Trials were implemented to compare break crop productivity and profitability on major soil types in the northern South Australian Mallee. This information will help farmers in the region to select the most appropriate break crop for their farming system.
Key messages
• Grain yield across all crops were exceptional in 2016 despite a relatively late break and sowing date. Yields were aided by exceptional spring conditions where there was abundant moisture and cool finishing conditions.
• Field peas were the most productive crop grown across all soil types in 2016 and averaged an exceptional 2.9 t/ha. Vetch (2.2 t/ha), narrow leaf lupin (2.1 t/ha) and lentils (2.1 t/ha) also averaged over 2 t/ha across the four trial sites. Faba beans yielded just under 2 t/ha while both chickpea treatments yielded above 1.5 t/ha (Kabuli 1.5; Desi 1.8 (t/ha). Both canola and albus lupins averaged less than 1.5 t/ha.
• High value crops such as desi and kabuli chickpeas produced extremely high gross margins on approximately $2000/ha. Lentils also had an average gross margin of over $1000/ha across the four trial sites.
• Break crop productivity and profitability was very different between common Mallee soil types with the poorest break crop productivity and profitability on the deep sand at Loxton in 2016.
Lead research organisation
Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc.
Host research organisation
Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc.
Trial funding source
SAGIT MSF115
Related program
N/A
Acknowledgments
South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT) for providing funding for this project.
Matt Whitney (Dodgshun Medlin) for providing advice on trial management.
Todd McDonald (MSF) and Peter Telfer (SARDI) for their technical assistance on the trial.
Brenton Kroehn and the Lowbank Ag Bureau for assistance in selecting and setting up the Waikerie site and Bulla Burra staff for assistance at the Loxton site.
Depending on treatment between 35 - 120 plants per m2
Sow date
27 May 2016
Harvest date
5 December 2016
Plot size
15m x 1.8m
Plot replication
4
Fertiliser
100 kg/ha of single super phosphate banded below the seed
All canola received an additional 100 kg/ha of urea applied immediately prior to sowing and incorporated by the sowing operation.
Herbicide
Pre-emergence herbicide packages and rates were specific for each treatment and soil type.
Grass weeds were controlled with an application of clethodim and haloxyfop on 21 July.
Insecticide
Native budworm was controlled at all sites on 19 September using alpha-cypermethrin.
Fungicide
two applications of chlorothalonil were applied as preventative treatments to the lentil, chickpea and faba bean treatments on the 19 September and the 7 of October.
Inoculant
All legumes were inoculated just prior to seeding with their specific Rhizobian strain using a peat inoculant.
Trial source data and summary not available Check the trial
report PDF for trial results.
Climate
Loxton SA 2016
Observed climate information
Rainfall avg ann (mm)
270.6mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm)
172mm
Rainfall trial total (mm)
426.2mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm)
321.5mm
Derived climate information
Loxton SA
Waikerie SA
Loxton SA
Waikerie SA
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
2016 trial report
GRDC Final Report
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Related Final Reports By Crop type and Region
Grain Legume Field peasSouthern
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Related Final Reports By Author(s)
Ray Correll, Todd McDonald, Michael Moodie, Nigel S Wilhelm
