
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Fischer, RA 
A1  - Kono, Y 
A1  - Howe, GN 
T1  - Direct drilling effects on early growth of wheat: studies in intact soil cores
JF  - Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
JO  - Aust. J. Exp. Agric.
Y1  - 1994
VL  - 34
IS  - 2
SP  - 223
EP  - 227
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9940223 
N2  - Tillage experiments with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were conducted at 2 sites in south-eastern Australia: one cool and wet (Murrumbateman), the other warmer and drier (Yanco). Following crop residue removal, direct drilling treatments with complete surface disturbance to 3 cm depth of the medium-textured topsoils (D), or with disturbance only in the narrow seeding slots (DN), were compared with drilling into a surface prepared by cultivating to about 7 cm depth (control). At the 4.5 leaf stage, seedlings from D and DN treatments had less shoot dry weight than the control except at Murrumbateman under very wet post-seeding conditions. Simulation of the above tillage treatments in intact soil Cores from both sites kept under controlled temperature and moisture conditions confirmed that DN treatment, with only 11% of the volume of soil disturbance of the control, reduced early growth, especially at Yanco and if post-sowing conditions were drier. Reduced shoot growth was associated with relatively larger effects on the extent of root exploration. Treatment D, with 43% of the volume of disturbed soil, did not reduce shoot growth relative to the control under any circumstances. Although results suggest a minimum volume of disturbed soil for maximum growth, interactions with biotic stresses as reported recently cannot be ruled out. 
ER  -

