Pasture trials report

2014 - 2016
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton

Trial details

Researcher(s) John Blake (SCF)
Year(s) 2014 - 2016
Contributor Stirlings to Coast Farmers
Trial location(s) Albany, WA
Pasture trials report locations
Aims

To evaluate species and pasture phase systems (including hard seeded annuals) for light sand-plain soils (with low pH and low available soil water) in crop-based rotations.

Key messages
  • The MLA trials demonstrated that early summer seeding (January) of Serradella pod was a viable option. The summer sowing of Serradella pod has outperformed the twin sowing methods in the two trials conducted by SCF growers
  • The current district practice of dry seeding pasture seed in Autumn on sandplain soils has severe limitations compared to summer pod sowing or seeding when soil is moist after full seasonal break. This was confirmed in the 2014 season in the MLA trial where the second time of sowing (into moist soil) outperformed the first time of sowing in total legume biomass production and this advantage has carried right through to seed set in Year 3 (in M1 trial Santorini and Margurita plots).
  • The performance of a precision seeder for sowing Serradella in a 2015 trial demonstrated that modifications of conventional seeding systems could improve plant establishment efficiency by more that 35%.
  • The hard seeded Serradellas are performing well in specific treatments in the MLA trials even on the lower fertility, acidic and non-wetting sandplain soils. Mixed maturity Serradellas like cv Margurita lose significant pod set with spraytopping ryegrass compared to Cadiz or Santorini.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

MLA for the three year funding of this project. John and Ashton Hood for hosting trials (M1, M2 & M4), providing guidance and equipment, hosting field Days and doing joint presentations at the State MLA workshops each year. Peter and John Diprose for hosting trials (M3) and providing access to their specialist Precision planter. Mal Thomson for hosting trial (M5) in 2016 and hosting part of the 2016 Spring Field Day. Iain Mackie for hosting the Messina trial (M6) on his Forest Hill property.


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

Method

Crop types Oilseed: Canola Pasture: Clover : N/A
Treatment type(s)
  • Management systems: Other
Trial type Article/commentary
Trial design Not applicable

Albany 2014 Canola

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

Albany 2014 Clover

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

Albany 2014

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

Albany 2015 Clover

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

Albany 2015 Canola

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

Albany 2015

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

Albany 2016 Clover

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

Albany 2016 Canola

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

Albany 2016

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
Albany, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Albany, WA Podosol
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 Albany WA
2016 384.3mm
2015 337.4mm
2014 338.4mm
2013 371.5mm
2012 378.3mm
2011 383.4mm
2010 349.0mm
2009 386.3mm
2008 383.4mm
2007 364.8mm
2006 341.7mm
2005 373.8mm
2004 349.7mm
2003 361.4mm
2002 356.0mm
2001 350.2mm
2000 366.1mm
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

Loading

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.

Albany WA

Loading
Loading
Loading

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: 25-08-2021 16:27pm AEST