Researcher(s) |
Nigel Wilhelm (SARDI) |
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Year(s) | 2015 |
Contributor | SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre |
Trial location(s) |
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA
|
Related trials |
This article summarises the first season’s wheat performance after increasing severity of trafficking was imposed on a red calcareous sandy loam at Minnipa Agricultural Centre. Three other trials similar in design and monitoring have also been implemented across the LRZ – on a deep sand at Loxton (SA), a brown loam near Swan Hill (Vic) and on a deep red earth at Lake Cargellico (NSW). All these trials will be maintained for at least the five year life of the project.
Heavy trafficking did not reduce the grain yield of wheat in 2015 and crop development appeared faster with some trafficking.
Lead research organisation | N/A |
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Host research organisation |
SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre |
Trial funding source | GRDC ACT00004 |
Related program | N/A |
Acknowledgments |
Thanks to MAC farm staff for the implementation and management of the R site and to Ian Richter and Naomi Scholz for undertaking the monitoring of crop performance and soil condition. GRDC is the major funder of this project, which is managed by the Australian Controlled Traffic Farming Assocation (project code ACT00004). |
Other trial partners | CWFS, BCG, MSF |
Crop type | Cereal (Grain): Wheat |
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Treatment type(s) |
|
Trial type | Experimental |
Trial design | Randomised,Replicated |
Sow rate or Target density | 50 kg/ha |
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Sowing machinery |
The farm’s Horwood Bagshaw precision seeder (knife points) was used and the trial was sown as part of the whole paddock and managed similarly. The trial was laid out so that two treated plots were sown in each pass, one under each wing of the seeder. |
Sow date | 25 May 2015 |
Harvest date | Not specified |
Plot size | 50m x 3m |
Plot replication | 4 |
Fertiliser |
60 kg/ ha of DAP |
Soil amelioration |
Control (no heavy vehicle trafficking). One pass of a 30 tonne vehicle prior to seeding when soil was dry. One pass of a 30 tonne vehicle prior to seeding when soil was moist. Three passes of a 30 tonne vehicle prior to seeding when soil was moist. Deep ripping (to loosen any historical trafficking). These passes were conducted with 50% overlap of the load bearing wheels to ensure even coverage and will not be re-imposed. |
Tillage | None directly prior to sowing. |
# |
Treatment 1
|
Grain protein (%) | 1000 grain weight (g) | Heads per plant (heads/plant) | Crop Establishment (plants/m2) | No of grains per head (g) | Grain yield (kg/ha) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | █ Control | 15.7 | 21.8 | 2.3 | 124 | 43.4 | 2602 |
2 | █ One pass on dry soil | 15.3 | 22.2 | 2.44 | 122 | 41.6 | 2742 |
3 | █ One pass on wet soil | 15.9 | 20 | 2.37 | 127 | 41.5 | 2548 |
4 | █ Three passes on wet soil | 16.1 | 22.8 | 2.6 | 100 | 44.2 | 2488 |
5 | █ Deep rip | 14 | 25.1 | 2.1 | 84 | 45.3 | 1976 |
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.