Millewa
Information Booklet
2013
About Mallee Sustainable Farming
Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF) Inc. is a farmer driven
organisation delivering research and extension services to the <
350mm rainfall Mallee cropping regions of New South Wales,
Victoria and South Australia. MSF operates within a region of
over four million hectares, extending beyond Balranald in the
east to Murray Bridge in the west.
Our 16 year legacy
MSF Inc. formed in 1997 in response to recognition that
conservation farming practices had not been widely adopted
across the region. Therefore, there was a need to identify the
issues restricting the adoption of technology that would enhance
the development of profitable and sustainable farming systems.
During its first 16 years of operation, MSF has achieved a great
deal. Increases in farm profitability have been observed as a
result of MSF activities, along with environmental and social
gains. MSF continues to strive to be relevant to
farmers’ information needs, whether in the sphere of
cereal cropping or livestock management.
Our members
The Mallee has approximately 2000 dryland farming families
whose farming activities include cropping (wheat, barley, vetch,
lupins and canola) and livestock (sheep for wool, lambs and
cattle for meat). An increasing number of these families are
members of MSF, receiving new and timely information on
research and best management practices. Such activities include
Farmtalk fact sheets, farm walks, trial sites, field days and
research compendium publications.
Thank you to our Field Day sponsor
Program
Time
9:00am
11:25am
Topic
Speaker
Arrival and morning cuppa
Ron Hards, MSF Board
Welcome
member and Millewa farmer
Crop sequencing trial
Michael Moodie, MSF
Pulse crop and field pea
Michael Moodie, MSF
seeding rate trials
Optimising nodulation in
Ross Ballard, SARDI
legume crops and pastures
Cuppa break
Finger on the pulse –
Trevor Bray, UniGrain
marketing your pulses
National Variety Trial
Ryan Bateman, SARDI
11:50am
Travel to shearing shed
9:15am
9:20am
9:50am
10:10am
10:40am
10:55am
12:15pm
1:10pm
1:30pm
2:00pm
2:30pm
3:00pm
Location
Crop sequencing/
pulses/ NVT site
BBQ Lunch – Sponsored by Westpac
Farm risk management
David Joynt, Westpac
Soil moisture monitoring
Dale Boyd, DEPI Echuca
Making the most of your
Ben Jones, Mallee Focus
zoning data
Improvements to the water
Ben Jones, Mallee Focus
use efficiency ‘N Tool’
Afternoon tea
3:20pm
‘Rappa’ fencer demo
Michael Moodie, MSF
3:40pm
Crop Disease App puts
disease ID at farmers’
fingertips
Frank Henry, DEPI Horsham
4:10pm
Conclusion of day
Gemma Walker, MSF
Shearing shed
Paddock near
house/sheds
Shearing shed
Refreshments and sausage sizzle sponsored by Westpac
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Mallee Crop Sequencing Project
The crop sequencing project is identifying the effects that different break crops and rotations have
on Mallee farming systems. This trial was established in 2011 on a low fertility sandy soil where over
10 cereal crops had been grown continuously and brome grass was an emerging issue.
In 2011, nine different break options were established along with a continuous wheat treatment. In
2012, a second break phase was implemented (2 year break) or the rotation was returned to wheat
(1 year break). In 2013, all rotations have returned to either conventional wheat (var. Shield) or
Clearfield wheat (var. Grenade).
Treatments were sown at two different times depending on the grass weed risk and treatments had
different levels of nitrogen applied throughout the growing season depending on rotational history
and yield potential and nitrogen requirements predicted using Yield Prophet.
As summary of each treatment and the key agronomic management practices in 2013 are provided
below in Table 1.
