Moisture for germination and growth is critical to crop performance. Many different strategies exist to conserve soil moisture pre and post sowing, including spraying and tillage.
Online Farm Trials contains 150 trials covering issues that include: managing moisture variability within paddock; crop rotations that optimise moisture availability in the sequence; impacts of break crops and summer crops for production; and, future crop gains and interactions between soil moisture and nitrogen conservation, including timing of fertiliser application. There are 65 published trials for wheat, 16 for canola and 16 for barley linked to soil moisture conservation and use. There are also trials for lupins (6) and vetch (4).
For further information on soil moisture strategies, refer to the following case studies on low rainfall environments that consider summer weed control options to managing soil moisture:
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Manganese concentrations in soil and wheat crops were monitored over time in the field.
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To monitor the presence of soilborne disease levels in the farming system following the legume pasture, Sothis.
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To monitor the performance of nitrogen application to wheat under full stubble retention.
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To explore whether cropping strategies using higher inputs are more water use efficient than lower input systems and to what extent this affects profit.
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To explore whether cropping strategies using higher inputs are more water use efficient than lower input systems and to what extent this affects profit.
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To determine the level of wild radish control with older, more traditional herbicide mixes against some of the more robust and new herbicides.
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To determine the level of wild radish control with older, more traditional herbicide mixes against some of the more robust and new herbicides.
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To evaluate the effects of mouldboard ploughing and its ability to increase carbon on a poor yellow sand.
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This paper aims to summarise the grain yield response and weed control achieved by a one-off soil inversion.
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To evaluate the effects of mouldboard ploughing a soil with and without TM21.
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To determine if there are any benefits to increased productivity and carbon cycling on a yellow sandplain soil through mechanical incorporation.
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To evaluate the effects of mouldboard ploughing on yield on poor performing wodjil soil.
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To assess a range of knockdown herbicide mixtures on small grasses and mixed braod leaf weeds.
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To compare an opportunistic break crop against fallow and wheat to better define the pros and cons of fallowing.
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To determine which combinations of nitrogen and zinc together with a single rate of phosphorus applied either as granular or fluid performed best on a range of soil types.
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To explore how much nitrogen is required to maximise mungbean yield and whether well-nodulated mungbean achieve the same yield as fertilised crops.
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To explore:
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To establish the nitrogen mineralised from a faba bean stubble
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Investigate responses to N and K, effects on leaf disease and interactions with a foliar fungicide.
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To test whether nitrogen management options typical for upper EP would ‘switch off’ disease suppression.
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To assess performance of canola varieties sown into dry soil in late April at Binnu in 2013.
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This report presents the results of a national field survey of herbicide residues in 40 cropping soils before sowing and pre-emergent herbicide application in 2015. It looks at the relevance of these residues to soil biological processes and crop health with a focus on those herbicides most frequently detected.
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To test the performance of barley sown into established native pasture into two different soil types in the Wimmera and Mallee regions.
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The Australian Soybean Breeding Program develops varieties for diverse production environments across a 3000 km range from the Atherton Tablelands in far north Queensland (Latitude 17.2661°S, Longitude 145.4859°E) to the Riverina in southern New South Wales (Latitude 29.7503°S, Longitude 120.5530°E).
The program focuses on strateg… read more
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The Australian Soybean Breeding Program develops varieties for diverse production environments across a 3000 km range from the Atherton Tablelands in far north Queensland (Latitude 17.2661°S, Longitude 145.4859°E) to the Riverina in southern New South Wales (Latitude 29.7503°S, Longitude 120.5530°E). T
he program focuses on strate… read more
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To present a summary of data from multi-season replicated evaluations and on-farm experiments of Richmond, a new variety for production in northern New South Wales.
The Australian Soybean Breeding Program develops varieties for diverse production
environments across a 3000 km range from the Atherton Tablelands in far north Que… read more
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To determine the best nitrogen and sulphur strategy for wheat grown on sandy soils in the Mallee with a full profile of moisture and a forecast El Nino.
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To determine whether adding extra nitrogen (N) at GS31 will bring benefits above the current standard practice of only applying nitrogen at or near sowing in three different Eyre Peninsula (EP) environments.
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To answer the following questions:
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To push the nitrogen inputs at Minnipa Agricultural Centre to achieve a target yield of 2 t/ha.
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To strengthen our knowledge on seasonal changes in the (1) biological value of stubble (2) mineralisation: immobilisation balance (ratio) and (3) the direct supply of N from stubble to crops as influenced by stubble management.
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To evaluate the effects of different nitrogen rates over a two year period on a broadacre scale and to assess if lower N inputs depletes the soil of plant available nitrogen.
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To report on nitrogen inputs from pasture legumes in a cropping rotation.
