| Researcher(s) |
Ian Richter Fiona Tomney |
|---|---|
| Contact email | eo@airep.com.au |
| Year(s) | 2022 |
| Contributor | Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula |
| Trial location(s) |
Penong, SA
|
| Further information | View external link |
A workshop held in Wudinna by the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SA Drought Hub) in August 2021 identified early sowing as a priority topic for the Hub’s Minnipa Node, which covers the upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). The workshop was attended by growers, industry organisations, farmer groups, researchers and community members. As a result, the ‘Best practice for early sowing opportunities’ project, led by AIR EP and delivered by SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre, was developed to extend the results of the SAGIT investment into “Improving the early management of dry sown cereal crops” (EPFS Summary 2021, p. 76).
The key findings from the SAGIT research project (2019-2021) were:
• Greater plant establishment was achieved with fertiliser placed 3 cm below the seed.
• Lower plant establishment occurred when urea was placed with the seed.
• If fertiliser separation cannot be achieved due to seeding systems, then MAP (10:22) with the seed is a safer option than DAP (18:20) with the seed.
• New long coleoptile wheats may provide another option for early plant establishment and vigour in areas where soil moisture is available up to 10 cm deep.
• It is important to sow seed at a depth sufficient for utilising soil moisture for germination.
• Early sowing did not mean dry sowing in 2022 due to available soil water.
• Urea placed with the seed lowered plant establishment at Cowell when combined with both DAP and MAP, but only reduced early dry matter when placed with DAP.
• Fertiliser type and placement did not influence grain yield at either site.
• Seed priming did not improve crop establishment or grain yield.
• Calibre long coleoptile wheat did not improve crop establishment but gave the highest yield at Cowell of 3.0 t/ha.
| Lead research organisation |
Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula |
|---|---|
| Host research organisation | N/A |
| Trial funding source | Future Drought Fund: Drought resilient soils |
| Related program | N/A |
| Acknowledgments |
This project is supported by the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, which is one of eight Hubs established across Australia through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. The SA Drought Hub brings together a dynamic network of primary producers, industry groups, researchers, government agencies, universities, agribusinesses, traditional owners and others to work towards a common vision to strengthen the drought resilience and preparedness of farms and regional communities in South Australia. This project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Thank you to Cade Drummond and Tyler Kaden for hosting the demonstration sites on their farms; and to Katrina Brands and Rebb |
| Other trial partners | Flinders University, SA Drought Hub, University of Adelaide, SARDI |
| Crop type | Cereal (Grain): Wheat |
|---|---|
| Treatment type(s) |
|
| Trial type | Demonstration |
| Trial design | Unknown |
| Sow date | Not specified |
|---|---|
| Harvest date | Not specified |
| Plot size | Not specified |
| Plot replication | Not specified |
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.
