Researcher(s) |
Dom Clark (SPAA) Nicole Dimos (SPAA) Charlton Jeisman (SPAA) Sean Mason (SPAA) Sam Trengove (SPAA) |
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Year(s) | 2010 |
Contributor | Society of Precision Agriculture Australia |
Trial location(s) |
Mannanarie, SA
|
To compare the effects of different phosphorus rates and soil types on wheat production and to extend information to local growers and identify where savings can be made
The objective of this GRDC / SPAA funded project is to increase the level of adoption of PA 'beyond guidance' by broadacre farmers. The project specifically aims to increase the level of adoption of variable rate (VR) by growers in the project to 30% by 2013.This goal will be achieved by demonstrating how to use PA tools to growers at a regional level and by increasing the skills of growers and industry in PA to a level where they can then use PA tools in their farming systems to achieve economic, environmental and social benefits. The grower mentioned the importance of correctly identifying the GPS coordinate locations to get reliable soil type information. Yield maps provided showing areas of the paddock with high and low potential assisted this process. Soil analysis verified the trends produced by the yield map.
Lead research organisation |
Society of Precision Agriculture Australia |
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Host research organisation | N/A |
Trial funding source | GRDC SPA000010 |
Related program | N/A |
Acknowledgments |
This project was funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and run in conjunction with the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Boar |
Other trial partners | GRDC, Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board. |
Crop type | Cereal (Grain): Wheat |
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Treatment type(s) |
|
Trial type | Precision agriculture |
Trial design | Not applicable |
Sow date | Late May 2010 |
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Harvest date | Not specified |
Plot size | Not specified |
Plot replication | Not specified |
Fertiliser |
MAP |
Other trial notes |
The variation in wheat yield (0.8 – 3 t/ha) with different rates of MAP fertiliser (figure 4) indicates considerable variation across the paddock. Therefore continued application of blanket fertiliser rates across this paddock will mean reduced income for the farmer. This paddock has the potential to increase returns by using variable rate fertiliser application. This is simply apply fertiliser where the crop can use it and reducing inputs in areas that will not respond. Varying fertiliser rates will result in better fertiliser use efficiency and improve the bottom line for farmers with similar soils types and variation across their paddocks. The Historical LandSAT data appears to correlate well with yield data. The low historical LandSAT values correlate with lower grain yield. Soil tests indicate these ‘low’ areas have higher levels of boron and sodicity at shallow depth (0-30cm) which are likely to limit root growth, crop growth and yield. Soil |
@T1: water | |||||
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# |
Treatment 1
|
Treatment 2
|
pH CaCl2 (pH) | Electrical conductivity (dS/m) | pH (value) |
1 | █ Zone - High | █ 0-30 cm depth | 7 | 0.162 | 7.8 |
1 | █ Zone - High | █ 30-60 cm depth | 7.5 | 0.223 | 8.3 |
2 | █ Zone - High | █ 60-80 cm depth | 7.7 | 0.716 | 8.2 |
2 | █ Zone - Low | █ 0-30 cm depth | 7.1 | 0.143 | 8.1 |
3 | █ Zone - Low | █ 30-60 cm depth | 7.3 | 0.139 | 7.9 |
3 | █ Zone - Low | █ 60-80 cm depth | 7.7 | 0.175 | 8.6 |
4 | █ | █ | |||
4 | █ | █ | |||
5 | █ | █ | |||
5 | █ | █ | |||
6 | █ | █ | |||
6 | █ | █ |
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.