Effect of timing and height of defoliation on the grain yield of barley, wheat, oats and canola in Western Australia
Mark Seymour A F , Jonathan H. England B , Raj Malik C , David Rogers D , Andrew Sutherland E and Allen Randell EA Department of Agriculture and Food, PMB 50, Melijinup Road, Esperance, WA 6450, Australia.
B Department of Agriculture and Food, 10 Doney Street, Narrogin, WA 6312, Australia.
C Department of Agriculture and Food, 10 Dore Street, Katanning, WA 6317, Australia.
D Department of Agriculture and Food, 444 Albany Highway, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.
E Department of Agriculture and Food, Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: mark.seymour@agric.wa.gov.au
Crop and Pasture Science 66(4) 287-300 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP13411
Submitted: 29 November 2013 Accepted: 21 November 2014 Published: 31 March 2015
Abstract
Winter cropping in Western Australia (WA) is dominated by spring-type cereals and canola (Brassica napus L.) with no vernalisation requirement that are sown in late autumn (late April and May). With limited earlier sowing opportunities for later maturing winter-type crops in early autumn, farmers aiming to obtain some benefit from the grazing of crops (i.e. dual-purpose) must consider the grazing potential of spring types sown in late autumn. The aim of this study was to develop grazing guidelines for spring-type crops in WA that will limit the potential for grain yield losses. In order to determine the recovery response of spring-type crops to grazing intensity and timing, 59 time-of-cutting × height-of-cutting experiments were conducted throughout the south-western region of WA in 2012. Experiments were conducted on spring types of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), canola and oats (Avena sativa L.). Multi-site analysis showed that treatments simulating high-intensity ‘crash’ grazing to ground level or to a height of 5 cm reduced grain yield unless conducted early in vegetative growth before reproductive stages. Treatments simulating ‘clip’ grazing by removing only the top 5–10 cm of crop foliage reduced grain yield to a lesser extent than crash grazing, and in several instances could extend the safe cutting period past hollow stem (Zadoks growth stage 30) and/or the end of July for cereals, or past mid-July for spring canola, provided the developing reproductive parts of all crops were not damaged. On average, the amounts of biomass removed by clip grazing without yield penalty were 0.4, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.3 t ha–1 for barley, wheat, oats and canola and were similar to those removed by earlier, safe crash grazing. These represent significant amounts of forage and suggest that clip grazing of spring-type crops may be an approach suited to WA cropping and grazing systems.
Additional keywords: cutting, grazing, recovery.
References
ABARES (2014) AGSURF database, updated August 2014 with 2013 data. Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics and Sciences. Available at: http://apps.daff.gov.au/AGSURF/ (accessed 5 June 2014).ABS (2013a) 71210DO002_201112 Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 2011–12. Released 31 May 2013 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, ACT.
ABS (2013b) 7111.0 Principal Agricultural Commodities, Australia, Preliminary, 2012–13. Released 15 November 2013. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Available at: www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/2F29CED25F293CADCA257669000FD727?OpenDocument
Bell LW, Hargreaves JNG, Lawes RA, Robertson MJ (2009) Sacrificial grazing of wheat crops: identifying tactics and opportunities in Western Australia’s grainbelt using simulation approaches. Animal Production Science 49, 797–806.
| Sacrificial grazing of wheat crops: identifying tactics and opportunities in Western Australia’s grainbelt using simulation approaches.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bell LW, Dove H, McDonald SE, Kirkegaard JA (2015) Integrating dual-purpose wheat and canola into high-rainfall livestock systems in south-eastern Australia. 3. An extrapolation to whole-farm grazing potential, productivity and profitability. Crop & Pasture Science 66, 390–398.
CBH (2013) Co-operative Bulk Handling Grower Estimates 2013. Co-operative Bulk Handling Group, West Perth, W. Aust.
