The effect of grazing crops on soil structure and weeds (preliminary findings)

2011
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Simon Falkiner
Cam Nicholson
Year(s) 2011
Contributor Southern Farming Systems
Trial location(s) Inverleigh, VIC
Lake Bolac, VIC
Werneth, VIC
The effect of grazing crops on soil structure and weeds (preliminary findings) locations
Aims

To determine the impact of grazing on soil condition and weed populations. This report is on findings after two years of grazing.

Key messages
  • Despite visual difference there is no major impact on soil structure, water holding capacity or water infiltration from grazing in summer or in winter when soils are waterlogged.
  • Grazing in the previous winter or summer does not affect the following crop establishment or grain yield.
  • Any yield losses after winter grazing are the result of moisture stress in the period immediately after grazing through to flowering.
  • Annual ryegrass and wild radish populations did not increase because of grazing, altough the sites only had low levels of infestation to begin with. However, farmer observations do not support this and further work is required.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC
Trial funding source Caring for our Country
Trial funding source Grain & Graze
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Troy Missen

GRDC and Caring for our Country through the Grain & Graze 2 program


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

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Barley Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Grazing: Timing
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Inverleigh 2011 Barley

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

Lake Bolac 2011 Barley

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

Werneth 2011 Wheat

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 Inverleigh results

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Not Graze 6.8
2 Grazed in winter 4.8
3 Grazed in summer and winter 4.8
4 Grazed in summer 7.1

Grain yield t/ha


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Trial results Lake Bolac results

# Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Not Grazed 5.1
2 Grazed in winter 5.4
3 Grazed in summer and winter 5.2
4 Grazed in summer 5.6

Grain yield t/ha


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Trial results Werneth results

# Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Not Grazed 2.3
2 Grazed in winter 1.4
3 Grazed in summer and winter 1.3
4 Grazed in summer 2.4

Grain yield t/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Inverleigh, VIC Not specified
Lake Bolac, VIC Not specified
Werneth, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Inverleigh, VIC Sodosol
Lake Bolac, VIC Sodosol
Werneth, 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 Inverleigh VIC Lake Bolac VIC Werneth VIC
2011 580.5mm532.6mm349.5mm
2010 592.9mm532.7mm355.2mm
2009 508.8mm476.1mm305.1mm
2008 492.1mm477.4mm305.4mm
2007 455.4mm474.0mm307.3mm
2006 467.8mm461.2mm301.9mm
2005 491.2mm491.3mm316.1mm
2004 438.6mm474.1mm326.0mm
2003 416.4mm482.7mm340.8mm
2002 399.6mm463.3mm343.2mm
2001 472.4mm466.9mm413.1mm
2000 448.5mm459.2mm441.0mm
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.

Inverleigh VIC

Lake Bolac VIC

Werneth VIC

Inverleigh VIC

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Lake Bolac VIC

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Werneth 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

2011 trial report

2011 trial report

2011 trial report



Trial last modified: 30-10-2019 10:10am AEST