Water-use efficiency of dryland canola in an equi-seasonal rainfall environment
Michael J. Robertson A C and John A. Kirkegaard BA CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Private Bag 5, PO Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.
B CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: michael.robertson@csiro.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56(12) 1373-1386 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR05030
Submitted: 28 January 2005 Accepted: 18 July 2005 Published: 15 December 2005
Abstract
The French and Shultz approach that relates seasonal rainfall to potential yield in wheat has yet to be applied to dryland canola. Relationships were derived between grain yield of 42 experimental crops (yield range 0.5–5.4 t/ha) free of weeds, pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies in southern New South Wales, and various measures of observed (rainfall, available soil water) and simulated (evapotranspiration) seasonal water supply. April to October rainfall and in-crop rainfall were the poorest predictors of yield (R2 < 0.5). By adjusting in-crop rainfall to account for stored soil water at sowing and that remaining at harvest (termed ‘seasonal water supply’), 68% of the variance in yield could be explained. Estimates derived using the APSIM-Canola simulation model or simulated totals of evapotranspiration or transpiration explained 73–82% of the variance. The slope of the regression line between yield of the 42 crops, which simulation indicated had all yielded to their water-limited potential, and seasonal water supply (termed here the water-use efficiency for grain production, WUE) was 11 kg/ha.mm above an intercept of 120 mm. WUE varied from 4 to 18 kg/ha.mm and the upper boundary for WUE in those seasons where rainfall distribution facilitated maximum efficiency was 15 kg/ha.mm. Long-term simulations, conducted at locations with mean annual rainfall of 430–660 mm, confirmed the variability of WUE due to rainfall distribution and also that WUE would be expected to decline, on average, by one-third between sowings in early April and early July. This necessitates caution in accepting a single WUE value as an indicator of agronomic constraints to yield. For the purposes of practical application by farmers and advisors, water-limited potential yield can be calculated in the region as a function of seasonal water supply minus 120 mm up to a limit of 450 mm, beyond which potential yield is not limited by water. Available soil water at sowing can be estimated from summer fallow rainfall above a threshold of 80 mm, and water remaining at harvest can be estimated from post-anthesis rainfall above a threshold of 50 mm. This improved method for estimating water-limited potential yield in canola retains the ease of use of the French and Shultz approach, so that other constraints to yield can be more accurately diagnosed in dryland environments by farmers and advisors.
Additional keywords: rainfall, evapotranspiration, soil evaporation, simulation models, APSIM, available soil water, yield, sowing date.
Acknowledgments
The experimental data reported in this paper were funded by CSIRO, GRDC (CSP130, CSP174, CSP274), Graingrowers Australia and supported by the Best Bet Canola and FarmLink (Canola-Plus) grower group committees. Expert field assistance was provided by Mr Geoff Howe and staff at Ginninderra Experiment Station (CSIRO) and by Mr Peter Hamblin (AgriTech Crop Research). We thank Mr Ray Norman (Bethungra), Mr Derek Ingold (Dirnaseer), Mr Charlie Baldry (Wallendbeen), Mr Pat O’Connor (Harden), Mr Steve Woodhead (Galong), Mr Geoff Lane (Lockhart), Mr Paul Tognetti (Grenfell), and Mr Peter Eisenhauer (Ardlethan) for hosting experiments at their properties. Drs John Passioura and Tony Condon provided valuable comments on an early draft of the manuscript.
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