As a result of the constant battle with highly resistant rye grass at the site (Select at 500ml has killed no rye grass in either 2008 or 2009) we decided that this phase of the project (2010 – 2012) will have a sowing rule whereby a decent germination of rye grass is required before seeding can proceed. Appropriate seed bank management treatments will then be utilised at the site, depending on the philosophies, to try and reduce the population of rye grass over the period.

This rule saw seeding take place on the 1^st and 2^nd June 2010 following a good germination of rye grass. Wheat, lupins and various cover crops have been sown. Of particular interest in 2010 are Roundup Ready Canola and the new wheat variety Mace. Roundup Ready Canola should prove to be a very useful tool in combating high populations of resistant weeds (rye grass in this case).

 

 

The Mingenew site received close to average rainfall, with 277mm falling in the growing season.

Seeding took place on 30^th April and 18^th May (i.e. dry) with the season opening rain coming on the 22^nd May 2009.

Again rye grass presented the single greatest challenge at the site with large differences showing up between treatments. Highest numbers during 2009 were found in the treatments where continuous cropping was carried out in 2007 & 2008. Treatments where full seed set had been achieved (i.e. cover crop treatments or pasture) in either 2007 or 2008 showed the lowest rye grass numbers.

Mostly very good yields were achieved at the site in a growing season that was close to average. Specifically, wheat yielded from 2.5 t/ha to 3.5 t/ha and lupins were up around 3.0 t/ha. Plant biomass achieved (a critical component of this systems trial) was mostly between 4.0 – 7.0 t/ha.

 Summary of Results 2008

 

The Mingenew site received 209 mm growing season rainfall and a total of 295 mm for the year. 

 

The trial was seeded from the end of April to the first week of May.  All the crops had good establishment although the feed barley was patchy due to some non-wetting. 

 

Reasonable grain yields were obtained at the site with an average of 3.1 t/ha for wheat, 1.7 t/ha for feed barley and 2.1 t/ha for lupins.  These were higher than 2007 apart from the feed barley, which was most likely due to the lower establishment levels and low rainfall in August and September.

 

 

Seeding at the MIG long-term       Good establishment amongst the

trial site at Ian & Di Broad's           retained stubble from 2007