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A new online tool helps grain growers make informed decisions about deep ripping investments by calculating break-even points based on fuel costs, grain prices, and yield responses. Learn how the EasyDiesel Calculator can optimise returns for Agrowplow deep ripper operators.
Agrowplow owners planning deep ripping operations now have access to a valuable decision-making tool that can help optimise the return on investment from their fuel and fertiliser spend.
The EasyDiesel Calculator, developed by the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) with co-investment from the Grains Research and Development Corporation, provides growers with a simple yet powerful way to evaluate the economics of deep ripping before committing resources.
For Agrowplow deep ripper owners, the calculator offers practical insights into the profitability of ripping operations by allowing users to input current fuel prices, expected grain prices, and anticipated yield responses. The tool then calculates break-even points for both fuel cost per litre and expected yield in kilograms per hectare.
"With deep ripping costs typically running between $80 to $90 per hectare, understanding your potential return before you start is crucial," notes DPIRD principal research scientist Wayne Parker. "The challenge is to make the most of every drop of diesel."
One critical factor highlighted by the calculator is the relationship between ripping depth and fuel consumption. According to DPIRD research, doubling the working depth approximately doubles the fuel use per hectare – an important consideration when planning operations with Agrowplow's adjustable depth deep rippers.
The calculator uses default settings based on extensive field research, including data from GRDC's 'Minimising the Impact of Compaction on Crop Yield in WA' investment (DAW00243) and the GRDC national Ripping Technology fact sheet on cost-effective subsoil loosening.
Beyond the immediate fuel cost considerations, the calculator helps growers understand the broader agronomic benefits of deep ripping. DPIRD research demonstrates that deep ripping to break compaction layers, typically at 450 to 550 millimetres depth, delivers significant improvements in nitrogen uptake efficiency.
Field trials show average nitrogen uptake efficiency increases of 65 per cent in deep ripped conditions compared to non-ripped soil. By accessing mineralised nitrogen from crop residues deeper in the soil profile, growers using Agrowplow deep rippers may be able to reassess and potentially reduce fertiliser inputs, depending on soil type and seasonal conditions.
Deep ripping operations with appropriate equipment have demonstrated measurable improvements in water use efficiency, with research showing strong yield responses in canola and wheat crops. By breaking up compacted layers, Agrowplow deep rippers enable plant roots to access moisture and nutrients throughout a greater soil volume, particularly valuable in seasons with variable rainfall patterns.
The EasyDiesel Calculator offers Agrowplow users both 'quick' and 'full' analysis modes, making it suitable for on-the-go decisions as well as comprehensive pre-season planning. This flexibility means users can:
With recent rainfall in many areas creating suitable soil profile moisture for effective deep ripping, growers are encouraged to use the calculator to assess the economics of operations before mobilising equipment. The tool is specifically designed to evaluate first-year yield responses, helping growers make practical in-season decisions about where to allocate their Agrowplow deep ripper for optimal profitability.
The free EasyDiesel Calculator is available on the SoilsWest Soil Quality Knowledge Base website at: https://soilqualityknowledgebase.org.au/resources/easy-diesel-calculator/
Growers considering deep ripping as part of their nitrogen fertiliser strategy are encouraged to discuss their plans with their agronomist and fertiliser representative, and to factor the calculator's insights into their overall soil management approach.
This work was completed as part of the Soil Water and Nutrition (SWAN) strategic collaboration, a joint investment of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
For more information about deep ripping and soil nitrogen management, listen to the DPIRD Grains Convo podcast, available on Spotify, iTunes, or the department website.
This work was completed as part of the Soil Water and Nutrition (SWAN) strategic collaboration, a joint investment of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
