Six seasons of the farming systems trial in the southern Mallee

2000

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) N/A
Year(s) 2000
Contributor Birchip Cropping Group
Trial location(s) Birchip, VIC
Six seasons of the farming systems trial in the southern Mallee locations
Aims

To discuss six seasons of the Farming System Trial in the southern Mallee.

Key messages

After six years of running the Systems Site comparing farming systems it has become clear that the critical issues are as follows.

  1. Conserving soil water into dry seasons, which can be achieved using either mechanical in a conventional system or chemical means in a reduced till or no till system (assuming there is enough stubble to protect the soil surface from evaporation).
  2. Since the introduction of Frame and Yitpi (CCN resistant wheats) CCN has not been a problem.
  3. Take-all and Pratylenchus neglectus appear to more closely correlate to specific areas in a paddock rather than levels changing because of crop choice or the rotation (field peas did lower Pratylenchus levels). Certainly there did not appear to be any influence of farming system on these two soil borne diseases.
  4. Weed levels have not changed markedly over the duration of the trial and there were no differences between systems after six years. Brome grass is now present at the site at very low levels whereas it was not recorded in 1999 and 2000.
  5. Wind erosion susceptibility and risk is lowest in the No Till plots because of good stubble cover and aggregation of soil particles. The three other systems all had plots which were moderately susceptible to wind erosion, primarily as a result of low stubble cover.
  6. Using current technology and sampling intensity it is not possible to pick up changes in soil available nitrogen levels between different farming systems.
  7. Soil changes in soil biological characteristics are currently being assessed and will be reported by the BCG update in February 2006.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GGA
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments
  • Grain Growers Association for major financial support over the five year period 2001-2005.
  • GRDC for project support relating to the site.
  • Ian and Warrick McClelland for giving the BCG the use of their land for the duration of this project.
  • The farmer ‘Champions’ for their good-will, support and input in making this project a success (Paul Barclay, Brad Martin, Alan Postlethwaite and Ian and Warrick McClelland).
  • Alan McKay from SARDI and Bayer Crop Sciences for the soil DNA analysis.
  • Susan Robertson from DPI Victoria for the early work on pasture growth and livestock performance.
  • Pauline Mele from the DPI Victoria for the soil biological activity analysis.
  • Deirdre LeMerle from CRC Weed Management for the seed soil bank analysis

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

Method

Crop types Oilseed: Canola Cereal (Grain): Wheat Grain Legume: Field peas
Treatment type(s)
  • Fallow
  • Management systems
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Birchip 2000 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Birchip 2000 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Birchip 2000 Field peas

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Birchip, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Birchip, VIC Vertosol
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

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Birchip 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 last modified: 25-11-2019 13:52pm AEST