Adopting profitable crop sequences in the South Australian Mallee

2016

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Ray Correll (Rho Environmetrics)
Todd McDonald (MSF)
Michael Moodie (MSF)
Nigel Wilhelm (SARDI)
Year(s) 2016
Contributor Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc.
Trial location(s) Loxton, SA
Waikerie, SA
Related trials
Adopting profitable crop sequences in the South Australian Mallee locations
Aims
  • 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.


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

Method

Crop types Grain Legume: Field peas Oilseed: Canola Grain Legume: Chickpeas Grain Legume: Faba beans Grain Legume: Lentils Grain Legume: Lupins Hay: Vetch
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Loxton 2016 Field peas

Sow rate or Target density 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
Psuedoreplication Not specified
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.

Loxton 2016 Canola

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified

Loxton 2016 Chickpeas

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified

Loxton 2016 Faba beans

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified

Loxton 2016 Lentils

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified

Loxton 2016 Lupins

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified

Loxton 2016 Vetch

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified

Waikerie 2016 Canola

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified

Waikerie 2016 Chickpeas

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified

Waikerie 2016 Faba beans

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified

Waikerie 2016 Field peas

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified

Waikerie 2016 Lentils

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified

Waikerie 2016 Lupins

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified

Waikerie 2016 Vetch

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Inoculant Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Loxton, SA Not specified
Waikerie, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Loxton, SA Vertosol
Waikerie, 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 Loxton SA Waikerie SA
2016 173.6mm140.1mm
2015 153.0mm130.0mm
2014 202.8mm179.9mm
2013 156.4mm150.6mm
2012 211.4mm208.5mm
2011 269.8mm258.1mm
2010 210.8mm223.3mm
2009 136.3mm149.1mm
2008 145.5mm155.1mm
2007 174.9mm168.4mm
2006 191.1mm164.8mm
2005 225.9mm193.9mm
2004 163.2mm158.9mm
2003 172.2mm160.9mm
2002 144.1mm124.6mm
2001 173.7mm136.5mm
2000 196.6mm152.7mm
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

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

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Waikerie 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

2016 trial report



Trial last modified: 11-12-2019 10:55am AEST