Risk management trial

2011
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Simon Craig (Farming Systems Group)
Nicole Dimos (SPAA)
De-Anne Ferrier (BCG)
Harm van Rees (CropFacts)
Year(s) 2011
Contributor Society of Precision Agriculture Australia
Trial location(s) Birchip, VIC
Birchip, VIC
Risk management trial locations
Aims

To demonstrate the production risks associated with sowing different length maturity wheat varieties at different times.

Key messages

As the climate is changing to warmer conditions and the atmosphere contains more CO2 (also called CO2 fertilisation), crops grow more quickly and mature earlier. It is important to be aware of these effects on crops so that the risk of frost or heat shock reducing crop yield can be better managed. Even though the climate is warming, it is not clear whether the occurrences of frosts are reducing. In fact, there is anecdotal evidence that frost severity and frequency are not changing, which could be because there is reduced moisture in the atmosphere. If this is the case, it will have implications for sowing time and variety choice. Through the use of PA and VR, growers are able to sow different varieties on more frost prone areas. Without this technology, growers would either need to sow different zones separately, reducing efficiencies, or treat the paddock as a whole, which may see reduce yields and risk in various zones. To demonstrate the advantages of this strategy, over the past two seasons, BCG and SPAA have undertaken paddock scale trials. Two demonstrations were undertaken to compare two varieties of different maturity at two different sowing times.

Lead research organisation Society of Precision Agriculture Australia
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 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)


Other trial partners David Smith and Neil Luehman (site hosts)
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Variety
Trial type Precision agriculture
Trial design Not applicable

Birchip 2011

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Birchip 2011

Sow rate or Target density 130 plants/m2
Sow date 2 May 2011 2 May and 2 June 2011
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Smith

# Variety
Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Yitpi Simulated at sowing 4.5
2 Axe Simulated at sowing 2.8
3 Yitpi Simulated post flowering 3.8
4 Axe Simulated post flowering 2.7
5 Yitpi Actual harvest 3
6 Axe Actual harvest 3.1

Grain yield t/ha


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Trial results Luehman

# Variety
Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Yitpi Simulated at sowing 4
2 Axe Simulated at sowing 3
3 Yitpi Simulated post flowering 3.9
4 Axe Simulated post flowering 2.9
5 Yitpi Actual harvest 3.4
6 Axe Actual harvest 3.4

Grain yield t/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Birchip, VIC Not specified
Birchip, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Birchip, VIC Vertosol
Birchip, VIC Vertosol
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 Birchip VIC Birchip VIC
2011 431.2mm431.2mm
2010 344.5mm344.5mm
2009 292.7mm292.7mm
2008 275.5mm275.5mm
2007 274.8mm274.8mm
2006 283.6mm283.6mm
2005 316.0mm316.0mm
2004 281.0mm281.0mm
2003 275.8mm275.8mm
2002 240.1mm240.1mm
2001 285.1mm285.1mm
2000 290.6mm290.6mm
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.

Birchip VIC

Birchip VIC

Birchip VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Birchip 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: 30-09-2019 15:15pm AEST