Comparison of seeding machines for sowing sub-tropical grasses

2009
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Tom Bailey (Evergreen Farming)
Phillip Barrett (Lennard (Evergreen Farming))
Ron Yates Geoff (DAFWA)
Chris Loo (CRC)
Phil Nichols (DAFWA)
John Titterington (Lennard (Evergreen Farming))
Brad Wintle (DAFWA)
Year(s) 2009
Contributor West Midlands Group
Trial location(s) Gillingarra, WA
Comparison of seeding machines for sowing sub-tropical grasses locations
Aims

To determine whether successful establishment of sub-tropical grasses is affected by seeding machine configuration

Key messages
  • This trial demonstrates that a good establishment result is possible using a range of different seeding configurations, provided the key steps to establishment are followed.
  • These factors include:
    • scalping of non-wetting sand and weeds away from drill runs;
    • row spacing of 50-60 cm;
    • sowing into furrows to harvest rainfall (especially important in dry springs); minimizing furrow collapse;
    • ensuring sowing depth is 5-10 mm; and - using press wheels for good soil contact with seed.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source MLA
Trial funding source AWI
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This work was conducted in collaboration with the Evergreen Farming as part of the Future Farm Industries CRC project “Reliable establishment of non-traditional perennial pasture species” with additional funding from Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation and Land and Water Australia. Thanks to Bob Hendry for use of his property for this trial.


Other trial partners Evergreen Farming
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Other crop: Grasses
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
  • Sowing: Method
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Gillingarra 2009

Sow rate or Target density 4kg/ha
Sow date 27 August 2009
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 150m x 40m
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Herbicide

The majority of the site had a single knockdown herbicide spray on August 15 (glyphosate @ 1L/ha), while 10 m strips of different pre-emergent herbicide treatments were applied perpendicular to machinery treatments.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Variety
Treatment 1
Sand infill into furrows (mm) Establishment plants (plants/m2)
1 Evergreen Massey-Ferguson 9.1 27.5
2 Evergreen Chamberlain 6.3 8.5
3 Evergreen International 3.2 25.8

Establishment plants plants/m2


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Sand infill into furrows mm


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Gillingarra, WA Deep non-wetting sand
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Gillingarra, 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 Gillingarra WA
2009 64.5mm
2008 75.5mm
2007 68.7mm
2006 99.4mm
2005 55.6mm
2004 33.7mm
2003 57.1mm
2002 50.0mm
2001 20.1mm
2000 95.4mm
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

Gillingarra WA 2009


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 182mm

Derived climate information

Gillingarra 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 13:10pm AEST