Mullewa trials - opportunistic use of break crop vs fallow

2011

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) N/A
Year(s) 2011
Contributor North East Farming Futures
Trial location(s) Ardingly South, WA
Mullewa trials - opportunistic use of break crop vs fallow locations
Aims

To compare an opportunistic break crop against fallow and wheat to better define the pros and cons of fallowing.

Key messages
  • The moisture results indicate that canola uses more water at a greater depth than wheat. There is less water remaining in the soil profile below 40cm under canola sown at 1 and 6 kg/ha than for the same depth under wheat. There will be less moisture accessible to a wheat crop in 2012 on the canola plots than on the fallow plots.
  • The use of fallow for moisture storage alone is unlikely given the volume of stored soil moisture at the beginning of May 2011. Indications for the use of a break crop were positive from early April. Summer rainfall had refilled the soil profile, fol-lowing the wheat of 2010, giving some surety to crop yield. Only a small rainfall event was required to break the season and join the soil moisture fronts.
  • Season length and consistent rainfall has favoured yield of canola regardless of its plant density. A very plastic species as the yield from 22 plants/m2 is only 200 kg/ha less than that from 68 plants/m2. The canola plots received all required inputs as a result was a more expensive crop to grow than either the wheat or fallow.
Lead research organisation North East Farming Futures
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source North East Farming Futures (NEFF)
Trial funding source DAFWA
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments
  • Growers of the MDFI for identifying this as an issue they need-ed to target.
  • Research Support Unit Geraldton, Steve Cosh, Trevor Bell, Dirranie Kirby with seeding, harvest and seasonal manage-ment.

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

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Wheat Oilseed: Canola
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Blocked

Ardingly South 2011 Wheat

Sow rate or Target density Canola 6, 4, 2 and 1 kg/ha, wheat
Sow date 14 April 2011
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication 4
Herbicide

As per trial report.

Ardingly South 2011 Canola

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Variety
Grain yield (t/ha) Gross return ($/ha) Emergence plants (plants/m2)
1 Canola 2.94 1543 128
2 Canola 2.9 1522 68
3 Canola 2.73 1433 44
4 Canola 2.75 1443 22
5 Wheat 3.3 752 128
6 Fallow 0 0

Grain yield t/ha


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Emergence plants plants/m2


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Gross return $/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Ardingly South, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Ardingly South, WA Tenosol
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 Ardingly South WA
2011 381.3mm
2010 268.7mm
2009 297.9mm
2008 346.1mm
2007 276.3mm
2006 292.1mm
2005 292.2mm
2004 276.4mm
2003 272.1mm
2002 281.1mm
2001 265.6mm
2000 348.0mm
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.

Ardingly South WA

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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: 06-08-2019 07:54am AEST