Break crops can provide over 1 t/ha of extra wheat over the three subsequent seasons

2009 - 2010

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Bill Davoren (CSIRO)
Vadakattu Gupta (CSIRO)
Rick Llewellyn (CSIRO)
Therese McBeath (CSIRO)
Anthony Whitbread (University of Gottingen)
Year(s) 2009 - 2010
Contributor Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc.
Trial location(s) Karoonda, SA
Break crops can provide over 1 t/ha of extra wheat over the three subsequent seasons locations
Aims

Although cereal-intensive cropping has been demonstrated to be productive in the Mallee, there are situations where grass weeds, disease and high fertiliser costs may necessitate a break crop option. This trial was designed to evaluate the effect of a range of break crops and pasture over a range of mallee soils over 3 years of subsequent wheat. In replicated field trials at the Karoonda (Lowaldie) site, break crops including legume, rye, brassica and pasture were grown in 2009 and 2010 and followed by consecutive wheat crops until 2013. Wheat yield following these breaks were compared with a continuous wheat treatment. All treatments were applied at four positions in the landscape: hill (deep sand), mid-top, mid-slope and swale (heavy flat).

Key messages
  • Average wheat yield gains were approximately 0.6 t/ha in the first year after a break and the size of this yield gain was similar in high and low yielding seasons.
  • Second year break effects were generally in the order of 0.3 t/ha and third year break effects 0.1 t/ha, resulting in a total of approximately 1 t/ha more wheat being produced following a break compared to continuous wheat.
  • The effect of breaks on subsequent wheat yields is usually more consistent across soils, seasons and break type than the yield of break crops.
  • Cumulative gross margins from wheat following legume, brassica and legume-based pasture breaks were generally much higher than continuous wheat, but the overall profitability of including breaks is strongly determined by the high variability in the relative profit from the different break options on different soils in the year that they are grown.
Lead research organisation Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC CSA00025
Related program National Water Use Efficiency Initiative
Acknowledgments

Thanks to the Loller family for their generous support in hosting the trial, to Jeff Braun for monitoring and advising on trial agronomy. Funding for this work was from GRDC Water Use Efficiency Initiative (Project CSA00025). Input from the Karoonda Mallee Sustainable Farming advisory group is gratefully acknowledged.


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

Method

Crop types Grain Legume: Field peas Cereal (Grain): Rye Cereal (Grain): Wheat Forage: Brassica Pasture: Mixed species
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Rotation
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Karoonda 2009 Field peas

Sow date 3 June 2013 3 June 2013
Harvest date Unknown
Plot size 40m x 1.6m
Plot replication Not specified

Karoonda 2009 Rye

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

Karoonda 2009 Wheat

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

Karoonda 2009 Brassica

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

Karoonda 2009 Mixed species

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

Karoonda 2010 Rye

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

Karoonda 2010 Wheat

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

Karoonda 2010 Brassica

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

Karoonda 2010 Mixed species

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

Karoonda 2010 Field peas

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
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
Karoonda, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Karoonda, 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 Karoonda SA
2010 309.7mm
2009 240.5mm
2008 226.5mm
2007 265.4mm
2006 275.1mm
2005 288.1mm
2004 252.3mm
2003 265.0mm
2002 222.9mm
2001 240.8mm
2000 304.2mm
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

Loading

Climate

Karoonda SA 2009


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 228mm

Derived climate information

Karoonda SA

Loading
Loading
Loading

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: 18-01-2023 15:25pm AEST