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:
Aims:
To show the importance of soil testing, and linking this with applying the right nutrients.
Aims:
To investigate responses to potassium and nitrogen in wheat. Wheat yeild and grain quality can be limited if either of these macro nutrients is in short supply.
Aims:
To record the reponses of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to copper in the Wimmera region of Victoria to determine if commercial wheat crops would respond to copper.
Aims:
This trial was designed to test whether wheat growing on soil with low K levels will benefit from K application enabling it to make full use of applied N during the crop growth cycle. High yield potential crops in the area have shown decreased rigidity in foliage and tillers, with low Cu status suspected. Uptake of Cu can be influenced by rapid … read more
Aims:
This trial was designed to compare the amount of irrigation water required by canola on raised beds with conventionally prepared ground.
Aims:
This research is questioning if placing immobile nutrients deeper into the soil can increase grain yield.
Aims:
To investiage management of risk through tailoring inputs to the different production zones potential
by using variable rate technology.
Aims:
To manage risk through tailoring inputs to the different production zones potential by using variable rate technology.
Aims:
To manage risk through variable rate technology using different inputs over variable soil types and testing the use of Yield Prophet to match plant available water and nutrition with modelling of climatic conditions, knowing that we can have unpredictable finishes to seasons.
Aims:
To investiage management of risk through tailoring inputs to the different production zones
potential by using variable rate technology.
Aims:
At Wharminda the focus is on managing risk through variable rate technology (VRT) using different inputs over variable soil
types.
Aims:
To manage risk through variable rate technology using different inputs over variable soil types and testing the use of Yield Prophet to match plant available water and nutrition with modelling of climatic conditions, knowing that we can have unpredictable finishes to seasons.
Aims:
To manage risk through variable rate technology using different inputs over variable soil types and testing the use of Yield Prophet to match plant available water and nutrition with modelling of climatic conditions, knowing that we can have unpredictable finishes to seasons.
Aims:
To see how the commonly grown varieties with a range of maturities respond to seasonal conditions, soil type and sowing time, i.e. to evaluate how they can best fit into the farming system.
Aims:
To establish nutritional requirements of oat on Eyre Peninsula.
Aims:
The aim of this trial is to evaluate and analyse the effect of deep ripping with inclusion plates on moving surface-applied lime into acidic sub-soil of deep sandy duplex. Additionally, this trial tested farm-sourced lime against commercial grade lime.
Aims:
Trial 1: Lime comparison trial
The use of new pH mapping technologies has increased the awareness and identification of soil acidity in many districts. However, there are several aspects of soil acidity management which remain a problem for growers. This trial aimed to investigate a range of lime and acidity management factors outlined … read more
Aims:
To determine the efficacy and rate of gypsum required to improve soil structure on heavy clay soils in a minimum tillage system.
Aims:
To determine the efficacy and rate of gypsum required to improve soil structure on heavy clay soils in a minimum tillage system.
Aims:
Aims:
To determine the variation in the build-up of Rhizoctonia solani AG8 inoculum between cereal crops wheat, barley, triticale and cereal rye and varieties in a cropping system.
Aims:
To determine if disease suppression against rhizoctonia is achievable in an upper EP environment on a grey highly calcareous soil. It also assessed whether soil microbial populations can be influenced by rotation and fertiliser inputs in this environment.
Aims:
Test benefits of ribbon sowing to improve yield of very wide rows in a dry season when sowing onto deep moisture.
Aims:
This project aims to establish 4 demonstration sites in the Esperance Port Zone that are used by growers to increase their knowledge and adoption of deep ripping and controlled traffic farming to alleviate non-wetting soils, compaction and waterlogging on different soil types in the port zone to improve crop production.
To do so the pr… read more
Aims:
To evaluate the grain yield and economic benefit of soil amelioration and controlled traffic practices on a broader range of soil types across the grain growing region of WA.
This trial aims to increase the knowldege and adpotion of deep ripping techniques and controlled traffic to allieviate non-wetting soils, compaction and waterlo… read more
Aims:
To demonstrate that, in the right season, ripping affects nitrogen uptake efficiency and availability to crops.
Aims:
To report on a series of in-crop risk management plots that were established at BCG’s three research and demonstration sites (Manangatang, Birchip and Longerenong).
Aims:
To demonstrate the production risks associated with sowing different length maturity wheat varieties at different times.
Aims:
To determine the most cost effective approach to managing inputs for wheat production in a low rainfall cropping environment.
Aims:
To determine the most cost effective approach to managing inputs for wheat production in a low rainfall cropping environment.
Aims:
To assess the impact of full inversion mouldboard ploughing and partial inversion rotary spading on soil repellance, crop growth and grain yield using large scale on-farm trials.
Aims:
Aims:
To compare fallow and termination timing treatments of legumes on biomass and grain production (2014), and their impact on sowing-time, soil nitrogen and water, and subsequent yield and quality of cereal sown the following season (2015).
Aims:
Aims:
To demonstrate the effects of lentil rolling at five different timings: with rolling post sowing/pre-emergence as the control.
Aims:
To examine rygrass control in barley using pre-emergent herbicides.
Aims:
Ryegrass management is one of the key drivers of profitability in Lower Eyre Peninsula (LEP) cropping systems, and herbicides have recently been used as the main strategy for control. The intensification of cropping rotations and a decrease in livestock in farming systems has increased pressure on herbicides, resulting in the development of herb… read more
Aims:
The aim of this project (SAGIT S914) was to:
Aims:
Aims:
Aims:
To establish soil sampling and analysis protocols for micronutrients.
Aims:
The trials evaluated responses in wheat and barley to increasing N rates.
