Can resistant ryegrass be managed cost-effectively under break crops?

2012
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Paul Breust (FarmLink Research)
James Hunt (CSIRO)
Guangdi Li (CSIRO)
Richard Lowrie (Graham Centre)
Mark Peoples (CSIRO)
Antony Swan (CSIRO)
Laura Watson (CSIRO)
Year(s) 2012
Contributor FarmLink Research
Trial location(s) Eurongilly, NSW
Can resistant ryegrass be managed cost-effectively under break crops? locations
Aims

To compare the productivity and profitability of cropping in the presence of a background of herbicide resistant ryegrass, and to assess the implications of various low or high input grass control options applied to wheat and break crops on production costs and ryegrass management.

Key messages
  • Results from experimentation undertaken in southern NSW in 2011 and 2012, have demonstrated that crop sequences which include a brassica or legume break crops can be as profitable as, and in many instances more profitable than, continuous wheat.
  • Canola was consistently the most profitable break crop option. However, the rotational benefits of canola were usually restricted to just the first subsequent wheat crop whereas additional wheat yields can occur for two years after a legume.
  • Growing pulses for grain maximises profit, particularly in favourable seasons, but compromises grass weed control and (depending upon species) reduces N available to subsequent crops compared to brown manuring.
  • Growing pulses for hay was found to be profitable across a range of season types, achieves excellent grass weed control and provides greater N inputs and higher carry-over of soil water than when the same crop is grown for grain.
  • Growing pules for brown manure loses money in the year they are grown, but achieves excellent grass weed control, high N inputs, residual carry-over of soil water, provides more ground cover, and requires less labour than when grown for hay or grain.
Lead research organisation Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Host research organisation FarmLink Research
Trial funding source GRDC
Related program Expanding the use of pulses in the Southern region
Acknowledgments

We thank the GRDC for financial support. We are also indebted to Bernard Hart and Rob Hart at Junee Reefs for allowing us access to their land to establish on-farm experiemental trials, and NSW DPI (Dr Eric Armstrong), the Graham Centre (John Broster) and from Kalyx (Peter Hamblin) for provision of unpublished data.


Other trial partners Graham Centre (CSU/NSW DPI)
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types Oilseed: Canola Cereal (Grain): Wheat Grain Legume: Field peas Grain Legume: Lentils Grain Legume: Lupins
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Rotation
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Eurongilly 2012 Canola

Sow date late April (canola and lupins) and mid-May (lentils, peas and wheat)
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

As per treatments in trial report.

Herbicide

As per treatments in trial report.

Insecticide

As per treatments in trial report.

Fungicide

As per treatments in trial report.

Seed treatment As per treatments in trial report.

Eurongilly 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Seed treatment Not specified

Eurongilly 2012 Field peas

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Seed treatment Not specified

Eurongilly 2012 Lentils

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Seed treatment Not specified

Eurongilly 2012 Lupins

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Seed treatment Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Herbicide cost ($/ha) Ryegrass panicles (no./m2) Grain yield (t/ha) Total variable costs ($/ha) Profit/Cost ratio (value) Shoot dry matter (t/ha) Ryegrass dry matter (t/ha) Gross margin ($/ha) Gross income ($/ha) Input costs ($/ha)
1 Untreated area 0 1042 0 NA
2 Wheat - low input 56 504 2 283 0.9 5 1.6 250 532 169
3 Lentils 67 215 0.7 230 0.3 1.4 0.6 67 297 132
4 Wheat - high input 142 78 3.2 586 0.4 8.4 0.3 257 843 430
5 Lupin 65 43 3.1 321 2.1 6.5 0.1 683 1004 168
6 Canola - low input 62 32 3 453 2.6 8.3 NA 1166 1620 249
7 Canola - high input 46 0 3.5 704 1.8 12 0 1259 1963 427
8 Fallow 35 0 0 45 -1 0 0 -45 0 35
9 Lupin BM 68 Killed before seed s 0 168 -1 1.9 2.4 -168 0 129
10 Pea BM 66 Killed before seed s 0 160 -1 4.5 0.7 -160 0 120

Grain yield t/ha


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Gross income $/ha


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Gross margin $/ha


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Herbicide cost $/ha


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Input costs $/ha


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Profit/Cost ratio value


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Ryegrass dry matter t/ha


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Ryegrass panicles no./m2


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Shoot dry matter t/ha


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Total variable costs $/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Eurongilly, NSW Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Eurongilly, NSW Kandosol
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 Eurongilly NSW
2012 445.0mm
2011 476.8mm
2010 469.7mm
2009 408.4mm
2008 397.6mm
2007 313.7mm
2006 292.4mm
2005 275.9mm
2004 204.6mm
2003 222.9mm
2002 252.7mm
2001 353.0mm
2000 443.9mm
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

Eurongilly NSW 2012


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 179mm

Derived climate information

Eurongilly NSW

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 last modified: 07-02-2022 12:51pm AEST