Understanding and managing spatial variation in stored soil moisture for better crop management decisions

2014

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Frank D'Emden (Precision Agronomics Australia)
Year(s) 2014
Contributor Precision Agronomics Australia
Trial location(s) Beacon, WA
Bindi Bindi, WA
Bonnie Rock, WA
Coomberdale, WA
Dowerin, WA
Howick, WA
Jerramungup, WA
Lake Grace, WA
Merredin, WA
Ravensthorpe, WA
Southern Cross, WA
Warradarge, WA
Yealering, WA
Understanding and managing spatial variation in stored soil moisture for better crop management decisions locations
Aims

To (i) improve the understanding of how soil moisture probes and Yield Prophet can be used to complement each other; (ii) increase the range of APSoil soil type selections in Yield Prophet by modifying existing soil types based on the probe data; (iii) provide growers with access to real-time soil moisture data and periodic Yield Prophet reports from soil types and cropping scenarios that are representative of their area; and (iv) cross-validate soil moisture probe data with Yield Prophet soil moisture modelling.

Key messages

A network of soil moisture probes and Yield Prophet sites has been established across the Esperance, Albany, Kwinana East and Kwinana West port zones with the aim of providing public access to real-time soil moisture and weather data and periodic Yield Prophet reports to aid in-crop decision making, with particular reference to top-up nitrogen decisions.

Growers and agronomists have commented that the sites provided useful supporting information when making top-up nitrogen decisions, with the soil moisture probes providing additional confidence in the model’s output. Continuation of the Yield Prophet sites and soil moisture data recording and analysis will continue in 2015 across the Esperance/Albany and Kwinana East port zones, with the aim of further refining the sites to improve their accuracy and providing access to Yield Prophet and soil moisture information in a more user-friendly format.

Lead research organisation Precision Agronomics Australia
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC PRE00003
Related program Regional Cropping Solutions Network
Acknowledgments

This project is funded by the GRDC Regional Cropping Solutions Network with contributions from the Moora Miling Pasture Improvement Group, the Facey Group, the Merredin and Districts Farm Improvement Group, the Far East Ag Research Group, the Ravensthorpe Ag Initiative Network, the Fitzgerald Biosphere Group, the West Midlands Group and the Beaumont Better Farming Group. The following growers are also thanked for their ongoing support in hosting the sites: Pep Alvaro, Clint Della Bosca, Alistair and Ray Falconer, Stuart and Ray Faulkner, Phillip Gray, Kristin Lefroy, Damen Maddock, Trent Parsons, Damien Schlink, David Stacey, Royce Taylor, Andrew Todd, Brad Tonkin and Gary Webster.


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
  • Soil Properties: Type
Trial type
Trial design

Beacon 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

Bindi Bindi 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

Bonnie Rock 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

Coomberdale 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

Dowerin 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

Howick 2014

Sow date 11 April 2014 11 April 2014
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

Pre-seeding soil N @ 72kg/ha, N applied at sowing @ 30kg/ha, top-up N @ 12kg/ha.

Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

Jerramungup 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

Lake Grace 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

Merredin 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

Ravensthorpe 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

Southern Cross 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

Warradarge 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

Yealering 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

Note: the location of the site given here is just one of a number of sites usedin this report, and has been provided to enable map serach capability: four sites were established within the Albany Port Zone (Howick, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Lake Grace); and a further nine sites were established within the Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones (Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Merredin, Southern Cross, Warradarge, Coomberdale, Bindi Bindi, Yearlering and Dowerin).

