Chris Lawson (SARDI) Glenn McDonald (University of Adelaide) Victor Sadras (SARDI)
Year(s)
2012
Contributor
Hart Field Site Group
Trial location(s)
, SA
Condowie, SA
Hart, SA
Spalding, SA
Aims
To use a thick layer of cereal straw maintained within the growing season to focus on reducing the amount of moisture lost to soil evaporation.
Key messages
The addition of a straw layer acted to reduce evaporation and significantly increased grain yields and water use efficiency in 2012, at 4 field sites.
Soil evaporation also decreased with increasing light interception from larger crop canopies.
Lead research organisation
South Australian Research and Development Institute
Host research organisation
Hart Field Site Group
Trial funding source
GRDC
Related program
N/A
Acknowledgments
The Hart Field-Site Group wish to thank Brian Kirchner and Simon Goldsmith, Andrew and Rowan Cootes, Michael and David Miller, David Hentschke and Matt Ashby for the use of their paddocks and cooperation with this trial work.
NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
Hart SA
Spalding SA
NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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.
