Summer weed control conserves soil moisture across varying soil types in the Eastern Wheatbelt

2013

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) James Challis (Precision Agronomics Australia)
Frank D'Emden (Precision Agronomics Australia)
Julianne Hill (GRDC RCSN)
Caroline Peek (DAFWA)
Aidan Sinnott (Precision Agronomics Australia)
Year(s) 2013
Contributor Precision Agronomics Australia
Trial location(s) Beacon, WA
Bencubbin, WA
Bodallin, WA
Doodlakine, WA
Kellerberrin, WA
Merredin, WA
Narembeen, WA
Nungarin, WA
Southern Cross, WA, WA
Summer weed control conserves soil moisture across varying soil types in the Eastern Wheatbelt locations
Aims

To highlight the effectiveness of summer weed control in conserving soil moisture for winter cereal cropping in the Central-Eastern Wheatbelt of WA.

Key messages

Results from a demonstration in December of 2012 suggest weed control had an impact on stored soil moisture and consequent yield in 2013 across a range of soil types at seven locations across the Eastern Wheatbelt. Another factor that could have been quantified in this work, was the effect of weed control on nitrogen status (and consequent effect of N on yield). Opening values were collected at the beginning of the trial but no closing N values were measured. Removing summer weeds has an impact on the nitrogen levels in the soil, and this will be further quantified with more field work in 2014.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC KE12/13-3of4
Related program Regional Cropping Solutions Network
Acknowledgments

This project was made possible through the GRDC’s Kwinana East Regional Cropping Solutions Network and the collaboration of Mick Caughey, Alan and Stuart Yandle, Matt Steber, Ty Kirby, Nick Gillett, Clint Della Bosca, Tim and John Butcher and Scott Dixon.

This paper was reviewed by Yvette Oliver and Doug Abrecht.


Other trial partners Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Herbicide: Application Method
Trial type
Trial design

Beacon 2013

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

Soil moisture samples were taken at the initial December site visit, then again on 9 and 10 January 2013 before a summer rainfall event, with final coring undertaken on 26 and 27 January 2013.

Bencubbin 2013

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

Soil moisture samples were taken at the initial December site visit, then again on 9 and 10 January 2013 before a summer rainfall event, with final coring undertaken on 26 and 27 January 2013.

Bodallin 2013

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

Soil moisture samples were taken at the initial December site visit, then again on 9 and 10 January 2013 before a summer rainfall event, with final coring undertaken on 26 and 27 January 2013.

Doodlakine 2013

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

Soil moisture samples were taken at the initial December site visit, then again on 9 and 10 January 2013 before a summer rainfall event, with final coring undertaken on 26 and 27 January 2013.

Kellerberrin 2013

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

Soil moisture samples were taken at the initial December site visit, then again on 9 and 10 January 2013 before a summer rainfall event, with final coring undertaken on 26 and 27 January 2013.

Merredin 2013

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

Soil moisture samples were taken at the initial December site visit, then again on 9 and 10 January 2013 before a summer rainfall event, with final coring undertaken on 26 and 27 January 2013.

Narembeen 2013

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

Soil moisture samples were taken at the initial December site visit, then again on 9 and 10 January 2013 before a summer rainfall event, with final coring undertaken on 26 and 27 January 2013.

Nungarin 2013

Sow date 5 May 2013
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 20m x 10m
Plot replication Not specified
Herbicide

Application as per treatments: 6L/ha glyphosate applied via knapsack on 13, 14 and 15 December 2012. Blue dye was used to ensure complete coverage.

Other trial notes

Soil moisture samples were taken at the initial December site visit, then again on 9 and 10 January 2013 before a summer rainfall event, with final coring undertaken on 26 and 27 January 2013.

Southern Cross, WA 2013

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

Soil moisture samples were taken at the initial December site visit, then again on 9 and 10 January 2013 before a summer rainfall event, with final coring undertaken on 26 and 27 January 2013.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Sprayed 3.16
2 Unsprayed 1.55

Grain yield t/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Beacon, WA Not specified
Bencubbin, WA Not specified
Bodallin, WA Not specified
Doodlakine, WA Not specified
Kellerberrin, WA Not specified
Merredin, WA Not specified
Narembeen, WA Not specified
Nungarin, WA Duplex (30cm sand)
Southern Cross, WA, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Beacon, WA Sodosol
Bencubbin, WA Sodosol
Bodallin, WA Kandosol
Doodlakine, WA Sodosol
Kellerberrin, WA Sodosol
Merredin, WA Sodosol
Narembeen, WA Sodosol
Nungarin, WA Sodosol
Southern Cross, WA, WA 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 Beacon WA Bencubbin WA Bodallin WA Doodlakine WA Kellerberrin WA Merredin WA Narembeen WA Nungarin WA Southern Cross, WA WA
2013 271.3mm287.6mm476.7mm429.7mm520.4mm289.7mm545.9mm287.1mm401.9mm
2012 281.3mm276.6mm444.4mm437.3mm509.6mm267.1mm511.4mm273.6mm427.1mm
2011 251.2mm244.6mm423.4mm391.8mm467.7mm238.3mm441.4mm252.9mm383.1mm
2010 208.5mm200.9mm385.6mm373.9mm475.0mm210.1mm450.3mm204.8mm348.7mm
2009 247.7mm270.8mm456.6mm393.6mm504.1mm236.2mm491.1mm259.0mm393.7mm
2008 241.6mm264.4mm442.6mm391.2mm487.0mm227.8mm485.1mm254.0mm402.6mm
2007 220.7mm242.3mm444.7mm381.2mm456.8mm198.3mm465.6mm231.8mm402.5mm
2006 247.3mm255.9mm493.6mm385.1mm497.3mm255.2mm523.5mm275.1mm461.5mm
2005 230.0mm241.2mm458.1mm333.0mm470.9mm234.1mm495.0mm246.8mm448.1mm
2004 250.0mm252.8mm476.4mm385.3mm487.4mm253.3mm497.5mm263.6mm481.9mm
2003 244.1mm241.6mm469.5mm382.1mm464.9mm257.3mm487.8mm273.4mm423.3mm
2002 215.0mm196.9mm416.0mm316.0mm388.4mm202.4mm442.5mm206.9mm358.6mm
2001 230.6mm231.8mm453.6mm345.0mm415.2mm250.0mm470.5mm244.7mm413.7mm
2000 281.3mm299.2mm489.4mm418.2mm488.6mm268.0mm528.3mm297.5mm482.6mm
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

Nungarin WA 2013


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 220mm

Derived climate information

Beacon WA

Bencubbin WA

Bodallin WA

Doodlakine WA

Kellerberrin WA

Merredin WA

Narembeen WA

Nungarin WA

Southern Cross, WA WA

Beacon WA

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Bencubbin WA

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

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

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

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Nungarin WA

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Southern Cross, WA 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

2013 trial report



Trial last modified: 18-05-2023 11:02am AEST