Aims:
The trials evaluated wheat and barley varieties at increasing P rates.
Aims:
CWFS are conducting trials at its regional sites that - investigate the impact of different stubble treatments imposed towards the end of the fallow have on nitrogen response (applied as urea) in wheat yield and quality - evaluate the widely used advisor/farmer benchmark of 20 kg actual N required per tonne of expected yield.
Aims:
CWFS are conducting trials at its regional sites that - investigate the impact of different stubble treatments imposed towards the end of the fallow have on nitrogen response (applied as urea) in wheat yield and quality - evaluate the widely used advisor/farmer benchmark of 20 kg actual N required per tonne of expected yield.
Aims:
To investigate the impact of different stubble treatments (burning, cultivation or standing stubble) imposed towards the end of the fallow have on the yield of wheat and barley, and evaluate any cultivar responses within crop species to the impact of the different stubble treatments.
Aims:
Aims:
Trial aimed to investigate the impact that different stubble treatments imposed towards the end of the fallow have on the establishment and yield of canola.
Aims:
To explore a seed coating to increase early vigour of barley in manganese deficient soils
Aims:
Aims:
Aims:
To report on seed quality, nitrogen, screenings and black point in wheat and barley.
Aims:
In a grain grower planted paddock with 3 different seed rates, differing rates of UAN are applied to observe the effect on grain yield and protein. Trial is conducted in both sand dune and loam swale in order to establish best management strategy
Aims:
To assess the impact of small and large seed size sown to target plant density and kg/ha with different P rates on barley yield and quality.
Aims:
To assess the impact of commercially available seed treatments on wheat yield and quality.
Aims:
To determine the most effective seed treatment in wheat and evaluate any benefits from using imidacloprid on wheat.
Aims:
To present options for increasing zinc efficiency of cereals through breeding.
Aims:
To present a review of trace element nutrition and the growth of crops and pastures in acid soils.
Aims:
To look at Serenade Prime as product to increase marketable potatoes and uniformity in tuber size through two applications during the growing season.
Aims:
To determine how serradella performs when introduced to a sub tropical pasture stand.
Aims:
To quantify the effect of paddock stubble management and weed burden during the summer fallow on crop available soil water, nutrients and yield.
Aims:
To test whether sheep grazing in no-till systems damages soil and reduces crop yields.
Aims:
To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.
Aims:
To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.
Aims:
To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.
Aims:
To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.
Aims:
To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.
Aims:
To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.
Aims:
To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.
Aims:
To determine the impact of sheep grazing on stubbles during the summer fallow period on soil properties, crop resources and growth under no-till, controlled traffic cropping with strict weed control.
Aims:
To determine whether adjustments need to be made to a range of decision support systems (DSSs) to quantitatively account for the effect of gravel on inputs such as fertilisers, lime, pesticides and herbicides.
Aims:
To examine which soil analysis to use for manganese.
Aims:
To identify alternative grazing systems that are both sustainable and profitable in low-medium rainfall zones where cropping is no longer viable due to high risks and changing climatic conditions.
Aims:
For a sub-tropical grass established in the Mallee environment, to assess the pattern and reliability of growth and its potential as a fodder source using simulation models.
Aims:
To discuss six seasons of the Farming System Trial in the southern Mallee.
Aims:
To demonstrate the long term production and associated economic benefits from ameliorating soil sodicity.
Aims:
To demonstrate the production and associated economic benefits from ameliorating soil sodicity over the long term.
Aims:
To demonstrate the production and associated economic benefits from ameliorating soil acidity over the long term.
Aims:
To improve the soil structure of sodic soils using gypsum and tillage techniques.
Aims:
To identify and retest historic pH monitoring sites from previous publicly funded projects.
Aims:
To identify and retest historic pH monitoring sites from previous publically funded projects.
Aims:
To identify and retest historic pH monitoring sites from previous publically funded projects.
Aims:
Aims:
Aims:
To have paddocks re-tested for soil pH post liming and results were compared to the pH level prior to liming.
Aims:
The aim of this long-term trial is to investigate different soil management options to reduce the negative effect of sub-soil limitations on crop yield.
Aims:
To examine the pasture productivity and economic response to the application and incorporation of low rates of clay to pale deep sandplain over three years.
Aims:
To examine the pasture productivity and economic response to the application and incorporation of low rates of clay to pale deep sandplain over three years.
Aims:
To look at the following soil amelioration treatments on water repellent pale sand:
Aims:
To investigate benefits of soil amendments on acid soil for wheat and triticale.
Aims:
To assess the effectiveness of a range of soil ameliorants.
Aims:
To assess the second year impact of mouldboard ploughing on wetting up of water repellent soil and on lupin establishment and yield.
Aims:
To test the usefulness of some soil and plant tests to predict copper disorders for areas of SW Victoria.
Aims:
To use six different labs (Soil Food Web, CSBP, APAL, AgPath, Microbwise and Solvita) to analyse soil microbiology on six different properties across Kangaroo Island.
Aims:
To provide information about soil biology in farming systems.
Aims:
To investigate the potential of biological and organic matter inputs to increase soil water storage, target long-term yield increases and soil improvement.
Aims:
To investigate the potential of biological and organic matter inputs to increase soil water storage, target long-term yield increases and soil improvement.
Aims:
To investigate the potential of biological and organic matter inputs to increase soil water storage, target long-term yield increases and soil improvement
Aims:
To investigate the potential of biological and organic matter inputs to increase soil water storage, target long-term yield increases and soil health and structure improvements.
Aims:
To investigate the potential of organic matter inputs to increase yield and improve soil health.