Subsoil moisture key to sowing decision

摘要

After a string of drought years many farmers have been understandably reluctant to sow canola because of the high risk of yield losses. In this article, CSIRO scientists John Kirkegaard and Michael Robertson and consultant Greg Condon outline how growers can more reliably predict the risks involved with growing canola during dry seasons. Farmers can use known variables such as sowing date, subsoil moisture and the southern oscillation index (SOI) to make more informed decisions about whether to sow canola in any given season.