CONTROLLING summer weeds early to conserve moisture for use by subsequent crops gives economic returns in most locations in most years, according to research.
The crop model APSIM was used in Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) supported work to compare anticipated wheat yields from 1889 to 2008 with or without stored subsoil moisture at seeding, for 37 locations in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
The model showed that, on average, an additional 8 to 106mm of plant-available water (PAW) could be provided to winter crops by summer rain, depending on the site, boosting yields by an average of 0.2 to 2.3 tonnes per hectare.
In WA, the research showed that the benefits of improving storage of subsoil moisture were highest in soils with the ability to store more than about 100mm of PAW, and in years or sites with low growing season rainfall.
These and other research findings and management information are outlined in a new GRDC Summer Fallow Management Fact Sheet mailed to WA growers in the January/February edition of the GRDC magazine Ground Cover and available at www.grdc.com.au/GRDC-FS-SummerFal lowWest
The fact sheet covers topics including summer weed control; the role of stubble; the effect of grazing; cultivation; and flexible and responsive management.
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