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New South Wales DPI
| Researcher(s) |
Livinus Emebiri Shane Hildebrand Wayne Pitt |
|---|---|
| Contact email | livinus.emebiri@dpi.nsw.gov.au |
| Year(s) | 2021 |
| Contributor | Department of Primary Industries NSW |
| Trial location(s) |
Wagga Wagga, ACT
|
| Further information | View external link |
To assess how rhizosheath formation can improve wheat crop survival in a false break
• Wheat varietal selection and/or management for large rhizosheaths might improve the chances of crop survival by more than 60% in prolonged false break conditions.
• Across various rainfall and false break scenarios, varieties with large rhizosheaths produced 42.5% more tillers and 52.4% fewer necrotic leaves than the alternative varieties.
• Rhizosheaths were found to explain between 63% and 84% of seedlings ability to survive false break conditions depending on the soil type. This does not suggest a cause–effect relationship, but implies similarity of response to declining water availability.
• Root size might be a significant factor, but varietal differences in root length were not significant in the vertosol (P = 0.42) or the kandosol (P = 0.12).
• Root hairs have been reported as potentially important contributors to rhizosheath formation (Marin et al. 2021), but their role remains controversial (Cai et al. 2021).
• Overall, the conclusion is that varietal selection and/or cultural management for large rhizosheaths might improve the chances of crop survival by more than 60% in a false break.
| Lead research organisation |
Department of Primary Industries NSW |
|---|---|
| Host research organisation | N/A |
| Trial funding source | GRDC BLG122 |
| Trial funding source | New South Wales DPI DPI2108-005BLX |
| Related program | N/A |
| Acknowledgments |
This experiment was part of the ‘Agronomic value of rhizosheaths in improving wheat crop establishment’ project, BLG122, 2021–22, a joint investment by GRDC and NSW DPI under the Grains Agronomy and Pathology Partnership (GAPP). |
| Other trial partners | Not specified |
| Crop type | Cereal (Grain): Wheat |
|---|---|
| Treatment type(s) |
|
| Trial type | Experimental |
| Trial design | Replicated |
| Sow date | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Harvest date | Not applicable |
| Trial design method | SPD Split Plot Design |
| Plot size | Not specified |
| Plot replication | 6 |
| Plot randomisation | Y |
| Other trial notes |
This research paper is an extract from the publication Southern NSW Research Results 2022, available at |
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.
