Improving water use efficiency – reducing soil evaporation

2012
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) 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
Improving water use efficiency – reducing soil evaporation locations
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.


Other trial partners The University of Adelaide
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Trial type
Trial design

2012

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified

2012

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified

Condowie 2012

Sow date 21 May 2012
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 8m x 10m
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

DAP @ 65kg/ha + 2% Zn

40 Kg N/ha on the 13th August

Hart 2012

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

Download results

Trial results Condowie

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 No straw in 2011 + no straw in 2012 1.66
2 Straw in 2011 + no straw in 2012 2.73
3 Straw in 2011 + straw in 2012 2.35
4 No straw in 2011 + straw in 2012 2.1

Grain yield t/ha


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Trial results Hart

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 No straw in 2011 + no straw in 2012 1.66
2 Straw in 2011 + no straw in 2012 2.73
3 Straw in 2011 + straw in 2012 2.35
4 No straw in 2011 + straw in 2012 2.1

Grain yield t/ha


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Trial results Saddleworth

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 No straw in 2011 + no straw in 2012 1.66
2 Straw in 2011 + no straw in 2012 2.73
3 Straw in 2011 + straw in 2012 2.35
4 No straw in 2011 + straw in 2012 2.1

Grain yield t/ha


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Trial results Saplding

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 No straw in 2011 + no straw in 2012 1.66
2 Straw in 2011 + no straw in 2012 2.73
3 Straw in 2011 + straw in 2012 2.35
4 No straw in 2011 + straw in 2012 2.1

Grain yield t/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
, Not specified
, SA Not specified
Condowie, SA Calcarosol
Hart, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
, Chromosol
, SA Chromosol
Condowie, SA Chromosol
Hart, SA Chromosol
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 SA Condowie SA Hart SA
2012 564.6mm595.9mm612.7mm654.6mm
2011 574.6mm625.0mm630.5mm683.8mm
2010 526.6mm615.8mm636.9mm686.7mm
2009 487.1mm585.1mm618.0mm669.9mm
2008 491.2mm551.1mm594.6mm633.9mm
2007 516.5mm581.7mm614.2mm649.9mm
2006 498.1mm583.6mm611.0mm651.2mm
2005 501.3mm596.0mm621.2mm675.4mm
2004 469.8mm545.6mm579.3mm633.0mm
2003 475.7mm548.0mm608.1mm652.2mm
2002 469.3mm535.9mm575.0mm649.4mm
2001 496.8mm563.0mm613.4mm674.5mm
2000 474.6mm527.2mm600.5mm625.6mm
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

Condowie SA 2012


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 168mm

Derived climate information

SA

SA

Condowie SA

Hart SA

SA

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SA

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Condowie SA

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

2012 trial report



Trial last modified: 09-12-2019 15:54pm AEST