Early sowing and the interaction with row spacing and variety in first wheat crops under full stubble retention

2016

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Nick Poole (FAR Australia)
Michael Straight (FAR Australia)
Year(s) 2016
Contributor Riverine Plains
Trial location(s) Yarrawonga, VIC
Early sowing and the interaction with row spacing and variety in first wheat crops under full stubble retention locations
Aims

To investigate the interaction between early sowing and row spacing and variety in first wheat crops under full stubble retention.

Key messages

• Four wheat trials sown during mid-April 2014 and 2015 showed no difference in grain yield or qualityas a result of being grown on 22.5cm, 30cm and 37.5cm row spacings, when averaged across four varieties (Bolac/Kiora, Lancer, Trojan and EGA Wedgetail).
• The 2016 trial sown during mid-April again showed no difference in yield between 22.5cm and 30cm row spacings, however yields were significantly less with the widest row spacing (37.5cm).
• Trial yields in 2016 were 1.5t/ha higher than 2014 and 2015 (3–4.25t/ha), with the higher yield potential likely to be a key factor in the poor performance of the widest row spacing (37.5cm).
• The Riverine Plains Water Use Efficiency (WUE) project (2009–13) showed that when crops weresown in the traditional sowing window, the 22.5cm spacing was more successful than the 30cm spacing, except in drier years with lower yield potential (2.5–3.0t/ha).
• In the three years (2014–16) of trialling row spacing on early-sown crops, crops grown on a 22.5cm row spacing produced more dry matter (DM) than crops grown on wider rows. However, the 2016 trial was the first to show a yield disadvantage to the widest
row spacing (37.5cm) when sown early.
• As a result of lower yields, the 37.5cm row spacing gave significantly poorer water use efficiency (WUE) than 30cm row spacing, with a greater proportion of calculated water losses (soil evaporation, drainage or unused water).
• A barley row spacing trial, sown at the same time alongside the wheat, provided some usefulcomparative observations during 2016, with La Trobe barley producing higher DM and yields thanwheat with a harvest index (HI) of approximately 50% compared with wheat at 40%.

Lead research organisation Riverine Plains
Host research organisation Riverine Plains
Trial funding source GRDC RPI00009
Related program Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble
Acknowledgments

Thank you to our farmer co-operators, J and S Bruce Barooga, NSW and Telewonga Pty Ltd, Yarrawonga, Victoria.


Other trial partners FAR Australia
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Variety
  • Sowing: Row Spacing
  • Sowing: Timing
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Blocked

Yarrawonga 2016

Sow date 14 April 2016
Harvest date 11 December 2016
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Herbicide

host farmer paddock management

Insecticide

host farmer paddock management

Fungicide

host farmer paddock management

Other trial notes

GSR (Apr-Oct)

Yarrawonga 2016

Sow date 14 April 2016
Harvest date 11 December 2016
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Herbicide

host farmer paddock management

Insecticide

host farmer paddock management

Fungicide

host farmer paddock management

Other trial notes Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Wheat spacing trial growth traits at Yarrawonga in 2016

@T1: GS31 @T2: GS71 @T3: GS99
# Treatment 1
Cereal tillers (tillers/m2) Establishment plants (plants/m2) Hectolitre weight (kg/hL) Grain yield (t/ha) Head abundance (heads/m2) Protein (%) Screenings <2mm (%) Dry matter (t/ha) Nitrogen uptake (kg N/ha) Nitrogen uptake (kg N/ha) Dry matter (t/ha) Dry matter (t/ha) Nitrogen uptake (kg N/ha)
1 22.5cm Row Spacing 456 127 80.1 5.6 408 9.1 2.2 1.74 64 112 12.33 12.19 93
1 30cm Row Spacing 469 133 80 5.69 400 9.2 2.6 1.67 62 89 11.5 12.06 101
1 37.5cm Row Spacing 416 128 79.8 5.26 342 9.2 2.4 1.52 54 81 10.31 11.21 107
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Grain yield t/ha


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Cereal tillers tillers/m2


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Dry matter t/ha


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Establishment plants plants/m2


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Head abundance heads/m2


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Hectolitre weight kg/hL


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Nitrogen uptake kg N/ha


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Protein %


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Screenings <2mm %


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Trial results Wheat variety growth traits at Yarrawonga in 2016

@T1: @T2: @T3:
# Cereal tillers (tillers/m2) Establishment plants (plants/m2) Hectolitre weight (kg/hL) Grain yield (t/ha) Head abundance (heads/m2) Protein (%) Screenings <2mm (%) Dry matter (t/ha) Nitrogen uptake (kg N/ha) Nitrogen uptake (kg N/ha) Dry matter (t/ha) Dry matter (t/ha) Nitrogen uptake (kg N/ha)
1 Wedgetail 549 129 79.5 5.45 454 9.4 2.6 1.66 60 108 10.94 12.89 113
1 Kiora 435 132 80.2 5.8 385 8.5 2.6 1.78 64 78 11.96 11.78 101
1 Lancer 373 112 80 5.33 323 9.2 2.4 1.36 56 91 10.33 10.16 66
1 Trojan 431 144 80 5.49 372 9.6 2.1 1.79 62 99 12.28 12.44 122
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Grain yield t/ha


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Cereal tillers tillers/m2


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Dry matter t/ha


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Establishment plants plants/m2


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Head abundance heads/m2


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Nitrogen uptake kg N/ha


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Screenings <2mm %


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Yarrawonga, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Yarrawonga, VIC Sodosol
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 Yarrawonga VIC
2016 599.8mm
2015 597.1mm
2014 586.7mm
2013 573.0mm
2012 589.8mm
2011 592.9mm
2010 605.2mm
2009 562.9mm
2008 560.4mm
2007 538.8mm
2006 557.8mm
2005 583.2mm
2004 557.7mm
2003 547.9mm
2002 524.2mm
2001 511.4mm
2000 461.9mm
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

Yarrawonga VIC 2016


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 604mm

Yarrawonga VIC 2016


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 604mm

Derived climate information

Yarrawonga VIC

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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: 29-08-2019 14:07pm AEST