Comparing break crop performance in the SA Mallee

2015
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Ray Correll (Rho Environmental Pty Ltd)
Todd McDonald (MSF)
Michael Moodie (MSF)
Nigel Wilhelm (SARDI)
Year(s) 2015
Contributor Central West Farming Systems
Trial location(s) Loxton, SA
Waikerie, SA
Comparing break crop performance in the SA Mallee locations
Aims

To compare break crop productivity and profitability on major soil types in the northern South Australian Mallee.
 

Key messages
  • Break crops faced a range of tough environmental conditions in the Mallee in 2015 including multiple frost and heat shock events.
  • Timely rainfall in April and hence early sowing resulted in excellent biomass production with most crop options producing on average more than 2 t DM/ha and several break crop options producing greater than 2.5 t DM/ha.
  • The highest grain yields tended to be crops with the quickest maturity such as lentils (0.73 t/ha), vetch (0.64 t/ha) and field peas (0.63 t/ha).
  • High value crops such as lentils and vetch were highly profitable due to both excellent prices and reasonable grain yields.
Lead research organisation Central West Farming Systems
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments
  • South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT) for providing funding for this project.
  • Matt Whitney (Dodgshun Medlin) for providing advice on trial management.
  • Todd McDonald (MSF) and Peter Telfer (SARDI) for their technical assistance on the trial.
  • Brenton Kroehn and the Lowbank Ag Bureau for assistance in selecting and setting up the Waikerie site and
  • Bulla Burra staff for assistance at the Loxton site.

Other trial partners MSF, SAGIT and SARDI
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types Grain Legume: Chickpeas Grain Legume: Field peas Grain Legume: Lentils Grain Legume: Lupins Hay: Vetch Oilseed: Canola
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
  • Crop: Rotation
Trial type
Trial design

Loxton 2015 Chickpeas

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

Loxton 2015 Field peas

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

Loxton 2015 Lentils

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

Loxton 2015 Lupins

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

Loxton 2015 Vetch

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

Loxton 2015 Canola

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

Waikerie 2015 Canola

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

Waikerie 2015 Chickpeas

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

Waikerie 2015 Field peas

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

Waikerie 2015 Lentils

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

Waikerie 2015 Lupins

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

Waikerie 2015 Vetch

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication 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
Loxton, SA Not specified
Waikerie, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Loxton, SA Calcarosol
Waikerie, SA Calcarosol
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 Loxton SA Waikerie SA
2015 140.2mm6.0mm
2014 179.2mm23.2mm
2013 155.2mm16.3mm
2012 197.1mm12.1mm
2011 246.3mm25.5mm
2010 207.4mm30.3mm
2009 144.7mm15.7mm
2008 145.0mm12.5mm
2007 142.3mm10.2mm
2006 153.6mm5.4mm
2005 181.7mm17.7mm
2004 139.8mm9.9mm
2003 123.5mm16.1mm
2002 124.0mm2.1mm
2001 169.9mm7.7mm
2000 175.5mm25.6mm
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

Derived climate information

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

Loxton SA

Waikerie SA

Loxton SA

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

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 last modified: 05-12-2019 13:15pm AEST