ob Atkinson with the team from the NSW DPI at the Field Day event held in Canowindra at “The Pines” in 2017.
Canowindra will play host to the NSW DPI Spring Field Day this Friday, 18th October, which will cover topics on effective nodulation on pulse crops, and the pro’s and con’s of growing summer cover crops. The event will run across two different locations, being “The Pines” on Traves Lane, and “Belmont” on Lockwood Road.
Event organiser Col McMaster said the trial aims to inform growers on the pro’s and con’s of growing summer cover crops, and compares single and multi-species at several spray-out timings as part of a GRDC funded project.
“There are plenty of paddocks with low ground cover, and these local results will help inform growers regarding the risk/rewards from growing a cover crop and how it could impact the farming system,” he said.
“Pulse crops provide valuable nitrogen input’s into the farming system, as long as effective nodulation has occurred. These trials are evaluating a range of new bacteria species and delivery systems to ensure effective nodulation.”
Site 1: Pulse agronomy and pH stratification: 9am, “The Pines”, Traves Lane (Viridis Ag)
• Compost fertiliser trials
• Looking at new elite bacteria species to improve nodulation
• Inoculant delivery systems comparing liquid, peat and granular
• Nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser rate trials
• Rectifying acid throttles with deep ripping
Site 2: Cover cropping in central NSW:
“Belmont”, Lockwood Road (Stuart & Ellen McDonald).
• Evaluating the risks and rewards from growing cover crops
• Potential benefits to soil water infiltration and accumulation
• Is there a net water gain by growing a cover crop
• What’s the grazing value produced from cover crops
• What are the other farming systems
• Do we grow ground cover
BBQ lunch will be provided, and there will also be an option to visit the wheat variety by sowing time trials at Rob Bowmans at 2pm with Peter Matthews.