Use furrows for sowing sub-tropical grasses

2009
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Chris Loo (DAFWA)
Geoff Moore (DAFWA)
Phil Nichols (DAFWA)
John Titterington (DAFWA)
Brad Wintle (DAFWA)
Ron Yates (DAFWA)
Year(s) 2009
Contributor West Midlands Group
Trial location(s) Eneabba, WA
Gillingarra, WA
Use furrows for sowing sub-tropical grasses locations
Aims

To determine whether successful establishment of sub-tropical grasses requires sowing into furrows.

Key messages
  • Seedling densities were high at both sites, reflecting favourable conditions during spring.
  • Sowing 5-10 mm below the surface into furrows resulted in a significantly higher density than the other treatments at both Gillingarra and Eneabba.
  • Surface seeding into furrows gave a significantly higher density than into no furrows at Gillingarra, although there were no statistical differences between the two treatments at Eneabba.
  • Surface-sown plots with no furrows were also the most patchy.
Lead research organisation Future Farm Industries CRC
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source MLA
Trial funding source AWI
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This work was conducted as part of the Future Farm Industries CRC project “Reliable establishment of non-traditional perennial pasture species” with additional funding from Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation and Land and Water Australia. Thanks to Bob Hendry and John Wilmott for use of their properties for these trials.


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

Method

Crop type Other crop: Grasses
Treatment type(s)
  • Sowing: Method
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Blocked

Eneabba 2009

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Herbicide Not specified

Gillingarra 2009

Sow rate or Target density 5kg/ha
Sow date 1 September 2009
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 1.25m x 30m
Plot replication 3
Herbicide

The site was prepared using two herbicide knockdowns, glyphosate @ 2 L/ha 6 weeks before sowing, followed by glyphosate @ 1.5 L/ha 2 weeks before sowing.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Gillingara

# Variety
Treatment 1
Establishment plants (plants/m2)
1 Evergreen 5-10mm below surface into furrows 55.2
2 Evergreen Surface-sown into furrows 33.9
3 Evergreen Surface-sown with no furrows 21.8

Establishment plants plants/m2


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Trial results Eneabba

# Variety
Treatment 1
Establishment plants (plants/m2)
1 Evergreen 5-10mm below surface into furrows 55.2
2 Evergreen Surface-sown into furrows 33.9
3 Evergreen Surface-sown with no furrows 21.8

Establishment plants plants/m2


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Eneabba, WA Not specified
Gillingarra, WA Deep sand
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Eneabba, WA Sodosol
Gillingarra, WA Kandosol
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 Eneabba WA Gillingarra WA
2009 242.8mm64.5mm
2008 244.5mm75.5mm
2007 230.9mm68.7mm
2006 229.7mm99.4mm
2005 159.0mm55.6mm
2004 169.6mm33.7mm
2003 214.9mm57.1mm
2002 181.8mm50.0mm
2001 215.6mm20.1mm
2000 297.6mm95.4mm
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

Gillingarra WA 2009


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 182mm

Derived climate information

Eneabba WA

Gillingarra WA

Eneabba WA

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Gillingarra WA

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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

2009 trial report



Trial last modified: 13-12-2019 14:03pm AEST