Zone responses to four years of repeated low, medium and high input treatments at Minnipa

2012

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Ben Jones (Mallee Focus)
Roy Latta (Mallee Focus)
Therese McBeath (CSIRO)
Cathy Paterson (Mallee Focus)
Year(s) 2012
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA
Zone responses to four years of repeated low, medium and high input treatments at Minnipa locations
Aims

To investigate whether the VRT approach will markedly shift yields and profitability from the levels achieved using blanket inputs across the whole paddock in the Minnipa region.

Key messages
  • There are identifiable production zones in Paddock N1. 
  • Production zones are useful for designing sowing input strategies for ‘typical’ yields.
  • In wet years, zones still indicate the risk and size of a return to in-season inputs but there will be increased input demand (e.g. N) and the response probably won’t follow the exact pattern of response for an average year.
Lead research organisation University of Adelaide
Host research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial funding source GRDC UA00107
Related program National Water Use Efficiency Initiative
Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the funding from GRDC project UA00107 for this work. Special thanks to Brett McEvoy, Mark Klante and Trent Brace for their assistance sowing and managing the trial.


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Pasture: Medic
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Rate
  • Sowing: Rate
Trial type Precision agriculture
Trial design Not applicable

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2012

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

Varied fertiliser rates (DAP and urea) sown in alternating strips across different production zones.

Other trial notes

See article for results, summarises 4 years of data.

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
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Sandy loam over sandy clay 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
2012 327.9mm
2011 370.8mm
2010 361.5mm
2009 368.6mm
2008 286.4mm
2007 291.5mm
2006 325.4mm
2005 292.1mm
2004 289.8mm
2003 302.0mm
2002 301.6mm
2001 343.8mm
2000 351.6mm
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 2012


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 185mm

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

2012 trial report



Trial last modified: 08-10-2019 15:06pm AEST