Effect of different direct drilling and conventional sowing techniques on soil strength, root growth and grain yield of wheat on sandplain soils in Western Australia

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 547 ◽  
Author(s):  
CP Schmidt ◽  
RK Belford ◽  
D Tennant
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Soil Strength ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Sowing Depth ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Direct Drilling

Experiments were conducted to compare different direct drilling and conventional sowing techniques, and describe the effects of these techniques on soil strength, root growth and grain yield of wheat on sandplain soils in the northern wheat-belt of Western Australia. Soil strength was identified as a critical factor affecting root growth; increasing the depth of soil loosening beneath seeding depth with a modified direct drill reduced soil strength relative to that found in the traditional direct drill treatments, and increased rooting density beyond the 10 cm soil depth. As loosening depth increased, there were increases in both shoot growth and grain yields, and water use efficiency also improved. Maximizing the depth of soil disturbance by deep ripping after sowing resulted in the highest grain yields, but the time and cost penalties associated with this tillage operation are substantial and likely to deter its routine use. Modifying a direct drill to loosen soil beneath sowing depth therefore combined the advantages of conventional direct drilling (timeliness, moisture conservation and lower risk of erosion), with those obtained by sowing after cultivation (improved root growth and yield) without the yield penalties associated either with direct drilling or delayed sowing on these soils.

Increasing the depth of soil disturbance increases yields of direct drilled wheat on the sandplain soils of Western Australia

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 777 ◽  
Author(s):  
CP Schmidt ◽  
RK Belford
Keyword(s):  
Triticum Aestivum ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Wind Erosion ◽  
Soil Strength ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Experimental Site ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Drilling Technique ◽  
Direct Drilling

We evaluated on sandplain soils in the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia in 1990 and 1991 the effect on wheat yields (Triticum aestivum) of increasing the depth of soil disturbance (4-40 cm) while direct drilling. These sandplain soils are easily compacted and eroded by wind, but yields after direct drilling with tined implements are frequently poorer than yields after cultivation. Direct drilling with a tined seeder was compared with: (i) direct drilling with a modified seeder on which the front 3 rows of cultivating tines could be lowered relative to the rear 3 rows of seeding tines; and (ii) with direct drilling followed immediately by deep ripping. Progressively increasing the depth of disturbance reduced soil strength and generally increased grain yields of wheat. Effects on yield were more pronounced in the wetter year of 1991 on an experimental site that had not been previously ripped; responses of 32 kg/ha for each centimetre increase in depth of disturbance were recorded. The highest yields followed deep ripping (3429 kg/ha), and the lowest yields followed minimal soil disturbance using narrow (5 cm) seeding tines working to seeding depth only (2144 kg/ha). These results confirmed that it is possible to use a modified direct drilling technique (thus retaining the advantages of timely sowing after rainfall and lowered risk of wind erosion) and raise yields above those normally expected from direct drilling on these soils.

A comparison of different tillage-seeding systems: the interaction of tillage and time of sowing on sandplain soils in Western Australia

1993 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 895 ◽  
Author(s):  
CP Schmidt ◽  
RK Belford
Keyword(s):  
Triticum Aestivum ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Pass System ◽  
Single Pass ◽  
Seeding Method ◽  
Direct Drilling ◽  
The Cost

The effects of tillage-seeding method and 2 times of sowing on yields of wheat (Triticum aestivum) were examined on the sandplain soils in the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia. Four methods were compared: sowing after cultivation, sowing followed by deep ripping, direct drilling (i.e. single-pass seeding with a tined drill), sowing with a new cultivation depth modified drill (CDM) modified to cultivate up to 14 cm deep while sowing at 4 cm. Crops direct-drilled with the CDM produced more grain than crops established with conventional direct drilling or 'crops sown later using the cultivate-sow method and had similar yields to late-sown deep-ripped crops, where appropriate cultivars were used. Early sowing followed by deep ripping produced the highest grain yield. However, increasing the depth of soil disturbance while sowing early with the CDM in a 1-pass system resulted in a progressive increase in grain yield. When the cost of the extra ripping or cultivation operation is taken into account, early direct drilling with the CDM drill is likely to be more profitable than either conventional direct drilling or sowing with deep ripping or cultivation.

scholarly journals Growth and Yield Performance of Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata (L.) Walp) as influenced by Row-Spacing and Period of Weed interference in South-West Nigeria

