Evaluating the viability of pasture cropping in the West Midlands region

2009
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) David Ferris (DAFWA)
Year(s) 2009
Contributor West Midlands Group
Trial location(s) Dandaragan, WA
Evaluating the viability of pasture  cropping in the West Midlands region locations
Aims

To evaluate the performance of crops (barley in 2009) when pasture cropped over different perennial species established on deep pale sands.

Key messages
  • There is still a lot of work to be done but it appears crops can be sown successfully into perennial pastures in some situations.
  • Agronomic results from the Moora focus site appear to support the view that Marginal or problem soils are a potential fit for pasture cropping systems. However, it is important to note that the extra green feed produced over summer-autumn needs to be converted into wool or meat in order to offset any grain yield losses.
  • Further research is required across different sites and seasons as the yield penalty on better soil classes may well be greater than on deep pale sands which have limited capacity to store moisture from summer rainfall for crop production. The viability of pasture cropping systems based on other sub tropical grass species, native grasses. lucerne and bluebush are also worth evaluating.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This Future Farm Industry CRC project is supported by GRDC Thanks go to Chris Vanzetti (host farmer) and EverCrop Local Adaptation Group members (Moora). Also the EverCrop-WA team: Phil Barrett-Lennard, Perry Dolling, Diana Fedorenko, John Finlayson, Roger Lawes, Michael Robertson, Phil Ward and Tim Wiley; our technical staff: Julie Roche, Susan Robson and George Woolston (DAFWA); Shayne Micin and Chris Herrmann (CSIRO); and the Geraldton Research Support Unit (DAFWA).


Other trial partners Future Farm Industry CRC, CSIRO, UWA
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Barley
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
  • Crop: Rotation
  • Fertiliser: Rate
  • Sowing: Row Spacing
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Dandaragan 2009

Sow rate or Target density 70kg/ha
Sow date 3 June 2009
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 30m x 6m
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

Agstar extra (80 kg/ha) was drilled at sowing; a blend of sulfate of ammonia (50 kg/ha), murate of potash (50 kg/ha) and urea (30 kg/ha) was topdressed across all treatments at the three leaf stage; and urea was also topdressed at two different rates (30 or 100 kg/ha) at the six leaf stage according to treatment

Herbicide

Broadleaf weeds and pests were controlled by spraying Barrracuda (800 mL/ha) and Dominex (100 mL/ha) on 16 July.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Variety
Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Grain yield (t/ha) Dry weight (t/ha) Protein (%)
1 Buloke Control 50kg/ha N 2.81 0 8.9
2 Buloke Siratro - 36cm row spacing 50kg/ha N 2.93 0.25 9.3
3 Buloke Gatton panic - 72cm row spacing 50kg/ha N 2.85 0.82 8.8
4 Buloke Gatton panic - 36cm row spacing 50kg/ha N 2.63 1.26 8.7
5 Buloke Rhodes grass - 26 cm row spacing 50kg/ha N 2.55 2.61 8.7
6 Buloke Control 80kg/ha N 3.27 0 9.8
7 Buloke Siratro - 36cm row spacing 80kg/ha N 2.81 0.12 9.4
8 Buloke Gatton panic - 72cm row spacing 80kg/ha N 2.58 1.33 9.3
9 Buloke Gatton panic - 36cm row spacing 80kg/ha N 2.42 1.37 8.9
10 Buloke Rhodes grass - 26 cm row spacing 80kg/ha N 2.66 2.56 8.9
11 Permanent pasture Control -
12 Permanent pasture Siratro - 36cm row spacing 0.13
13 Permanent pasture Gatton panic - 72cm row spacing 0.72
14 Permanent pasture Gatton panic - 36cm row spacing 0.89
15 Permanent pasture Rhodes grass - 26 cm row spacing 2.52

Grain yield t/ha


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Dry weight t/ha


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Protein %


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Dandaragan, WA Pale deep sand
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Dandaragan, WA 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 Dandaragan WA
2009 200.8mm
2008 216.5mm
2007 192.8mm
2006 189.2mm
2005 130.1mm
2004 135.0mm
2003 166.1mm
2002 149.5mm
2001 138.7mm
2000 219.4mm
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

Dandaragan WA 2009


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 380mm

Derived climate information

Dandaragan WA

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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

2009 trial report



Trial last modified: 27-06-2019 13:14pm AEST