The effect of different wheat varieties, row spacing and nitrogen timing on grain yield, grain quality, weed incidence and residue load

2007
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton

Trial details

Researcher(s) Mark Steele (La Trobe University Research Project)
Rohan Wardle (SFS)
Year(s) 2007
Contributor Southern Farming Systems
Trial location(s) Mininera, VIC
The effect of different wheat varieties, row spacing and nitrogen timing on grain yield, grain quality, weed incidence and residue load locations
Aims
  • To assess the potential yield loss/gains when increasing the seed row width for the benefits of subsequent inter‐row (no‐till) cropping
  • To determine if nitrogen application efficiency can be increased in wider row spacing
  • To assess the varietal yield response to row spacing and nitrogen application
  • To assess weed incidence and disease pressure across each seed row width
Key messages
  • Wider row spacings (300mm vs 200mm) significantly reduced yield when averaged across three wheat varieties and two nitrogen timings. Wider rows reduced crop income in excess of $100/ha.
  • The cultivar (variety) grown was just as important as row spacing in determining yield. When averaged across the different row spacings and nitrogen timing treatments, Kellalac yielded 4.61t/ha, Bolac 5.12t/ha and Beaufort 5.72t/ha.
  • Tiller counts were significantly less when moving to the wider row spacing widths. At the 200 mm row width, Beaufort had significantly fewer tillers/m2 than Kellalac, which in turn had significantly fewer tillers than Bolac. When the row spacing increased to 300mm, both Kellalac and Bolac had a significant reduction in tillers, while counts for Beaufort did not drop significantly. Kellalac had the fewest number of tillers at the wider row spacing.
  • Row widths of 200mm with nitrogen applied at GS00 & GS31, tended to give higher yields (5.30t/ha & 5.33t/ha respectively) when compared to a row spacing of 300mm with nitrogen applied at GS00 (5.09t/ha) & GS31 (4.88t/ha).
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Rowly Patterson and Bert McArthur for allowing us to use the Mininera trial site and support from the Streatham Branch Committee for guidance, ideas and trial inputs.


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

Method

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

Mininera 2007

Sow date 28 May 2007
Harvest date 8 January 2008
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Variety
Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha) Protein (%)
1 Kellalac None 4.61 4.61
2 Bolac None 5.12 5.12
3 Beaufort None 5.72 5.72
4 Kellalac N @ GS31 4.45 4.45
5 Bolac N @ GS31 5.18 5.18
6 Beaufort N @ GS31 5.68 5.68
7 Kellalac N @ GS00 4.77 4.77
8 Bolac N @ GS00 5.06 5.06
9 Beaufort N @ GS00 5.76 5.76
10 Kellalac 300mm 4.49 4.49
11 Bolac 300mm 4.88 4.88
12 Beaufort 300mm 5.58 5.58
13 Kellalac 200mm row 4.72 4.72
14 Bolac 200mm row 5.36 5.36
15 Beaufort 200mm row 5.86 5.86

Grain yield t/ha


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Protein %


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Mininera, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Mininera, VIC 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 Mininera VIC
2007 302.8mm
2006 300.7mm
2005 316.0mm
2004 320.6mm
2003 373.9mm
2002 397.3mm
2001 407.9mm
2000 432.6mm
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.

Mininera VIC

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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

2007 trial report



Trial last modified: 06-11-2019 11:43am AEST