Heavy trafficking gives Rhizoctonia a headache

2016

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Nigel Wilhelm (SARDI)
Year(s) 2016
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA
Related trials
Heavy trafficking gives Rhizoctonia a headache locations
Aims

Tp summarise the first two years of crop performance after trafficking was imposed on a red calcareous sandy loam at Minnipa Agricultural Centre (a detailed summary of 2015 results can be found in the EPFS Summary 2015, p197). 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.

Key messages
  • Trafficking on wet soil in 2015 resulted in substantially less Rhizoctonia in barley in 2016.
  • After two years of cereal production, there is little evidence that heavy vehicle trafficking is severely depressing grain yield on a Minnipa soil.
Lead research organisation N/A
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.


Other trial partners CWFS, BCG, MSF
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Properties: Compaction
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2016

Sow rate or Target density 65 kg/ha
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 19 May 2016
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 50m x 3m
Plot replication 4
Fertiliser

60 kg/ha of DAP without prior cultivation into good seeding conditions. The farm’s Horwood Bagshaw precision seeder (knife points) was used and 40 kg/ha of urea was top-dressed on all plots mid-season.

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.
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Head abundance (heads/m2) Grain yield (kg/ha) Rhizoctonia severity (0: none, 5: severe) Number of grains per head (grains/head) 1000 grain weight (g) Depth of seeding (mm) Grain protein (%)
1 Control 353 2923 3.8 21 39 42 13.2
2 Single trafficking on dry soil 438 3366 4 20 39 45 12.9
3 Single trafficking on wet soil 458 3773 1.8 21 39 42 12.8
4 Multi trafficking on wet soil 459 3696 1.3 21 39 34 13.1
5 Ripping 449 3284 2.3 19 39 56 15.4

1000 grain weight g


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Depth of seeding mm


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Grain protein %


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Grain yield kg/ha


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Head abundance heads/m2


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Number of grains per head grains/head


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Rhizoctonia severity 0: none, 5: severe


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Calcareous red sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, 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 Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA
2016 409.0mm
2015 381.0mm
2014 439.7mm
2013 385.5mm
2012 407.7mm
2011 453.8mm
2010 454.3mm
2009 466.5mm
2008 380.6mm
2007 367.6mm
2006 384.7mm
2005 350.4mm
2004 343.8mm
2003 348.6mm
2002 343.5mm
2001 396.8mm
2000 422.6mm
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

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA 2016


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 325mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 241mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 391mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 268mm

Derived climate information

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 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: 08-10-2019 11:53am AEST