Demonstrating different controlled traffic options

2007
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton

Trial details

Researcher(s) Rohan Wardle (SFS)
Jeremy White (DPI)
Andrew Whitlock (DPI)
Year(s) 2007
Contributor Southern Farming Systems
Trial location(s) Shelford, VIC
Demonstrating different controlled traffic options locations
Aims

This site was designed to demonstrate the practical implications of implementing Controlled Traffic and
Precision Agriculture practices

Key messages

The PA Concept Farm gave growers the opportunity to see first hand the difficulties and successes of implementing new and innovative cropping techniques involving PA (Precision Agriculture) and CTF (Controlled Traffic Farming). Although final yields were not of importance due to the nature of the site, various observations throughout the year demonstrated to visitors some of the things to watch for when adopting these tools and practices. The fact that yields were not altered indicate the importance of maintaining dedicated wheel marks all season, and the implications of adding machinery such as that used to bale hay. The site also demonstrated that without amelioration, soil improvement due to reduced compaction can take a number of years to manifest into greater yields. 

Weed burdens at the site highlighted the importance of ensuring control in wheel marks, whilst indicating that wider row‐spacing does not necessarily mean increased weeds. The difficulties of keeping seeding equipment tracking straight when precision sowing were also encountered, making for a good discussion with site visitors about the various techniques that can be used to overcome this problem.

Costs of guidance were compared for the site, with $3/ha for line marking using a contractor with autosteer, $190/ha for a contractor to set up a whole paddock with beds and between $20,000 and $50,000 to get one machine setup with Real Time Kinematic (RTK) autosteer including your own basestation.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Related program National Landcare Programme
Acknowledgments

David and Fiona Stephens for their contribution of time, energy and property. Controlled Traffic Site sponsors: Australian Grain Accumulation, CTF Solutions, EJ & D Stephens, Farm Works Pty Ltd, Gorst Rural Supplies, gps‐Ag, Peak Pastoral Grain Company, RE & JL Knight P/L


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Barley
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Properties: Compaction
  • Sowing: Row Spacing
Trial type Demonstration
Trial design Unreplicated

Shelford 2007

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

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Variety
Treatment 1
Establishment plants (plants/m2) Weeds (plants/m2)
1 Gairdner 8" traditional practice 106 45
2 Gairdner 8" raised beds with autosteer 140 62
3 Gairdner 8" line mark for sowing and visual for rest 113 67
4 Gairdner 8" intra-row sowing using autosteer for all 132 63
5 Gairdner 8" inter-row sowing using autosteer for all 125 35
6 Gairdner 8" autosteer for for sowing then bare wheel/visual for rest 111 50
7 Gairdner 8" autosteer for all operations with sown wheel tracks 79 31
8 Gairdner 16" line mark for inter-row then visual for rest 105 14
9 Gairdner 16" inter-row sowing using auto steer for all 104 30

Establishment plants plants/m2


Loading

Weeds plants/m2


Loading
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Shelford, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Shelford, 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 Shelford VIC
2007 467.4mm
2006 429.8mm
2005 399.3mm
2004 404.1mm
2003 407.2mm
2002 363.8mm
2001 439.8mm
2000 484.1mm
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

Loading

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.

Shelford VIC

Loading
Loading
Loading

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: 04-11-2019 10:11am AEST