Grazing cereals demonstration

2011
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Richard Quinlan (Planfarm)
Year(s) 2011
Contributor West Midlands Group
Trial location(s) Irwin, WA
Grazing cereals demonstration locations
Aims

To assess whether the effects of grazing wheat with sheep during the growing season. Factors being assessed are yield and quality, dry matter production and grazing value.

Key messages
  • There was no yield penalty from grazing in 2011. 
  • This was probably due to removal of the sheep at closer to the ideal (i.e. Z31) crop stage and possibly the reduced grazing density as well as a favourable finish to the season. 
  • This resulted in a profit of $29.89 in 2011 for the grazed treatment compared to -$29.74 for the grazed in 2010.
Lead research organisation Planfarm Pty Ltd
Host research organisation West Midlands Group
Trial funding source GRDC
Trial funding source Caring for our Country
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments
  • Thanks to funding bodies GRDC & Caring For our Country program.
  • Thanks to Andrew and Debbie Gillams for allowing the trial to take place on their property as well as the many hours involved in recording sheep movements and yield and quality data.
  • Thanks you to the Mingenew Irwin Group for help at harvest and organisation of the field walks during the season.

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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Variety
  • Grazing
Trial type Demonstration
Trial design Unreplicated

Irwin 2011

Sow rate or Target density 80kg/ha
Sowing machinery

Flexi Coil 1720 bar with 9 inch row spacing.

Sow date 21 May 2011
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

At seeding: K-Till Extre @ 80kg/h

Post: Urea @ 70kg/ha (28 July- applied on 10 July on ungrazed area)

Herbicide

pre: Roundup Powemax (18 May); Sprayseed @ 1.2 L/ha, Boxer gold @ 2.5 L/ha and 30 Logran (20 May)

Post: MCPA LVE @ 100mL/ha, Ally @ 5g/ha, 0.2% wetter

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
Irwin, WA Sand to sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Irwin, 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 Irwin WA
2011 291.9mm
2010 248.6mm
2009 265.6mm
2008 249.9mm
2007 194.4mm
2006 220.8mm
2005 249.6mm
2004 234.0mm
2003 237.1mm
2002 212.6mm
2001 226.8mm
2000 273.0mm
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

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.

Irwin 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.

Trial report and links

2011 trial report



Trial last modified: 09-07-2019 10:00am AEST