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Adigun ◽  
A. O. Osipitan ◽  
Segun Toyosi Lagoke ◽  
Raphael Olusegun Adeyemi ◽  
Stephen Olaoluwa Afolami
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Vigna Unguiculata ◽  
Growth Parameter ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Row Spacing ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Weed Interference ◽  
Weed Infestation ◽  
Weed Removal

Weed problem appears to be the most deleterious factor causing between 25 and 60% reduction in potential yield of cowpea. Field trials were therefore conducted to study the effect of inter-row spacing and period of weed interference on growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (07° 15'; 03° 25' E) in South Western Nigeria during the early and late wet seasons of 2009. The experiment consisted of eight main plots of weed interference which included initial weed removal for 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS) and subsequently weed –infested until harvest as well as initial weed infestation for corresponding periods and thereafter kept weed free until harvest. There were also sub-plot treatments of three inter-row spacing of 60, 75, and 90 cm. All treatments in different combinations were laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. In both trials, the use of inter-row spacing of 60 cm resulted in significant reduction in weed growth as evident in lower weed dry matter production and subsequent higher cowpea pod and grain yields than those of 75 and 90 cm inter-row spacing. Initial weed infestation of up to 3 WAS did not have any adverse effect on crop growth and cowpea grain yields provided the weeds were subsequently removed. On the other hand, cowpea grain yield loss was not significantly averted by keeping the crop weed free for only 3 WAS without subsequent weed removal. In this study, initial weed-infestation for 6 WAS and beyond significantly depressed various crop growth parameter and cowpea grain yield compared with the crop kept weed free throughout its life cycle. In order to obtain optimum yields similar to that of the weed free cowpea field, it was required to keep the crop weed free for 6 WAS and beyond. However, frequent weeding beyond 9 weeks after sowing did not improve cowpea yield significantly and as a matter of fact it may even result in reduction of cowpea grain yield due to mechanical damage of hoe weeding. The practical implication of this finding is that early weeding starting from 3 WAS is very crucial for cowpea production while the critical period of weed removal for optimum yield in cowpea is between 3 and 9 WAS in the forest-savannah transitional zone of south Western Nigeria.

Productivity of crops grown on raised beds on duplex soils prone to waterlogging in Western Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 1368 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Bakker ◽  
G. J. Hamilton ◽  
D. J. Houlbrooke ◽  
C. Spann ◽  
A. Van Burgel
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
Field Peas ◽  
Yield Difference ◽  
Raised Bed ◽  
Flat Ground

Waterlogging of duplex soils in Western Australia has long been recognised as a major constraint to the production of agricultural crops and pastures. The work described in this paper examines the application of raised beds to arable land that is frequently waterlogged for the production of crops such as wheat, barley, field peas, lupins and canola. Raised beds are 138 cm wide, seed beds separated by 45 cm wide furrows 183 cm apart. These beds were made with a commercial bed former. Seven sites were selected across the south-eastern wheat belt of Western Australia with the experimental areas varying in size from 10 to 57 ha. These large sites were used to accommodate commercial farm machinery. Each site had raised beds formed with a commercial bedformer. The production from the bedded areas was compared with crops grown conventionally on flat ground under minimum tillage as the control. The experiments were established in 1997 and 1998 and the sites were monitored for a maximum of 5 years. In 11 of the 28 site-years of the experiments, grain yields on the raised beds were statistically significantly higher than the yield from crops grown on the control, with an average yield increase of 0.48 t/ha. Across the whole dataset, growing crops on raised beds did not produce significantly lower yields. Below average rainfall was received for much of the experimental period at several sites. Growing season rainfall had a large effect on grain yield and high rainfall over a period of 40 days after seeding significantly increased the grain yield difference between the raised bed and the control. These data indicate that the use of raised beds lead to higher grain yields when seasonal conditions are appropriate.

Effectiveness of some copper compounds applied as foliar sprays in alleviating copper deficiency of wheat grown on copper-deficient soils of Western Australia

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 687 ◽  
Author(s):  
RF Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Copper Deficiency ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Foliar Sprays ◽  
Cu Deficiency ◽  
Copper Compounds ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Relationship

