BCG sows winter on summer rain

摘要

The potential of early-sown winter wheats was certainly proven in the low rainfall zone through a BCG trial north of Birchip, Victoria, lastyear.As part of a Grain and Graze 2 project, BCG trialled winter wheat varieties sown into chickpea stubble on February 26 after a summer storm of 54 millimetres.The crops emerged and established well on a starting nitrogen status of 83kg/ha and plant available water at 75mm. At sowing, 30kg/ha MAP was applied. However, the actual break to the season did not arrive until late May.BCG livestock coordinator Dannielle McMillan said by the start of May, plants were browning, turning purple and twisting."It came back even after it rained. We didn't lose any plants because of the dry weather," she said. "Winter wheats are not common in the area so growers were asking why the trial crops looked so different."