

Crop yield is determined long before crop maturity. It is the culmination of how the crop performed during each stage of growth – these being establishment, seedling growth, tillering or branching, flowering and grain fill. Good decisions are made from having good information. There are key checks that can be done during these times that provide the information required. These are listed below, click on the links for more information for each CropCheck.

Crop establishment: five weeks after sowing

The early stages of crop development can have a major influence over the final yield. Therefore, it is important to keep note of information relating to sowing practices. Assessments during this critical time include:

  1. Seedling number
  2. Sowing depth
  3. Weed type and cover
  4. Herbicide resistance/susceptibility testing
  5. Insect pests
  6. Leaf disease

Crop nutrition and vigour: 6-11 weeks after sowing

A nutrition assessment should be carried out during the crop's early growth phase to aid in better fertiliser decisions. Assessments during this critical time include:

  1. Crop nutrition
  2. Pulse nodulation
  3. Cereal tiller counts
  4. Root disease assessment
  5. Herbicide resistance/susceptibility testing

Flowering and grainfill: 12-22 weeks after sowing

A crop performance assessment at the flowering stage is critical for identifying factors limiting production and informing management issues for the following crop. Assessments include:

  1. Monitoring flowering
  2. Windrowing assessment for canola
  3. Leaf diseases
  4. Insect pests
  5. Head and pod density
  6. Crop yield estimate
  7. Herbicide resistance/susceptibility testing
Page last updated: Friday, 2 March 2018 - 8:12am