Consequences of changing spatial configuration at sowing in the transitions between crop and pasture phases
Article
Article Title | Consequences of changing spatial configuration at sowing in the transitions between crop and pasture phases |
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ERA Journal ID | 5314 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Hayes, Richard C. (Author), Newell, Matthew T. (Author), Swan, Anthony D. (Author), Peoples, Mark B. (Author), Pembleton, Keith G. (Author) and Li, Guangdi D. (Author) |
Journal Title | Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science |
Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science | |
Journal Citation | 208 (3), pp. 394-412 |
Number of Pages | 19 |
Year | 2022 |
Publisher | John Wiley & Sons |
Place of Publication | Germany |
ISSN | 0931-2250 |
1439-037X | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/jac.12588 |
Web Address (URL) | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jac.12588 |
Abstract | Prospects for improving the productivity of species mixtures in transitions between phases by changing row configuration at sowing were examined in two series of field experiments in rain-fed, semi-arid environments in south-eastern Australia. The first series explored how the choice of cover crop and use of alternate drill row configurations affected establishment and yields of sward components in the transition from a cropping into a pasture phase. Cover-crop species included wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), canola (Brassica napus L.) and lupins (Lupinus augustifolius L.), each sown in mixed or alternate drill rows with lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). The second series of experiments examined the productivity implications when returning from the pasture phase back into cropping following 10 contrasting pastures sown to various combinations of lucerne, subterranean clover or phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) sown in mixed, alternate (1:1) or double skip (1:2) row configurations in the absence of cover crops. All experiments were sown on a 0.25-m row spacing. In the transition into the pasture phase, grain yields of cover crops in the mixed drill row treatment were similar to those achieved by crops grown in the absence of pasture species but were reduced by an average of 24% in the alternate drill row configuration. Canola and lupin crop biomass were lower, compared with wheat and barley, leading to increased pasture yields in year 1, highlighting an opportunity for increased use of these species as cover/companion crops in semi-arid environments. Pasture yields beyond year 1 were reduced by ~20% in the alternate drill row treatments compared with where species were sown in mixed drill rows, with greater yield differences under more favourable growing conditions. This response largely reflected yield reductions in lucerne where it was concentrated in fewer drill rows. The alternate drill row configuration increased the abundance of subterranean clover in year 1, but this species remained a minor component of all swards beyond the establishment year. In the transition into the cropping phase, effects on grain quality could only be attributed to row configuration of the previous pasture to the extent that row configuration changed pasture composition. Grain size was smallest and protein concentration highest where previous pastures contained both lucerne and subterranean clover without phalaris. Taken together, there was little advantage in total productivity attributable to spatially separating species in drill rows at sowing. |
Keywords | alfalfa; companion crop; establishment; lucerne; phalaris; subterranean clover |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 300403. Agronomy |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | Charles Sturt University |
Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station, Australia | |
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia | |
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia | |
School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q77zx/consequences-of-changing-spatial-configuration-at-sowing-in-the-transitions-between-crop-and-pasture-phases
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