An Economic Model Evaluating Competitive Wheat Genotypes for Weed Suppression and Yield in a Wheat and Canola Rotation
Recurrent selection for early vigour traits in wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) has provided an opportunity to generate competitive biotypes to suppress agronomically important weeds. Quantifying the potential benefits of competitive genotypes, including yield improvement and reduced...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Thomas L. Nordblom Saliya Gurusinghe Pieter-Willem Hendriks Greg J. Rebetzke Leslie A. Weston |
| author_facet | Thomas L. Nordblom Saliya Gurusinghe Pieter-Willem Hendriks Greg J. Rebetzke Leslie A. Weston |
| author_sort | Thomas L. Nordblom |
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| description | Recurrent selection for early vigour traits in wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) has provided an opportunity to generate competitive biotypes to suppress agronomically important weeds. Quantifying the potential benefits of competitive genotypes, including yield improvement and reduced frequency of herbicide application when incorporated into a long-term rotation, is vital to increase grower adoption. In this simple economic model, we evaluated a weed-suppressive early vigour genotype utilising on-farm experimental results and simulation analysis to predict gross margins for a seven-year wheat-canola rotation in southeastern Australia. The model applied a local weather sequence and predicted wheat production potential, costs and benefits over time. An early vigour wheat genotype was compared to commercial wheat cultivars for weed control, yield and actual production cost. With respect to weed control, three scenarios were evaluated in the model: standard herbicide use with a commercial cultivar (A), herbicide use reduced moderately by inclusion of an early vigour wheat genotype and elimination of the postharvest grass herbicide (B) or inclusion of an early vigour wheat genotype and withdrawal of both postharvest grass and broadleaf herbicides (C). Cost savings for the use of a competitive wheat genotype ranged from 12 AUD/ha in scenario B to 40 AUD/ha in scenario C, for a total saving of 52 AUD/ha. The model generated annual background gross margins, which varied from 300 AUD/ha to 1400 AUD/ha based on historical weather conditions, production costs and crop prices over the 30-year period from 1992 to 2021. The benefits of lower costs for each of the three scenarios are presented with rolling seven-year average wheat–canola rotation gross margins over the 30-year period. The limitations of this model for evaluation of weed suppression and cost benefits are discussed, as well as relative opportunities for adoption of early vigour traits in wheat. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-eac6dd62440642ac91043088afeb13b62025-01-24T13:16:44ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-01-0115110310.3390/agronomy15010103An Economic Model Evaluating Competitive Wheat Genotypes for Weed Suppression and Yield in a Wheat and Canola RotationThomas L. Nordblom0Saliya Gurusinghe1Pieter-Willem Hendriks2Greg J. Rebetzke3Leslie A. Weston4Gulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, AustraliaGulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, AustraliaAgriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, Canterbury, New ZealandCSIRO Agriculture and Food, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, AustraliaGulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, AustraliaRecurrent selection for early vigour traits in wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) has provided an opportunity to generate competitive biotypes to suppress agronomically important weeds. Quantifying the potential benefits of competitive genotypes, including yield improvement and reduced frequency of herbicide application when incorporated into a long-term rotation, is vital to increase grower adoption. In this simple economic model, we evaluated a weed-suppressive early vigour genotype utilising on-farm experimental results and simulation analysis to predict gross margins for a seven-year wheat-canola rotation in southeastern Australia. The model applied a local weather sequence and predicted wheat production potential, costs and benefits over time. An early vigour wheat genotype was compared to commercial wheat cultivars for weed control, yield and actual production cost. With respect to weed control, three scenarios were evaluated in the model: standard herbicide use with a commercial cultivar (A), herbicide use reduced moderately by inclusion of an early vigour wheat genotype and elimination of the postharvest grass herbicide (B) or inclusion of an early vigour wheat genotype and withdrawal of both postharvest grass and broadleaf herbicides (C). Cost savings for the use of a competitive wheat genotype ranged from 12 AUD/ha in scenario B to 40 AUD/ha in scenario C, for a total saving of 52 AUD/ha. The model generated annual background gross margins, which varied from 300 AUD/ha to 1400 AUD/ha based on historical weather conditions, production costs and crop prices over the 30-year period from 1992 to 2021. The benefits of lower costs for each of the three scenarios are presented with rolling seven-year average wheat–canola rotation gross margins over the 30-year period. The limitations of this model for evaluation of weed suppression and cost benefits are discussed, as well as relative opportunities for adoption of early vigour traits in wheat.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/103early vigour wheatweed suppressionreduced chemical costssavings for improved gross marginsbioeconomic simulation model |
| spellingShingle | Thomas L. Nordblom Saliya Gurusinghe Pieter-Willem Hendriks Greg J. Rebetzke Leslie A. Weston An Economic Model Evaluating Competitive Wheat Genotypes for Weed Suppression and Yield in a Wheat and Canola Rotation Agronomy early vigour wheat weed suppression reduced chemical costs savings for improved gross margins bioeconomic simulation model |
| title | An Economic Model Evaluating Competitive Wheat Genotypes for Weed Suppression and Yield in a Wheat and Canola Rotation |
| title_full | An Economic Model Evaluating Competitive Wheat Genotypes for Weed Suppression and Yield in a Wheat and Canola Rotation |
| title_fullStr | An Economic Model Evaluating Competitive Wheat Genotypes for Weed Suppression and Yield in a Wheat and Canola Rotation |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Economic Model Evaluating Competitive Wheat Genotypes for Weed Suppression and Yield in a Wheat and Canola Rotation |
| title_short | An Economic Model Evaluating Competitive Wheat Genotypes for Weed Suppression and Yield in a Wheat and Canola Rotation |
| title_sort | economic model evaluating competitive wheat genotypes for weed suppression and yield in a wheat and canola rotation |
| topic | early vigour wheat weed suppression reduced chemical costs savings for improved gross margins bioeconomic simulation model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/103 |
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