The effectiveness of copper oxychloride (CU2Cl(OH)3, 52% Cu) and chelated Cu (Cu-EDTA, 15% Cu) were compared with the effectiveness of copper sulphate (CuSO4, 25% Cu) as foliar sprays for alleviating Cu deficiency and obtaining maximum grain yields of wheat (1.93-2.5 t/ha). The experiments were conducted over 4 years at 4 sites in the Lake Grace and Newdegate districts, about 300-350 km south-east of Perth, Western Australia. Each source was sprayed at 6 or 7 rates of Cu to define the relationship between grain yield and the amount of foliar Cu applied for wheat grown on soils where Cu had not been previously applied. The levels of Cu sprayed in experiment 1 were 0, 21, 63, 125, 250, and 375 g/ha, and for experiments 2,3 and 4, the levels of Cu were 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 g/ha. The relative effectiveness of foliar-applied chelated Cu and CU2Cl(OH)3, compared with CuSO4, was 1.72-2.24 and 0.47-0.63, respectively. Although the relative effectiveness of each product was different, similar quantities of each were required to achieve maximum wheat grain yield because of the difference in the Cu contents of each source of Cu. The amounts of Cu product sprayed for maximum grain yields of wheat varied within the ranges 0.9-1.8 kg/ha, 0.8-1.2 kg/ha and 0.8-1.8 kg/ha for CuSO4, chelated Cu and CU2Cl(OH)3, respectively.

Growth, yield and neurotoxin (ODAP) concentration of three Lathyrus species in mediterranean-type environments of Western Australia

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 209 ◽  
Author(s):  
KHM Siddique ◽  
SP Loss ◽  
SP Herwig ◽  
JM Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Field Pea ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Pisum Sativum L ◽  
Lathyrus Sativus L ◽  
Western Australian

The growth, phenology, grain yield and neurotoxin (ODAP) content of Lathyrus sativus, L. cicera and L. ochrus were compared with a locally adapted field pea (Pisum sativum L.) to examine their potential as grain legumes in Western Australian farming systems. About 17 lines of each species were obtained from ICARDA, Syria, and grown at 3 agro-climatically different sites. In general, the 3 species were later flowering than field pea, especially L. cicera and L. ochrus; however, L. sativus was the last species to mature. The best Lathyrus lines produced biomass near flowering similar to field pea. At the most favourable site, grain yields were up to 1.6, 2.6 and 1.7 t/ha for L. sativus, L. cicera and L. ochrus respectively, compared with a field pea grain yield of 3.1 t/ha. There was considerable genotype and environmental variation in ODAP concentration in the seed. On average, the ODAP concentration of L. ochrus (6.58 mg/g) was about twice that of L. sativus, and L. cicera had the lowest ODAP concentration (1.31 mg/g). Given that Lathyrus spp. have not had the same breeding effort as field pea and other grain legumes in Australia, these results encourage further selection or breeding. In the shor-tseasoned, mediterranean-type environment of Western Australia, harvest indices and grain yields could be improved with early flowering. Low ODAP concentration should also be sought.

The growth and yield of uniculm and tillered barley over a range of sowing rates

1990 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 449 ◽  
Author(s):  
GK McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Yield Component ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Dry Matter Production ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Waite Agricultural Research Institute

The growth and yield of two lines of uniculm barley, WID-103 and WID-105, were compared over a range of sowing rates (50-400 kg/ha) with the commercial varieties Galleon and Schooner. The experiments were conducted at Strathalbyn, S.A., in 1986, 1987 and 1988 and at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute in 1987. A third tillered variety, Clipper, was included in the comparison in 1988. Over the three years plant populations measured early in the season ranged from 39/m2 to 709/m2, and grain yields from 97 to 41 1 g/m2. Dry matter production at ear emergence increased with greater plant density, and both the tillered varieties and the uniculm lines showed similar responses to higher sowing rates. At maturity, dry matter production of the tillered barleys was greater than or equal to that of the uniculms and the harvest indices (HIs) of the two types were similar. Consequently, grain yields of the tillered types were greater than or equal to the yields of the uniculms. Over the four experiments the tillered varieties had a 6% higher yield. The number of ears/m2 was the yield component most affected by plant density in both the tillered and uniculm barleys. The uniculm lines had more spikelets/ear, but tended to set fewer grains/spikelet and produce smaller kernels. The experiments failed to demonstrate any advantage of the uniculm habit to the grain yield of barley. These results differ from previous experiments that showed that a uniculm line, WID-101, had a higher yield than the tillered variety Clipper. It is suggested that the uniculm habit per se was not the cause of this higher yield, but its higher HI resulted in it outyielding Clipper. Current varieties, however, have HIs similar to the uniculm lines and yield equally to or more than the uniculm barleys examined. To further improve the grain yield of uniculm barley, greater dry matter production is necessary as the HIs of these lines are already high.

