Conserving moisture during summer

2011

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Claire Browne (BCG)
James Hunt (BCG)
Therese McBeath (CSIRO)
Year(s) 2011
Contributor Birchip Cropping Group
Trial location(s) Hopetoun, VIC
Conserving moisture during summer locations
Aims

To quantify how paddock stubble load and weed burden during summer can affect available soil water, nutrients and subsequent crop yield.

Key messages

Controlling summer weeds conserved both water and nitrogen and doubled wheat yields in 2011 on both sand and clay soil types. Retaining or removing stubble has only minor effects on wheat yield. Complete control of summer weeds pays, and there is no excuse for weedy paddocks during summer in the Wimmera and Mallee!

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC BWD00012,CPS00111
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This project was funded by GRDC projects BWD00012 Yielding benefits through partnerships and CPS00111 Identifying farm-scale opportunities to improve WUE: A nationally coordinated systems approach.


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Stubble: Management
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Hopetoun 2011

Sow date 29 April 2011
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication 4
Fertiliser

55kg/ha MAP at sowing, 21kg/ha N top-dressed as ammonium sulfate on 1 July.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

@T1: Pre Sowing
# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha) Gross margin ($/ha) Mineral N (kg/ha)
1 Standing stubble 3.7 298 131
1 Standing stubble + summer weeds 2.2 126 77
2 Slashed stubble 4.2 346 123
2 Bare earth 3.7 304 105
3 Bare earth + summer weeds 2.1 84 70
3 Cultivation 3.7 305 101
4
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9
10

Grain yield t/ha


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Gross margin $/ha


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Mineral N kg/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Hopetoun, VIC Sand
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Hopetoun, VIC Tenosol
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 Hopetoun VIC
2011 609.6mm
2010 527.8mm
2009 462.3mm
2008 454.1mm
2007 455.4mm
2006 441.2mm
2005 483.1mm
2004 436.8mm
2003 429.3mm
2002 387.1mm
2001 445.0mm
2000 453.4mm
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

Hopetoun VIC 2011


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 198mm

Derived climate information

Hopetoun VIC

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

2011 trial report



Trial last modified: 02-12-2019 15:32pm AEST