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CSIRO Water Use Efficiency Project
Trials with a difference continue to be a high priority for the Mingenew-Irwin Group.
To continue their research into cutting edge agriculture, MIG along with the Liebe and North East Farming Futures (NEFF) Group are working closely with CSIRO, to investigate the water use efficiency of crops with high, medium and low inputs.
Funded by GRDC over the three years (now in its second year), this project aims to determine how different management practices affect the water use efficiency of crops as well as yield, profitability and subsequent weediness.
Input levels are questioned daily during the sowing and growing season, particularly in late break seasons. With variable seasonal conditions and soil types, our high-cost inputs must be assessed at seeding and as yield potential unfolds in order to maximise returns. Having a better understanding of the water use efficiency of crops with various input levels will be another tool in our assessment process.
While all three sites compare different input levels and rotation options, each grower group and host farmer has set their trial up according to best management practices that relate to their area.
MIG’s site is located on Jon and Jill Holmes’ property off the Coalseam Rd, Mingenew. This is a red-loam site that will see the following treatments in 2009:
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2009 Treatment Inputs at Sowing |
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Treatment |
Input Level |
Crop |
Seed Rate |
DAP |
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kg/ha |
kg/ha |
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WWC |
High |
Wheat |
90 |
100 |
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WWC |
Medium |
Wheat |
70 |
70 |
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WWC |
Low |
Wheat |
50 |
40 |
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WCW |
High |
Canola |
5 |
100 |
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WWW |
High |
Wheat |
90 |
100 |
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Wheat variety: Wyalkatchem |
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Canola variety: Tanami |
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The Liebe site is located on the Buntine-Marchagee Rd on deep loamy sand and the NEFF site is north-west of Morawa on loamy sand over gravel.
Building on the water use efficiency trial data is a farm management survey being carried out by Planfarm. The survey will look at the attitudes of farmers and which farm management practices relate to water use efficiency and profitability.
Results of this trial along with all other MIG and partner organisation trials will be published in the Mingenew-Irwin Group Highlights of Farming Systems Research Book early next year.
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