The grain yield of winter-grazed crops

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (86) ◽  
pp. 452 ◽  
Author(s):  
PR Dann ◽  
A Axelsen ◽  
CBH Edwards

In six years of experiments various grazing treatments were applied to a range of crops and subsequent grain yields measured. Spring rapes, lupins and peas showed little potential for dual purpose grazing/grain use, generally producing less herbage and grain than wheat, oats, barley and rye. Winter rape performed as well as barley and wheat in one year. Oats and barley were overall better than wheat which was generally better than rye. Comparison of late-sown grain-only crops with early sown grazed ones indicated that with some crops in some years the dual-purpose enterprise was the more profitable. The experiments suggested that the most biologically profitable combination of herbage and grain production would be obtained by delaying grazing until about 4t of crop dry matter per ha were available in winter.


2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison. J. Frischke ◽  
James R. Hunt ◽  
Dannielle K. McMillan ◽  
Claire J. Browne

In the Mallee region of north-western Victoria, Australia, there is very little grazing of crops that are intended for grain production. The success of dual-purpose crops in other regions in south-eastern Australia with higher and more evenly distributed rainfall has driven interest in assessing the performance of dual-purpose cereals in the region. Five experiments were established in five consecutive years (2009–13) in the southern Mallee to measure the forage production and grain yield and quality response in wheat and barley to grazing by sheep or mechanical defoliation. The first three experiments focused on spring cultivars sown from late April to June, and the last two on winter cultivars planted from late February to early March. Cereal crops provided early and nutritious feed for livestock, with earlier sowing increasing the amount of dry matter available for winter grazing, and barley consistently produced more dry matter at the time of grazing or defoliation than wheat. However, the grain-production response of cereals to grazing or defoliation was variable and unpredictable. Effects on yield varied from –0.7 to +0.6 t/ha, with most site × year × cultivar combinations neutral (23) or negative (14), and few positive (2). Changes in grain protein were generally consistent with yield dilution effects. Defoliation increased the percentage of screenings (grains passing a 2-mm sieve) in three of five experiments. Given the risk of reduced grain yield and quality found in this study, and the importance of grain income in determining farm profitability in the region, it is unlikely that dual-purpose use of current cereal cultivars will become widespread under existing grazing management guidelines for dual-purpose crops (i.e. that cereal crops can be safely grazed once anchored, until Zadoks growth stage Z30, without grain yield penalty). It was demonstrated that early-sown winter wheat cultivars could produce more dry matter for grazing (0.4–0.5 t/ha) than later sown spring wheat and barley cultivars popular in the region (0.03–0.21 t/ha), and development of regionally adapted winter cultivars may facilitate adoption of dual-purpose cereals on mixed farms.



1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 769 ◽  
Author(s):  
AC Andrews ◽  
R Wright ◽  
PG Simpson ◽  
R Jessop ◽  
S Reeves ◽  
...  

Two newly registered cultivars of triticale, Tiga and Empat, were compared with existing commercial cultivars of triticale, cereal rye and forage oats, for grain yield and dry matter production. Their performance was evaluated at Armidale, New South Wales, over 3 years with varying defoliation regimes (uncut to grain yield, cut in late autumn, cut in autumn and winter, and cut in winter only). Phenological observations confirmed that Tiga and Empat were midseason cultivars, intermediate between Coolabah and Blackbutt oats. Autumn and winter forage production and organic matter digestibility of Tiga and Empat were equal to those obtained from Cooba and Blackbutt oats. Grain yields (up to 4.0 t/ha) of the highest yielding triticale cultivar (Empat) were equal to, or greater than, the best oats cultivar (Blackbutt). Generally, the highest winter growth rates, dry matter yield at maturity and grain yield were recorded from uncut plots, except in the early oats cultivar Coolabah which, in 1 experiment, lodged in spring if left undefoliated through autumn and winter. Cutting only in autumn had small effects (negative) on grain yields, but cutting in both autumn and winter reduced total dry matter yields at maturity by 30% and grain yields by 50%. Cutting only in winter resulted in higher vegetative forage yields than a double cut (autumn and winter), but the single winter cut subsequently produced lowest dry matter yields at maturity. The high grain yields of triticale were linked to rapid spring growth. Harvest indices of triticale cultivars were generally lower than those of the oat cultivars. The results indicate the potential of triticale, especially cv. Empat, as a dual-purpose forage and grain crop.



2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiu-Xiu Chen ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Yuan Liang ◽  
Yu-Min Liu ◽  
Shi-Jie Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract Although researchers have determined that attaining high grain yields of winter wheat depends on the spike number and the shoot biomass, a quantitative understanding of how phosphorus (P) nutrition affects spike formation, leaf expansion and photosynthesis is still lacking. A 3-year field experiment with wheat with six P application rates (0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 kg P ha−1) was conducted to investigate this issue. Stem development and mortality, photosynthetic parameters, dry matter accumulation, and P concentration in whole shoots and in single tillers were studied at key growth stages for this purpose. The results indicated that spike number contributed the most to grain yield of all the yield components in a high-yielding (>8 t/ha) winter wheat system. The main stem (MS) contributed 79% to the spike number and tiller 1 (T1) contributed 21%. The 2.7 g kg−1 tiller P concentration associated with 15 mg kg−1 soil Olsen-P at anthesis stage led to the maximal rate of productive T1s (64%). The critical shoot P concentration that resulted in an adequate product of Pn and LAI was identified as 2.1 g kg−1. The thresholds of shoot P concentration that led to the maximum productive ability of T1 and optimal canopy photosynthetic capacity at anthesis were very similar. In conclusion, the thresholds of soil available P and shoot P concentration in whole plants and in single organs (individual tillers) were established for optimal spike formation, canopy photosynthetic capacity, and dry matter accumulation. These thresholds could be useful in achieving high grain yields while avoiding excessive P fertilization.



