Optimising Plant Establishment 2020 Hart Wheat Experiment

Full description

Data from the 2020 crop establishment trial at Hart, SA. The trial compared the establishment of wheat at different target seeding rates, under a conventional seeder and under a precision seeder. This experiment was run under the UOA1803-009RTX GRDC research project led by the University of Adelaide, and the experiment and data collection were managed locally by the Hart Field-Site Group.

Files:2020 Hart Wheat.xlsx

Experiment setup:Experiment managed locally by the Hart Field-Site Group. The trial was organised as a split plot design, with 2 whole plot treatments (conventional seeder vs precision seeder), and 2 subplot treatments for the seeding rate (90 and 180 target plants/m2). The design was arranged spatially in a single column (3 bays long) with 12 rows, 3 replicates, 12 plots in total.

Variables recorded:stubble (%), stubble (t/ha), establishment count (plants/m2), seedling depth (mm), interplant distance (cm), NDVI, flowering biomass dry matter (t/ha), harvest biomass wet weight (g), harvest biomass dry weight (g), harvest index, yield (t/ha), 1000 grain weight (g), test weight (%), screenings (%), protein (%)

Data collection and assessment:The paddock was seeded on 14/05/2020, with a pre-seed stubble assessment on 13/05/2020. Plant emergence counts were made on 30/06/2020, 08/07/2020 and 24/07/2020 to assess establishment. Seedling depth in mm was also measured on 24/07/2020 for all plots, with five measurements made per plot. Interplant distances were recorded at each plot on 24/07/2020. NDVI was measured on five separate occasions: 30/06/2020, 24/07/2020, 03/08/2020, 12/08/2020 and 17/08/2020. Biomass cuts were made on 24/09/2020 at flowering and the dry matter weight recorded, and harvest maturity cuts were made on 02/11/2020 to assess weight and harvest index. The crop was harvested on 26/11/2020, with the yield (t/ha), 1000 grain weight and protein content recorded. Additionally, some photos were taken of the trial and stubble during the crop growth, and these are available embedded in the xlsx file.