Increasing yield and reducing risk through early sowing in South Western NSW

2014
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

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
Increasing yield and reducing risk through early sowing in South Western NSW locations
Aims

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?

Key messages

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
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Variety
  • Sowing: Rate
  • Sowing: Timing
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Rankins Springs 2014

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.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Rankins Springs, NSW Red sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Rankins Springs, NSW Kandosol
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 Rankins Springs NSW
2014 551.0mm
2013 542.5mm
2012 591.6mm
2011 613.4mm
2010 629.8mm
2009 554.6mm
2008 551.2mm
2007 497.0mm
2006 551.0mm
2005 597.0mm
2004 557.5mm
2003 543.5mm
2002 512.4mm
2001 546.4mm
2000 487.9mm
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.

Rankins Springs NSW

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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

2014 trial report



Trial last modified: 11-07-2019 17:26pm AEST