Table 1: List of treatments (rotations) implemented in the Mallee Crop Sequencing Trial
Break
phase
2 Years
First year phase
(2011)
Second year phase
(2012)
*Sowing
Chickpea
2013
Crop
Wheat
Early
N Applied in 2013
kg N/ha
20
Canola, TT
2 Years
Canola, TT
Peas
Wheat
Early
20
2 Years
Canola, TT
Vetch
Wheat
Early
9
2 Years
Chickpea
Canola, TT
Wheat
Early
20
Early
31
2 Years
Fallow
Canola, CL
Wheat
2 Years
Fallow
Fallow
Wheat
Early
20
2 Years
Fallow
Peas
Wheat
Early
20
2 Years
Pasture, High seed bank
Pasture, volunteer
Wheat
Early
9
Early
9
2 Years
Pasture, Low seed bank
Pasture, volunteer
Wheat
2 Years
Peas
Canola, TT
Wheat
Early
20
2 Years
Peas
Vetch
Wheat
Early
9
2 Years
Vetch
Canola, TT
Wheat
Early
9
Peas
Wheat
Early
9
Wheat CL
Early
31
Wheat CL
2 Years
1 Year
1 Year
1 Year
1 Year
1 Year
1 Year
None
Vetch
Barley
Wheat
Ix
Canola CL
Wheat CL
Canola/Pea Mix
Wheat
Oats
Wheat
Peas
Wheat
Fallow
Wheat
Ix
Wheat
Wheat CL
th
Ix
Early
31
Ix
Early
20
Ix
Late
31
Ix
Early
20
Ix
Wheat CL
Early
20
Wheat CL
Late
31
Wheat CL
Wheat CL
Wheat CL
th
*Early Seeding: Sown dry on the 15 of May; late seeding: Sown 28 of May following a rain
Ix
Intervix applied to the Clearfield wheat
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A number of parameters that are commonly influenced by rotations are being intensively measured
to quantify the impact of the different break crops in low rainfall environments. These are soil
water, nitrogen, soil disease and grass weeds.
Review of 2011 rotational effects
Soil Water
Soil water was measured post harvest in 2011. There were significant differences between many
treatments for the amount of water remaining in the profile (0-120cm). The highest soil water levels
occurred under the fallow and then the canola TT and field pea treatments. However by sowing in
2012, there were no significant differences between any treatments. On average, all treatments
accumulated approximately 30 mm of soil water between harvest and sowing while to fallow
treatment did not accumulate any additional water.
Nitrogen
Legume break crops had a significant effect on the amount of mineral nitrogen available prior to
sowing in 2012. Field pea and chickpea plots contained approximately 20 kg/ha more mineral
nitrogen than where wheat, barley, oats and Clearfield canola was grown in 2011.
Disease
Rhizoctonia was the most prevalent root disease at the site and high levels of the disease were
promoted by growing a cereal break crops (barley and oats). However, the Clearfield and TT canola
and the canola-pea mix treatments had significantly lower Rhizoctonia disease levels than what was
measured under the cereal crops. Chickpea’s and the chemical fallow were also effective at
minimising Rhizoctonia. Other soil diseases were not prevalent at the site with the exception of
blackspot, which built up under field peas. Therefore, field pea’s should never been grown back on
field pea stubbles.
Weeds
Brome grass is the most prevalent grass weed at the site, and the treatments had a significant effect
on the brome grass seed bank prior to sowing. The continuous wheat and the oaten hay treatments
had highest seed banks. Brome grass tended to build up in the oaten hay due to a lack of preemergent and in-crop chemical options for control. Therefore, timely cutting of hay (the hay cut
may have been slightly later than desired) and post harvest control of surviving plants is critical to
ensure viable brome grass seeds are not carried over to the following crop.
2012 Crop Yields
2012 Break crop performance
Twilight field pea’s where the standout break crop in 2012 following on from excellent results in
2011. Field pea germination was good given the tough starting conditions and its ability to growth
through winter following the only significant rainfall event for the growing season in July was
evident.
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The establishment of canola and chickpea was poor. For unknown reasons, the germination and
subsequently productivity of TT Canola (Stingray) was superior to the Clearfield Canola (44C80). The
germination and productivity of chickpea could have been better. Despite multiple control efforts,
the chickpeas were attacked by rabbits. Furthermore, given the subsoil moisture, the chickpea’s
could have potentially been sown much deeper which may have improved the overall performance
of the crop.
Vetch does not grow as vigorously as field pea in winter, and subsequently, biomass production was
approximately 1 t/ha in the vetch compared to approximately 3 t/ha in the pea’s. This could be a
factor to consider where looking for brown manure crop options.
The regenerating medic pasture was a standout performer in 2013. The medic was able to
germinate and grow following significant rainfall the fell at the start of March. Subsequently a large
amount of biomass and presumably fixed nitrogen was produced.
Table 2: Performance of selected break crop treatments in 2012 compared to continuous wheat
Crop
Commodity
Yield
Income
Variable Cost
GM
Field Pea
Continuous Wheat
Canola TT
Chickpea
Grass Cleaned Pasture
Vetch
Grain
Grain
Grain
Grain
Grazed
Brown Manure
(t/ha)
1.24
0.82
0.39
0.30
7.06
1.07
($/ha)
372
212
201
167
50
0
($/ha)
204
138
178
166
62
109
($/ha)
168
74
23
1
-12
-109
1 year break impacts on wheat yield
2012 Wheat Yield (t/ha)
The grain yield of wheat following a one year break phase is compared in Figure 1. The wheat yield
following field pea and fallow were higher than wheat following other crops. The field pea and the
fallow treatments also had the highest pre seeding nitrogen levels, therefore nitrogen would appear
to be a key driver of the break effect.
