Grazing sheep on stubbles

2009 - 2010
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Neil Fettell (Industry )
Ian Menz (Uni of New England)
Year(s) 2009 - 2010
Contributor Central West Farming Systems
Trial location(s) Condobolin, NSW
Grazing sheep on stubbles locations
Aims

To measure the impact of grazing within cropping systems on soil properties, water dynamics and crop yield.

Key messages
  • Grazing livestock can compact surface soil and reduce infiltration rates, but their biggest impact on fallow efficiency is through stubble removal.
  • Stubble improves summer fallow efficiency primarily by increasing infiltration; it slows but does not stop evaporation, and this is only beneficial where rainfall events occur close together or if it aids crop establishment.
  • Despite high rainfall during the 2009-10 fallow period at Condobolin, there was little response in soil water storage to the grazing and stubble treatments.
  • Wheat yield in 2010 was reduced by very heavy grazing but not by moderate (more typical) grazing.
Lead research organisation Central West Farming Systems
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Assistance from the staff of the Research Station and from James Hunt and Tony Swan of CSIRO is gratefully acknowledged.


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

Method

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

Condobolin 2009

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

Condobolin 2010

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
Condobolin, NSW Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Condobolin, 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 Condobolin NSW
2010 185.0mm
2009 73.3mm
2008 90.9mm
2007 80.4mm
2006 119.2mm
2005 154.3mm
2004 155.8mm
2003 154.0mm
2002 162.4mm
2001 230.3mm
2000 300.5mm
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.

Condobolin NSW

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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

2010 trial report



Trial last modified: 24-05-2019 11:40am AEST