Benchmarking water limited yield of cereal crops on major soil types across Eyre Peninsula

2019

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Fabio Arsego
Contact email Fabio.Arsego@sa.gov.au
Contact phone 0401653389
Year(s) 2019
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Condada, SA
Cungena, SA
Elliston, SA
MAC, SA
Port Kenny, SA
Streaky Bay, SA
Benchmarking water limited yield of cereal crops on major soil types across Eyre Peninsula locations
Aims

This research aims to determine in which situations extra fertilisation can bring benefits to growers in 14 different Eyre Peninsula (EP) environments.

Every season, growers need to make choices over limited resources in order to optimise their profitability. Soil type and water represent two of the key limiting resources which define the grain yield potential of a paddock. The unpredictability of growing season rainfall patterns restricts in-season fertiliser applications for EP growers, due to the associated high economic risks. As a risk management strategy, growers often apply lower rates of nutrients than required to achieve the water limiting yield potential (Sadras and Roget 2004, Monjardino et al. 2013). Therefore, less than optimum nutrient rates are applied in many instances, and maximum grain yield gains are not reached on occasions where opportunities have existed. Understanding soil water and nutrient dynamics can be useful to determine when in-season extra fertiliser applications are worth the investment in EP dryland farming systems.

 

This study used a subset of the Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation (EPARF) soil moisture probe network locations to benchmark the water limited yield potential and determine the achievable grain yield of cereals crops across major soil types of EP.

 

Key messages
  • Positive relationships (R2 = 0.6) were observed between water and grain yield (t/ha) across 14 Eyre Peninsula (EP) paddocks.
  • Yeelanna (Pooh Bear paddock, clay loam over light clay) had the highest grain yield (5.8 t/ha) across the 14 EP paddocks and 100% of yield potential achieved.
  • Karkoo, Yeelanna (South West) and Witera had similar grain yield (3.82-4.70 t/ha), but only Witera had over 100% yield potential achieved.
  • Paddock yields were also affected by soil constraints and other abiotic stresses.

 

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source SARDI DAS00165
Trial funding source GRDC DAS00165
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

The present project is part of the bilateral investment initiative between SARDI and GRDC (DAS00165) and incorporates findings from scoping study DAS00157. Special thanks to Katrina Brands and Steve Jeffs for their collaboration with field activities. Thank you to Amanda Cook and Nigel Wilhelm for suggestions and feedback during the season.


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
  • Soil Properties: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Condada 2019

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 blocking Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified

Cungena 2019

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 blocking Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified

Elliston 2019

Sow rate or Target density 65kg/ha
Sowing machinery

Small plot seeder 

Sow date 22 May 2019 22nd May 2019
Harvest date 23 October 2019 23rd October 2019
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot blocking Random
Plot randomisation Random blocks
Fertiliser

Dap

Granuloc 

Zincstar 

Urea 

UAN 

MAP

MAC 2019

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 blocking Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified

Port Kenny 2019

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 blocking Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified

Streaky Bay 2019

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 blocking Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser 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
Condada, SA Not specified
Cungena, SA Not specified
Elliston, SA Loam over clay
MAC, SA Not specified
Port Kenny, SA Not specified
Streaky Bay, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Condada, SA Calcarosol
Cungena, SA Calcarosol
Elliston, SA Calcarosol
MAC, SA Calcarosol
Port Kenny, SA Tenosol
Streaky Bay, SA
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 Condada SA Cungena SA Elliston SA MAC SA Port Kenny SA Streaky Bay SA
2019 123.2mm129.1mm118.4mm399.9mm183.8mm94.7mm
2018 122.2mm148.0mm118.3mm450.1mm190.3mm105.3mm
2017 151.9mm148.0mm141.0mm487.5mm188.6mm110.0mm
2016 148.4mm146.9mm151.2mm460.0mm204.7mm123.8mm
2015 122.0mm109.6mm105.7mm415.5mm166.7mm94.2mm
2014 174.1mm146.9mm127.2mm453.9mm197.4mm119.5mm
2013 121.3mm126.1mm130.5mm396.0mm180.5mm104.9mm
2012 124.8mm118.2mm133.2mm450.9mm175.6mm99.4mm
2011 182.7mm147.6mm153.9mm480.7mm198.2mm122.5mm
2010 167.2mm142.4mm151.8mm470.2mm193.1mm108.5mm
2009 202.4mm158.1mm156.0mm468.7mm206.9mm120.8mm
2008 135.9mm126.1mm127.0mm379.3mm168.9mm103.0mm
2007 122.3mm109.4mm105.8mm367.3mm153.4mm82.1mm
2006 151.9mm141.9mm123.5mm402.0mm175.5mm94.0mm
2005 141.3mm133.9mm128.9mm385.9mm171.1mm105.3mm
2004 144.3mm134.2mm130.0mm384.9mm168.1mm107.8mm
2003 141.7mm132.8mm144.0mm396.9mm175.6mm111.2mm
2002 129.3mm106.0mm120.0mm397.0mm166.8mm96.4mm
2001 154.2mm124.7mm131.6mm455.2mm183.8mm101.9mm
2000 155.5mm129.5mm129.3mm452.8mm179.3mm105.1mm
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.

Condada SA

Cungena SA

Elliston SA

MAC SA

Port Kenny SA

Streaky Bay SA

Condada SA

Loading
Loading
Loading

Cungena SA

Loading
Loading
Loading

Elliston SA

Loading
Loading
Loading

MAC SA

Loading
Loading
Loading

Port Kenny SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
Loading
Loading
Loading

Streaky Bay SA

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 report and links

2019 trial report



Trial last modified: 19-05-2023 14:17pm AEST