Quantifying and maximising the benefits of crops after rice (2005)

Humphreys, E Smith, DJ Fattore, A Bhuiyan, AM Fawcett, BJ

2005

This CRC project had 5 key objectives these included determining the knowledge of farmers perception of three key factors; constraints to growing crops/pastures following rice, factors leading to successful production of crop after rice and impacts of sustainability. Objective two  was to determine and undertake demonstrations of  the impact of growing wheat after rice and the water use efficiency of this system and net recharge.  Objective three was to compile existing data from rice-wheat cropping in southern Australia, and use these data to do. Objective 4 was to calibrate and validate the CERES wheat and Swagman destiny models in southern NSW wheat growing areas. Objective five aimed use the calibrated models to predict impacts of wheat after rice on watertables and rootzone salinity for a range of seasonal conditions, watertable depths, soil types, sowing dates and irrigation management, and tradeoffs between yield and net recharge management. The methodology used for the project were the use of mail survey, field experiments and demonstrations, review and compilation of water and soil  data and the use of data to validate and calibrate CERES and SWAGMAN. The results of the project suggest that establishment of wheat shortly after rice harvest is beneficial in terms of net recharge management, capture and use of winter rainfall and financially.