry concept, Shaw acknowledges is keeping the cost low. At an application rate of .37 ton/acre, the cost amounts to $20 per acre. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Adelaide Brighton Cement Ltd., Charles Street, Birkenhead, South Australia, Australia (ph 08 49 0400).

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