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To measure nitrogen loss (as ammonia) from volatilisation after top-dressing wheat crops grown on two soil types: sandy loam in the Mallee and Wimmera clay, using different fertiliser types and application rates.
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To compare up front applications of N with a split application of N, as well as the efficiency of foliar N compared to granular N.
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To develop nitrogen management strategies that optimise the chance of achieving malt quality in Gairdner barley.
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To assess the impact of applying additional Nitrogen at different rates and timings on the grain yield of Bolac wheat.
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To assess the impact of applying additional nitrogen at different rates and timings on grain yield of wheat
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To test the applicability of the South Australian 'Slide rule' type of arrangement whereby nitrogen requirement of a cereal crop can be quickly estimated before sowing in the Victorian southern Mallee and northern Wimmera.
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To compare the effects of different nitrogen rates and soil types on wheat production and to extend information to local growers and identify where savings can be made.
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To test the nitrogen response in different electromagnetic (EM) zones of the paddock.
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To determine the effect of N rate on the yield and grain quality of eight popular bread wheat varieties at Coolah in central NSW in 2015.
Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient most required by wheat. It is essential for growth and development, and yield and grain protein levels. In recent seasons in Central West NSW there has been a significa… read more
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To determine the effect of N application and sowing time on the yield and grain quality of eight popular bread wheat varieties at Trangie in central NSW in 2015.
Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient wheat most needs for growth, development and yield. In recent seasons in Central West NSW there has been a significant trend towards above average… read more
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To assess a number of different nitrogen timings and nitrogen products.
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To evaluate the influence of plant population, row spacing and nitrogen rate on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), dry matter production, grain yield and harvest index in grain maize.
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To evaluate the influence of different rates and timings of 46 %N prilled urea applied N prior to later applications of liquid N applied as fertigation applied in grain maize.
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To evaluate nitrogen use efficiency in grain maize under different rates and of applied N fertiliser applied at sowing and at V6 as urea (46% N).
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To evaluate nitrogen use efficiency in grain maize under different rates and of applied N fertiliser applied as pre drill urea (46% N) prior to fertigation with an overhead lateral.
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To measure and quantify N2O emissions from wheat grown in rotation with canola, pulses and legume pastures at two sites in low and medium/high rainfall farming systems of the Eyre Peninsula, while assessing best management practices that local farmers can adopt to reduce the risk of N2O losses and ultimately improve the paddock’s crop producti… read more
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Agricultural soils are the main source of emission of the greenhouse gas (GHG) nitrous oxide (N2O) to the atmosphere. N2O is a potent GHG which lasts in the atmosphere for 114 years and has a global warming potential of approximately 300 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over a 100 year timescale. Agriculture accounts for 16% of Australi… read more
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To measure and quantify N2O emissions from wheat grown in rotation with canola, pulses and legume pastures at two sites in low and medium/high rainfall farming systems of the Eyre Peninsula, while assessing best management practices that local farmers can adopt to reduce the risk of N2O losses and ultimately improve the paddock’s crop producti… read more
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Agricultural soils are the main source of emission of the greenhouse gas (GHG) nitrous oxide (N2O) to the atmosphere. N2O is a potent GHG which lasts in the atmosphere for 114 years and has a global warming potential of approximately 300 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over a 100 year timescale. Agriculture accounts for 16% of Australi… read more
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To measure N20 emitted by vetch, field peas and wheat stubble over summer and to determine whether
top-dressed inhibitor-treated and slow release urea products influence N2O emissions.
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To measure N20 emitted by vetch, field peas and wheat stubble over summer and to determine whether
top-dressed inhibitor-treated and slow release urea products influence N2O emissions.
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To measure N20 emitted by vetch, field peas and wheat stubble over summer and to determine whether top-dressed inhibitor-treated and slow release urea products influence N2O emissions.
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To investigate options for no-till sowing in stony soils.
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This experiment compared the different Rhizobia innoculation formulations on nodulation, growth and yield of field pea, lupin, faba bean, lentil and chickpea under varying rain-fed and soil moisture conditions on an acidic, sandy loam at Yenda in the south western cropping zone of southern NSW.
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This experiment compared different rhizobia inoculant formulations on nodulation, growth and yield of field pea, lupin, faba bean, lentil and chickpea under varying rain-fed and soil moisture conditions on an acidic, red-brown earth at Wagga Wagga in the south-eastern cropping zone of southern NSW
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Claying has been undertaken in many areas throughout the zone, and there is quite a bit of expertise on the risks and benefits associated with it within the zone. Cash flow of most farmers in general doesn’t allow the expense of the high rates of clay to occur. However, there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that low rates of clay (lower than … read more
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To conduct a noodle wheat agronomy demonstration.
