Sorghum Liverpool Plains 19th January 2006
Sorghum condition on the Liverpool Plains has deteriorated further between the 1st and 19th of January, high temperatures and minimal storm rainfall has resulted in poor establishment in the late crops and less than average head size in the crops pushing heads out, flowering or attempting to fill grain now.
The Pine Ridge / Willow Tree area is often an area that has produced very good yields in the past. This year there is the occasional crop that may produce in excess of 2t/ac but area averages will be much below this.
Even early crop that are turning now lacked the in crop rain to fill efficientaly, roughly three weeks with 40 degree days has limited the potential of the early plant.
The Premer area in the far SW corner of the LPP has crops in all three stages of growth. As you can see the crop is stressed and yield potential is again capped due to the extreme dry hot conditions.
Heavy rainfall in October and November topped up subsoil moisture in many of the longer fallow paddocks, this had enable many to hang on much better than expected but walking through the crop the establishment is poor in many fields that look good from the road
These picture were taken after two days of cooler weather with temperatures around 28 degrees and after approximately 10 to 15mm of rain. You can still see that the flag leaf if stressed but the colour is no longer as blue as it was last week prior to the cooler weather.
Around 65% of the crop is around this growth stage.
Cooler conditions have improved the appearance of the crop but many crops in the Willow Tree area are still showing signs of stress even with some releiving rainfall and a cooler couple of days.
A closer look at the head shows the average grain size and count per head much lower than that of recent years. This may well be indicating that screenings could be a problem for the early plant in places.
Around 10% of the crop is late plant. It is too early to determine what this crop will turn out like but the weather has certainly effected the establishment with large holes appearing across the fields.
The Blackville area often produces some of the best sorghum crops on the Liverpool Plains but once again a crop of 2t/ac will be considered lucky this year.
A closer look at the soil shows deep cracking, this is after up to 30mm over the last week.
The Pine Ridge / Willow Tree area is often an area that has produced very good yields in the past. This year there is the occasional crop that may produce in excess of 2t/ac but area averages will be much below this.
Even early crop that are turning now lacked the in crop rain to fill efficientaly, roughly three weeks with 40 degree days has limited the potential of the early plant.
The Premer area in the far SW corner of the LPP has crops in all three stages of growth. As you can see the crop is stressed and yield potential is again capped due to the extreme dry hot conditions.
Heavy rainfall in October and November topped up subsoil moisture in many of the longer fallow paddocks, this had enable many to hang on much better than expected but walking through the crop the establishment is poor in many fields that look good from the road
These picture were taken after two days of cooler weather with temperatures around 28 degrees and after approximately 10 to 15mm of rain. You can still see that the flag leaf if stressed but the colour is no longer as blue as it was last week prior to the cooler weather.
Around 65% of the crop is around this growth stage.
Cooler conditions have improved the appearance of the crop but many crops in the Willow Tree area are still showing signs of stress even with some releiving rainfall and a cooler couple of days.
A closer look at the head shows the average grain size and count per head much lower than that of recent years. This may well be indicating that screenings could be a problem for the early plant in places.
Around 10% of the crop is late plant. It is too early to determine what this crop will turn out like but the weather has certainly effected the establishment with large holes appearing across the fields.
The Blackville area often produces some of the best sorghum crops on the Liverpool Plains but once again a crop of 2t/ac will be considered lucky this year.
A closer look at the soil shows deep cracking, this is after up to 30mm over the last week.
posted by Stuart Dolbel at
7:21 PM
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