To identify low risk, profitable break crops and end-uses for the Mallee region, and quantify their benefits to subsequent wheat crops.
Key messages
Wheat yields in 2012 were higher following hay, brown manure or fallow in 2011, probably due to extra water conserved in these treatments. Crop sequences including a break crop are at least as profitable as continuous wheat, with some examples of substantial profit gain. Where continuous cereals are grown, cutting wheat for hay can provide substantial yield and profit benefits to subsequent wheat in seasons with low growing season rain.
Lead research organisation
N/A
Host research organisation
N/A
Related program
N/A
Acknowledgments
This project was funded by GRDC project BWD00012 Yielding benefits through partnerships and CPS00111 Identifying farm scale opportunities to improve WUE: A nationally coordinated systems approach. Contributors include: Warakirri Bullarto Downs for hosting the experiments over five years; Ian Delmenico of CropRite Pty Ltd conducted the site EM survey; Damian Mowat and Brett Cox of CSIRO made soil water characterisations; John Stuchbery of JSA Independent for agronomic advice; Mel Cann of DPI Victoria for providing soil descriptions and Grant Hollaway made root disease assessments.
Trial source data and summary not available Check the trial
report PDF for trial results.
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.
Hopetoun VIC
NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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.
