Optimising Plant Establishment 2021 Watchupga Canola Sowing Depth Experiment

Data from the 2021 crop establishment and sowing depth trial at Watchupga, VIC. The trial compared the establishment of two varieties of canola (ATR Stingray and Hyola 350TT) at two different target plant densities and across three different seedling sowing depths (normal, shallow and deep depth). The experiment was run under the UOA1803-009RTX GRDC research project led by the University of Adelaide, and the experimental trial and data collection were managed locally in Watchupga by the Birchip Cropping Group (BCG).

Files:2021 Birchip Canola sowing depth.xlsx

Experiment setup:Experiment managed locally by the Birchip Cropping Group (BCG). The trial was organised as a split plot with 4 replicates, three sowing depths (normal, shallow and deep depth), and two different target plant densities (50 and 60 plants/m2) for two different varieties of canola (ATR Stingray and Hyola 350TT). The design was embedded in a spatial grid with 12 rows (not including the two buffer rows on the north and south sides of the trial extent) and 4 ranges, for 48 plots total.

Variables recorded:establishment count (plants/m2), seedling depth (mm)

Data collection and assessment:The canola varieties were sown on 19/04/2021. Plant emergence rates were measured in each plot across 12 different occasions between 18/05/2021 and 07/07/2021, and the establishment counts were averaged across two counts per plot and recorded in plants/m2. Seedling depths were recorded for 10 plants per plot.