Feed for the summer: summer-growing perennial grasses for Mallee mixed farms

2012

Research organisaton
Funding sources
CRC <abbr title='Grains Research and Development Corporation'>GRDC</abbr>

Trial details

Researcher(s) Claire Browne (BCG)
Bill Davoren (CSIRO)
Katrien Descheemaeker (WUR)
Rick Llewellyn (CSIRO)
Year(s) 2012
Contributor Birchip Cropping Group
Trial location(s) Karoonda, SA
Hopetoun, VIC
Feed for the summer: summer-growing perennial grasses for Mallee mixed farms locations
Aims

To test the persistence and performance of summer-active perennial grasses in a Mallee environment and the potential for pasture cropping.

Key messages
  • Summer-active perennial grasses such as commercial Panic varieties have persisted, provided year-round groundcover and produced good quantities of pasture over several years in two field trials in the Mallee; growth rates and grazing potential are highest and most reliable in November and April.
  • The high level of winter dormancy can allow for opportunistic establishment of inter-row winter species (e.g. pasture cropping). In 2012, with low growing season rainfall, pasture-cropped wheat production was penalised; evaluation is ongoing.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source CRC
Trial funding source GRDC
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

The Evercrop project is funded through the CRC for Future Farm Industries and GRDC with activities in the low rainfall zone supported by the CSIRO Sustainable Agriculture Flagship.


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

Method

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

Karoonda 2012

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

Hopetoun 2012

Sow date 7 June 2012
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication 4
Fertiliser

at sowing - MAP (50kg/ha) 14 Sept - SOA (40 units N/ha)

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Hopetoun results

@T1: Maturity
# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha) Biomass (t/ha)
1 Pasture 0.5 1.5
1 No Pasture 1.4 2.5
2
2

Grain yield t/ha


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Biomass t/ha


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Trial results Karoonda results

@T1:
# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha) Biomass (t/ha)
1 Pasture 0.5 1.5
1 No Pasture 1.4 2.5
2
2

Grain yield t/ha


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Biomass t/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Karoonda, SA Not specified
Hopetoun, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Karoonda, SA Calcarosol
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 Karoonda SA Hopetoun VIC
2012 253.5mm574.9mm
2011 312.1mm609.6mm
2010 259.1mm527.8mm
2009 199.8mm462.3mm
2008 184.4mm454.1mm
2007 210.5mm455.4mm
2006 222.2mm441.2mm
2005 250.9mm483.1mm
2004 200.5mm436.8mm
2003 203.4mm429.3mm
2002 165.6mm387.1mm
2001 182.6mm445.0mm
2000 239.9mm453.4mm
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 2012


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 157mm

Derived climate information

Karoonda VIC

Hopetoun VIC

Karoonda VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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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

2012 trial report



Trial last modified: 04-12-2019 11:02am AEST