Effect of cropping sequences on soil nitrogen levels, rice growth, and grain yields

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 977 ◽  
Author(s):  
HG Beecher ◽  
JA Thompson ◽  
PE Bacon ◽  
DP Heenan
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Rice Crop ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Rice Grain ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Rice Growth ◽  
Soil Ammonium ◽  
Clover Pasture

The effect of 7 different crop and pasture sequences and cereal stubble management on soil nitrogen (N) levels and growth and grain yield of 2 subsequent rice crops was studied over 6 years (1986-92) on a Birganbigil clay loam soil at Yanco Agricultural Institute. After harvest of an initial rice crop in 1987, the following crop sequences were imposed: continuous annual rice cropping; 2 triticale crops, 2 seasons of pasture; pasture for 4 seasons; a second rice crop, 3 seasons of pasture; a second and third rice crop, 2 seasons of pasture; winter cereals; double cropped (winter-summer) on raised beds. The growth and productivity of 2 subsequent rice crops (1990-91, 1991-92) was then evaluated. Stubble retention rather than burning was practiced on half of each plot. Half of each pasture plot was sown to annual pasture (Trifolium subterraneum), while the other half was sown to perennial pasture (Trifolium repens). All plots returned to rice in 1990-91 and N rates up to 400 kg N/ka were applied. No fertiliser was applied to the 1991-92 crop. Anaerobic incubation ammonium content of soil, sampled before sowing of the 1990-91 rice crop, ranged from 28 to 85 pg/g oven-dried soil. The 1990-91 rice crop reduced soil ammonium by 30 y g/g in all sequences except continuous annual rice cropping. These differences in soil ammonium content were significantly correlated with rice growth and yield. Dry matter at panicle initiation and at physiological maturity and grain yield all increased significantly with N fertiliser application for all crop sequences. This indicates the benefit of N fertiliser, even after a 4-year pasture phase. Modelled grain yield from the unfertilised 2-year subterranean clover pasture (10.4 t/ha) was equal to that from the continuous rice sequence receiving 212 kg N/ha. Applying 320 kg N/ha to continuous rice plots produced yields similar to that of the 2-year subterranean clover pasture sequence, which received 98 kg N/ha. This indicates that the major effect on grain yield of different crop sequences could be alleviated through high N applications. Stubble management had little effect on rice growth or grain yield. Sequences with pasture phases of 2, 3, and 4 years produced similar rice grain yields. Pasture phases still had a positive effect, compared with continuous ricegrowing, on the second rice crop; however, crop growth and grain yield were about half that obtained from the unfertilised plots of the first rice crop. We conclude that continuous, high-yielding, annual ricegrowing can be maintained provided the N supply is adequate, that highly productive legume-dominant pasture phases of 2, 3, or 4 years contribute eqivalent amounts of N to succeeding rice crops, and that stubble management technique or pasture type has little effect on grain yield.

PENETRATION RESISTANCE TO CHARACTERIZE THE DEPTH AND PERSISTENCE OF SOIL LOOSENING IN TILLAGE STUDIES

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 657-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. CARTER
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Penetration Resistance ◽  
Soil Strength ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Fine Sandy Loam ◽  
Tillage System ◽  
Direct Drilling ◽  
Induced Changes

Soil penetration resistance was used to characterize tillage-induced changes in soil strength, as a functon of soil depth and time, under three reduced tillage systems and a deep tillage study in loam to fine sandy loam, Podzolic and Luvisolic soils. The penetration resistance measurements quantified the depth, degree, and persistence of soil loosening, and potential soil rooting depth in regard to tillage system. Mouldboard ploughing provided a greater degree of soil loosening than chisel ploughing. The potential soil rooting depth of 33 – 36 cm under mouldboard ploughing was decreased to 26 cm under both direct drilling and shallow tillage. Use of a slant-legged subsoiler (i.e., “paraplow”) prior to direct drilling prevented the reduction in soil rooting depth. The depth of soil loosening gradually declined by 30 and 60%, over a 5-mo period, under mouldboard ploughing and the "paraplow" direct drilling system, respectively. Residual tillage effects and soil compaction after deep loosening were quantified by the penetration resistance measurements. The use of penetration resistance to rapidly screen soil depth to critical levels of soil strength demonstrated that under sequential direct drilled systems soil loosening should occur on a regular basis to maintain optimum soil structure on fine sandy loam soils. Key words: Soil strength, penetration resistance, reduced tillage, Podzolic soil, Luvisolic soil

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document