Grain & Graze 3 - The impact of livestock on paddock health

2014

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Aims

A long-term study was established at the Minnipa Agricultural Centre from 2008 to 2014 (EPFS Summaries 2008 to 2013) to assess the impact of grazing on crop and pasture production and soil health and also to evaluate this from a systems perspective.

The seven year demonstration with a wheat, wheat, pasture (volunteer and sown annual medic), wheat, pasture (self-regenerating annual medic), wheat and wheat rotation was also established to determine whether productivity could be improved under a higher input system compared to a lower input and more traditional system and what affect this had on soil fertility.

Key messages
  • There has been no evidence of any soil health or production losses with grazing after seven years, irrespective of whether crop or pasture inputs were increased or kept at district practice levels.
  • In 2014 higher input systems showed how increased inputs and costs throughout the season can result in increased productivity and subsequent profitability.
Lead research organisation Southern Farming Systems
Host research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial funding source GRDC SFS00028
Related program Grain & Graze 3
Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the help of Mark Klante and Brett McEvoy for site management and Ian Richter and Wade Shepperd for data collection.


Other trial partners EP, BCG, MSF, Ag Excellence Alliance
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Rate
  • Grazing: Application Method
  • Sowing: Rate
Trial type Demonstration
Trial design Unreplicated

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2014

Sow rate or Target density 50kg/ha
Sow date 10 May 2014
Harvest date 31 October 2014
Plot size 350m x 100m
Plot replication 1
Fertiliser

7 kg N/ha and 8 kg P/ha (45 kg/ha DAP) and 70 kg/ha with 13 kg N/ha and 15 kg P/ha (75 kg/ha DAP) for the low and high input treatments respectively.

Herbicide

Weed control was imposed on all treatments as required in both summer and during the growing season.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Variety
Treatment 1
Organic carbon (%) Grain yield (t/ha) Soil N (mg/kg) Establishment plants (plants/m2) pH (value) Retention (%) Emergence plants (plants/m2)
1 Wheat:Mace Low input - grazed 1 2.8 78 15.7 8 15.7 1.72 (P=0.05)
2 Wheat:Mace Low input - un-grazed 0.9 2.7 39 14.8 8 14.8 1.72 (P=0.05)
3 Wheat:Mace High input - grazed 1.1 3.5 85 19.4 8 19.4 1.72 (P=0.05)
4 Wheat:Mace High input - un-grazed 1.1 3.4 54 18.7 8 18.7 1.72 (P=0.05)

Grain yield t/ha


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Emergence plants plants/m2


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Establishment plants plants/m2


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Organic carbon %


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pH value


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Retention %


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Soil N mg/kg


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Red sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Calcarosol
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 Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA
2014 556.5mm
2013 476.4mm
2012 520.3mm
2011 558.1mm
2010 543.4mm
2009 534.2mm
2008 442.9mm
2007 440.4mm
2006 473.1mm
2005 447.8mm
2004 447.2mm
2003 462.9mm
2002 460.3mm
2001 504.3mm
2000 501.8mm
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

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA 2014


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 290mm

Derived climate information

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA

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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: 08-10-2019 11:45am AEST