Opportunities and challenges for continuous cropping systems

2016
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) John Angus (CSIRO)
James Hunt (CSIRO)
Kellie Jones (FarmLink Research)
Clive Kirkby (CSIRO)
John Kirkegaard (CSIRO)
Rick Llewellyn (CSIRO)
Mark Peoples (CSIRO)
Tony Pratt (CSIRO)
Antony Swan (CSIRO)
Year(s) 2016
Contributor FarmLink Research
Trial location(s) Temora, NSW
Opportunities and challenges for continuous cropping systems locations
Aims

To highlight the main challenges faced in continuous cropping systems, and provide some recent research outcomes on best-bet management to sustain profitable continuous cropping with current and foreseeable technologies.

Key messages
  • Continuous cropping can be sustained for decades, but requires careful management.
  • A larger proportion of N supply as fertiliser will be required over time even when grain legumes are included in crop sequences.
  • Herbicide resistance develops faster under continuous cropping. Integrated management to keep key weed populations at very low levels is essential for long-term viability.
  • Suitably diverse crop and end-use portfolios and flexible management help build resilience to climate and crop price shocks.
Lead research organisation FarmLink Research
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC CSP00146
Related program Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble
Acknowledgments
  • FarmLink gratefully acknowledges the contributions of all project collaborators to this report and for the time and effort they have invested in ensuring the success of FarmLink.
  • The authors would like to acknowledge the collaborative partnerships in farming systems research with FarmLink Research, Mallee Sustainable Farming and Birchip Cropping that have contributed to published and unpublished
    data presented here, and to the useful discussions with numerous consultants including Greg Condon, Tim Condon, Chris Duff, Kate Burke, Alan McKay, Matt McCallum and Michael Moodie.
  • We acknowledge the technical teams behind the research and GRDC funding support.

Other trial partners CSIRO
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Grain Legume: Lupins
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Rotation
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Temora 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
Temora, NSW Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Temora, 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 Temora NSW
2016 615.2mm
2015 580.1mm
2014 536.2mm
2013 552.2mm
2012 603.7mm
2011 615.3mm
2010 622.2mm
2009 570.3mm
2008 556.2mm
2007 475.6mm
2006 514.6mm
2005 516.7mm
2004 454.7mm
2003 422.3mm
2002 414.1mm
2001 454.0mm
2000 430.4mm
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.

Temora NSW

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: 05-06-2019 11:44am AEST