Establishment Trials
Summary
Drought conditions prevented any yield data from being obtained from
this comparison of seed treatments. This work will be repeated in
the future in an attempt to ascertain if any yield differences exist
between these treatments. Interest from growers regarding
potential early vigour advantages of different seed treatments remains
high.
Trial Aims and Design
In
2006, trial work conducted
by IMAG Consulting as part of the GRDC Northern Extension program
indicated there may be differences between some seed dressings on early
seed vigour. Unfortunately, drought conditions resulted very low
yields (around 320kg/ha), with no meaningful data able to be obtained.
Therefore, the trial was repeated in 2007 in an attempt to
determine if the visual differences noticed in the early crop stages
would be repeated and if this would translate into increased yield.
A summary of the main aspects of the trial are as follows:
| Paddock History: |
Wheat in 2006 and 2005, canola in 2004
and wheat in 2003. |
| Date Sown: |
19 July 2007 |
| Variety: |
Sunstate at 50kg/ha.
Crown Rot
- 5, Common Root Rot - 6, Stripe Rust - 5, Yellow Leaf Spot - 4,
Root
Lesion Nematode - 4; NSW DPI ratings. |
| Starter Fertiliser: |
40kg/ha MAP with seed |
| Equipment Used: |
12m NDF with
disc delivery assembly, pulled by a 285hp John Deere
tractor. MAP and the seed were sown
together via the disc. For more information, visit www.ndf.com.au.
|
| In-Crop Spraying: |
22 August - 65mL/ha Topik, 0.5L/100L Uptake at 70L/ha, 75mL/ha Fastac Duo (cutworm control) |
The rainfall received at the site was as follows:
| 01-10 June |
91.2 |
21 July |
0.2 |
20 August |
3.0 |
| 11-20 June |
0.4 |
30 July |
0.2 |
21 August |
1.0 |
| 21-30 June |
30.4 |
03 August |
6.0 |
11 September |
0.4 |
| 01-10 July |
9.6 |
04 August |
7.0 |
28 September |
0.2 |
| 11-19 July |
1.2 |
08 August |
0.2 |
26 October
|
2.0 |
|
|
17 August |
3.0 |
30 October |
0.6 |
| TOTAL |
132.8mm |
|
|
TOTAL (sowing - end Oct) |
23.8mm
|
In the area adjacent the
disc versus tine trial, treatments of Raxil
® (1kg/tonne seed and 2.0kg/tonne seed) and Dividend
®
(2.6L/tonne seed) were sown for the length of the field. These
areas were then planned to be harvested using yield monitoring
equipment and the data analysed for any differences.
Results
Unfortunately, the trial strips were not
harvested due to the severe drought conditions experienced during the
spring. Obviously this has made
comparisons of the various treatments impossible. This work will need to be repeated if any
conclusions are to be drawn as to the effectiveness of the various seed
treatments.