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Barley
Oats
Canola Pea
Mix
Wheat
Canola Cl
Fallow
Peas
2011 Crop
Figure 1 Wheat in 2012 (t/ha) following different break phases in 2011
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2012 rotational effects
Brome Grass
Some observational notes on so far in 2013 are:





The two year break treatments appear very clean, regardless of break types
Significant brome grass numbers have re-emerged in the 2013 wheat crop following only a
one year break in 2011. These crops have been treated with Clearfield this year.
There has been a blow out of brome grass where barley was grown in 2011 despite no
obvious problems in 2012. Has the high stubble load possibly reducing effectiveness of
trifluralin?
Using grass selective and spray topping tactics in the pasture phases has had a noticeable
impact on the grass weed numbers in this year’s crop compared to spray topping only.
Herbicide carryover is evident where Clearfield was used in 2012 with brome grass looking
very sick early in those treatments. Good thing we followed up with Clearfield wheat on
those treatments in 2013!
Weed seedbank samples were collected prior to sowing and are currently being grown out in trays
to determine seed bank populations. Weed numbers will also be assessed in crop to capture more
information on the impact of each rotation on brome grass populations.
Mineral Nitrogen
kg Mineral N/ha (0-120 cm)
A wide range of mineral nitrogen levels were evident prior to sowing in 2013. Nitrogen in the soil
profile (0-120 cm) was very low (around 40 kg/ha) following wheat treatments in 2012 but relatively
high (100 kg N/ha) following vetch brown manure treatments. Over a two year fallow, 90 kg N/ha
was accumulated. An interesting comparison is the TT and Clearfield Canola. The TT canola was
gown following legumes in 2011 while the CL canola was following fallow. The high levels of
nitrogen following TT canola are probably due to the breakdown of legume residues during the 2012
season.
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Wheat
Canola, CL Chickpea
Pasture, Canola, TT
volunteer
Peas
Fallow
Vetch
2012 Crop
Figure 2. Mineral nitrogen (kg N/ha) measured in the soil profile (0-120 cm) prior to seeding in 2013
following different break phases in 2012
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Soil Water
mm of soil water (0-120 cm)
Soil waters prior to seeding in 2013 are presented relative to wheat (Figure3). While the fallow had
approximately 25 mm more water than the wheat treatment, this is not a lot of water given the
treatment was taken out of production for two years. The vetch treatment, which was brown
manured early, had 10 more mm of water than the wheat treatments. Similarly, the chickpea’s grew
little very little biomass and therefore a small amount of water was left behind. There was very little
difference between wheat and the other grain crops. Interestingly, the pasture had dried the
profile relative to wheat, which is not surprising given extra time the pasture was growing and the
biomass production from this treatment.
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
Pasture,
volunteer
Canola, CL
Canola, TT
Peas
Vetch
Chickpea
Fallow
2012 Crop
Figure 3. Soil water (mm) measured in the soil profile (0-120 cm) prior to seeding in 2013 following
different break phases in 2012. Soil water is relative to the wheat treatments (i.e. break phase –
wheat).
Soil Disease
Rhizoctonia is the most prevalent soil borne disease at the site. All of the break phases in 2012
resulted in much low Rhizoctonia inoculum levels in the soil prior to sowing in 2013 compared to
treatments where wheat was grown last season. The soil inoculum levels measured following wheat
means that there is a high risk that the crop will be infected by the disease during the growing
season and could lead to yield losses of 10 – 50%.
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120
Rhizoctonia (pg DNA/g)
100
80
60
40
20
0
Canola, CL Chickpea
Vetch
Canola, TT
Fallow
Pasture,
volunteer
Peas
Wheat
2012 Crop
Figure 4. Rhizoctonia soil inoculum levels (pg DNA/g) measured prior to seeding in 2013 following
different break phases in 2012.
Further information
If you would like more information or to discuss the trial and results further, please contact Michael
Moodie on 0448612892 or email [email protected].
This trial is collaboration between MSF and SARDI with funding from the GRDC.
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Forage Crop Trial: Do soil health benefits from break crops
translate into cereal yield benefits in low rainfall years?
