Effect of plant density on wheat

2006
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton

Trial details

Researcher(s) Brett Davey (SFS)
Geoff Dean (SFS)
Simon Munford (DPIW)
Year(s) 2006
Contributor Southern Farming Systems
Trial location(s) Perth, TAS
Effect of plant density on wheat locations
Aims
  • 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. A further aim of this study was to compare grain yields of early sown wheat with that sown at a more traditional time, May.
  • The potential of early sown wheat and triticale for production of silage was also assessed.
Key messages

The effects of plant density (50, 125, 200 plants/m2) on growth and grain yield of early sown (March) wheat were evaluated. Early in the growing season the low density plots looked very sparse but by September had largely caught up. The trial was severely frosted at ear emergence and during flowering and average yields were only 0.5 t/ha. Yields tended to increase from 50 through to 200 plants/m2 with the highest density producing significantly greater yields than for 50 plants/m2 density. There were no differences in number of grains per ear or grain weight but there were significantly higher ears per m2 at the 200 plants/m2 density. July sown plots avoided some of the frost damage and grain yields were significantly higher.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Bill Chilvers, Rob Bradley


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Sowing: Rate
  • Sowing: Timing
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Blocked

Perth 2006

Sow date 14 March 2006
Harvest date 24 January 2007
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
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Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Variety
Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha) 1000 grain weight (g)
1 Mackellar 50 plants/m2 0.44 42.4
2 Mackellar 200 plants/m2 0.65 40.4
3 Mackellar 125 plants/m2 0.53 43

Grain yield t/ha


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1000 grain weight g


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Perth, TAS Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Perth, TAS Sodosol
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 Perth TAS
2006 177.7mm
2005 184.6mm
2004 189.7mm
2003 207.1mm
2002 232.4mm
2001 318.4mm
2000 458.2mm
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.

Perth TAS

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

2006 trial report



Trial last modified: 18-11-2019 11:20am AEST