Optimising Plant Establishment 2020 Inverleigh Faba Bean Experiment

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Data from the 2020 crop establishment trial at Inverleigh, VIC. The trial compared the establishment of Samira faba bean at different target densities, under a conventional seeder (Vaderstad Rapid) and under a precision seeder (Vaderstad Tempo). The experiment was run under the UOA1803-009RTX GRDC research project led by the University of Adelaide, with the experimental trial and data collection managed locally by Southern Farming Systems (SFS).

Files:2020 SFS faba bean .xlsx

Experiment setup:Experiment managed locally by Southern Farming Systems (SFS). The trial was set up as a randomised complete block design with four treatments (conventional seeder vs precision seeder, and target plant densities at 20 and 40 plants/m2), arranged spatially in a single column with 12 rows, 3 replicates, 12 plots total. Note that the row spacing for the treatment with the Tempo precision seeder at 40 plants/m2 was erroneously increased to 500mm instead of 250mm for only two of the replicates. Samira faba bean was the variety sown for this trial.

Variables recorded:establishment count (plants/m2), interplant distance (cm), peak biomass wet weight (g), peak biomass dry weight (g), peak biomass moisture (%), peak biomass (t/ha), harvest biomass wet weight (g), harvest biomass dry weight (g), harvest biomass moisture (%), harvest index, corrected yield at 14% moisture (t/ha)

Data collection and assessment:The faba bean was sown on 08/05/2020. Establishment counts were made for 1 row over 3m lengths on 25/05/2020, 29/05/2020, and 01/06/2020, with a final establishment count and interplant distance (in cm) also recorded for each of the plots. Peak biomass and harvest biomass cuts were made to assess wet weight, dry weight and moisture content. At harvest the yield was recorded, corrected to 14% moisture (t/ha).