CROPS on tricky soils can get off to the best start through the right seed placement at planting.
A trial at Karoonda is looking to see if planting on or near the row from last year's crops has the potential to improve crop establishment on sandy soils.
CSIRO farming systems researcher Rick Llewellyn said the study was in response to concerns from farmers in the Mallee regions.
"Lots of farmers are getting frustrated by water left behind in sandy soils when it looks like it should be extracting moisture," he said.
"This is one of several practices looking at that.
"It is an easy thing to check – how making use of last year's row can impact how the crop gets away."
The trial saw plots of Corack wheat sown in late April and mid May, either on or very close to the previous year's crop row or between last year's crop row at 28-centimetre spacings.
The plots are in two soil types – swale and dune.
"We've been working in the Mallee a lot of the past few years and the Karoonda site has some difficult soils, non-wetting soils," Dr Llewellyn said.
"We realise strong, early vigour is so important on these soils and make a big part of getting a crop away."
Early results from the trial showed that there were improved soil moisture conditions when planted adjacent to last year's crop.
"That few extra millimetres can be important," Dr Llewellyn said.
"Crop emergence certainly improved on sandy dunes, not on heavy soils like you would expect."
The trial is also considering other impacts of on-row seeding, including disease risks, nitrogen uptake, other nutrients, weed control and stubble management.
"We've also seen greater nitrogen near the surface," he said.
Disease risks have also been assessed for crops planted close to last year's rows.
Elizabeth Anderson
Stock Journal's magazine editor.
Stock Journal's magazine editor.
