Mallee rotations that beat brome grass and make money

2013

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) De-Anne Ferrier (BCG)
Year(s) 2013
Contributor Birchip Cropping Group
Trial location(s) Chinkapook, VIC
Mallee rotations that beat brome grass and make money locations
Aims

To investigate alternative break crop sequences and cereal herbicide control options that can increase profitability and reduce brome grass populations in the Mallee.

Key messages

In years with high summer rainfall, growing break crops is low risk and is an effective management strategy for reducing weeds, while growing profitability. Two year breaks are better than one at achieving favourable returns and reducing brome grass populations. The best brome grass control and gross margins were achieved by two year rotations of Clearfield canola/vetch and continuous Clearfield wheat followed by wheat.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC DAS00119
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This trial was funded by GRDC through the LRCG Crop Sequencing Project


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Rotation
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Chinkapook 2013

Sow date 9 April 2013
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 2.5m X 20m
Plot replication 4
Fertiliser

1 May - Supreme Z Granulock (48kg/ha), 12 July - Urea (70kg/ha) + SLAM (25kg/ha) (2012 cereal and canola treatments only)

Herbicide

9 April - Glyphosate (2L/ha) + Goal (100ml/ha) + Hasten (1%) (Summer Fallow treatment), 1 May - Glyphosate (2L/ha) + TriflurX (2L/ha), 26 June - Velocity (670ml/ha) + MCPA LVE 600 (350ml/ha) + Lontrel (100ml/ha), Hasten (0.5%)

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Gross margin ($/ha) Screenings (%) Test weight (kg/hL) Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 CLF wheat/CLF wheat 290 3 82 9.7 2.3
2 Wheat + Atlantis/CLF barley 234 4 78 8.6 2
3 Field peas/wheat 220 4 80 9.6 2
4 Chemical fallow/wheat 159 4 81 9.5 1.7
5 CLF canola/vetch 454 4 81 9.7 2.6
6 TT canola/field peas 425 3 81 9.5 2.5
7 CLF wheat/chickpeas 416 4 80 8.8 2.5
8 Chemical fallow/CLF canola 296 3 81 10.1 2.3
9 Vetch hay/CLF canola 279 3 81 10.6 2.2
10 Lupins/CLF canola 382 3 81 10.3 2.7
11 Hay/hay 439 3 81 10.3 2.6
12 Medic/medic 505 2 81 9.9 3
13 Volume pasture/volume pasture 491 4 80 9.5 3
14 Wheat/wheat (nil control) 19 5 80 8.7 1
15 Chemical fallow/chemical fallow 570 2 82 10.6 3.5

Grain yield t/ha


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Gross margin $/ha


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Test weight kg/hL


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Chinkapook, VIC Sand
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Chinkapook, VIC Calcarosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Chinkapook VIC
2013 378.9mm
2012 416.2mm
2011 461.4mm
2010 452.6mm
2009 378.6mm
2008 369.0mm
2007 376.1mm
2006 376.8mm
2005 412.2mm
2004 371.0mm
2003 382.1mm
2002 351.6mm
2001 418.5mm
2000 395.6mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Chinkapook VIC 2013


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 168mm

Derived climate information

Chinkapook VIC

CAUTION: Trial site locality unknown; Climate data sourced from Birchip Cropping Group office location
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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2013 trial report