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
Beacon, WA Not specified
Bindi Bindi, WA Not specified
Bonnie Rock, WA Not specified
Coomberdale, WA Not specified
Dowerin, WA Not specified
Howick, WA Not specified
Jerramungup, WA Not specified
Lake Grace, WA Not specified
Merredin, WA Not specified
Ravensthorpe, WA Not specified
Southern Cross, WA Not specified
Warradarge, WA Not specified
Yealering, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Beacon, WA Sodosol
Bindi Bindi, WA Kandosol
Bonnie Rock, WA Tenosol
Coomberdale, WA Chromosol
Dowerin, WA Sodosol
Howick, WA Sodosol
Jerramungup, WA Sodosol
Lake Grace, WA Sodosol
Merredin, WA Sodosol
Ravensthorpe, WA Sodosol
Southern Cross, WA Tenosol
Warradarge, WA Chromosol
Yealering, WA Sodosol
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 Beacon WA Bindi Bindi WA Bonnie Rock WA Coomberdale WA Dowerin WA Howick WA Jerramungup WA Lake Grace WA Merredin WA Ravensthorpe WA Southern Cross WA Warradarge WA Yealering WA
2014 236.3mm102.2mm186.5mm190.8mm223.7mm345.8mm516.9mm457.0mm244.0mm290.0mm582.0mm234.5mm450.1mm
2013 271.3mm152.1mm204.2mm229.0mm265.6mm424.1mm527.4mm456.2mm289.7mm323.2mm581.1mm275.1mm465.0mm
2012 281.3mm178.6mm200.4mm248.1mm273.2mm396.2mm530.0mm455.6mm267.1mm316.0mm583.8mm241.6mm461.3mm
2011 251.2mm161.8mm189.7mm219.3mm264.5mm298.9mm540.1mm442.4mm238.3mm296.8mm591.9mm239.0mm402.7mm
2010 208.5mm158.5mm149.5mm227.7mm256.0mm303.8mm523.7mm431.4mm210.1mm286.3mm566.9mm213.5mm414.3mm
2009 247.7mm162.2mm180.7mm258.2mm274.8mm323.0mm532.3mm443.5mm236.2mm322.7mm576.4mm239.1mm441.4mm
2008 241.6mm172.1mm202.6mm284.1mm265.7mm252.5mm536.6mm459.6mm227.8mm282.1mm590.8mm272.4mm442.3mm
2007 220.7mm162.3mm168.8mm249.3mm277.0mm237.7mm517.8mm442.8mm198.3mm283.5mm576.6mm206.0mm417.9mm
2006 247.3mm174.7mm194.9mm252.5mm294.3mm217.3mm530.7mm463.8mm255.2mm317.7mm593.5mm203.3mm485.2mm
2005 230.0mm137.6mm182.6mm216.8mm249.4mm296.8mm534.3mm455.9mm234.1mm293.5mm589.4mm245.2mm463.0mm
2004 250.0mm129.3mm195.5mm203.7mm264.7mm358.5mm528.2mm454.0mm253.3mm305.4mm599.6mm214.8mm428.9mm
2003 244.1mm146.9mm200.1mm214.8mm287.0mm352.4mm547.1mm460.4mm257.3mm283.6mm599.5mm221.1mm444.9mm
2002 215.0mm111.5mm151.7mm191.0mm211.1mm245.6mm520.8mm441.8mm202.4mm271.0mm571.8mm192.8mm410.1mm
2001 230.6mm100.2mm168.1mm212.6mm219.4mm275.3mm514.6mm423.6mm250.0mm282.2mm581.7mm201.7mm407.8mm
2000 281.3mm185.3mm209.4mm316.7mm325.3mm367.1mm527.8mm450.2mm268.0mm333.4mm587.2mm230.3mm475.5mm
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

Howick WA 2014


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 151mm

Derived climate information

Beacon WA

Bindi Bindi WA

Bonnie Rock WA

Coomberdale WA

Dowerin WA

Howick WA

Jerramungup WA

Lake Grace WA

Merredin WA

Ravensthorpe WA

Southern Cross WA

Warradarge WA

Yealering WA

Beacon WA

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Bindi Bindi WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Bonnie Rock WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Coomberdale WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Dowerin WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Howick WA

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Jerramungup WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Lake Grace WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Merredin WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Ravensthorpe WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Southern Cross WA

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Warradarge WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Yealering WA

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

2014 trial report



Trial last modified: 26-11-2019 15:52pm AEST