Break crop research with FarmLink to manage grass weeds

2012 - 2014
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Laura Goward (CSIRO)
Kellie Jones (FarmLink)
Mark Peoples (CSIRO)
Tony Pratt (CSIRO)
Antony Swan (CSIRO)
Year(s) 2012 - 2014
Contributor FarmLink Research
Trial location(s) Eurongilly, NSW
Break crop research with FarmLink to manage grass weeds locations
Aims

To investigate whether a break crop can be used to manage weeds.

Key messages
  • Wheat grain yield can be expected to be reduced by around 0.5 t/ha for every tonne of in-crop grass weed dry matter present in spring.
  • Wheat following break crops were consistently more profitable than wheat on wheat. This in part reflected the  relatively low wheat grain prices experienced during experimentation, and the high returns for canola, but was also related to the efficacy and costs of ryegrass control.
  • Growing pulses for brown manure (Bm) lost money in the year that they were grown, but achieved excellent weed control, provided high inputs of N and a residual carry-over of soil water, and more ground cover than if they had been cut for hay.
  • In the presence of a high density of herbicide resistant ryegrass a ‘single break’ was not adequate to reduce weed seedbanks and subsequent in-crop weed competition. ‘Double breaks’ (two broad leaf break crops, or break crop - cereal hay sequence) reduced ryegrass seedbank numbers to manageable levels and were amongst the most profitable sequences.
  • Break crop choice and selection should be based on individual farm management and ability to manage the various break crops options in the rotation. If growers remain flexible in break crop and end-use decisions, and make suitable choices, risks associated with producing them can be greatly reduced.
  • A cropping program that includes break crops is likely to be more sustainable in terms of N inputs and risk of build-up of root diseases than continuous wheat, and provided cheaper, more effective strategies for controlling herbicide resistant grass weeds.
Lead research organisation FarmLink Research
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC CSP00146
Related program N/A
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.
  • We thank GRDC for financial support to undertake the collaboration with FarmLink. We are indebted to members of FarmLink and key local agribusiness consultants for their input into project experimentation. All farmers who provided
    land for trials are gratefully acknowledged.

Other trial partners A collaboration between CSIRO, NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (ECODEV; previously Vic DEPI, or Vic DPI) and leading Grower Groups in the Southern Region based
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types Oilseed: Canola Cereal (Grain): Wheat Grain Legume: Lupins
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Rotation
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Unknown

Eurongilly 2012 Canola

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

Eurongilly 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
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Plot replication Not specified

Eurongilly 2012 Lupins

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

Eurongilly 2013 Wheat

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

Eurongilly 2013 Canola

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

Eurongilly 2013 Lupins

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

Eurongilly 2014 Wheat

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

Eurongilly 2014 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
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Eurongilly 2014 Lupins

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
Eurongilly, NSW Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Eurongilly, 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 Eurongilly NSW
2014 349.8mm
2013 389.3mm
2012 445.0mm
2011 476.8mm
2010 469.7mm
2009 408.4mm
2008 397.6mm
2007 313.7mm
2006 292.4mm
2005 275.9mm
2004 204.6mm
2003 222.9mm
2002 252.7mm
2001 353.0mm
2000 443.9mm
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.

Eurongilly 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: 07-02-2022 12:47pm AEST