THE possible benefits of using silicon to improve plant resilience during stresses such as drought, heat and frost will be discussed at Birchip Cropping Group’s main field day on September 14 at Nullawil.
While many glasshouse studies have proven how silicon can aid plant resilience, it has previously not been tested on a broadacre scale.
BCG research agronomist Tariq Gerardi will explain how BCG is investigating this idea and the possible benefits of silicon in our cropping system.
“The trial is designed to investigate if commercially available silicon products can be used to increase yields in standard Mallee crops during dry times,” Mr Gerardi says.
“We are also using this trial to see if silicon could be used as a tool to employ farming rotations which are more marginal (such as winter wheats, graze and grain systems and some pulses such a chickpeas and faba beans) in the Mallee due to variable rainfall,” he says.
“I’m certainly looking forward to seeing and discussing the trial with farmers from across the region at BCG’s main field day.
“Research such as this is just another way BCG helps growers be more resilient in times of drought and that has a flow on effect into communities.”
This project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
Pulse agronomy, septoria management in the low rainfall zone, barley agronomy, varieties, soil carbon, herbicide technology and fodder trials are also on the program and will provide an opportunity for farmers to connect with researchers and their work occurring in the region, for the region.
BCG research manager James Murray said the two sites, just north of Nullawil, have been chosen to enhance the research undertaken by the organisation.
“One is a lentil stubble, also on the corner of the Calder Highway and Burgins Road and is hosted by David and De-Anne and John and Robyn Ferrier,” Mr Murray said.
“The other will be a barley stubble at Warne and is hosted by Cameron Warne.
“Having two sites with different paddock histories allows us to ensure we are maximising our research and therefore the learnings for our members and the broader farming community.
“We are always looking at ways to improve and we found the diversity of the two sites in 2021 provided key benefits.
“Visual results for those who attended our field day last year was one of these benefits.”
Trials to be sown at the sites this year include long coleoptile wheat agronomy, variety trials of all crops, septoria tritici blotch management, safflower agronomy, silicon supplemented crops, pulse agronomy and more to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
The 2022 BCG research program extends across the Mallee, Wimmera and North Central region and consists of about 130 research trials.
For more information, call BCG on 5492 2787.
Field day gates open at 8am, with onsite catering available from breakfast through to refreshments at the conclusion of the day.
The event is free for BCG members and $50 for non-members.
For more information on becoming a member or regarding the field day, call 5492 2787 or go to bcg.org.au.
