Optimising profitability of high rain fall zone farming systems.

2020
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton

Trial details

Researcher(s) Nathan Dovey
Dan Fay
Philip Honey
Lizzie von Perger
Year(s) 2020
Contributor Stirlings to Coast Farmers
Trial location(s) Cranbrook, WA
South Stirlings, WA
Optimising profitability of high rain fall zone farming systems. locations
Aims

By 2023, growers will have increased the value of the cropping phase in the HRZ farming system by 10% by addressing both crop yield potential and the gap between potential and realised yields.

This trial aims to explore ways to optimise crop production in the HRZ. 
This trial looks at verity types, deep ripping and sowing times as ways to maximise yields in the HRZ. 

This trial aims to assess different treatments and there effectiveness in maximising water limited yield potentials.  

 

Key messages

Matching a wheat variety maturity to growing season length was critical to maximising yields at Cranbrook and South Stirling’s.

Long Season winter wheats sown in mid-April resulted in equivalent yields to spring verities sown in mid-May.

Deep ripping sandy soils at South Stirlings increased yields by 370kg/ha, which closed the yield gap between harvest yields and the water-limited yield potential by 8%.

Barley both out-yielded and achieved a greater percentage of water limited yield potential at both Cranbrook and South Stirlings. Whilst barley was more profitable at South Stirlings it was not at Cranbrook.  

Cranbrook WA 2020 Wheat

Wheat treatments: Rockstar, Illabo, Septre. 

Illabo was sown on April 20, Septhe and Rockstar were sown on May 13. 

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

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Barley Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
  • Soil Improvement: Application Method
  • Soil Improvement: Type
  • Sowing: Timing
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated

Cranbrook 2020 Barley

Sow rate or Target density 100kg
Sowing machinery

12m seeding bar. 

Sow date 13 May 2020
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 24m x 200m
Plot replication 3
Plot blocking Plots were laid out to ensure similar growing conditions.
Plot randomisation The plots were randomised
Fertiliser

MAP ZN 80 : MOP 20 100kg/ha

Flexi N injected: 50l/ha

 

 

Herbicide

Arcade 2L/ha

Diuron 900 DF .3kg/ha

Trifluralin 2L/ha

Paraquat 1.5L/ha

Insecticide

Cruiser 350 FS 0.12L/100kg seed. 

Fungicide

Flutriafol 500 Injected 0.2L/ha

 

Soil amelioration

Half of each lat was ripped across the rows in a bocking of ripped/unripped/ripped/unripped. 

 

Cranbrook 2020 Wheat

Sow rate or Target density 120kg/ha
Sowing machinery

12m thyne seeding bar. 

 

Sow date 13 May 2020
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 200m x 24m
Plot replication 3
Plot blocking Plots were laid out to ensure similar growing conditions.
Plot randomisation The plots were randomised
Fertiliser

Flexi N Injected50 L/ha

MAP ZN 80 : MOP 20100 kg/ha

Herbicide Not specified
Insecticide

Scepter: Cruiser 350 FS Seed Treatment,  0.12 L/100kg Seed. 

 

Fungicide

Septre: Flutriafol 500 Injected 0.2 L/ha

Illabo & Rockstar: Hombre 0.2L/100kg Seed. 

Soil amelioration

The treatment plots were ripped across the sowng rows, in a blocking of Ripped/Unripped/Ripped/Unripped. 

 

South Stirlings 2020 Barley

Sow rate or Target density 80kg/ha
Sowing machinery

18.2m seeding bar

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 18.2m x 300m
Plot replication 3
Plot blocking Plots were laid out to ensure similar growing conditions.
Plot randomisation The plots were randomised
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide

goucho

Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide

Vibrance 

Soil amelioration

Plots were ripped across the seeding row

South Stirlings 2020 Wheat

Sow rate or Target density 100kg/ha
Sowing machinery

18.2m seeding bar. 

Sow date 16 May 2021
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 18.2m x 300m
Plot replication 3
Plot blocking Plots were laid out to ensure similar growing conditions.
Plot randomisation The plots were randomised
Fertiliser

Ktill 100g/ha

Herbicide

1.5L 360 Paraquat

Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide

illabo Hombre 0.2 L/100kg Seed

Soil amelioration

Plots were ripped across the rows, in a blocking of ripped/unripped/ripped/unripped/ripped/unripped, in 50m sub-plots. 

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Hood Plant Counts

# Variety
Treatment 1
Growing season Crop type Plant density (plants/m2)
1 Illabo Ripped 2020 Wheat 46.5556
2 Rockstar Unripped 2020 Wheat 25.1667
3 Septre Ripped 2020 Wheat 60
4 Planet Ripped 2020 Barley 38.3333
5 Illabo Unripped 2020 Wheat 52.7778
6 Planet Unripped 2020 Barley 36.3333
7 Septre Unripped 2020 Wheat 52.2222

Plant density plants/m2


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Trial report and links

2020 trial report



Trial last modified: 17-05-2023 13:20pm AEST