Bourke
Grower: John Ellis
| Variety | Yield (bales/ha) |
Yield (bales/ac) |
% of Sicot 754B3F | Staple (decimal) |
Staple (imperial) |
Manual Class | Micronaire | Strength (gms/tex) |
Turnout (%) |
Uniformity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sicot 714B3F | 7.20 | 2.91 | 104.1 | 1.2 | 38 | 12-2 | 3.9 | 32.0 | 37.2 | 83.0 |
| Sicot 754B3F | 6.91 | 2.80 | 100.0 | 1.25 | 40 | 12-2 | 3.8 | 33.6 | 38.6 | 83.7 |
| Sicot 746B3F | 6.67 | 2.70 | 96.5 | 1.2 | 38 | 12-2 | 3.9 | 31.9 | 39.8 | 82.8 |
| Sicot 748B3F | 6.59 | 2.67 | 95.4 | 1.21 | 39 | 12-2 | 3.9 | 32.6 | 37.6 | 81.8 |
| Year | 2018 | Trial Type | N/A | Trial Design | RCBx4 | Balance of Field | 754B3F |
| Planted | 05/10/17 | Picked | 17/03/18 | Previous Crop | Long Fallow | Established Method | N/A |
| Plant Stand/m | 9.7 | Rainfall (defoliation mm) | 50 | Incrop irrigations | 4 | Soil applied insecticide | No |
| Nitrogen (kg/ha N) | 200 | Phosphorus (kg/ha P) | 80 | Potassium (kg/ha K) | N/A | Zinc (kg/ha Z) | N/A |
| Heliothis sprays | N/A | Insect sprays | N/A | Pix applied (L/ha) | 2.0 | Days to defoliation | 145 |
Considering the lack of water the yields were respectable with a top of 7.20 b/h in the variety Sicot 714B3F. It was able to finish earlier and set and keep fruit as the heat continued. Fibre quality and grades were good considering the season. Sicot 754 B3F finished with a 40 length at this site.
Defoliation was done on the 26th February and picking was bought forward due to a storm that went over the trial field and caused regrowth to start. Picking was on the 17th March 2018.
Bourke recorded 3,103 Day degrees for the season compared to an average of 2,642. This is 117% of the average. There were 25 days over 40 C compared to an average of 14. Last season, 2016-17, saw 34 days over 40 C.
Night temperatures above 25 C were down compared to last year which helped the crops recover a little from the high day temperatures.
The trial was planted on 6th October 2017 and it got off to a good start. The hot and dry conditions took its toll on the trial field and due to limited water the crop finished with only four irrigations. Picking was brought forward due to excessive regrowth caused by a storm soon after defoliation.
It was a disappointing end to a season that had a lot of promise.
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