View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA): Research Library Research Library Resource management technical reports Natural resources research 1-10-1987 Direct seeding trees on farmland in the Western Australian wheatbelt J P. Piggott Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth P H. Brown Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management M M. Williams Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/rmtr Part of the Agriculture Commons, and the Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Piggott, J P, Brown, P H, and Williams, M M. (1987), Direct seeding trees on farmland in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Perth. Report 146. This report is brought to you for free and open access by the Natural resources research at Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Resource management technical reports by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. ISSN 1039-7205 October 1987 Direct Seeding Trees on Farmland in The Western Australian Wheatbelt Compiled by: J.P. Piggott, P.H. Brown and M.R. Williams Resource Management Technical Report No. 146 Information for contributors Scientists who wish to publish the results of their investigations have access to a large number of journals. However, for a variety of reasons the editors of most of these journals are unwilling to accept articles that are lengthy or contain information that is preliminary in nature. Nevertheless, much material of this type is often of interest and value to other scientists and to administrators, and should be published. The RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL REPORT series provides an avenue for dissemination of such material. It is a series of occasional papers in the general subject area of resource management and is jointly published by the Resource Science and the Land Management Branches of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia. Intending contributors should contact the convenor of the RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL REPORT series Publication Committee. All papers will be considered by the Publications Committee and appropriate referees. About the compilers: J.P. Piggott (Science and Information Division Department of Conservation and Land Management Herbarium, South Perth , Western Australia , 6151) P.H. Brown (Department of Conservation and Land Management Swan Region, Kelmscott 6111, Western Australia) M.R. Williams (Science and Information Division Department of Conservation and Land Management Research Centre, Como 6152, Western Australia ) Oganises by: David Bicknell Revegetation Development Officer (NLP) Pasture and Revegetatin Branch Department of Agriculture Narrogin WA 6312 Addendum The Department of Agriculture would like to thank the Department of Conservation and Land Management for allowing this paper to be printed in this format. Collaboration between these agencies is vital to Continued development. Erratum Shading in figures 3-7, 9 and 10 on the bars and legends is poor in this copy. Please note that the order of treatments in the legend (from top to boftom) is the same as the bars in the graph (from left to right). Disclaimer The contents of this report were based on the best available information at the time of publication. It is based in part on various assumptions and predictions. Conditions may change over time and conclusions should be interpreted in the light of the latest information available. Chief Executive Officer, Department of Agriculture Western Australia 2002 Direct Seeding Trees on Farmland in the Western Australian Wheatbelt Contents Page Abstract ................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 2 Narrogin Direct Seeding Experiment ...................................................................... 5 Background .................................................................................................... 5 Methods ......................................................................................................... 5 Pre-Sowing Weed Control ............................................................................. 5 Tree Species .................................................................................................. 6 Experimental Design And Analysis ................................................................ 6 Results ........................................................................................................... 7 Discussion ..................................................................................................... 8 Broadscale Direct Seeding Techniques Experiment ............................................ 15 Background .................................................................................................. 15 Methods ....................................................................................................... 15 Weed Control ............................................................................................... 15 Sowing Times .............................................................................................. 16 Compaction .................................................................................................. 16 Tree Species ................................................................................................ 16 Results ......................................................................................................... 16 Discussion ................................................................................................... 19 Optimum Sowing Techniques Experiment ........................................................... 23 Background .................................................................................................. 23 Methods ....................................................................................................... 23 Results ......................................................................................................... 24 Discussion ................................................................................................... 25 Effects Of Soil Depth On Seed Germination Experiment ..................................... 27 Background .................................................................................................. 27 Methods ....................................................................................................... 29 Results And Discussion ............................................................................... 30 Effects Of Pre-Emergent Herbicide On Seed Germination Experiment ............... 31 Background .................................................................................................. 31 Methods ....................................................................................................... 31 Results And Discussion ............................................................................... 33 CATCHMENTS OF THE ESPERANCE REGION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Conclusions ................................................................................................. 34 The Experiments ................................................................................. 34 Weed Control ...................................................................................... 35 Sowing Methods .................................................................................. 35 Sowing Time ........................................................................................ 36 Species Suitability ............................................................................... 36 Further Research ................................................................................ 37 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................. 37 References ........................................................................................................... 38 Appendix 1: Direct Seeding Treatments For The Narrogin Agricultural College Direct Seeding Trial .......................................................................... 41 CATCHMENTS OF THE ESPERANCE REGION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Abstract Successful establishment of trees on farmland by direct seeding is dependent on a number of factors. To date, little research on direct seeding has been conducted in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Field and nursery experiments were conducted to determine suitable species, weed control methods, sowing times and seeding techniques. Analysis of these experiments was based on successful establishment of seedlings sown from seed and surviving the first summer. Sowing time was the most significant variable evident in the field experiments. Trees sown in the winter months of June and July out-performed later sowing times. Early sowing of trees in areas of low seasonal rainfall appears to offer considerable advantages for successful establishment over late sowing. Despite variable results, the testing of a number of chemical and mechanical weed control treatments failed to produce