The forage crop trial was implemented in 2011 to assess a range of break crops for fodder
production and quality and grain yields. Break crop impacts were also measured, where soil
nitrogen and soil water differences were found between the different crops (Table 1). Soil profile
nitrogen levels were significantly higher following all legume treatments than non-legume
treatments. Differences were also measured for soil water content at the 60-120 cm depth layer.
This soil layer was significantly drier under wheat than under field pea, vetch.
Table 1. 2011 post harvest mineral nitrogen (kg N ha-1) and soil water levels (mm) in the 0-60 cm, 60120 cm and 0-120 cm soil layers for each treatment
Soil Nitrogen
Soil Water
-1
kg N ha
mm
0-60 cm 60-120 cm 0-120 cm 0-60 cm 60-120 cm 0-120 cm
Barley
Canola
Field Pea
Medic
Vetch
Wheat
10.5
12.0
28.5
19.5
22.5
6.0
10.5
12.0
21.0
24.0
22.5
9.0
21.0
24.0
49.5
43.5
45.0
15.0
58
60
58
52
57
58
88
83
90
87
95
79
146
143
148
140
152
137
Significance
LSD
0.002
14.9
n.s
0.037
21.2
n.s
0.008
9.4
n.s
The entire site was planted to Clearfield wheat in 2012 to determine if the break effects measured
post harvest in 2011 would translate into production benefits. No nitrogen fertiliser was applied as
triple-superphosphate was used. Grass weeds were controlled using Midas applied in-crop.
Legume crops grown in 2011 improved both the dry matter and grain yield of the following wheat
crop (Figures 1 and 2). The grain yield of wheat following field pea, vetch and medic pasture was
significantly higher than the yields of wheat following wheat, barley and canola. There was a 0.7
t/ha yield advantage of growing wheat following a legume break crop over growing wheat on wheat
in this trial. Furthermore, wheat following canola was also significantly higher than wheat on wheat
or barley, however the yield advantage was much smaller than for legume crops (0.35 t/ha).
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Figure 1. Dry matter at flowering (kg/ha) of wheat in 2012 following the different crops in 2011.
Figure 2. Grain yield (t/ha) of wheat in 2012 following the different crops in 2011.
The full results will be available from the Mallee CMA website www.malleecma.vic.gov.au later in
the year.
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A Few tips to maximise fixed N from pulse and pasture legumes
Ross Ballard, South Australian Research and Development Institute
When can inoculation be of benefit?
All cultivated pulse and pasture legumes have been introduced into Australia. So have their rhizobia
and this is why inoculation is critical when a legume species is grown for the first time. Nodulation
failure is difficult to rectify and best avoided with good inoculation practice.
Inoculation is also likely to be beneficial where a legume has not been grown for some time, because
in the absence of a legume host the number of rhizobia in soil declines. Immediately after a pulse
crop, number of rhizobia can exceed 10,000 per gram soil. After just a few years, this number can fall
below the level needed for prompt nodulation (100 per gram soil). So, as a general rule, if the
legume has not been grown in the previous four years, inoculation is recommended.
Where soil conditions are unfavorable, the interval between inoculations may need to be even
shorter. For example, low soil pH is detrimental to the survival of the rhizobia that nodulate pea,
bean, lentil and vetch. A recent survey of 114 paddocks showed a clear relationship between soil pH
and number of pea rhizobia in soil. Where pH (CaCl2) was less than 6.0, rhizobia were often at very
low levels in the soil and inoculation is therefore always recommended on those soils. Medic and
lucerne rhizobia are also sensitive to low soil pH. On the other hand, lupin rhizobia prefer low pH
soils. Adaptation of the rhizobia is generally similar to that of the host legume and provides some
guide to where soil conditions may be limiting.
Inoculation may also be worthwhile where the soil rhizobia have become less effective (reduced N2
fixation capacity). This is particularly relevant to annual pastures (medics and clovers), where the
effectiveness of soil populations of rhizobia is often less than 50% that of the elite strains of rhizobia
provided in inoculants.
It is easy to dismiss the benefits of inoculation because unless soils are very N deficient and
predisposed to poor nodulation, inoculation responses may not be easily observable. Even where
inoculation is successful, differences in grain yield of pulse legumes can be small, even though the
benefit of fixed N addition to the farm system can be large (>100kg/ha). While benefits are even
harder to see in grazed pasture systems, recent trials have shown large improvement to medic
pasture establishment on Mallee soils, where many anticipated there would be no inoculation
response.
