Resilient EP: A new paradigm for resilient and profitable dryland farming on the Eyre Peninsula using data to improve on-farm decision making

2020 - 2022

Research organisaton
Funding source
Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula

Trial details

Researcher(s) Amanda Cook
Jacob Giles
Therese McBeath
Naomi Scholz
Mark Stanley
Andrew Ware
Contact email eo@airep.com.au
Year(s) 2020 - 2022
Contributor Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula
Trial location(s) Site A, Minnipa, SA, SA
Site B, Wharminda, SA, SA
Site C, Mount Dutton, SA, SA
Site D, Cootra, SA, SA
Site E, Yeelanna, SA, SA
Site F, Pinkawillinie, SA, SA
Site G, Lock, SA, SA
Resilient EP: A new paradigm for resilient and profitable dryland farming on the Eyre Peninsula using data to improve on-farm decision making locations
Aims

The project aims to unlock value in existing data to drive innovation in agronomy and livestock management by bringing together data from a range of sources including satellite, soil moisture probe networks, weather stations, proximal sensing and yield models. By working with farmers and advisors to link data with decision making, the project aims to make more informed and significantly improved land management decisions. 

Key messages

2020 Key message:

  • The ability to make the best use possible out of rainfall and stored soil moisture continues to be the largest driver of crop and pasture production on the Eyre Peninsula.
  • Being able to measure what plant-available soil moisture is present at any time of the year, not only at soil moisture probe points but across the landscape offers the potential to improve productivity and limit risk.
  • In the next 12 months, tools such as an improved platform (website/app) to display soil moisture probe information will be rolled out.
  • 2021 Key message
  • Out of season rainfall and stored soil moisture were found to be key factors in driving grain yields across most farming systems on the Eyre Peninsula in 2021. 
  • Collating and interpreting information from a range of sources including plant available water, previous grain yields and soil testing across the landscape can maximise returns and reduce risk. 
  • Improving knowledge of soil characteristics can add considerable valueto monitoring soil moistue probes.  
Site A, Minnipa, SA SA 2020

Yield-adjacent to soll moisture probe 
Potential: 3.9 t/ha 0/J) 
Actual: 3.1 t/ha Scepter 

Paddock history 
2019: Lentils 
2018: Wheat 
2017: Pasture 
2016: Wheat 

Soll type 
Sandy loam over clay sand loam Soll test 
Comprehensive, variety of testing over 19 points across the paddock to a depth of 110 cm 

Yield limiting factors 
Boron, calcium carbonate 

Lead research organisation Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source NLP 4-FTOJYCT
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Government's National Landcare Program Smart Farming Partnerships. Much appreciation to all of the famers who host and maintain a soil moisture probe on their properties and freely provide information on crop type, inputs and yield maps. 

EPAg Research, CSIRO, Regional Connections, SquareV, SARDI


Other trial partners EPAG Research; CSIRO; SARDI; SQUARE V; Regional Connections
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type None: No crop specified
Treatment type(s)
  • Farm operations: Economics
  • Technology
Trial type Precision agriculture
Trial design Unknown

Site A, Minnipa, SA 2020

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication 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
Site A, Minnipa, SA, SA Sandy loam over sandy clay loam
Site B, Wharminda, SA, SA Brown sandy loam over clay
Site C, Mount Dutton, SA, SA Gravel loam duplex
Site D, Cootra, SA, SA Deep sand over clay sand
Site E, Yeelanna, SA, SA Clay - Clay loam
Site F, Pinkawillinie, SA, SA Brown sandy loam over clay
Site G, Lock, SA, SA Calcareous loamy sand
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Site A, Minnipa, SA, SA Calcarosol
Site B, Wharminda, SA, SA Sodosol
Site C, Mount Dutton, SA, SA Lake
Site D, Cootra, SA, SA Lake
Site E, Yeelanna, SA, SA Tenosol
Site F, Pinkawillinie, SA, SA Calcarosol
Site G, Lock, SA, SA Calcarosol
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

Site A, Minnipa, SA SA 2020


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 325mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 241mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 359mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 253mm

Derived climate information

Site A, Minnipa, SA SA

Site B, Wharminda, SA SA

Site C, Mount Dutton, SA SA

Site D, Cootra, SA SA

Site E, Yeelanna, SA SA

Site F, Pinkawillinie, SA SA

Site G, Lock, SA SA

Site A, Minnipa, SA SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
Loading
Loading
Loading

Site B, Wharminda, SA SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
Loading
Loading
Loading

Site C, Mount Dutton, SA SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
Loading
Loading
Loading

Site D, Cootra, SA SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
Loading
Loading
Loading

Site E, Yeelanna, SA SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
Loading
Loading
Loading

Site F, Pinkawillinie, SA SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
Loading
Loading
Loading

Site G, Lock, SA SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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

2022 Closing the Yield Gap trials and results

2020 Resilient EP Summary

2021 Resilient EP Summary



Trial last modified: 22-07-2024 15:55pm AEST