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What are the long-term impacts on systems performance (e.g. productivity, profitability and soil health) when six strategically different 'farming systems' are applied to one geographic location over a five year period?
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Can systems performance be improved by modifying farming systems in the northern grains region? | What are the trends that are expected and how will these changes impact on the performance and status of our farming systems?
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To provide soil test calibrations with fertiliser repsonses for situations where the national database has minimal data.
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To determine the relative importance of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) in canola.
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A review of the fertiliser requirements of different soil types in the region.
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The aim of this study was to examine the impact of long-term farming practices on SOM decomposition and N, P and S net release in soil, thus evaluating the nutrient supply value of SOM in grain cropping systems.
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To question how much nutrition did you export to the silo last year and how much fertiliser are you applying this year?
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To investigate the effect of seeding rate and nitrogen rate on oats for hay production.
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To assess water repellent soil amelioration options and to determine whether a one-way plough can be used to ameliorate non-wetting sand for much lower cost than mouldboard ploughing or rotary spading.
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To test on-row or inter-row seeding with and without a pre-emergent herbicide package of trifluralin + metribuzin
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To compare and assess the effectiveness of one-off tillage treatments on soil water repellence, water infiltration, crop establishment and productivity on a water repellent gravel.
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Assessing practical soil management options for overcoming severe water repellence on sandy gravels in the West Midlands.
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To assess amelioration options for water repellent soil and to determine whether a one-way plough can be used to ameliorate non-wetting sand for much lower cost than mouldboard ploughing or rotary spading.
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Onion weed (Asphodelus fistulosusis) is a significant pest of crops and pastures on many soil types on upper EP. Onion weed that germinates in the pasture phase often results in thick stands of large plants that require repeated herbicide application and/or cultivation to control prior to a crop phase. Cultivation prior to sowing is a widespread… read more
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To investigate the optimum fertiliser placement when sowing wheat.
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To investigate how different summer crops influence soil moisture throughout their growing seasons and in the subsequent wheat crop
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To compare an opportunistic break crop against fallow and wheat to better define the pros and cons of fallowing.
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To compare an opportunistic break crop against fallow and wheat to better define the pros and cons of fallowing.
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To compare grain yields of early sown wheat with grazed (cut) wheat sown at the same time and that sown at a more traditional time, May. A further aim was to compare a commercial plant density for dual purpose and grain‐only production with reduced rates comparable to that used for early sowing in the UK.
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To evaluate different sequences of pulses and canola after soil amelioration when transitioning into cereal cropping to capture maximum benefit from amelioration.
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To evaluate the rotational benefit of different sequences of pulses and canola after soil amelioration when transitioning back into cereal cropping following amelioration.
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To assess a range of commercial rhizobia inoculant products, application strategies and sowing times to provide growers with recommendations that ensures adequate nodulation and nitrogen fixation in dry sown crops.
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The aim of this series of experiments was to deterimine if management of EGA Wedgetail should be different to that of spring wheats sown in May, and if grown for grain only or dual purpose use.
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To discuss optimising phosphorus fertiliser rates.
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To identify the critical P fertiliser rates for a broad range of crops on different soil types in the southern Mallee and northern Wimmera. This trial was also undertaken in 1999.
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To investigate phosphorus use efficiency in six crop types - barley, wheat, canola, lentils, faba beans and field peas. This is the third year of this BCG research.
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To investigate phosphorus use efficiency in six crop types - barley, wheat, canola, lentils, faba beans and field peas. This is the third year of this BCG research.
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To investigate phosphorus use efficiency in six crop types - barley, wheat, canola, lentils, faba beans and field peas. This is the third year of this BCG research.
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This project aims to determine if nitrogen supply is limiting uptake of sulphur in canola crops grown in the Riverine Plains region and whether sulphur uptake and yield is increased in canola when nitrogen is available in non-limiting quantities.
The 2017 project trial assessed the response to nitrogen and sulphur in canola crops of the R… read more
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This project aims to determine if nitrogen supply is limiting uptake of sulphur in canola crops grown in the Riverine Plains region and whether sulphur uptake and yield is increased in canola when nitrogen is available in non-limiting quantities.
The 2017 project trial assessed the response to nitrogen and sulphur in canola crops of the R… read more
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The aim of this research was to confirm that crop productivity can be substantially improved when subsoil chemical, physical and biological constraints in sandy soils are treated.
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To determine the ffectiveness of foliar sprays of copper fertiliser for maximum grain yield of wheat for a range of copper deficinet soil types in the Newdegate- lake Grace district.
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To determine the effectiveness of foliar sprays of zinc fertiliser for maximum grain yield of wheat for a range of zinc deficinet soil types in the Newdegate- lake Grace district.