Mixed cover crops for sustainable farming

2019 - 2020

Research organisatons
Funding sources
Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre

Trial details

Researcher(s) Mark Stanley
Fiona Tomney
Contact email Fiona.tomney@sa.gov.au
Year(s) 2019 - 2020
Contributor Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula
Trial location(s) Minnipa, SA
Mixed cover crops for sustainable farming locations
Aims

This article reports a trial at Minnipa which investigated mixed species cover crops grown over winter and their impact on wheat production the following year. 
 

Key messages
  • Crop intensive farming systems are running down soil carbon. 
  • Mixed species cover cropping offers a new approach that may address the issue.
  • The cover crop species grown in 2019 had no influence on the growth, yield and grain quality of the wheat over-sown in 2020.
Lead research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Host research organisation Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula
Trial funding source GRDC
Trial funding source NLP 4-60A5VY4
Related program Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme
Acknowledgments

The project is being funded with support from the Australian Government, Grains Research & Development Corporation and the South Australian Government. 
The project is being delivered in partnership with the SA Murray Darling Basin NRM, Michael Nash, Mallee Sustainable Farming, Ag Kl, Southern Farming Systems, AIR EP, Upper North Farming System and the MacKillop Farm Management Group. 

Thank you to Dot and Reg Brace for donating the triticale seed, and to Gareth and Roanne Scholz for donating the tillage radish and cereal rye seed. 


Other trial partners SA Murray Darling Basin NRM, Michael Nash, Mallee Sustainable Farming Systems, Upper North Farming Systems, Mackillop Farm Management Group
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Wheat Pasture: Mixed species
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Rotation
  • Management systems: Cover crops
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Minnipa 2019 Wheat

Sow date 31 May 2019
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

60 kg/ha DAP

Fungicide Not specified

Minnipa 2019 Mixed species

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

Minnipa 2019 Mixed species

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

Minnipa 2020 Wheat

Sow date 11 May 2020
Harvest date 9 November 2020
Plot size 12m x 1.5m
Plot replication 4
Fertiliser Not specified
Fungicide

60kg DAP

Minnipa 2020 Mixed species

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

Minnipa 2020 Mixed species

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Fungicide 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
Minnipa, SA Red sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Minnipa, 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

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Climate

Minnipa SA 2020


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 324mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 241mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 367mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 255mm

Derived climate information

Minnipa SA

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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

2020 trial report



Trial last modified: 25-05-2023 15:07pm AEST