Comparing break crop performance in the SA Mallee

2015

Research organisaton

Trial details

Researcher(s) N/A
Year(s) 2015
Contributor Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc.
Trial location(s) Waikerie, SA
Comparing break crop performance in the SA Mallee locations
Aims

Trials were implemented to compare break crop productivity and profitability on major soil types in the northern South Australian Mallee. This information will help farmers in this region to select the most appropriate break crop for their farming system.

Key messages
  • Break crops faced a range of tough environmental conditions in the Mallee in 2015 including multiple frost and heat shock events.
  • Timely rainfall in April and hence early sowing resulted in excellent biomass production with most crop options producing on average more than 2 t DM/ha and several break crop options producing greater than 2.5 t DM/ha.
  • The highest grain yields tended to be crops with the quickest maturity such as lentils (0.73 t/ha), vetch (0.64 t/ha) and field peas (0.63 t/ha). 
  • High value crops such as lentils and vetch were highly profitable due to both excellent prices and reasonable grain yields.
  • Break crop productivity and profitability was very different between common Mallee soil types.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT) for providing funding for this project. Matt Whitney (Dodgshun Medlin) for providing advice on trial management. Todd McDonald (MSF) and Peter Telfer (SARDI) for their technical assistance on the trial. Brenton Kroehn and the Lowbank Ag Bureau for assistance in selecting and setting up the Waikerie site.


Other trial partners Not specified

Method

Crop types Oilseed: Canola Grain Legume: Chickpeas Grain Legume: Field peas Grain Legume: Lentils Grain Legume: Lupins Hay: Vetch
Trial type
Trial design

Waikerie 2015 Canola

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

Crop performance was assessed by measuring establishment, peak crop biomass and grain yield. The trials were machine harvested across three dates from late-October to mid-November to ensure grain yield was measured soon after crops matured. Rainfall was recorded at both locations using automatic rain gauges and temperature was recorded at hourly intervals using iButton temperature loggers. One logger was placed at a height of 1.2 m above ground level (similar to official met gauges) and the other at 0.5 m to reflect crop canopy height.

Waikerie 2015 Chickpeas

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

Crop performance was assessed by measuring establishment, peak crop biomass and grain yield. The trials were machine harvested across three dates from late-October to mid-November to ensure grain yield was measured soon after crops matured. Rainfall was recorded at both locations using automatic rain gauges and temperature was recorded at hourly intervals using iButton temperature loggers. One logger was placed at a height of 1.2 m above ground level (similar to official met gauges) and the other at 0.5 m to reflect crop canopy height.

Waikerie 2015 Field peas

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

Crop performance was assessed by measuring establishment, peak crop biomass and grain yield. The trials were machine harvested across three dates from late-October to mid-November to ensure grain yield was measured soon after crops matured. Rainfall was recorded at both locations using automatic rain gauges and temperature was recorded at hourly intervals using iButton temperature loggers. One logger was placed at a height of 1.2 m above ground level (similar to official met gauges) and the other at 0.5 m to reflect crop canopy height.

Waikerie 2015 Lentils

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

Crop performance was assessed by measuring establishment, peak crop biomass and grain yield. The trials were machine harvested across three dates from late-October to mid-November to ensure grain yield was measured soon after crops matured. Rainfall was recorded at both locations using automatic rain gauges and temperature was recorded at hourly intervals using iButton temperature loggers. One logger was placed at a height of 1.2 m above ground level (similar to official met gauges) and the other at 0.5 m to reflect crop canopy height.

Waikerie 2015 Lupins

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

Crop performance was assessed by measuring establishment, peak crop biomass and grain yield. The trials were machine harvested across three dates from late-October to mid-November to ensure grain yield was measured soon after crops matured. Rainfall was recorded at both locations using automatic rain gauges and temperature was recorded at hourly intervals using iButton temperature loggers. One logger was placed at a height of 1.2 m above ground level (similar to official met gauges) and the other at 0.5 m to reflect crop canopy height.

Waikerie 2015 Vetch

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

Crop performance was assessed by measuring establishment, peak crop biomass and grain yield. The trials were machine harvested across three dates from late-October to mid-November to ensure grain yield was measured soon after crops matured. Rainfall was recorded at both locations using automatic rain gauges and temperature was recorded at hourly intervals using iButton temperature loggers. One logger was placed at a height of 1.2 m above ground level (similar to official met gauges) and the other at 0.5 m to reflect crop canopy height.

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
Waikerie, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Waikerie, 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 Waikerie SA
2015 130.0mm
2014 179.9mm
2013 150.6mm
2012 208.5mm
2011 258.1mm
2010 223.3mm
2009 149.1mm
2008 155.1mm
2007 168.4mm
2006 164.8mm
2005 193.9mm
2004 158.9mm
2003 160.9mm
2002 124.6mm
2001 136.5mm
2000 152.7mm
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

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Waikerie 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 last modified: 06-08-2019 07:54am AEST