Aim
To mimic a whole farm seeding programme in a small farm demonstration to evaluate risks and benefits of dry sowing.
Background
Simulation modelling analysis with a simulation model (APSIM) has indicated the potential for yield improvements (at the farm level) with dry sowing with only a minor increase in production risks such as frost. These results require ground truthing for an entire seeding program. “Small” farms, with multiple times of sowing, within a paddock can be used to investigate time of sowing risks (drought, frost, heat) and benefits (yield). Outputs form these trials can then be used to Validate Modelling programmes (APSIM) so that results can be generated more broadly throughout the wheatbelt.
Methods
A single, non-replicated, bank of wheat and canola was sown with multiple (27) times of seeding starting on the 27th April and finishing on the 8th July.
Treatments
Canola (Bayer RR IH50) sown at 3 kg/ha with 100kg/ha Agras, glyphosate knockdown, two post emergent glyphosate applications.
Wheat (Mace) sown at 50 kg/ha with 100kg/ha Agras, glyphosate knockdown, Torpedo post emergent.
27 times of sowing (figure one).
Figure 1. Cumulative rainfall at Cunderdin Trial Site from the 1st April 2014, with sowing date and rainfall events overlayed.
Figure 2 Simulated changes in wheat area in seedling phase (a), flowering (b) or in grain filling phase(c) for a 6000 ha program at Merredin with 0 or 100% dry seeding.
Figure 3. Spread of simulated individual paddock yields across a cropping program with 100% dry seeding vs no dry seeding at Merredin.