Demonstrating the benefits of break crops in northern Mallee no-till cropping systems

2014 - 2015

Research organisaton

Trial details

Researcher(s) N/A
Year(s) 2014 - 2015
Contributor Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc.
Trial location(s) Carwarp, VIC
Demonstrating the benefits of break crops in northern Mallee no-till cropping systems locations
Aims

Agronomic constraints threaten the sustainability of intensive cereal no-till cropping systems. Local research has shown these constraints can be managed by diversifying rotations with break crops, however as this research was conducted at only one site, farmers wanted to know whether the same results would be observed on a commercial scale at a whole of paddock level. In 2014, the Mallee Catchment Management Authority (Mallee CMA) funded a project to compare the impact and profitability of the inclusion of broadleaved break crops in paddock rotations in the Northern Victorian Mallee.

Key messages
  • Broadleaved break crops increased pre sowing soil nitrogen by up to 40 kg/ha in 2014 while Rhizoctonia inoculum was also significantly reduced following these crops.
  • Growing a legume break crop in 2014 increased the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop by 0.6–0.7 t/ha.
  • Wheat crops following legumes were twice as profitable than following another cereal crop in 2015.
  • The profitability of paddock rotations that included legume break crops in 2014 were similar to or exceeded the profitability of the cereal intensive rotation in the same paddock.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Related program Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme
Acknowledgments

This project is supported by the Mallee Catchment Management Authority (Mallee CMA) funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme. Thank you to the collaborating farmers for the time and effort that each puts into the implementation of this project.


Other trial partners Not specified

Method

Crop types Grain Legume: Field peas Hay: Vetch Hay: Oaten Cereal (Grain): Wheat Oilseed: Canola Cereal (Grain): Barley
Trial type
Trial design

Carwarp 2014 Field peas

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

Five paired paddocks comparing rotations including broadleaved break crop options to cereal intensive cropping systems were established in 2014. The paired demonstration paddocks are of a commercial scale and are implemented and managed by collaborating farmers using commercial equipment. Participating farmers select the appropriate crop for each paired paddock on an annual basis taking into account seasonal condition, paddock history, within paddock agronomic constraints and profitability outlooks. The same paddocks were used in 2014 and 2015 and the project will continue until the 2017 season.

Carwarp 2014 Vetch

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

Five paired paddocks comparing rotations including broadleaved break crop options to cereal intensive cropping systems were established in 2014. The paired demonstration paddocks are of a commercial scale and are implemented and managed by collaborating farmers using commercial equipment. Participating farmers select the appropriate crop for each paired paddock on an annual basis taking into account seasonal condition, paddock history, within paddock agronomic constraints and profitability outlooks. The same paddocks were used in 2014 and 2015 and the project will continue until the 2017 season.

Carwarp 2014 Oaten

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

Five paired paddocks comparing rotations including broadleaved break crop options to cereal intensive cropping systems were established in 2014. The paired demonstration paddocks are of a commercial scale and are implemented and managed by collaborating farmers using commercial equipment. Participating farmers select the appropriate crop for each paired paddock on an annual basis taking into account seasonal condition, paddock history, within paddock agronomic constraints and profitability outlooks. The same paddocks were used in 2014 and 2015 and the project will continue until the 2017 season.

Carwarp 2014 Wheat

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

Five paired paddocks comparing rotations including broadleaved break crop options to cereal intensive cropping systems were established in 2014. The paired demonstration paddocks are of a commercial scale and are implemented and managed by collaborating farmers using commercial equipment. Participating farmers select the appropriate crop for each paired paddock on an annual basis taking into account seasonal condition, paddock history, within paddock agronomic constraints and profitability outlooks. The same paddocks were used in 2014 and 2015 and the project will continue until the 2017 season.

Carwarp 2014 Canola

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

Five paired paddocks comparing rotations including broadleaved break crop options to cereal intensive cropping systems were established in 2014. The paired demonstration paddocks are of a commercial scale and are implemented and managed by collaborating farmers using commercial equipment. Participating farmers select the appropriate crop for each paired paddock on an annual basis taking into account seasonal condition, paddock history, within paddock agronomic constraints and profitability outlooks. The same paddocks were used in 2014 and 2015 and the project will continue until the 2017 season.

Carwarp 2015 Barley

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

Five paired paddocks comparing rotations including broadleaved break crop options to cereal intensive cropping systems were established in 2014. The paired demonstration paddocks are of a commercial scale and are implemented and managed by collaborating farmers using commercial equipment. Participating farmers select the appropriate crop for each paired paddock on an annual basis taking into account seasonal condition, paddock history, within paddock agronomic constraints and profitability outlooks. The same paddocks were used in 2014 and 2015 and the project will continue until the 2017 season.

Carwarp 2015 Oaten

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

Five paired paddocks comparing rotations including broadleaved break crop options to cereal intensive cropping systems were established in 2014. The paired demonstration paddocks are of a commercial scale and are implemented and managed by collaborating farmers using commercial equipment. Participating farmers select the appropriate crop for each paired paddock on an annual basis taking into account seasonal condition, paddock history, within paddock agronomic constraints and profitability outlooks. The same paddocks were used in 2014 and 2015 and the project will continue until the 2017 season.

Carwarp 2015 Wheat

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

Five paired paddocks comparing rotations including broadleaved break crop options to cereal intensive cropping systems were established in 2014. The paired demonstration paddocks are of a commercial scale and are implemented and managed by collaborating farmers using commercial equipment. Participating farmers select the appropriate crop for each paired paddock on an annual basis taking into account seasonal condition, paddock history, within paddock agronomic constraints and profitability outlooks. The same paddocks were used in 2014 and 2015 and the project will continue until the 2017 season.

Carwarp 2015 Canola

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

Five paired paddocks comparing rotations including broadleaved break crop options to cereal intensive cropping systems were established in 2014. The paired demonstration paddocks are of a commercial scale and are implemented and managed by collaborating farmers using commercial equipment. Participating farmers select the appropriate crop for each paired paddock on an annual basis taking into account seasonal condition, paddock history, within paddock agronomic constraints and profitability outlooks. The same paddocks were used in 2014 and 2015 and the project will continue until the 2017 season.

Carwarp 2015 Field peas

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

Five paired paddocks comparing rotations including broadleaved break crop options to cereal intensive cropping systems were established in 2014. The paired demonstration paddocks are of a commercial scale and are implemented and managed by collaborating farmers using commercial equipment. Participating farmers select the appropriate crop for each paired paddock on an annual basis taking into account seasonal condition, paddock history, within paddock agronomic constraints and profitability outlooks. The same paddocks were used in 2014 and 2015 and the project will continue until the 2017 season.

Carwarp 2015 Vetch

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

Five paired paddocks comparing rotations including broadleaved break crop options to cereal intensive cropping systems were established in 2014. The paired demonstration paddocks are of a commercial scale and are implemented and managed by collaborating farmers using commercial equipment. Participating farmers select the appropriate crop for each paired paddock on an annual basis taking into account seasonal condition, paddock history, within paddock agronomic constraints and profitability outlooks. The same paddocks were used in 2014 and 2015 and the project will continue until the 2017 season.

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
Carwarp, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Carwarp, VIC Vertosol
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 Carwarp VIC
2015 231.6mm
2014 281.0mm
2013 234.3mm
2012 278.7mm
2011 358.7mm
2010 322.6mm
2009 252.8mm
2008 229.9mm
2007 234.5mm
2006 243.5mm
2005 267.7mm
2004 262.3mm
2003 254.0mm
2002 183.4mm
2001 221.9mm
2000 249.1mm
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.

Carwarp VIC

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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