Farming systems and production management
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://elibrary2.sugarresearch.com.au/handle/11079/13844
Research outcomes: Growers and harvesters benefit from the ongoing research in productivity improvement, production management and agronomical techniques. Developed technologies and management practices that enhance productivity and demonstrate a high rate of return on investment.
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Item Investigate skip row configuration in sugar cane: Final report GGP046(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2013) Blackburn, LThe aim of the project was to compare a double skip row sugarcane system with conventional solid plant on 1.8 m row spacing. Comparisons were made of productivity, profitability and water relationships. The skip row area was designated to grow crops which are usually cultivated over a traditional sugarcane fallow period. Ideally these skip area crops would provide break-crop soil health advantages but would also be harvested to contribute to income. One objective of this project was to evaluate different break crop alternatives to see which may be more suited to this situation. Results from this project show that the double skip row cane averaged about 70 % of the conventional cane yield, sugar yield and dollars returned per hectare. This excludes the data from the exceptionally wet 2010/11 summer which was in the wettest 5% of all years. Above-average rainfall years during the course of this trial negatively impacted on sugarcane and skip area crops. Only two skip row area crops were sown and that was to peanuts in August 2009 and November 2011. Again wet weather prevented harvest of these crops. The profitability of the double skip row system is under-estimated because costs were incurred to establish and manage the peanuts but no income was received. The group had hoped to evaluate soybean, sugar beet and possibly corn, but unfavourable seasons prevented this from happening.Item Facilitating enhanced peanut / sugarcane rotations by assessing and managing the issues related to growing peanuts : SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project final report(2008) Halpin, DRotation cropping has been identified by the Sugar Yield decline Joint Venture (SYDJV) as a critical tool in addressing decline in the Australian sugar industry. Previous research demonstrates that when break crops are combined with correct row spacing, GPS guidance and minimal cultivation they can be powerful tools in addressing yield decline. Producers on sandy soil have found that the nematode controlling effects of growing peanuts as a break crop is more beneficial than other legumes. The industry standard for peanut production in cane based farming systems involves a number of cultivations. There is ample evidence demonstrating that cultivation is detrimental to soil biology and structure. This body of evidence was at the heart of the members of SSPag when they decided they wanted to try to grow peanuts in an uncultivated cane trash blanket. That was our aim. In order to achieve our goal we sought and received support from SRDC to conduct the trial work necessary. The trial included a Factorial Randomized Area as part of a 3.3ha site. The randomised area was comprised of three tillage regimes (conventional, reduced and zero) by two fertiliser treatments (nil and 100kgN/ha supplied as urea) with four replicates. Each experimental unit consisted of three 1.83m beds by 20m row length. The trial was implemented in a third ratoon paddock of Cv. Q188 that had been grown on 1.83m beds with a dual row configuration under green cane trash blanket. The whole area was treated with Lime @ 3t/ha and Dolomite @ 1t/ha applied to the trash surface. The main trial area was fertilised as dictated by soil testing but the nitrogen component was modified in the randomised trial area. A literature search made us believe that we needed to rip under the peanut row to alleviate the compaction caused by the cane harvesting equipment. This was done using a coulter and Yeoman ripper in all areas except the zero till plots. The conventionally cultivated plots were cultivated by rotary hoe in addition to the ripping. The soil was quite moist for the ripping process and not all the ripper tracks closed in even after the application of a waisted roller. The peanuts were planted using an inclined plate seed meter and “Day Break” single disc opener. The seeds were dusted with inoculant before being loaded into the planter.. The strike was slow and uneven because of a number of issues. The most critical was the failure of the disc to cut the trash cleanly resulting in the seeds being enveloped by trash causing poor soil to seed contact and therefore poor and slow germination and failure of the inoculant due to drying out Another issue was the open ripper marks saw some seeds going deep into the soil and only emerging some weeks later. The results at harvest were best in the conventional system with the zero till being the worst. Only the conventional system produced a viable result. The addition of the nitrogen had a positive effect in all cultivation regimes. The cane crop following the peanuts saw a not statistically significant effect, that the conventionally cultivated plots were most productive and the zero till the least productive. It should be noted here that no fertiliser at all was added to grow the cane crop in the rep area because we thought this would even out the resulting cane crop. This was probably true as the plots that had the N added to the peanut crop outperformed the plots that had no N added to the peanut crop. In some areas of the bulk area of the trial we fertilised the crop as is the normal practice and did not fertilise in other areas. At harvest it was determined that the unfertilised sections were less productive but more profitable when taking into account the cost of the applied fertiliser. Overall the project alerted us to the need for a purpose built planter that would be able to successfully plant peanuts through the trash blanket. We applied to SRDC for support for this and were successful in gaining funding and building the planter. The results of this project GGP040 is available through SRDC.Item Improving soil health in undulating, dryland farms in the Central region : SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project final report(2009) De Boni, RThe project sought to: Improve the condition of soil for the following cane crop by introducing break crops; Investigate zero tillage options in undulating soil conditions to reduce erosion; Compare the benefits of different rotational crops/legumes to soil health (Nitrogen fixation & Organic Matter); Reduce input costs in the production cycle; and test the suitability of a minimum/zero till planter in various soil types for cane and break crop planting. A series of trials and equipment modifications were undertaken to identify the best way to achieve this. The break crop trials showed that Leichhardt out performed Ashgrove, Stuart and Bunya varieties with wet weight biomass yields of over 12t/ha and total N of over 250kg/ha in one trial. In the Plant cane comparison trial, the zero tillage plots proved to be most profitable with the highest yields, lowest input costs, and highest profit of $352/ha compared with the full cultivation plots which returned only $141.00/ha. A range of zero tillage break crop planters were inspected and trialled, with required modifications identified. This project has assisted Farliegh & Coningsby growers to select, and successfully grow dryland soybean break crops, and has demonstrated the cost savings and improved soil management offered by zero/minimal tillage practices. This project also identified a deficiency in existing minimum tillage cane planter designs when it come to heavy clays and other difficult soil types. Additionally the growers have gained valuable skills in cost comparison trials, and appropriate trial designs, which will be off assistance as they continue to adapt their farming systems.Item Maximising soy's in Central Queensland : SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project final report(2011) Mattsson, SThe Mackay region is currently expanding into soybeans as a legume for green manure and for grain production. The lack of region specific information has meant that growers are relying on information that has been developed in other regions. Some of this agronomic or varietal advice has resulted in crop failure when applied in the central region. Soybean crops in the central region are often lower yielding and have a higher frequency of failure than in other cane growing regions due to the lack of good local understanding of the crop. Our region’s climatic conditions such as: day length, temperature, rain fall and the number of rainy or clear days will impact on soybean production. These needs must be addressed to further encourage the adoption of legume break crops in the central region. Soy bean yields in the central region have not reached their potential when compared to the other regions and we believe that some of the issues relate to poor variety selection and the lack of good local information. This project experimented with current and new varieties and documents the results of these experiments. This information will give cane growers in the central region a process for better decision making.