Monitoring barley grass in broad acre paddocks

2019

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Amanda Cook (SARDI)
Contact email Amanda.cook@sa.gov.au
Contact phone 0427270154
Year(s) 2019
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Condado, SA
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA
Yaninee, SA
Related trials
Monitoring barley grass in broad acre paddocks locations
Aims

Barley grass continues to be a major grass weed in cereal cropping regions on upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). The use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology to identify and assess barley grass populations in paddocks and monitor potential resistant populations may be a useful tool for farmers. This approach was tested in three paddocks on upper EP Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC), Minnipa Hill and Yaninee using a UAV during the 2017, 2018 and 2019 growing seasons at three different timings, with paddock transects conducted to verify grass weed density in paddocks. In 2019 grass weed escape paddocks were targeted at MAC and Condada in the final flights.

The aim of the research was to determine if the UAV imagery could monitor the grass weed populations across seasons in crops and pastures, if resistant weed patches were continually in the same area of the paddock and if the information could be useful for farmers to adopt this method to better target grass weed control.

Key messages
  • UAV imagery with skilled specialist analysis has the potential to identify weed issues in paddocks.
  • It was easier to identify grass weed patches in legume and pasture crops than cereal crops.
  • Data capture and analysis for analytical purposes such as grass weed mapping in individual paddocks will be beyond most farm enterprises unless farmers have a special interest in this area.
  • Grass patches were more reliably identified using UAV data captured at higher resolutions.
  • Barley grass resistance to Group A herbicides has been detected several times throughout the project, so be aware it may be present in current farming systems. 

 

Lead research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source SAGIT S117
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This research was funded by SAGIT project S117. Sincere thanks to SAGIT and their extremely valuable input into regional South Australian research and researchers. Thank you to Bruce Heddle and Wilkins families for having the research and monitoring on their property. 

 


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

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Wheat Pasture: Medic Grain Legume: Lentils
Treatment type(s)
  • Management systems: Integrated weed management
Trial type
Trial design

Condado 2019 Wheat

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

Condado 2019 Medic

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

Condado 2019 Lentils

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

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2019 Lentils

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

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2019 Wheat

Sow date 7 May 2019
Harvest date 12 November 2019
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2019 Medic

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

Yaninee 2019 Wheat

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

Yaninee 2019 Medic

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

Yaninee 2019 Lentils

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
Condado, SA Not specified
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Red loam
Yaninee, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Condado, SA Calcarosol
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Calcarosol
Yaninee, 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 Condado SA Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA Yaninee SA
2019 117.5mm299.6mm228.5mm
2018 120.5mm335.2mm242.9mm
2017 144.8mm338.2mm258.0mm
2016 134.6mm305.1mm252.6mm
2015 111.5mm286.4mm229.0mm
2014 161.7mm338.0mm282.0mm
2013 115.1mm287.6mm214.6mm
2012 117.0mm329.5mm239.6mm
2011 169.9mm356.6mm265.9mm
2010 159.7mm337.6mm268.0mm
2009 198.2mm369.5mm267.2mm
2008 145.6mm300.3mm206.9mm
2007 133.0mm285.9mm223.6mm
2006 154.6mm305.8mm245.6mm
2005 144.1mm267.5mm216.2mm
2004 147.8mm263.8mm199.1mm
2003 143.7mm263.8mm212.1mm
2002 129.6mm254.9mm219.0mm
2001 157.2mm317.8mm265.8mm
2000 159.4mm353.9mm276.5mm
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

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA 2019


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 325mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 241mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 181mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 156mm

Derived climate information

Condado SA

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA

Yaninee SA

Condado SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA

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Yaninee 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

2019 trial report



Trial last modified: 19-05-2023 14:50pm AEST