Extension for improving rice yields and water use efficiently 2004-2007 - Link (January 2008)

Lacy, J Bechaz, K

2008

This RIRDC report is presenting the results of the project Extension for improving rice yields and water use efficiently 2004-2007. The report is targeted at farmers, retail agronomists and ancillary extension providers who have contact or supply information to rice farmers. The project aimed to increase yields and water use efficiency by 5% by improving adoption of better farm practices for each of the four irrigation valleys: Eastern Murray Valley (EMV), Western Murray Valley (WMV), Coleambally Irrigation Area (CIA) and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA). The method undertaken was a baseline data compiled from the average of three to five years prior to the commencement of the project. This was then compared to the harvest season average of SunRice yields and yields selected varitites, WUE and check adoption in each year from 2005-2007. The key findings were  
Average rice yield for the five years (2000-2004) preceding the project was 8.94t/ha. The average yield for the three years of this project was 8.9t/ha, hence yield remained the same. 2004/05 saw severe cold damage and the affected the average as a result of reduced yields in to 6.8t/ha. The 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons yielded well at 10.0 t/ha and 9.9t/ha respectively. The poor 2004/05 season affected the water use efficiency for the project dropped slightly because of the very low yielding 2004/05 season and drought affected high water use 2006/07 season. WUE was 0.61, 0.8 and 0.7 t/ML respectively for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 harvest seasons. The average WUE of 0.7t/ML was 8% lower than the average for the previous five years.