Seeding rate by row spacing for barley grass management

2015

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Amanda Cook (SARDI)
Nigel Wilhelm (SARDI)
Year(s) 2015
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA
Seeding rate by row spacing for barley grass management locations
Aims

To investigate the potential non-chemical options for managing barley grass in a crop is increasing crop competition by reducing row spacing and increasing sowing rate. 

Key messages
  • 18 cm (7”) systems showed better plant establishment in a drier seeding than the 30 cm (12”) system.
  • Higher seeding rates resulted in higher grain yield but also higher screenings and lower protein.
  • Grass weeds were lower in the higher seeding rate and in the 18 cm row spacing indicating crop competition is a non-chemical weed reduction method.
  • Single row or spread row seeding boots showed little differences in plant establishment, grain yield and quality or grass weed competition.
Lead research organisation Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation
Host research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial funding source GRDC CWF00020
Related program Overdependence on agrochemicals
Acknowledgments

Thank you to Sue Budarick for doing the weed counts and managing the weed germination trays. Funded by the GRDC Overdependence on Agrochemicals project (CWF00020).


Other trial partners Upper North Farming Systems
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Sowing: Rate
  • Sowing: Row Spacing
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2015

Sow rate or Target density 60, 120 or 240 plants/m2
Sowing machinery

single row Harrington point vs Atom Jet spread row seeding boot with press wheels

Sow date 22 May 2015
Harvest date 9 November 2015
Plot size 20m x 2m
Plot replication 4
Plot randomisation Yes
Fertiliser

60 kg/ha of 18:20:0:0

Herbicide

knockdown of 1.5 L/ha of TriflurX, 1 L/ha of Roundup Powermax and 80 ml/ha of Nail and broad-leaved weeds were controlled with 750 ml/ha Tigrex and 100 ml/ha Lontrel  on 23 July.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Early Rye grass (plants/m2) Late grass weeds DM (t/ha) Late Rye grass (plants/m2) Protein (%) Test weight (kg/hL) Plant Establishment (plants/m2) Early dry matter (t/ha) Early Barley grass (plants/m2) LAI (umols) Late Barley grass (plants/m2) Late Wild Oats (plants/m2) Screenings (%) Yield (t/ha) Late dry matter (t/ha)
1 Seeding rate 60 plants/m2, 18 cm row spacing 0.6 0.48 3.4 11.6 80 64 0.32 0.7 60 15.5 34.4 10.7 2.88 8.1
2 Seeding rate 60 plants/m2, 18 ribbon 0.6 0.19 3.7 11.8 79.5 57 0.26 0.7 59 2.3 13.8 10 2.79 8.7
3 Seeding rate 60 plants/m2, 30 cm row spacing 0.4 0.67 6.3 12.1 79.5 31 0.16 2.9 51 15 45.1 11.5 2.03 5.8
4 Seeding rate 60 plants/m2, 30 ribbon 1.6 0.86 7.4 12.3 79 27 0.15 1.2 53 12.9 62.5 11.7 2.03 7
5 Seeding rate 120 plants/m2, 18 cm row spacing 0.7 0.19 1 11.5 80 109 0.47 2.1 66 8 14.8 7.6 3.34 8.8
6 Seeding rate 120 plants/m2, 18 ribbon 1 0.16 0.9 11.4 79.7 114 0.53 0.7 67 6.6 11.9 8.5 3.36 8.9
7 Seeding rate 120 plants/m2, 30 cm row spacing 4 0.58 6.7 12.2 78.9 59 0.27 5.3 54 20 33.9 10.5 2.29 6.5
8 Seeding rate 120 plants/m2, 30 ribbon 1.9 0.91 4.3 12.2 79.2 67 0.26 4.1 59 9.6 77.3 10.9 2.4 6.9
9 Seeding rate 240 plants/m2, 18 cm row spacing 2.5 0.13 0.4 11.4 79.5 194 0.65 6.3 67 0 12.2 8.4 3.56 9.1
10 Seeding rate 240 plants/m2, 18 ribbon 0.7 0.22 0.9 11.3 80.2 186 0.71 2.8 67 1.4 20.7 7.1 3.54 8.1
11 Seeding rate 240 plants/m2, 30 cm row spacing 1.2 0.18 2.6 11.6 79.7 106 0.42 5.3 61 12 5.2 8.2 2.78 8
12 Seeding rate 240 plants/m2, 30 ribbon 1.2 0.21 0.5 12.2 79.6 103 0.41 5.3 59 25.2 7.9 9.9 2.64 7.6

Early Barley grass plants/m2


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Early dry matter t/ha


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Early Rye grass plants/m2


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LAI umols


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Late Barley grass plants/m2


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Late dry matter t/ha


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Late grass weeds DM t/ha


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Late Rye grass plants/m2


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Late Wild Oats plants/m2


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Plant Establishment plants/m2


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Test weight kg/hL


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Yield t/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Site Depth Type pH EC P K N A OC CAT
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA 0 - 10cm 7.90 46.00 76.00
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA 0 - 30cm 7.90 46.00 76.00
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA 0 - 100cm 7.90 46.00 76.00
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, 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 Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA
2015 320.1mm
2014 376.0mm
2013 335.3mm
2012 368.8mm
2011 389.6mm
2010 366.1mm
2009 403.2mm
2008 337.2mm
2007 318.9mm
2006 334.7mm
2005 297.9mm
2004 290.1mm
2003 298.2mm
2002 300.0mm
2001 367.5mm
2000 398.7mm
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

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA 2015


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 325mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 241mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 333mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 258mm

Derived climate information

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 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 report and links

2015 trial report



Trial last modified: 08-10-2019 14:49pm AEST