Conserving moisture during summer

2008 - 2009

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Claire Browne (BCG)
James Hunt (CSIRO)
Michael Walsh (BCG )
Year(s) 2008 - 2009
Contributor Birchip Cropping Group
Trial location(s) Charlton, VIC
Hopetoun, VIC
Kerang, VIC
Longerenong, VIC
Swan Hill, VIC
Walpeup, VIC
Conserving moisture during summer locations
Aims

To quantify how paddock stubble load and weed burden during summer can affect soil water, nutrients and subsequent crop yield.

Key messages
  • Conserving summer rain is one of the most effective ways of improving crop yield.
  • Summer weeds have the biggest impact on how much summer rain is stored and made available to crops.
  • The presence of stubble has never been shown to have a large positive effect on the storage of summer rain in southern Australia, but it might lengthen the sowing window after the break and improve establishment.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC BWD00012,CPS00111
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This project was funded by GRDC projects BWD00012 Yielding benefits through partnerships and CPS00111 Identifying farm-scale opportunities to improve WUE: A nationally coordinated systems approach.


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Barley
Treatment type(s)
  • Management systems: Other
Trial type
Trial design

Charlton 2008

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

Charlton 2009

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

Hopetoun 2008

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

Hopetoun 2009

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

Kerang 2008

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

Kerang 2009

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

Longerenong 2008

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

Longerenong 2009

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

Swan Hill 2008

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

Swan Hill 2009

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

Walpeup 2008

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

Walpeup 2009

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 4m x 14m
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
Charlton, VIC Not specified
Hopetoun, VIC Not specified
Kerang, VIC Not specified
Longerenong, VIC Not specified
Swan Hill, VIC Not specified
Walpeup, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Charlton, VIC Sodosol
Hopetoun, VIC Tenosol
Kerang, VIC Vertosol
Longerenong, VIC Vertosol
Swan Hill, VIC Calcarosol
Walpeup, 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 Charlton VIC Hopetoun VIC Kerang VIC Longerenong VIC Swan Hill VIC Walpeup VIC
2009 625.6mm462.3mm181.8mm251.0mm200.7mm251.8mm
2008 590.8mm454.1mm95.0mm224.6mm171.5mm233.8mm
2007 577.6mm455.4mm47.7mm307.5mm164.0mm259.0mm
2006 579.5mm441.2mm13.3mm345.5mm168.0mm226.8mm
2005 592.2mm483.1mm67.5mm401.2mm197.1mm269.7mm
2004 556.2mm436.8mm30.1mm427.9mm136.4mm219.8mm
2003 550.3mm429.3mm43.3mm526.2mm106.1mm217.1mm
2002 508.1mm387.1mm26.2mm537.0mm106.1mm172.5mm
2001 535.4mm445.0mm150.6mm607.1mm207.3mm236.6mm
2000 492.8mm453.4mm252.2mm677.5mm208.4mm281.1mm
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.

Charlton VIC

Hopetoun VIC

Kerang VIC

Longerenong VIC

Swan Hill VIC

Walpeup VIC

Charlton VIC

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Hopetoun VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Kerang VIC

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Longerenong VIC

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Swan Hill VIC

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Walpeup VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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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: 02-12-2019 15:22pm AEST