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Western Australia - 2015 Regional Crop Updates: Sowing canola in wide rows could save growers money


Western Australia
February 27, 2015


Department research officer Martin Harries inspecting the wide row sown canola trials.

Growers may be able to reduce input costs and ‘drought proof’ their canola crops by sowing crops in wide rows.

Findings from an initial Department of Agriculture and Food trial in the northern grainbelt, conducted during the 2014 growing season, have shown canola crops sown in wider spacing still produced good yields.

Full details of the trial were presented at the 2015 Agribusiness Crop Updates in Perth earlier this week, hosted by the department and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

Information will also be available at the Regional Crop Updates being hosted by the Liebe (4 March) and Facey (5 March) Groups next week.

Department research officer Martin Harries said the department teamed with growers from the Northern Agri Group for the trials sown in Northampton and Binnu.

“Three farmer trials were sown comparing wide row spacings of 50cm-60cm to the traditional 20cm-30cm spacings in high, medium and low rainfall areas. Three department trials were also sown in rows 22-44cm at the same sites,” he said.

“Crops were assessed for crop establishment, plant growth and yield.

“Five of the sites had treatments replicated, and at these sites yield was greater in wide rows in one, the same in three and less at one.

Mr Harries said in terms of plant growth, wide row spacing didn’t cause a significant reduction in crop establishment compared to narrow row.

“Plant weight at maturity also wasn’t significantly affected by the change in row spacing,” he said.

Mr Harries said overall the trials demonstrated that canola plants were able to compensate for being sown in wide rows.

“This sowing method will be better suited to shallower soil types where conservation of soil moisture for grain fill is important,” he said.

“By sowing in wide rows the plants cover less ground early in the year and use less water.

“The roots also take time to grow between the rows, which also conserves moisture for later. 

“This means in low rainfall areas, using wider row spacings can aid in moisture conservation, helping to deliver better yield in dry finishes.

“The trial work was only done in the northern grainbelt. Further trials are needed to see if the same results would be achieved in the central and southern areas.”

Mr Harries said growers involved in the trials considered not only yield, but reducing fuel costs at seeding by up to 30 per cent, improved safety of IBS herbicides and easier stubble handling as benefits from wider sown crops.

“The department will continue to refine the production systems for wide row sown crops to determine if input costs for seed and fertiliser can consistently be reduced, as experienced by the farmers who participated in the trial,” he said

“The department will also test precision sowing machines in 2015.

“These can much more accurately place the seed making it easier to get the ideal plant establishment.”

The 2015 Agribusiness Crop Updates will be held at Crown Perth on 24 - 25 February. For further event information visit giwa.org.au/2015-crop-updates or contact the Grain Industry Association of WA office on +61(0)8 6262 2128.

For more information about Regional Crop Updates visit the department’s website agric.wa.gov.au/regional-crop-updates-2015



More solutions from: Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries


Website: http://www.agric.wa.gov.au

Published: February 27, 2015


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