Optimising Plant Establishment 2020 Hart Wheat Experiment

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.