Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 766 IREC Farmers' Newsletter No. 195 ­ – Rice R&D 2016 WATER USE EFFICIENCY THROUGH HIGH YIELDS Leah Garnett, Gae Plunkett and Troy Mauger Rice Extension Project I N the 2015–16 rice growing season a number of growers achieved a rice yield of 15 t/ha or higher. One grower averaged 15.1 t/ha on 36 ha and 14.3 t/ha over the whole 100 ha crop. Over the last three years the same grower has averaged 13.5 t/ha for his rice. So, what are the important management steps for a 15 t/ha crop? l  Do not be afraid to move dirt to achieve a good layout with high inflows, fast drainage and a re-use system. When landforming, topsoiling is important. The 15.1 t/ha grower owns a laser bucket so that he can polish some paddocks each summer to maintain a zero grade. l  Do not hold back on chemical and fertiliser inputs where required. l  Understand the rice crop’s nitrogen requirement: •  do NDVI and NIR tests, even over Christmas, for the ability to ground truth and to make informed topdressing decisions •  know the paddock history and the effect of different enterprises on nitrogen reserves, for example grazing compared with continuous cropping. l  Ensure high water levels at microspore and maintain the banks to allow for this; keep water levels low prior to panicle initiation (PI) to ensure a short plant. When pioneers of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area started growing rice in 1924, they would never have dreamt that rice could yield 15 t/ha. QUICK TAKE l  A number of rice growers achieved yields of 15 t/ha or more in the 2015–16 rice season. l Water use efficiency of 1.2 t/ML was achieved in a top-yielding crop grown on a well-designed and well- maintained irrigation layout. l Understanding crop nitrogen requirements before and during the growing season is a critical component of a high- yielding rice program. l Rice yields have increased over time due to improved varieties, better irrigation layouts and new chemical and fertiliser inputs. l A terraced bankless layout with 120–150 mm step between flat bays enables precise water management for rice crops. Photo MARK GROAT