Barry Haskins (AgGrow) John Small (CWFS) Rachael Whitworth (AgGrow)
Year(s)
2016
Contributor
Central West Farming Systems
Trial location(s)
Merriwagga, NSW
Aims
To evaluate the productivity and profitability of no-till farming techniques against conventional farming
methods under various cropping rotations.
Key messages
After 18 years there was no standout rotation, in terms of profitability, in any given season. All rotations had their pros and cons in both wet and dry years. Therefore having a mix
of rotations and doing things on time is a recipe for a resilient business.
The most profitable rotation for the duration of the trial was the continuous cropping rotation, which included two wheat crops followed by a pulse crop in a no-till system. The addition of the pulse crop every third year was beneficial, especially for adding extra nitrogen, however added issues such as broadleaf weed blowouts with weeds like fumitory.
Lead research organisation
Central West Farming Systems
Host research organisation
N/A
Trial funding source
GRDC CWF00018
Related program
N/A
Acknowledgments
Ag Grow Agronomy and Research and Central West Farming Systems would like to acknowledge Ian Barber “Sylvanham” for undertaking various activities such as sowing and harvesting the trial, as well as other local farmers in their efforts to help make this trial what it is.
This trial in effect has been unfunded for the majority of its duration, with exception of part of the funding for the 2014- 2016 activities coming from the GRDC project CWF00018 ‘Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble in Central West NSW’.
Thanks to all the fun times looking after this trial with innovative growers over the years
Trial source data and summary not available Check the trial
report PDF for trial results.
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.
Merriwagga NSW
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.
