Researcher(s) |
Amanda Cook (Yeruga Crop Research) Trent Potter (Yeruga Crop Research) Ian Richter (SARDI) Wade Shepperd (Yeruga Crop Research) Harm van Rees (CropFacts Pty Ltd) |
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Year(s) | 2015 |
Contributor | Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation |
Trial location(s) |
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA
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The DAFF and GRDC funded national trial will examine existing, new and alternative strategies for farmers in the cereal sheep zone to increase soil carbon. The trial will be used as baseline data for carbon accumulation in soils and to: discuss the various forms of soil organic carbon (plant residues, particulate, humus and resistant fractions), investigate how management affects each of these pools and how humus can be increased over the medium to long term, communicate how soil organic matter affects soil productivity (through nutrient and water supply, and improvements in soils structure). Identical trials are being run by eight farm groups in SE Australia (Victoria: Mallee Sustainable Farming, Birchip Cropping Group, Southern Farming Systems; NSW: FarmLink, Central West Farming Systems; SA: Hart and Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation, both through Ag Ex Alliance; and Tasmania: Southern Farming Systems) so information can be collected on different soils and climates in the Southern Region.
Average trial yield was 2.8 t/ha, approximately 1 t/ha below the nitrogen unlimited potential as identified by Yield Prophet® during the season. No significant differences in yield were found between stubble treatments (stubble retained, worked or removed) and nutrient treatments (normal practice, normal practice plus additional nutrients to enhance stubble breakdown). After three years of trial work, no significant differences in soil carbon were found between the stubble and nutrient treatments.
Lead research organisation |
CropFacts Pty Ltd |
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Host research organisation |
SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre |
Trial funding source | DAWR AOTGR1-955086-45 |
Trial funding source | GRDC |
Related program |
Carbon Farming Initiative |
Acknowledgments |
Funding for this trial is provided from DAFF and GRDC, and project management through Ag Ex Alliance and EPARF. Yield Prophet (R) is an on-line modelling service based on APSIM that provides simulated crop growth based on individual paddock information and rainfall, and is registered to BCG. |
Other trial partners | EPARF; Ag Excellence Alliance |
Crop type | Cereal (Grain): Wheat |
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Treatment type(s) |
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Trial type | Experimental |
Trial design | Replicated |
Sow rate or Target density | 60kg/ha |
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Sow date | 12 May 2015 |
Harvest date | 11 November 2015 |
Plot size | 12m x 3m |
Plot replication | 4 |
Paddock history | 2014: CL Grenade wheat 2013: Mace wheat 2012: Scout wheat |
Fertiliser |
Base fertiliser of DAP (18:20:0:0) @ 50 kg/ha. Nutrient application treatments at seeding were: (i) normal practice for P at sowing and N in crop as per Yield Prophet and (ii) normal practice PLUS extra nutrients (N, P, S) required to break down the measured wheat stubble. Based on the initial 2015 stubble load of 6.8 t/ha, the extra nutrients (39 units N, 15 units P and 6 units S) required to break down the stubble were applied on 16 April with a rainfall event. The extra nutrients (plus treatment) were applied as DAP (18:20:0:0) @ 75 kg/ha, ammonium sulphate (21:0:0:24) @ 25 kg/ha and urea (46:0:0:0) @ 51 kg/ha. |
Herbicide |
The trial area was sprayed on 8 May with 1.2 L/ha glyphosate and Cavalier at 100 ml/ha. Pre seeding chemical applications at seeding on 12 May were Roundup Attack @ 1.2 L/ha and Boxer Gold @ 2.5 L/ha. On 27 July, Tigrex was applied at 750 ml/ha and 100 ml/ ha Lontrel. |
Rainfall avg ann (mm) | 325mm |
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Rainfall avg gsr (mm) | 241mm |
Rainfall trial total (mm) | 333mm |
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) | 258mm |
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.