Wheat trials

This experiment is one in a series of nitrogen experiments aimed at establishing variety responses to different nitrogen application rates and timings.

Varieties can differ in their ability to yield at various sowing dates. The same goes for their response to various rates of nitrogen and how they turn that nitrogen into yield and protein. This trial was designed to measure the influence of sowing date and nitrogen rate across six common wheat varieties.

To provide growers and advisers with a better understanding of the benefits of deep ripping and in particular depth of deep ripping required to optimise crop yield and profit.

To provide growers and advisers with a better understanding of the benefits of deep ripping and in particular depth of deep ripping required to optimise crop yield and profit.

To (i) ground truth through statistical analysis of small plot trials current practices of leading farmers in regards to the use of Variable Rate Technology (VRT), predictive yield modelling and nutrition modelling in improving water use efficiency and hence profitability; (ii) address the hypothesis that greater return on investment can be achieved through targeted nutrition applications according to variety, production zone, plant available water (PAW) and seasonal conditions; (iii) assist in the generation of data to extend the process of using soil moisture probe data in conjunction with Yield Prophet (YP) simulations to assist with production decisions for different soil zones (with differing PAWC), with particular focus on top-up nitrogen.

This project aimed to explore different management strategies to overcome copper deficiency in cereals. The project compared the effectiveness of copper sulfate and copper chelate applied either as liquids banded at seeding or as a foliar spray. The project also evaluated the effect of different timings of application of the foliar sprays and their efficiency.
This project aimed to benefit local and South Australian farmers by establishing an independent best practice management guide for copper applications for the future.

Why do the trial? 
Barley grass possesses several biological traits that make it difficult for growers to manage it in the low rainfall zone, so it is not surprising that it is becoming more prevalent in field crops in SA and WA. A survey by Llewellyn et al. (2015) showed that barley grass has now made its way into the top 1 O weeds of Australian cropping in terms of area infested, crop yield loss and revenue loss. 
The biological traits that make barley grass difficult for growers to manage in low rainfall zones include: 

- early onset of seed production, which reduces effectiveness of crop-topping or spray-topping in pastures,
shedding seeds well before crop harvest, reducing harvest weed seed control effectiveness compared to weeds such as ryegrass which has a much higher seed retention,•    increased seed dormancy, reducing weed control from knockdown herbicides due to delayed emergence, and
•    increasing herbicide resistance, especially to Group A herbicides, used to control grass weeds in pasture phase and legume crops. 

Barley grass management is likely to be more challenging in the low rainfall zone because the growing seasons tend to be more variable in terms of rainfall, which can affect the performance of the pre-emergence herbicides. Furthermore, many growers in these areas tend to have lower budgets for management tactics, and break crops are generally perceived as more risky than cereals. Therefore, wheat and barley tend to be the dominant crops in the low rainfall zone. This project is undertaking coordinated research with farming systems groups across the Southern and Western cropping regions to demonstrate tactics that can be reliably used to improve the management of barley grass. 

To determine the effect of soil amelioration on frost damage 

To determine the effect of soil amelioration on frost damage 

To determine if the application of soil ameloration,  extra nutritional treatments or treatments that will disrupt ice nucleating bacteria will reduce frost damage in a high risk zone.

To determine the effect of soil amelioration on frost damage 

To investigiate if variety phenology has an impact on frost damage in a high risk frost zone

To investigiate if variety phenology has an impact on frost damage in a medium risk frost zone 

To determine if mixing cereal varieites with differing maturing will help reduce risk of crop failure in a high risk zone. 

To determine if mixing cereal varieites with differing maturing will help reduce risk of crop failure in a moderate risk zone. 

To determine if the application of soil ameloration,  extra nutritional treatments or treatments that will disrupt ice nucleating bacteria will reduce frost damage in a high risk zone.

To determine if the application of soil ameloration,  extra nutritional treatments or treatments that will disrupt ice nucleating bacteria will reduce frost damage in a high risk zone.

Trials and demonstrations involving soil mixing either with a spader or ripping with inclusion plates have been shown to increase yields on sandy soils on Eyre Peninsula (EP). Many of these trials have included the addition of organic material incorporated at rates of 5-10 t/ha. Whilst generally these treatments have provided yield increases for a number of years post application, the rates applied have proven to be uneconomic (EPFS 2019, p 71). This project was originally developed by the Lower Eyre Ag
Development Association (LEADA) with two major objectives being:
1. To test ripping with inclusion plates on a wider range of soils.
2. To trial rates and sources of organic matter that are practical for broadacre use.

Improving the reliability of early
establishment  plays  an role in increasing water and yield potential cropping  environ­ 
Establishing plants earlier extends the growing
a crop, and when with optimal phenology, more time for a plant to
develop resources that ultimately contribute to grain fill and yield.

