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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 59(10)

Quantifying the response of crops to shelter in the agricultural regions of South Australia

M. R. Bennell A B E and A. P. Verbyla C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, GPO Box 2834, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.

B CRC for Future Farming Industries, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

C School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.

D Statistical Bioinformatics–Agribusiness, Mathematical and Information Sciences, CSIRO, Private Mail Bag 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: bennell.mike@saugov.sa.gov.au

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59(10) 950-957 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR08188
Submitted: 5 October 2007  Accepted: 25 June 2008   Published: 18 September 2008

Abstract

Integrating belts of woody perennials into Australian farms is proposed as a method of enhancing crop productivity through shelter benefits while addressing natural resource management issues including groundwater recharge. This paper presents yield data from cereal and pulse crops collected from windbreak sites through the eastern agricultural districts of South Australia, using a harvester equipped with a yield monitor. The crop response followed the expected pattern of a competition zone of reduced yield of 1–4 tree heights (H) adjacent to the windbreak followed by a shelter benefit zone of unchanged or improved yield extending out to a maximum of 20H. The yield response in the sheltered benefit zone is +3.7% for all cereals (2.2H–9.7H) and is +14.0% for all pulse crops (1.7H–10.4H). Wheat and barley have similar results, with gains in the shelter benefit zones of 4.1% and 2.1%, respectively, with windbreak competition effects resulting in net yields of 3.0% for wheat and –1.1% for barley in the sheltered zones. Faba bean (Vicia faba) shows a strong consistent response to wind shelter, with a yield increase of 19.6% in the shelter benefit zone (1.5H–19.6H) and net gain of 19.1% in the sheltered zone (crop edge at 1.0H and extending to 19.6H). The response of cereals to sheltered effects varied across the years of the survey, with net positive results in 1997 (7.4%) and 1999 (7.5%) and close to zero in 1998 and 2000. A theoretical prediction of potential crop yield based on climate for the years of the survey showed that 1997 and 1999 had lower yield potential than 2000 and 1998. This suggests that the climatic conditions occurring during the growing season also influence crop shelter responses. Where cereals are the predominant crop the net yield returns from windbreaks would be small, even if root pruning could be successfully undertaken.

Additional keywords: windbreaks, barley, wheat, faba bean.


Acknowledgments

The authors thank the many farmers who assisted with this work, and technical officers Rob Murphy, David Hein, and Kym Tomkinson who assisted with the harvest measurements. Particular thanks go to colleagues Helen Cleugh and John Leys for their support and helpful advice throughout this project. The SA Department of Primary Industries and Resources and the Joint Venture Agroforestry Program of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation funded the research.


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