Optimising Plant Establishment 2020 Hart Canola Experiment

Data from the 2020 crop establishment trial at Hart, SA. The trial compared the establishment of canola at different 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 Canola.xlsx

Experiment setup:Experiment managed locally by the Hart Field-Site Group. The trial was organised as a split plot design, with 3 whole plot treatments (conventional seeder, precision seeder, and perfect placement (i.e. handthinned plots curated to consistent interplant distance after emergence)), and three subplot treatments for the seeding rate (15, 25 and 40 seeds/m2). The design was arranged spatially in a single column and 36 rows, 4 replicates, 36 plots in total.

Variables recorded:stubble (%), stubble (t/ha), establishment count (plants/m2), seedling depth (mm), interplant distance (cm), GS75 biomass dry matter (t/ha), harvest biomass wet weight (g), harvest biomass dry weight (g), harvest index, yield (t/ha), oil (%), 500 grain weight (g)

Data collection and assessment:The paddock was seeded on 05/05/2020, with a stubble assessment within the plots on 13/05/2020. Plant emergence counts were made on 25/05/2020, 12/06/2020 and 07/07/2020 to assess establishment. Seedling depth in mm was also measured on 07/07/2020 for plots in replicate 4, with five measurements made per plot. Interplant distances were recorded at each plot in cm. NDVI was measured on 30/06/2020, 09/07/2020, 21/07/2020 and 03/08/2020. Biomass cuts were made on 09/09/2020 at Growth Stage 75 and the dry matter weight recorded, and harvest maturity cuts were made on 29/10/2020 to assess weight and harvest index. The crop was harvested on 04/11/2020, with the yield (t/ha), oil content and 500 grain weight recorded. Additionally, some photos were taken of the trial and stubble during the crop growth, and these are available embedded in the xlsx file.