Cherney JH, Marten GC (1982) Small grain forage potential: II. Interrelationships among biological, chemical, morphological and anatomical determinants of quality. Crop Science 22, 240–245.
| Small grain forage potential: II. Interrelationships among biological, chemical, morphological and anatomical determinants of quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dann PR (1968) Effect of clipping on yield of wheat. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 8, 731–735.
| Effect of clipping on yield of wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dann PR, Axelsen A, Edwards CBH (1977) The grain yield of winter-grazed crops. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 17, 452–461.
| The grain yield of winter-grazed crops.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Donald GE, Edirisinghe A, Henry DA, Smith RCG, Gherardi SG, Oldham CM, Gittins SP, Mata G (2004) Pastures from space-validation of predictions of pasture growth rates. Science Access 1, 232
Dove H, Kirkegaard JA (2014) Using dual-purpose crops in sheep-grazing systems. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 94, 1276–1283.
| Using dual-purpose crops in sheep-grazing systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXht1ygsLs%3D&md5=e5396dcaf916cf7ee15915a02e4f4f50CAS | 24323974PubMed |
Dove H, Milne JA (2006) Intake and productivity of lambs grazing leafy or stemmy forage rape and the effect of energy or protein supplements. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 763–769.
| Intake and productivity of lambs grazing leafy or stemmy forage rape and the effect of energy or protein supplements.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Genstat (2013) ‘Genstat for Windows 16.’ (VSN International: Hemel Hempstead, UK)
Harrison MT, Evans JR, Dove H, Moore AD (2011) Dual-purpose cereals: can the relative influences of management and environment on crop recovery and grain yield be dissected? Crop & Pasture Science 62, 930–946.
| Dual-purpose cereals: can the relative influences of management and environment on crop recovery and grain yield be dissected?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hills A (2011) Crop grazing shows promise as disease tool. GRDC media release 1/8/11 from DAFWA GRDC project DAW00190. GRDC. Available at: www.grdc.com.au/Media-Centre/Media-News/West/2011/08/Crop-grazing-shows-promise-as-disease-tool
Kirkegaard JA, Sprague SJ, Dove H, Kelman WM, Marcroft SJ, Lieschke A, Howe GN, Graham JM (2008) Dual-purpose canola – a new opportunity in mixed farming systems. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, 291–302.
| Dual-purpose canola – a new opportunity in mixed farming systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kirkegaard JA, Sprague SJ, Hamblin PJ, Graham JM, Lilley JM (2012) Refining crop and livestock management for dual-purpose spring canola (Brassica napus). Crop & Pasture Science 63, 429–443.
| Refining crop and livestock management for dual-purpose spring canola (Brassica napus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Land and Water Australia (2008) Grain & Graze—Grazing winter cereals in high rainfall regions. GRDC. Available at: www.grainandgraze2.com.au/display.php?f=130.
Lee N, Curtin S (2013) Crop grazing can reduce early sowing frost risk. GRDC media release 17/4/13 from GRDC project Alb11/122of4. GRDC. Available at: www.grdc.com.au/Media-Centre/Media-News/West/2013/04/Crop-grazing-can-reduce-early-sowing-frost-risk
Lilley JM, Bell LW, Kirkegaard JA (2015) Optimising grain yield and grazing potential of crops across Australia’s high-rainfall zone: a simulation analysis. 2. Canola. Crop & Pasture Science 67, 349–364.
Murphy PM (1999) Maternal behaviour and rearing ability of Merino ewes can be improved by strategic feed supplementation during late pregnancy and selection for calm temperament. PhD Thesis, The University of Western Australia, Perth, W. Aust.
Radcliffe JC, Dove H, McGrath J, Martin P, Wolfe EC (2011) ‘Review of the use and potential for dual purpose crops.’ (GRDC: Canberra, ACT)
Redmon LA, Kreazer EG, Bernardo DJ, Horn GW (1996) Effect of wheat morphological stage at grazing termination on economic return. Agronomy Journal 88, 94–97.
| Effect of wheat morphological stage at grazing termination on economic return.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ryan M, Seymour M (2012) ‘Cattle performance grazing canola and cereals crops.’ (Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia: Esperance, W. Aust.)
Shackley B, Ellis S, Zaicou-Kunesh C, Dhammu H, Shankar M, Amjad M (2012) Wheat variety guide for WA 2012. Western Australian Agriculture Authority, South Perth, W. Aust.
Stace HCT, Hubble GD, Brewer R, Northcote KH, Sleeman JR, Mulcahy MJ, Hallsworth EG (1968) ‘A handbook of Australian soils.’ (Rellim Technical Publications: Glenside, S. Aust.)
Virgona JM, Gummer FAJ, Angus JF (2006) Effects of grazing on wheat growth, yield, development, water use, and nitrogen use. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, 1307–1319.
| Effects of grazing on wheat growth, yield, development, water use, and nitrogen use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zadoks JC, Chang TT, Konzak CF (1974) A decimal code for the growth stages of cereals. Weed Research 14, 415–421.
| A decimal code for the growth stages of cereals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
