Maximising dry matter production for grazing systems on alkaline soils

2018

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Amanda Cook
Year(s) 2018
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Piednippie, SA
Maximising dry matter production for grazing systems on alkaline soils locations
Aims

To identify plant varieties or mixtures that can increase dry matter production of the pasture break phase on the highly alkaline soils of upper Eyre Peninsula. Current cropping and grazing systems are mostly based on monocultures and the potential feed base of the break phase could be broadened to be more productive for grazing and available for a longer time period in the season. Current oat varieties, mixed break crops and newer pasture species were trialled at Piednippie in 2018 to investigate whether a more productive and prolonged feed base is possible.

Key messages
  • There is the potential to increase plant dry matter production and grazing using mixtures of plant species.
  • Kaspa peas produced the greatest dry matter overall with 1.7 t DM/ha, and an oats/medic mix also did well (1.3 t DM/ha). The short season oats variety, Durack, produced the greatest dry matter for oats with 1.1 t DM/ha. Toreador disc medic (bred for sandy soils) produced the best dry matter (0.75 t DM/ha) amongst the pasture species.
  • In a poor season like 2018, dry matter production in pastures could be improved compared to the current district practice of volunteer annual medics.
  • Further research needs to be done on regeneration and herbicide tolerance of newer pasture species.
Lead research organisation Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation
Host research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial funding source GRDC EPF00001
Related program Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble
Acknowledgments

Thank you to Brent and Leanne Cronin for allowing the trial to be on their property and to GRDC for funding the trial as part of the EPF00001 Maintaining profitability in retained stubble project.


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

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Barley Hay: Oaten Pasture: Clover Pasture: Medic : N/A Oilseed: Canola Hay: Vetch
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
  • Crop: Variety
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated

Piednippie 2018 Barley

Sow rate or Target density Oat varieties were sown at rates estimated to produce a plant establishment of 120 plants/m2. All pasture species were sown at 7.5 kg/ha except Casbah biserrula and Trigonella balansae (APG5045) which were sown at 5 kg/ha due to smaller seed size
Sowing machinery

The trial was sown with SARDI small plot equipment on 7 and 8 June into moist seed bed conditions (wet to 10 cm depth only)

Sow date 7 June 2018
Harvest date Not harvested due to galah damage
Plot size 12m x 2m
Plot replication 3
Plot randomisation Yes
Fertiliser

100 kg/ha of single super fertiliser (0:8:0:11) applied to all trials. The fertiliser treatments in the pasture trial had 100 kg/ha of single phosphate top-dressed at sowing.

Herbicide

The trials were sprayed with 1.5 L/ha Spray.seed on 15 June post sowing, pre-emergence to kill regenerating medic. After the rains in mid-August late germinating Ward’s weed was an issue and the oats were sprayed early September with 750 ml/ha Tigrex. Most of the pasture plots were sprayed with Targa @ 170 ml/ha, 500 ml/ha of Uptake and Broadstrike @ 25g/ha. The canola plots and Trigonella plots were sprayed with Targa @ 170 ml/ha and Simazine @ 400 g/ha.

Piednippie 2018 Oaten

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified

Piednippie 2018 Clover

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified

Piednippie 2018 Medic

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified

Piednippie 2018

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified

Piednippie 2018 Canola

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified

Piednippie 2018

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified

Piednippie 2018 Vetch

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide 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
Site Depth Type pH EC P K N A OC CAT
Piednippie, SA 0 - 10cm 8.80
Piednippie, SA 10 - 90cm 9.30
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Piednippie, SA Grey calcareous sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Piednippie, 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 Piednippie SA
2018 142.6mm
2017 158.1mm
2016 168.5mm
2015 138.7mm
2014 162.0mm
2013 130.5mm
2012 128.2mm
2011 159.1mm
2010 146.5mm
2009 162.3mm
2008 137.7mm
2007 115.4mm
2006 139.5mm
2005 132.4mm
2004 133.5mm
2003 137.1mm
2002 127.4mm
2001 143.0mm
2000 145.7mm
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

Piednippie SA 2018


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 379mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 304mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 288mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 207mm

Derived climate information

Piednippie 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 report and links

2018 trial report

Event Date Type Effect
Galah attack at harvest

Neither the oat or mixed species trials were harvested for grain yield due to galahs decimating the trial in late October.

late October 2018 Animal grazing 80%


Trial last modified: 08-10-2019 13:53pm AEST