1990 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 449 ◽  
Author(s):  
GK McDonald

The growth and yield of two lines of uniculm barley, WID-103 and WID-105, were compared over a range of sowing rates (50-400 kg/ha) with the commercial varieties Galleon and Schooner. The experiments were conducted at Strathalbyn, S.A., in 1986, 1987 and 1988 and at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute in 1987. A third tillered variety, Clipper, was included in the comparison in 1988. Over the three years plant populations measured early in the season ranged from 39/m2 to 709/m2, and grain yields from 97 to 41 1 g/m2. Dry matter production at ear emergence increased with greater plant density, and both the tillered varieties and the uniculm lines showed similar responses to higher sowing rates. At maturity, dry matter production of the tillered barleys was greater than or equal to that of the uniculms and the harvest indices (HIs) of the two types were similar. Consequently, grain yields of the tillered types were greater than or equal to the yields of the uniculms. Over the four experiments the tillered varieties had a 6% higher yield. The number of ears/m2 was the yield component most affected by plant density in both the tillered and uniculm barleys. The uniculm lines had more spikelets/ear, but tended to set fewer grains/spikelet and produce smaller kernels. The experiments failed to demonstrate any advantage of the uniculm habit to the grain yield of barley. These results differ from previous experiments that showed that a uniculm line, WID-101, had a higher yield than the tillered variety Clipper. It is suggested that the uniculm habit per se was not the cause of this higher yield, but its higher HI resulted in it outyielding Clipper. Current varieties, however, have HIs similar to the uniculm lines and yield equally to or more than the uniculm barleys examined. To further improve the grain yield of uniculm barley, greater dry matter production is necessary as the HIs of these lines are already high.



1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD FitzGerald ◽  
ML Curll ◽  
EW Heap

Thirty varieties of wheat originating from Australia, UK, USA, Ukraine, and France were evaluated over 3 years as dual-purpose wheats for the high rainfall environment of the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales (mean annual rainfall 851 mm). Mean grain yields (1.9-4.3 t/ha) compared favourably with record yields in the traditional Australian wheatbelt, but were much poorer than average yields of 6.5 t/ha reported for UK crops. A 6-week delay in sowing time halved grain yield in 1983; cutting in spring reduced yield by 40% in 1986. Grazing during winter did not significantly reduce yields. Results indicate that the development of wheat varieties adapted to the higher rainfall tablelands and suited to Australian marketing requirements might help to provide a useful alternative enterprise for tableland livestock producers.



1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 357 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Jarvis ◽  
MDA Bolland

Five field experiments with lupins (Lupinus angustifolius) measured the effectiveness, for production, of 4 superphosphate placements either: (i) drilled with the seed to a depth of 4 or 5 cm; (ii) applied to the soil surface (topdressed) before sowing; or (iii) banded 2.5-5 cm and 7.5-8 cm below the seed while sowing. Levels of applied phosphate (P) from 0 to 36 kg P/ha were tested. In all experiments lupin grain yield responded to the highest level of superphosphate applied. At this P level, the average grain yield from all trials was 1.16 t/ha for the deepest banded treatment. This was 0.38 t/ha (49%) better than P drilled with the seed, and 0.62 t/ha (115%) better than P topdressed. Relative to superphosphate drilled with the seed and regardless of the lupin cultivar or the phosphate status of the soil, the effectiveness of superphosphate was increased by 10-90% by banding below the seed, and decreased by 30-60% by topdressing. Increasing the levels of superphosphate drilled with the seed generally reduced the density of seedlings and reduced early vegetative growth, probably due to salt or P toxicity. However, during the growing season, the plants treated with high levels of superphosphate recovered, so that eventually yields of dried tops and grain responded to increasing superphosphate drilled with the seed. In each experiment there was a common relationship between yield and P content in lupin tissue, regardless of how the superphosphate was applied, suggesting that lupins responded solely to P, and other factors did not alter yield. We recommend that farmers band superphosphate 5-8 cm below the seed while sowing, rather than continue the present practices of either drilling the fertiliser with the seed, or topdressing it before sowing.



