Crop growth, yield and water use in long fallow and continuous cropping sequences in the Victorian mallee

Abstract

The agronomic implications of substituting mustard (Brassica juncea) for long (winter) fallows were investigated in a 6-year field experiment by comparing 2 cropping sequences (fallow-wheat-pea v. mustard-wheat-pea) in the semi-arid Victorian mallee. Production and water use of wheat, pea and mustard were measured. Grain yields ranged from 0.1 to 2.4 t/ha for wheat (mean 1.72 t/ha after fallow and 1.22 t/ha after mustard); from 0 to 0.6 t/ha (mean 0.22 t/ha) for mustard and from 0 to 1.4 t/ha (mean 0.8 t/ha) for field pea, strongly reflecting variable seasonal conditions (in-crop rainfall range from 84 to 231 mm). Mustard was shown to be a potential replacement for long fallow producing addi..