Researcher(s) |
Chris Pinkney (Agrarian Managment) Craig Topham (Agrarian Managment) |
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Year(s) | 2015 |
Contributor | Agrarian Management |
Trial location(s) |
Allanooka, WA
Yarragadee, WA |
To (i) ground truth through statistical analysis of small plot trials current practices of leading farmers in regards to the use of Variable Rate Technology (VRT), predictive yield modelling and nutrition modelling in improving water use efficiency and hence profitability; (ii) address the hypothesis that greater return on investment can be achieved through targeted nutrition applications according to variety, production zone, plant available water (PAW) and seasonal conditions; (iii) assist in the generation of data to extend the process of using soil moisture probe data in conjunction with Yield Prophet (YP) simulations to assist with production decisions for different soil zones (with differing PAWC), with particular focus on top-up nitrogen.
The complex nature of these trials has generated a vast array of information. To best extract meaningful results it is necessary to pry apart the data to generate answers addressing the key facets of the hypothesis: see attached report for full details and discusison.
Lead research organisation |
Agrarian Management |
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Host research organisation | N/A |
Trial funding source | GRDC AAM00003 |
Related program |
Regional Cropping Solutions Network |
Acknowledgments |
Agrarian Management thanks the following people and organisations for their input and collaboration with the project: Cosgrove Farming Co. for provision of the site and contributing all information relevant to producing the production zones. Equii for provision of soil test interpretation services. Kalyx Australia for the provision of all field services and site management. The Mingenew Irwin Group for assistance with extension and field walks. Agrarian Management acknowledges GRDC for the provision of funding for this project. |
Other trial partners | Cosgrove Farming Co., Equii, Kalyx Australia, The Mingenew Irwin Group |
Crop type | Cereal (Grain): Wheat |
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Treatment type(s) |
|
Trial type | |
Trial design |
Sow date | Not specified |
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Harvest date | Not specified |
Plot size | Not specified |
Plot replication | Not specified |
Fertiliser | Not specified |
Seed treatment | Not specified |
Other trial notes |
The chosen paddock was zoned into three production zones based upon soil type utilising EM38, gamma radiometrics, elevation data, yield data and biomass data. The created zones consisted of a poor pale sand, strong yellow sand and a strong sand running to sand over gravel. This range of production zones is representative of the soil type variability experienced across many sandplain paddocks across the north and west midlands and could be similarly extended to the northern sandplain country of Eradu and Binnu. An appropriate and representative site within each of the three production zones was identified, soil tested and a fully replicated small plot trial located within each zone. Seeded with knife point and press wheel at 220mm row spacing. Seeding depth 30mm with compound fertiliser banded below the seed and MOP topdressed IBS. Marginal surface moisture but good moisture at depth.Hygiene: Blanket applications of standard crop hygiene treatments including Trifluralin + Sakur |
Sow date | 2 June 2014 2 June 2014 |
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Harvest date | 11 November 2014 11 November 2014 |
Plot size | Not specified |
Plot replication | Not specified |
Fertiliser |
Post emergent: nutritional applications topdressed on 10 July 2014 - crop stage GS15 (NS31 and MOP) and 31 July 2014 - crop stage GS30 (NS31). |
Seed treatment | Lime application 300 kg.ha in February 2014, no deep ripping. |
Other trial notes |
The chosen paddock was zoned into three production zones based upon soil type utilising EM38, gamma radiometrics, elevation data, yield data and biomass data. The created zones consisted of a poor pale sand, strong yellow sand and a strong sand running to sand over gravel. This range of production zones is representative of the soil type variability experienced across many sandplain paddocks across the north and west midlands and could be similarly extended to the northern sandplain country of Eradu and Binnu. An appropriate and representative site within each of the three production zones was identified, soil tested and a fully replicated small plot trial located within each zone. Seeded with knife point and press wheel at 220mm row spacing. Seeding depth 30mm with compound fertiliser banded below the seed and MOP topdressed IBS. Marginal surface moisture but good moisture at depth.Hygiene: Blanket applications of standard crop hygiene treatments including Trifluralin + Sakur |
# |
Treatment 1
|
Treatment 2
|
Colwell phosphorus (mg/kg) | pH CaCl2 (pH) | Soil ammonium (mg/kg) | Soil nitrate (mg/kg) | Sulphur (mg/kg) | Organic carbon (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | █ Low/Poor Production Zone (Zone 1) | █ 0-10 cm | 22 | 4.9 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 0.3 |
2 | █ Low/Poor Production Zone (Zone 1) | █ 10-20 cm | 25 | 4.7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0.2 |
3 | █ Low/Poor Production Zone (Zone 1) | █ 20-30 cm | 26 | 4.8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.1 |
4 | █ Low/Poor Production Zone (Zone 1) | █ 30-50 cm | 24 | 4.8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
5 | █ Low/Poor Production Zone (Zone 1) | █ 50-100 cm | 15 | 4.8 | 0 | 1 | 0.9 | 0 |
6 | █ Medium Production Zone (Zone 2) | █ 0-10 cm | 17 | 5.6 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 0.5 |
7 | █ Medium Production Zone (Zone 2) | █ 10-20 cm | 19 | 4.9 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0.2 |
8 | █ Medium Production Zone (Zone 2) | █ 20-30 cm | 18 | 4.6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0.1 |
9 | █ Medium Production Zone (Zone 2) | █ 30-50 cm | 11 | 4.7 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
10 | █ Medium Production Zone (Zone 2) | █ 50-100 cm | 4 | 4.8 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 0 |
11 | █ High/Good Production Zone (Zone 3) | █ 0-10 cm | 19 | 5.4 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 0.5 |
12 | █ High/Good Production Zone (Zone 3) | █ 10-20 cm | 18 | 4.6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0.2 |
13 | █ High/Good Production Zone (Zone 3) | █ 20-30 cm | 18 | 4.6 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.1 |
14 | █ High/Good Production Zone (Zone 3) | █ 30-50 cm | 9 | 4.8 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
15 | █ High/Good Production Zone (Zone 3) | █ 50-100 cm | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) | 353mm |
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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.