Researcher(s) |
Nathan Dovey Dan Fay Philip Honey Phillip Mackie |
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Year(s) | 2020 - 2021 |
Contributor | Stirlings to Coast Farmers |
Trial location(s) |
Tenterden, WA
|
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.
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 |
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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 |
Crop type | Oilseed: Canola |
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Treatment type(s) |
|
Trial type | Experimental |
Trial design | Randomised,Replicated |
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". |
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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. |
Sowing machinery | Not specified |
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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 |
# |
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 |
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.