Take Home Messages
- Tomahawk CL Plus was the highest yielding variety in the Mallee.
- In the North Central and Wimmera, LRPB Matador was the highest yielding variety.
- Long term data (2018–22) shows Calibre and Ballista are among the top three yielding varieties in all three regions.
Aim
To compare the performance of new and existing wheat varieties in the Mallee, North Central and Wimmera National Variety Trials (NVT).
Background
The 2023 season had a desirable start due to ample subsoil moisture before sowing, a result of significant flooding across many areas of Victoria betwen October 2022 and January 2023. Record-breaking rainfall in October 2023 proved advantageous for those Victorian growers who received it, with some growers reporting their highest yields on record. Despite this, seasonal conditions were highly variable across the Mallee, Wimmera and North Central, and yields varied significantly from region to region.
Variety choice continues to be a popular topic amongst growers as it is potentially one of the most cost-effective changes that can be implemented in a farming system. Selecting the right variety for individual needs is important for managing risk factors such as weed and disease pressure, challenging soil conditions, varying rainfall and moisture levels, and early sowing considerations.
The combination of National Variety Trial (NVT) data, individual site reports and multi-environmental trial analysis (MET) long-term summaries provides a useful tool for growers to determine which varieties are performing well and might be suitable for their farming system.
Trial Details
Crop type: Wheat, refer to Figures 1–3 for varieties
Target plant density: 130 plants/m2 (Mallee), 160 plants/m2 (North Central)
Seeding equipment: Knife points, press wheels, 30cm row spacing
Replicates: Three
Nutrition, weeds, insects and disease were managed as per best practice.
Method
This research was conducted through the NVT program delivered by the GRDC. The program involves a series of replicated field trials that test varieties across different crop types. These trials aim to maximise genetic potential yields, rather than profitability. The sites receive multiple fungicide applications and are managed to ensure they are not nitrogen limited to avoid confounding factors when assessing the genetic potential of varieties. The data displayed in this article is a combination of NVT results, individual site reports and multi-environmental trial analysis (MET) long term summaries. Variety performance is presented as the grain yield percentage of the site average, with MET data indicating performance in 2023, relative to the previous five years (2018–22).
Results & Interpretation
New varieties released in 2022
Tomahawk CL Plus is a quick to mid-maturing variety of APW classification, bred by Australian Grain Technologies (AGT). It has been included in the NVT since 2022, and is agronomically similar to Scepter, with the addition of Clearfield tolerance. Genie is a mid-maturing variety of AH quality that is best suited to late-April sowing in medium to high rainfall zones. It is bred by InterGrain, and 2023 was the first year it was included in the NVT. LRPB Matador is a variety of AH classification. Similar to Scepter, it is mid-maturing, however, it exhibits a shorter canopy. Released by LongReach Plant Breeders, with seed available from Pacific Seeds, it entered the NVT for the first time in 2023. LRPB Major is a variety of AH classifcation. It is best suited to the medium to high rainfall zones. It has mid to slow maturity and is suited to an Anzac Day sowing window and longer season growing environments. Released by LongReach Plant Breeders, with seed available from Pacific Seeds, it entered the NVT for the first time in 2023.
Yield results
Yield results in the Mallee ranged from 5.6t/ha at Quambatook to 2.6t/ha at Manangatang, averaging 4.4t/ha overall for the region. The two North Central sites yielded 7.2t/ha at Charlton, and 6.3t/ha at Diggora. The Wimmera averaged 4.7t/ha, with Kaniva yielding 5.5t/ha and Horsham 3.4t/ha.
Tomahawk CL Plus was the top yielding variety in the Mallee, yielding above the site average across all trial sites. This Clearfield variety was newly released in 2023 and, although high yielding, it is of APW quality which should be factored into the decision-making process.
LRPB Matador was another new variety that yielded well across all three regions. When compared to the region mean, it was the top performing variety in the North Central and Wimmera regions, and fifth in the Mallee.
Commonly grown variety, Scepter, yielded above the site mean at all sites except Diggora.
In the Mallee, long-term yield data shows Calibre, Ballista, Vixen, Rockstar and Tomahawk CL Plus as the top five varieties during the past five years (Figure 1). These varieties yielded higher than the region average for the Mallee in 2023. The top performing variety in 2023 was Tomahawk CL Plus, which yielded 109 per cent of the region mean, followed by Calibre (107 per cent), Brumby and Kingston (106 per cent) and LRPB Matador (105 per cent). In the Mallee, only two varieties that exceeded the region mean in 2023 also yielded higher than the previous five year average: Kingston (106 per cent) and LRPB Matador (105 per cent).
The highest long-term yielding varieties in the North Central have been Ballista, RockStar, Calibre, Brumby and Scepter (Figure 2). Each again yielded higher than the region mean in 2023. The top variety was LRPB Matador, which yielded 112 per cent of the region mean in 2023, followed by Brumby, Tomahawk CL Plus and Sunblade CL Plus at 106 per cent, and Sunmaster and Calibre at 105 per cent.
During the past five years, Calibre, Ballista, Rockstar, Brumby and Sunblade CL Plus have been the highest yielding in the Wimmera. The top variety in 2023 was LRPB Matador which yielded 115 per cent of the region mean. Also yielding well in 2023 were Kingston at 114 per cent, Ballista at 111 per cent, Tomahawk CL Plus at 110 per cent, and Calibre and RockStar both at 109 per cent of the region mean. Kingston yielded 98 per cent in the long-term data but in 2023 was second highest in the Wimmera (114 per cent) and was the top yielding variety at Kaniva. LRPB Matador, the top variety in 2023 when it yielded 115 per cent of the region mean, was also the highest yielding in Horsham at 121 per cent. This is only its second year in the NVT.
Commercial Practice and On Farm Profitability
Yield data from 2023 suggests it is worth looking into what the new varieties have to offer. New varieties, such as Tomahawk CL Plus and LRPB Matador, were high yielding across all regions. Both varieties are considered agronomically similar to the popular Scepter. However, data should be considered carefully before adding varieties into the rotation, as Tomahawk CL Plus has been in the NVT for two years, while LRPB Matador was only included in 2023.
Disease pressure was high in 2023, as expected due to carryover from 2022 on volunteer cereals and stubble. In a year such as this, it is important to consider disease resistance ratings. Scepter, which is rated Moderately Susceptible to Susceptible for stripe rust, should be monitored and managed carefully throughout the year. Varieties such as Sunmaster, with its Moderately Resistant to Moderately Susceptible stripe rust rating, might be a viable option for easing disease pressure while retaining high yields.
Grain quality data from NVT was not available at the time of compiling this report.
References
GRDC, 2023, 2024 Victorian and Tasmanian Crop Sowing Data Summary, https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/nvt-crop-sowing-guides/vic-tas-crop-sowing-guide
GRDC, 2023, National Variety Trials yield data, https://nvt.grdc.com.au/
Acknowledgements
This research was conducted through the National Variety Trial (NVT) program delivered by the GRDC.