1984 ◽  
Vol 24 (125) ◽  
pp. 236
Author(s):  
GK McDonald ◽  
BG Sutton ◽  
FW Ellison

Three winter cereals (wheat varieties Songlen and WW 15, triticale variety Satu) were grown after cotton or summer fallow under three levels of applied nitrogen (0, 100 and 200 kg N/ha) at Narrabri, New South Wales. The cereals were sown on August 7, 1980 and growing season rainfall was supplemented by a single irrigation. Leaf area, total shoot dry matter production and ears per square metre were lower after cotton than after summer fallow, while grain yields of cereals sown immediately after cotton were 33% lower than those sown after fallow. Adding nitrogen increased leaf area, dry matter and grain yields of crops grown after cotton and fallow, but significant increases were not obtained with more than 100 kg/ha of applied nitrogen. Crops grown after cotton required an application of 100 kg N/ha for leaf and dry matter production at anthesis to equal that of crops grown after fallow with no additional nitrogen. The corresponding cost to grain yield of growing cotton was equivalent to 200 kg N/ha. The low grain yield responses measured in this experiment (1 8 and 10% increase to 100 kg N/ha after cotton and fallow, respectively) were attributed to the combined effects of late sowing, low levels of soil moisture and loss, by denitrification, of some of the applied nitrogen. The triticale, Satu, yielded significantly less than the two wheats (1 99 g/m2 for Satu c.f. 255 and 286 g/m2 for Songlen and WW 15, respectively), and did not appear to be a viable alternative to wheat in a cotton rotation.



1983 ◽  
Vol 23 (121) ◽  
pp. 162 ◽  
Author(s):  
IM Wood

Grain and forage production of six accessions (Rongai, Highworth, T58/ 13, CPI 3 1 1 13, CPI 41 222 and CPI 60 216) of lablab bean (Lablab purpureus) were measured over two seasons in the Ord Irrigation Area. All accessions were quantitative short day plants, flowering during the early dry season (May-July). Forage yields at flowering were generally unaffected by sowing date for sowings made between December and February, but declined with later sowings. There were marked differences between accessions in the forage yield at flowering, and the peak yield of 8.6 t/ha was obtained with a December sowing of accessions T58/ 13; this comprised 3.6 t/ha of leaf containing 3.7% nitrogen and 5.0 t/ha of stem containing 1.1 % nitrogen. The uptake of nitrogen by the tops between sowing and flowering ranged up to 1.8 kg/ha.d (1 94 kg N in 108 days) indicating the potential value of lablab as a green manure crop. Grain yields ranged from 0.27 to 3.05 t/ha over all sowing dates and accessions with the peak yield being obtained in a February sowing of cv. Highworth. All accessions became smaller and bushier as sowing was delayed. This facilitated harvesting for grain. Cutting and removal of foliage at the onset of flowering led to rapid regrowth and renewed flowering, and gave grain yields up to 90% of those obtained from undefoliated treatments. The cultivar Highworth was best for grain production and for dual purpose forage and grain production.



1971 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
KS Fischer ◽  
GL Wilson

The relative contributions of different photosynthetic sites to the filling of the grain in grain sorghum (Sorghum vulgare cv. Brolga) were estimated by measuring the 14C in the grain after exposing various leaves and the head to radioactive carbon dioxide. Methods for preventing photosynthesis were also used. Of the grain yield, 93% was due to assimilation by the head and upper four leaves. The head contribution of 18 % was due equally to direct assimilation of atmospheric carbon dioxide and to reassimilation of carbon dioxide released within the grain by respiration of material translocated from the leaves. The remaining 75 % was equally assimilated by the upper four leaves, the flag leaf being the most efficient contributor per unit area and the third uppermost leaf the least efficient. The percentage contributions to the grain by the flag leaf and fourth leaf, estimated from the decrease in grain yield when they were shaded, agreed closely with the estimates obtained by using 14CO2.



Author(s):  
Yashvir S. Chauhan ◽  
Rex Williams

Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] in Australia has been transformed from a niche opportunistic crop into a major summer cropping option for dryland growers in the summer-dominant rainfall regions of Queensland and New South Wales. This transformation followed stepwise genetic improvements in both grain yields and disease resistance. For example, more recent cultivars such as ‘Crystal’, ‘Satin II’ and ‘Jade-AU‘  have provided up to a 20% yield advantage over initial introductions. Improved agronomic management to enable mechanised management and cultivation in narrow (<50 cm) rows has further promised to increase yields. Nevertheless, average yields achieved by growers for their mungbean crops remain less than 1 t/ha, and are much more variable than other broad acre crops.  Further increases in yield and crop resilience in mungbean are vital. In this review, opportunities to improve mungbean have been analysed at four key levels including phenology, leaf area development, dry matter accumulation and its partitioning into grain yield. Improving the prediction of phenology in mungbean may provide further scope for genetic improvements that better match crop duration to the characteristics of target environments. There is also scope to improve grain yields by increasing dry matter production through the development of more efficient leaf canopies. This may introduce additional production risks as dry matter production depends on the amount of available water, which varies considerably within and across growing regions in Australia. Improving crop yields by exploiting photo-thermal sensitivities to increase dry matter is likely a less risky strategy for these variable environments. Improved characterisation of growing environments using modelling approaches could also better define and identify the risks of major abiotic constraints. This would assist in optimising breeding and management strategies to increase grain yield and crop resilience in mungbean for the benefit of growers and industry.



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