Seasonal effects of strategic stubble treatments on wheat and barley in CWFS districts; Year 3 of a 5 year investigation

2015
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) John Small (CWFS)
Year(s) 2015
Contributor Central West Farming Systems
Trial location(s) Mumbil Creek, NSW
Tottenham, NSW
Weethalle, NSW
Seasonal effects of strategic stubble treatments on wheat and barley in CWFS districts; Year 3 of a 5 year investigation locations
Aims

To investigate the impact of different stubble treatments (burning, cultivation or standing stubble) imposed towards the end of the fallow have on the yield of wheat and barley, and evaluate any cultivar responses within crop species to the impact of the different stubble treatments.

Key messages
  • During 2015 stubble treatments involving late burning or cultivation resulted in significantly different yields in wheat and barley in 2 of 3 trials conducted at Tottenham, Weethalle, and Mumbil Creek.
  • The stubble treatments had no effect on cultivar rankings or grain quality at any site.
  • The effects of stubble treatments observed during 2015 were similar to the effects observed during similar trials in 2013 and 2014. The trend emerging is best summarised: “Cultivation late in fallow to reduce stubble loads for sowing is the most likely option to reduce yield unless it resolves a physical soil constraint such as compaction or established hard to kill weeds. Burning late in fallow to reduce stubble loads for sowing is unlikely to significantly improve yields compared to sowing into district typical standing stubbles. Burning may be a good last minute option where despite good planning, stubble is still interfering with sowing.”
Lead research organisation Central West Farming Systems
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC CWF00018
Related program Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble
Acknowledgments

CWFS would like to acknowledge the support provided by the co-operating farmers; without their in-kind support the trials would not have been possible. The author also thanks Neil Fettell for his support in compiling this report.


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

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Wheat Cereal (Grain): Barley
Treatment type(s)
  • Stubble: Management
Trial type
Trial design

Mumbil Creek 2015 Wheat

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified

Mumbil Creek 2015 Barley

Sow rate or Target density 40 kg/ha seeding rate
Sowing machinery

Cultivation treatment imposed with offset discs.

Sow date 7 May 2015
Harvest date 16 November 2015
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

63 kg/ha MAP fertiliser into moist seedbed

Tottenham 2015 Barley

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified

Tottenham 2015 Wheat

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified

Weethalle 2015 Barley

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified

Weethalle 2015 Wheat

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser 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
Mumbil Creek, NSW Sandy loam
Tottenham, NSW Not specified
Weethalle, NSW Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Mumbil Creek, NSW Kandosol
Tottenham, NSW Vertosol
Weethalle, NSW Kandosol
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 Mumbil Creek NSW Tottenham NSW Weethalle NSW
2015 564.6mm549.7mm408.3mm
2014 523.9mm560.3mm389.2mm
2013 495.4mm535.0mm374.0mm
2012 549.2mm600.3mm460.3mm
2011 592.4mm613.3mm504.8mm
2010 592.5mm644.7mm490.5mm
2009 575.0mm605.4mm395.3mm
2008 581.5mm602.0mm370.7mm
2007 562.8mm571.0mm268.0mm
2006 557.2mm565.5mm333.9mm
2005 590.8mm599.9mm390.5mm
2004 570.6mm602.9mm338.8mm
2003 573.8mm554.5mm347.2mm
2002 542.2mm530.9mm321.7mm
2001 550.9mm528.4mm383.2mm
2000 552.5mm514.1mm353.4mm
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

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Mumbil Creek NSW

Tottenham NSW

Weethalle NSW

Mumbil Creek NSW

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Tottenham NSW

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Weethalle NSW

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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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

2015 trial report



Trial last modified: 05-12-2019 14:05pm AEST