Break crop selection for Eyre Peninsula low rainfall farming systems

2019

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Sarah Day
Contact email sarah.day@sa.gov.au
Year(s) 2019
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA
Break crop selection for Eyre Peninsula low rainfall farming systems locations
Aims

Farming systems in the low rainfall zone of southern Australia are dominated by cereal production. There is increasing concern about grass weed and soil-borne disease pressure, diminishing soil fertility (particularly nitrogen), and water use efficiency, as a result of continuously cropping cereals. Break crops have a key role to play in addressing these issues, as well as diversifying crop production and economic risk, and maintaining long-term sustainability of the system. However, there remains a lack of information available to growers about choosing the break crop best suited to their situation, as break crop development to date has largely occurred in medium and high rainfall zones. The aim of this research is to identify the best break crop options for different climate, soil type and biotic stress situations within major cropping regions of the southern low rainfall zone.

Key messages
  • Field pea had higher biomass and grain yield production than other break crop species at Minnipa, although @RISK analysis suggests field pea is only profitable as a grain crop in 41% of years.
  • @RISK analysis model outcomes indicate chickpea, vetch hay and lentil are lower risk break crop species, and are profitable in more than 50% of years.
  • Field pea and vetch have multiple alternative end-use options in dry seasonal conditions that can be utilised to recover crop input costs and salvage a financial return.

 

Lead research organisation South Australian Research and Development Institute
Host research organisation South Australian Research and Development Institute
Trial funding source GRDC DAS00162A
Related program Tactical Break Crop Agronomy
Acknowledgments

The research undertaken as part of this project is made possible by the significant contributions of growers through both trial cooperation and the support of the GRDC (DAS00162A), and the authors would like to thank them for their continued support. The continued assistance in trial management from SARDI Agronomy groups at Clare and Minnipa, as well as Frontier Farming Systems, is gratefully acknowledged and appreciated.


Other trial partners Rural Directions, University of Adelaide
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Forage: Mixed
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2019

Sow date 15 May 2019 15th May 2019
Harvest date 1 November 2019 1st November 2019
Plot size 2m x 10m
Plot replication 3
Plot blocking Split
Plot randomisation Random
Fertiliser

100kg/ha MAP

100kg/ha DAP

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
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Clay loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, 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 Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA
2019 411.6mm
2018 438.6mm
2017 463.1mm
2016 441.5mm
2015 440.3mm
2014 499.1mm
2013 421.3mm
2012 453.1mm
2011 481.0mm
2010 475.3mm
2009 480.8mm
2008 396.6mm
2007 398.4mm
2006 431.4mm
2005 399.7mm
2004 398.4mm
2003 404.4mm
2002 393.7mm
2001 446.8mm
2000 461.1mm
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.

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 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 14:18pm AEST