Seeding deeper, into soil moisture present below the 'normal seeding bed' may help to establish 
plants earlier without relying onan autumn break for germination. Currently, wheat growers are 
restricted to a seeding depth of 3-5 cm because modern wheat varieties have a shortened  coleoptile 
associated with dwarfing genes that were introduced  in  the  1960's  to increase yields. The 
length of a coleoptile restricts seeding depth because it is a hollow shoot that protects the first 
leaves as they grow  towards  the soil  surface during  germination.  Breeders have now identified 
an alternate dwarfing gene 'Rht18' that allows a coleoptile up to 12 cm long, whilst maintaining  
the reduced height associated  with modern high yielding wheat varieties.

The trials reported here assessed the performance of long coleoptile wheats  in an Eyre Peninsula 
farming system.
 

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. 
 

Why do the trial? 
There are around 5 million hectares of sandy soils under agricultural production in the low to medium rainfall areas of south-eastern Australia. These soils have multiple constraints limiting production including water repellence, soil acidity, compaction and low organic carbon levels leading to poor biological cycling and nitrogen mineralisation. Estimates of the yield gap (the difference between water limiting potential and average actual crop yield) are between 1.8 and 2.1 t/ha on Upper Eyre Peninsula and as much as 2.3 t/ha on Lower Eyre Peninsula (http://yieldgapaustralia.com .au/ maps/). 
In 2016, GRDC invested in a research program to help grain growers identify and overcome the primary constraints to poor crop water-use on sandy soils in the low-medium rainfall environment (CSP00203). The 'Sands Impacts' component of this project enables grower groups to test outcomes from the research component by applying targeted mitigation and amelioration interventions to overcome production constraints. 

To identify key ingredients of agronomic packages that deliver high yielding wheat crops with good quality in the Parndana environment.

To investigate the merit of fodder crops in the crop rotation, with particular interest in weed control, nitrogen and gross margin.

• To demonstrate and refine the technique to suit the many mixed farmers on Kangaroo Island.

• To allow some farmers to see first hand how such crops performed on their own patch of dirt.

• To investigate the impacts burying organic matter at depth.

To investigate the questions:

• What if there was a simple way to improve the top soil depth to encourage plants to grow deeper root systems?
• Could we grow the massive crops you seen grown overseas where they measure top soil in feet not inches?

To investigate the impacts burying at depth organic matter (using a Neutrog product Bounce Back) and gypsum using the subsoiler machine.

To find crop species suitable to Kangaroo Island conditions, which were either:
• of higher value per tonne than currently grown milling wheat, or
• low yielding yet high value to reduce the per hectare freight cost.

To test the impact of adding gypsum, lime or fertilisers to the subsoil.

To test the impact of adding gypsum, lime or fertilisers to the subsoil of a profile typical for the Vivonne Bay environment but in a situation which usually gets very wet, and is designed to run for at least two years.

Research on the mainland has shown that sowing lentils in the inter-row in wheat stubble encourages the plant to grow taller in pursuit of sunlight, enabling easier harvest for what is normally a short crop. Although broad beans can be a tall crop, the bottom pods contain the largest beans as these set the earliest and thus have the longest time to fill. However, in many cases these large seeded pods are too close to the ground for the harvester to pick up and yet it’s these big beans that are worth the most.

Like the lentil story above, local farmers are curious as to whether the height of the previous year’s wheat stubble may influence the distance from the ground of the first pod. There was also contemplation as to whether the stubble height had an effect on disease incidence in the bean crop.

A three-year research trial aims to investigate the impact of precision lime application rate, placement and product on cropping land and will evaluate cost effective ways to ameliorate subsoil acidity.

To report on Simon Veitch's liming program.

To look at different Nitrogen rates, timings and products under well drained conditions.

To look at nitrogen and sulphur management in wheat.

• To determine the optimum timing of nitrogen in waterlogged wheat.

To assess the effect of sulphur on tiller numbers, grain yield and quality when combined with in-crop nitrogen.

• To investigate the potential of preventative fungicide applications on wheat crops to provide longer protection and potential saving of yeild.

To report on the Stanton's “current strategy to set up a rotation of liming approximately one fifth of the total land base or about 300ha per year to assist in budgeting".

To assess the effects of trace elements on anuello wheat production.

• To test the ability of a range of drainage treatments to improve crop yields in soil prone to waterlogging.

• To investigate nitrogen management strategies in waterlogged soils.

• To investigate the effect of some common trace elements on wheat yields in waterlogged soils. zinc, copper and manganese were used in the trial as they are micronutrient deficiencies known to occur in southern Australia.

• To determine how much genetic variation there is in the tolerance of wheat to waterlogging on Kangaroo Island.

To summarise the current knowledge about waterlogging on Kangaroo Island.

• To identify key ingredients of agronomic packages which deliver high yielding wheat crops with good quality in the Parndana environment.

• To determine which wheat varieties perform best under local conditions. The trial included a number of bread wheats, but also some noodle and biscuit wheats.

To determine which wheat varieties perform best under local conditions.

• To benchmark wheat varieties for growth on Kangaroo Island.