Non-wetting management options for growers in the Albany port zone.

2020 - 2021
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source
Stirlings to Coast Farmers inc.

Trial details

Researcher(s) Nathan Dovey
Dan Fay
Philip Honey
Phillip Mackie
Year(s) 2020 - 2021
Contributor Stirlings to Coast Farmers
Trial location(s) Tenterden, WA
Non-wetting management options  for growers in the Albany port zone. locations
Aims

The trial aims to explore management options for non-wetting soils in the Albany port zone.

Conventional methods of managing non-wetting soils involve mechanical disturbance to mix non-wetting particles with wettable particles. This trial explores the best options for placement of wetters, and wetter types for managing non-wetting soils.

Eleven treatments of differing placements and rates, as well as three seed placements were explored and analysed in this trial.

Two market available wetting agents were tested in this trial, SECOA’s SE14 and BASF Devine.

 

Key messages

Placement of soil wetter in the seed contact zone behind the seed boot was the most effective for improving germination and early biomass growth.

Seeding on or near last year’s furrow significantly increased early biomass growth compared to off-row. 

There is a high variability in expression or water repellence across paddocks and soil types along with response to soil wetters. 

Canola plants can compensate for low plant densities and significant difference in grain yields are hard to detect. 

Placement of SE14 into the seed contact zone behind the was the only treatment to have a significant increase in plants per m2.

Increasing rates of SE14 from 2 to 4 L/ha, the most effective placement (behind the seed boot), did not result in a significant increase of plants per m2.

Applying SE14 on the seed or behind the press wheel resulted in no significant difference compared to the untreated control.

When SE14 was applied in combination both behind the press wheel as well and behind the seed boot reduced the effectiveness compared to being applied exclusively behind the seed boot.

High rates of SE14 directly on the seed resulted in the seed sticking together which lead to lower plant establishment then the control.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation Stirlings to Coast Farmers
Trial funding source Stirlings to Coast Farmers inc.
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments N/A
Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Oilseed: Canola
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Improvement: Application Method
  • Soil Improvement: Type
  • Sowing: Method
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated

Tenterden 2020

Sowing machinery

10.2 m seeding bar which was the farmers equpiment was used, as well as a 2.4m seeding bar which was a plot seeder.  

the seed was placed "on row", "just of row" and "off row". 

Sow date 6 May 2020
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 10.2m x 150m, 2m x 150m
Plot replication 3
Plot blocking Plots were laid out to ensure similar growing conditions.
Plot randomisation The plots were randomised
Soil amelioration

The following wetting treatments were applied: 2 Lt/tonne SE14 directly on seed and 1 Lt/ha behind press wheel

2 Lt/tonne directly on seed

2 Lt/tonne SE14 behind press wheel

4 Lt/ha SE14 behind press wheel

Untreated Control

4 Lt/tonne directly on seed

2 Lt/ha SE14 behind tyne and 2 Lt/ha behind press wheel

1 Lt/ha SE14 behind tyne and 1 Lt/ha behind press wheel

2 Lt/ha SE14 behind tyne

4 Lt/ha SE14 behind tyne

2 Lt/ha BASF Divine (80% integrate / 20% Agri) behind press wheel

These treatmetns were then applied on row, near row and off row. 

Tenterden 2021

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
Soil amelioration Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Average Canola Plant density (plants/m2)

# Treatment 1
Growing season Trial site Plant density (plants/m2)
1 Untreated Control 2020 Tenterden (WA) 18.373
2 2 Lt/tonne SE14 directly on seed 2020 Tenterden (WA) 20.122
3 4 Lt/tonne SE14 directly on seed 2020 Tenterden (WA) 13.123
4 2 Lt/tonne SE14 behind press wheel 2020 Tenterden (WA) 16.185
5 4 Lt/ha SE14 behind press wheel 2020 Tenterden (WA) 20.997
6 2 Lt/tonne SE14 directly on seed and 1 Lt/ha behind press wheel 2020 Tenterden (WA) 16.185
7 2 Lt/ha SE14 behind tyne 2020 Tenterden (WA) 33.683
8 4 Lt/ha SE14 behind tyne 2020 Tenterden (WA) 27.997
9 1 Lt/ha SE14 behind tyne and 1 Lt/ha behind press wheel 2020 Tenterden (WA) 24.059
10 2 Lt/ha SE14 behind tyne and 2 Lt/ha behind press wheel 2020 Tenterden (WA) 17.935
11 2 Lt/ha BASF Divine (80% integrate / 20% Agri) behind press wheel 2020 Tenterden (WA) 19.248

Plant density plants/m2


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Tenterden, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Tenterden, WA Sodosol
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.

Tenterden WA

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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: 18-05-2023 12:56pm AEST