| Researcher(s) |
Neil Fettell (CWFS) Laura Goward (CSRIO) Brad Rheinheimer (CWFS) Mat Ryan (AgGrow Agronomy) Antony Swan (CWFS) Rachael Whitworth (CSRIO) |
|---|---|
| Year(s) | 2014 |
| Contributor | Central West Farming Systems |
| Trial location(s) |
Rankins Springs, NSW
|
This trial addresses issues which may be a barrier to early sowing in the region. In particular; 1. What varieties preform well from early sowing? How do winter and long season spring varieties compare? 2.Can early sown crops be managed to avoid excessive vegetative growth and low harvest index, particularly in dry finish? 3. How do early sown yields compare with traditional mid-May sowing?
The risk of stem frost damage can be minimised by using winter wheats if sowing prior to 20 April. Spring wheats should be kept within 5-7 days of their optimal sow date. If appropriate, risk of BYDV should be managed by backing up imidacloprid seed dressing with foliar insecticides at the start of tillering if aphids are present. New winter wheat cultivars are in the pipeline and are likely to have significant yield advantages over current ageing material.
| Lead research organisation |
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation |
|---|---|
| Host research organisation | N/A |
| Trial funding source | CSIRO CSP00178 |
| Related program |
Increasing yield and reducing risk through early sowing in the Southern Grains Region - Part 2: National Expansion |
| Acknowledgments |
CSIRO and CWFS would like to thank growers on the CWFS Early Sowing Project steering committees for input into experimental foucs and designs and Michael Pfitzner for hosting the trial, and GRDC for support in funding this project. |
| Other trial partners | Not specified |
| Crop type | Cereal (Grain): Wheat |
|---|---|
| Treatment type(s) |
|
| Trial type | Experimental |
| Trial design | Replicated |
| Sow rate or Target density | 3 @ early sowing (30,60,90 plants/m²); 1 @ at the second sowing (90 plants/m²) |
|---|---|
| Sow date | 22 May 2014 17/4/2015, 22/05/2014 |
| Harvest date | Not specified |
| Plot size | Not specified |
| Plot replication | 4 |
| Fertiliser |
Top dressing 115kg/ha N in July |
| Other trial notes |
In 2014, despite a very unfaourable season with a warm May excerbating mutiple extreme stem frost events, in many cases early sown crops were able to equal main season crops. In the future, risk of stem frost damage can be minimised by using winter wheats if sowing prior to 20 April. Spring wheats should be kept within 5-7 days of their optimal sow date. |
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.
