Sowing dates - getting the best from our varieties and optimising whole-farm wheat yield

2011
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Paul Breust (FarmLink)
Rohan Brill (NSW DPI)
Neil Fettell (UNE)
James Hunt (CSIRO)
John Kirkegaard (CSIRO)
Julianne Lilley (CSIRO)
Jon Midwood (UNE)
Annieka Paridean (SFS)
Brad Rheinheimer (NSW DPI)
Year(s) 2011
Contributor FarmLink Research
Trial location(s) Condobolin, NSW
Junee, NSW
Temora, NSW
Lake Bolac, VIC
Sowing dates - getting the best from our varieties and optimising whole-farm wheat yield locations
Aims

To see how slow maturing wheats sown early into stored water yielded in comparison to mid-fast varieties sown during the usual sowing window.

Key messages
  • Very slow or slow maturing wheat varieties sown mid-late April and managed for high HI (harvest index) on average yield 0.8t/ha more than mid-fast varieties sown mid-May.
  • Simulations show that including a slow maturing variety in a farm program greatly increases average farm wheat yield (13-47%) and reduces risk.
  • Know the optimal flowering window in your location and how to achieve it with different varieties from different sowing dates to optimise whole-farm wheat yield.
  • Yield penalties for sowing too late are generally higher than for sowing too early, even at frosty sites.
Lead research organisation Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Host research organisation FarmLink Research
Trial funding source GRDC
Trial funding source DAFF VIC
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Jointly funded by GRDC National Water-Use Efficiency Initiative and DAFF National Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative.


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Variety
  • Sowing: Rate
  • Sowing: Timing
Trial type
Trial design

Condobolin 2011

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Junee 2011

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Temora 2011

Sow rate or Target density 40 and 100 plants/m2
Sow date April-May (as per treatments)
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Lake Bolac 2011

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
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

Download results

Trial results Temora

# Variety
Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Harvest index (value) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 EGA Eaglehawk 40 plants/m2 15 April sown 0.41 6.3
2 Bolac 40 plants/m2 27 April sown 0.42 5.9
3 EGA Gregory 40 plants/m2 9 May sown 0.44 5
4 Lincoln 40 plants/m2 19 May sown 0.44 4.8
5 EGA Eaglehawk 100 plants/m2 15 April sown 0.39 6
6 Bolac 100 plants/m2 27 April sown 0.39 5.7
7 EGA Gregory 100 plants/m2 9 May sown 0.43 5.4
8 Lincoln 100 plants/m2 19 May sown 0.44 5.5

Grain yield t/ha


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Harvest index value


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Trial results Junee

# Variety
Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Harvest index (value) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 EGA Eaglehawk 40 plants/m2 15 April sown 0.41 6.3
2 Bolac 40 plants/m2 27 April sown 0.42 5.9
3 EGA Gregory 40 plants/m2 9 May sown 0.44 5
4 Lincoln 40 plants/m2 19 May sown 0.44 4.8
5 EGA Eaglehawk 100 plants/m2 15 April sown 0.39 6
6 Bolac 100 plants/m2 27 April sown 0.39 5.7
7 EGA Gregory 100 plants/m2 9 May sown 0.43 5.4
8 Lincoln 100 plants/m2 19 May sown 0.44 5.5

Grain yield t/ha


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Harvest index value


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Trial results Condobilin

# Variety
Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Harvest index (value) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 EGA Eaglehawk 40 plants/m2 15 April sown 0.41 6.3
2 Bolac 40 plants/m2 27 April sown 0.42 5.9
3 EGA Gregory 40 plants/m2 9 May sown 0.44 5
4 Lincoln 40 plants/m2 19 May sown 0.44 4.8
5 EGA Eaglehawk 100 plants/m2 15 April sown 0.39 6
6 Bolac 100 plants/m2 27 April sown 0.39 5.7
7 EGA Gregory 100 plants/m2 9 May sown 0.43 5.4
8 Lincoln 100 plants/m2 19 May sown 0.44 5.5

Grain yield t/ha


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Harvest index value


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Condobolin, NSW Not specified
Junee, NSW Not specified
Temora, NSW Not specified
Lake Bolac, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Condobolin, NSW Kandosol
Junee, NSW Kandosol
Temora, NSW Kandosol
Lake Bolac, VIC Sodosol
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 Condobolin NSW Junee NSW Temora NSW Lake Bolac VIC
2011 464.5mm515.5mm615.3mm725.2mm
2010 454.9mm472.4mm622.2mm749.4mm
2009 332.6mm338.0mm570.3mm715.6mm
2008 323.0mm331.8mm556.2mm707.8mm
2007 276.4mm280.8mm475.6mm689.8mm
2006 286.2mm321.5mm514.6mm650.2mm
2005 313.1mm357.5mm516.7mm709.9mm
2004 293.7mm305.2mm454.7mm714.8mm
2003 263.5mm276.6mm422.3mm707.2mm
2002 268.4mm290.2mm414.1mm712.8mm
2001 312.2mm325.2mm454.0mm687.0mm
2000 355.0mm338.3mm430.4mm607.7mm
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.

Condobolin VIC

Junee VIC

Temora VIC

Lake Bolac VIC

Condobolin VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Junee VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Temora VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Lake Bolac VIC

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

2011 trial report



Trial last modified: 07-02-2022 12:47pm AEST