Fallow Management and the Economic Costs

2022 - 2023

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Research organisation

Funding source

<abbr title='Grains Research and Development Corporation'>GRDC</abbr>

Trial details

Researcher(s)	Darren Hughes
Contact email	darren.hughes@laconik.com.au
Year(s)	2022 - 2023
Contributor	Laconik
Trial location(s)	Bonnie Rock, WA Gabbin, WA Hines Hill, WA Kalannie, WA Merredin, WA Nungarin, WA

Fallow Management and the Economic Costs locations

Aims

To determine the agronomic and financial benefits of different fallow management practices in the low rainfall zone of Western Australia.

Key messages

1. Growers considering fallow should implement a ‘brown out’ practice, keep paddocks weed free and maintain ground cover. This practice results in the highest amount of stored soil moisture, allows N to accumulate and be available for the following crop and provides an opportunity to control glyphosate resistant ryegrass.
2. Saving 1mm of plant available water costs $4/ha.
3. The cereal on cereal treatment recorded the highest gross margin. Despite the gross margin of the brown out practice being lower than cereal on cereal, feedback gathered from growers during the project suggests it does have a positive economic benefit to the farm system overall. Perhaps fallow is best considered a strategic investment and recorded as an asset on the grower’s balance sheet.

Lead research organisation	Laconik
Host research organisation	N/A
Trial funding source	GRDC LAK2204-002SAX
Related program	N/A
Acknowledgments	N/A
Other trial partners	Merredin & District Farm Improvement Group

Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type	Other: Not specified
Treatment type(s)	Crop : Type Fallow
Trial type	Experimental
Trial design	Randomised,Replicated

Bonnie Rock 2022

Sow rate or Target density	Multiple - please see report
Sow date	May 2022/2023
Harvest date	November 2022/2023
Trial design method	SPD Split Plot Design
Trial design arrangement	1 rows x 12 cols
Total plots	12
Plot size	200m x 36m
Plot replication	3
Psuedoreplication	N
Plot blocking	No
Plot randomisation	Y

Bonnie Rock 2023

Sow rate or Target density	Multiple - please see report
Sow date	May 2022/2023
Harvest date	November 2022/2023
Trial design method	SPD Split Plot Design
Trial design arrangement	1 rows x 12 cols
Total plots	12
Plot size	200m x 36m
Plot replication	3
Psuedoreplication	N
Plot blocking	No
Plot randomisation	Y

Gabbin 2022

Sow rate or Target density	Multiple - please see report
Sow date	May 2022/2023
Harvest date	November 2022/2023
Trial design method	SPD Split Plot Design
Trial design arrangement	1 rows x 12 cols
Total plots	12
Plot size	200m x 36m
Plot replication	3
Psuedoreplication	N
Plot blocking	No
Plot randomisation	Y

Gabbin 2023

Sow rate or Target density	Multiple - please see report
Sow date	May 2022/2023
Harvest date	November 2022/2023
Trial design method	SPD Split Plot Design
Trial design arrangement	1 rows x 12 cols
Total plots	12
Plot size	200m x 36m
Plot replication	3
Psuedoreplication	N
Plot blocking	No
Plot randomisation	Y

Hines Hill 2022

Sow rate or Target density	Multiple - please see report
Sow date	May 2022/2023
Harvest date	November 2022/2023
Trial design method	SPD Split Plot Design
Trial design arrangement	1 rows x 12 cols
Total plots	12
Plot size	200m x 36m
Plot replication	3
Psuedoreplication	N
Plot blocking	No
Plot randomisation	Y

Hines Hill 2023

Sow rate or Target density	Multiple - please see report
Sow date	May 2022/2023
Harvest date	November 2022/2023
Trial design method	SPD Split Plot Design
Trial design arrangement	1 rows x 12 cols
Total plots	12
Plot size	200m x 36m
Plot replication	3
Psuedoreplication	N
Plot blocking	No
Plot randomisation	Y

Kalannie 2022

Sow rate or Target density	Multiple - please see report
Sow date	May 2022/2023
Harvest date	November 2022/2023
Trial design method	SPD Split Plot Design
Trial design arrangement	1 rows x 12 cols
Total plots	12
Plot size	200m x 36m
Plot replication	3
Psuedoreplication	N
Plot blocking	No
Plot randomisation	Y

Kalannie 2023

Sow rate or Target density	Multiple - please see report
Sow date	May 2022/2023
Harvest date	November 2022/2023
Trial design method	SPD Split Plot Design
Trial design arrangement	1 rows x 12 cols
Total plots	12
Plot size	200m x 36m
Plot replication	3
Psuedoreplication	N
Plot blocking	No
Plot randomisation	Y

Merredin 2022

Sow rate or Target density	Multiple - please see report
Sow date	May 2022/2023
Harvest date	November 2022/2023
Trial design method	SPD Split Plot Design
Trial design arrangement	1 rows x 12 cols
Total plots	12
Plot size	200m x 36m
Plot replication	3
Psuedoreplication	N
Plot blocking	No
Plot randomisation	Y

Merredin 2023

Sow rate or Target density	Multiple - please see report
Sow date	May 2022/2023
Harvest date	November 2022/2023
Trial design method	SPD Split Plot Design
Trial design arrangement	1 rows x 12 cols
Total plots	12
Plot size	200m x 36m
Plot replication	3
Psuedoreplication	N
Plot blocking	No
Plot randomisation	Y

Nungarin 2022

Sow rate or Target density	Multiple - please see report
Sow date	May 2022/2023
Harvest date	November 2022/2023
Trial design method	SPD Split Plot Design
Trial design arrangement	1 rows x 12 cols
Total plots	12
Plot size	200m x 36m
Plot replication	3
Psuedoreplication	N
Plot blocking	No
Plot randomisation	Y

Nungarin 2023

Sow rate or Target density	Multiple - please see report
Sow date	May 2022/2023
Harvest date	November 2022/2023
Trial design method	SPD Split Plot Design
Trial design arrangement	1 rows x 12 cols
Total plots	12
Plot size	200m x 36m
Plot replication	3
Psuedoreplication	N
Plot blocking	No
Plot randomisation	Y

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
Bonnie Rock, WA	Not specified
Gabbin, WA	Not specified
Hines Hill, WA	Not specified
Kalannie, WA	Not specified
Merredin, WA	Not specified
Nungarin, WA	Not specified

Derived trial site soil information

Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS

Trial site	Soil order
Bonnie Rock, WA	Tenosol
Gabbin, WA	Sodosol
Hines Hill, WA	Calcarosol
Kalannie, WA	Sodosol
Merredin, WA	Sodosol
Nungarin, WA	Sodosol

Climate

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Bonnie Rock WA

Gabbin WA

Hines Hill WA