Getting the best out of inoculation
Using the correct inoculant is critical. Legumes are specific in their requirement for rhizobia and
some are fussier than others. Peas, beans, lentils and vetch can be described as ‘legume cousins’
that ‘speak the same language’ in terms of their root exudates and are therefore nodulated by the
same rhizobia, that understand and respond to that language. Chickpeas talk a different language
altogether and so communicate with and are nodulated by an entirely different group of rhizobia.
Lupin, medics and clovers all speak unique languages and therefore need different rhizobia
altogether.
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This is why 39 different Inoculation Groups (A, C, E & F, G, N etc.) are provided commercially. Each
Inoculant Group is only suitable for use on the legumes listed on the inoculant packet.
Rhizobia are fragile, living organisms. They do not form spores (survival structures) and so are easily
killed during storage and application. They are particularly sensitive to high temperatures and
desiccation and so are best kept cool and sown into moist soils shortly after inoculation.
It is because rhizobia are sensitive to desiccation that dry sowing is not ideal. Where conditions are
hostile, the number of rhizobia on seed can decline rapidly (within days). Many studies have shown
a direct relationship between number of rhizobia on seed, nodulation and N2 fixation. Hence, N2
fixation potential will be reduced if nodulation in a dry sown crop is below par. Where dry sowing is
unavoidable, paddock history should be considered and the risk minimised by limiting it to paddocks
where the legume has already been successfully grown, preferably in the previous four years.
Freeze dried inoculant should not be used when dry sowing.
Mixing of rhizobia with chemicals and fertilisers commonly leads to examples of inoculation failure.
It is an easy trap to fall into and it may only become evident that the process has been detrimental
to survival of the rhizobia when a legume is sown on ‘new’ ground.
Soil residues of herbicides in the Group B class can reduce legume nodulation, N2 fixation and
growth. Their main effect is on the legume roots, causing damage to the root hairs which provide
the points of entry for the rhizobia. Plant back times should be strictly observed. Herbicide tolerant
legume varieties such as Angel strand medic can be used where herbicide residues are likely. Don’t
use old herbicide drums to mix or apply inoculants!
Different inoculant formulations (peat, granules) contain different numbers of rhizobia per gram of
product. Peat has 1 billion cells per gram of product. Granules have less rhizobia, in the order of ten
million per gram of product. Hence, it is important to stick with the recommended inoculation rate
to ensure that adequate numbers of rhizobia are delivered per ha.
Good agronomy
Because legumes generally fix about 25 kg N per tonne of legume dry matter produced, practices
that promote legume growth also maximise N2 fixation. These include appropriate legume and
cultivar selection, time and rate of sowing, pest and weed management and appropriate fertiliser
application. Good inoculation practice provides the potential for good N2 fixation, but good
agronomy is needed for that potential to be realised.
Further information
Further information on inoculation and the science behind it has been summarised in the recently
published ‘Inoculating Legumes: A Practical Guide’. Copies can be downloaded at
www.grdc.com.au/Resources/Bookshop/2012/12/Inoculating-Legumes. Specific information on
inoculation rates and pesticide compatibilities is best sourced from inoculant manufacturers.
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DEPI Crop Disease App
The DEPI Crop Disease application for iPhone and Android smart phones is now available.
The app enables agronomists and farmers to quickly identify and compare the disease
resistance ratings for different crop varieties in the paddock.
How to download the Crop Disease app:
The easiest way to download the Crop Disease app is to press the app
store icon on your device and search for crop disease. Then download the
free app. New users might need to create an iTunes or Android account to
download the app. Also make sure your device has the latest software
updates.
The app requires iOS 4.0 or later for Apple devices and Android 2.2 and up
for Android based smart phones & tablets.
Alternatively go to the DEPI app page www.depi.vic.gov.au/crop-disease-app and click on
the app icon for a link to iTunes (Apple) or Google Play (Android).
Navigation:
For iPhone, use the five buttons (Crops, Diseases, Compare, Share and More). Use the back
button to step back to the top of the menu.
In Compare, use Edit, CropType, Done. Select Varieties and Disease, Done.
To clear the compare table, use Edit, CropType, None, Done. Done to exit.
For Android, use the five buttons (Crop, Diseases, Compare, Share and the more icons).
Use the Crop icon in Crops and Diseases to get to the top of the menu.
In Compare, use Edit Crop, select Varieties and Diseases and the Tick
icon.
To clear the compare table, use Edit, Crop, none selected,
For more information and feedback please contact:
Frank Henry, DEPI Horsham
110 Natimuk Road Horsham 3400
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (03) 5362 2111
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