Spread pattern from aerially applied bait applications

2016

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Svetlana Micic
Year(s) 2016
Contributor Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Trial location(s) Mount Barker, WA
Spread pattern from aerially applied bait applications locations
Aims

To determine the spread pattern from aerially applied baits.

Key messages

Previous research has shown good snail control comes from snails being able to come across baits and feed on them. The more even the bait distribution, the more likely the snails will come across a bait, feed on it and die.

It is becoming more common to apply baits aerially, but there have been no previous studies on the distribution of baits applied from aircraft.

In this study, we found the distribution of baits varied depending on the distance from the flight path of the plane and that bait application swath widths of the plane needed to be 15 metres rather than 30 metres. This trial highlighted that better calibration techniques are needed for aerially applied bait applications.

Lead research organisation Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC DAW00251
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

The research undertaken as part of this project is made possible by the significant contributions of growers through both trial cooperation and the support of the GRDC’s Regional Cropping Solutions Network, as well as the farmer groups South East Premium Wheat Association and Stirling to Coast Farmers, the authors would like to thank them for their continued support.


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

Method

Crop type Oilseed: Canola
Treatment type(s)
  • Pest Management
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Unknown

Mount Barker 2016

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Insecticide

Trays of 0.19 square metre were placed at 1 metre intervals for 100 metres. Trays were placed perpendicular to the flight path of the plane. The weight and number of baits in each tray was counted after a single pass of the plane. The plane applied a metaldehyde bait at registered rates at 30 metre swath widths. Each bait had an average weight of 0.035 grams (based on an average of 100 bait weight) and was about 5 millimetres long. The spread pattern was determined using moving averages of four trays.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Mount Barker, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Mount Barker, WA Chromosol
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 Mount Barker WA
2016 540.3mm
2015 515.5mm
2014 508.0mm
2013 524.0mm
2012 517.6mm
2011 545.6mm
2010 443.9mm
2009 497.0mm
2008 487.2mm
2007 387.7mm
2006 391.8mm
2005 507.5mm
2004 475.0mm
2003 494.3mm
2002 485.2mm
2001 441.6mm
2000 452.5mm
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

Loading

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.

Mount Barker WA

Loading
Loading
Loading

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.