Plant density and N response of selected wheat varieties at Moorine Rock 2015 trial report

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The challenge in low rainfall areas is to understand the influence of management on the genetic difference of varieties. When growers are investing in this environment, there is a focus on dry sowing to enable timely seeding of a proportion of their cropping program. A better understanding of how tactical management decisions influence varietal performance in the low rainfall areas will assist growers to be confident in their in decisions at seeding and throughout the season.

Aim

Determine the value of managing nitrogen and seeding rates on yield and quality of wheat varieties.

Trial details

Table 1 Trial details for wheat agronomy trial at Moorine Rock
Property Moorine Rock
Soil type

Depth (cm): 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40
pH (CaCl2): 5.6, 7, 7.6, 7.7, 8
NH4 (ug/g): 4, 3, 2, 2, <1
NO3 (ug/g): 62, 79, 66, 74, 72
Crop Wheat varieties
Paddock rotation To be determined
Treatments

Nitrogen (kg/ha):
N: 0
N: 10
N: 30 (10 at seeding + 20 post emergence)
N: 50 (10 at seeding + 40 post emergence)

Target plant populations (TPP): 60,120, 180 plants/m2

Varieties: Corack, Emu Rock, Hydra, Mace, Wyalkatchem, Yitpi
Replicates Three
Sowing date 14 May 2015
Seeding rate  Various (see treatments)
Fertiliser 120kg/ha Super CMZ drilled at seeding
Rainfall Merredin: 110.4mm (1 January - 19 June)

Acknowledgements

DAFWA colleagues Bob French and Brenda Shackley for trial development. The Grain Crop Agronomy Reference group, managed by Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), for their support with research development in 2015. The project Tactical wheat crop agronomy for the west (DAW00249) is funded by GRDC and DAFWA. DAFWA's research support unit at Merredin for trial management and Bruce Haig at DAFWA for technical support with nitrogen application, data collection and management.

Topics

Author

Christine Zaicou-Kunesch