The use of two break crops in a row as a double break crop sequence has been successfully used to increase the grain yield of successive wheat crops in South Eastern Australia, and this study has tested this approach in the WA wheatbelt region.
Four demonstration sites were established in 2017 near Bencubbin, Corrigin, Miling, and Calingiri. These sites were established in paddocks with a history of root diseases or weed populations that a single break crop could not address, and which were sown to a break crop, pasture, or fallow in 2016. In 2017, a range of break crop options were grown on small plots and with the remaining paddock area sown to canola or wheat. All sites were sown to wheat in 2018.
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of paired and single seeding configurations on the timely emergence of crops. While the use of paired row seeding configurations has been popular and well adopted among growers in recent years, there is little independent data to quantify the benefit of paired row seeding configurations on the timely emergence of crops over a range of seeding depths and soil types.
Potassium (K) is often supplied as topdressed MOP before seeding. However, this may not be the most effective method of application since the K may be pushed into slower-wetting inter-rows by seeding bars. In this trial, K was supplied in differing rates by topdressing MOP immediately after seeding PSPE, after emergence, or in a full NPK compound granule, Vigour, drilled at seeding with or without supplemental MOP to examine effects on germination and emergence and later grain production.
The use of two break crops in a row as a double break crop sequence has been successfully used to increase the grain yield of successive wheat crops in South Eastern Australia, and this study has tested this approach in the WA wheatbelt region.
Four demonstration sites were established in 2017 near Bencubbin, Corrigin, Miling, and Calingiri. These sites were established in paddocks with a history of root diseases or weed populations that a single break crop could not address, and which were sown to a break crop, pasture, or fallow in 2016. In 2017, plots of up to 2 hectares in size were established using grower equipment for a range of break crop options that the grower identified as options to integrate into their farming system. The remaining area of the paddock was sown to either wheat or canola depending on grower’s paddock plan. All sites were sown to wheat in 2018.
This report describes results from a trial which was one of a series of trials at a range of locations, investigating the efficacy of seed dressing and fertiliser applied fungicides on the time of onset, rate of development and yield impact of wheat powdery mildew. This trial was conducted in Moora. A major concern for wheat producers is the susceptibility of several popular varieties, the time of onset of disease requiring early intervention in the cropping season and subsequent concerns over requirements for multiple foliar applications.
Summit’s In-Season Nitrogen Calculator aims to calculate a precise N rate to maximize yield potential of a paddock where a crop is starting to run into N limitations, using NDVI as a real-time growth measurement. It is designed to utilise comparisons between crop growth without N limitations beside paddock practice to determine optimal N application for yield and returns. This trial is part of a series that aims to evaluate the accuracy of the N Calculator’s recommended N rates and predictions of yield in various conditions and crops. The trial was conducted in Moora on sandplain soil.
While the use of single row seeding boots has been popular and well understood among growers, it is unclear what impact paired row seeding has on the timely emergence of crops over a range of soil types and seasons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the emergence of crops using paired and single row seeding across the main soil types in the West Midlands region. This is a two-year project (2018-19) and the results are presented for the 2019 season. A later break to the 2019 season occurred on the 7th June with an average of 19 mm across all sites, with all sites being dry sown prior to this date to either wheat, barley, or lupin.
Summit’s In-Season Nitrogen Calculator aimed to calculate a precise N rate to maximize yield potential of a paddock where a crop is starting to run into N limitations, using NDVI as a real-time growth measurement. It was designed to utilise comparisons between crop growth without N limitations beside paddock practice to determine optimal N application for yield and returns.
This trial was designed to compare and assess the effectiveness of one-off tillage treatments on soil water repellence, water infiltration, crop establishment and productivity on a water repellent gravel. The trial was conducted on water repellent sandy gravel in Moora. All tillage treatments had a little effect on the management of SWR and plant establishment in the severe water repellent gravel sand at Moora. Nevertheless, yield improvements were recorded, in particular with the “Large offsets” and the “Modified one-way with standard discs” treatments.
Anecdotal evidence shows that wheat varieties released in WA are gradually changing from floppy to more erect leaves. This change in canopy architecture (mainly leaf erectness) could have significant impact on yield across the rainfall zones of WA. In other crops like rice and corn, an erect leaf canopy has significantly increased yield by 20% or more. We believe this change in canopy architecture might have implications for improving wheat yield and that leaf erectness may be a useful trait for future breeding.Conducted on yellow sand in Moora, this experiment was designed to test the effect of wheat canopy architecture on wheat yield.