Variety trials on one’s own farm with on-farm research | 09.06.2010

The search for varieties, which are best suited to one’s own farm, often leads farmers to want to carry out their own variety trials. The implementation in small parcels is, however, very difficult to put into practice. This is different with on-farm research (OFR): exemplary long-term trials with semi-dwarf varieties of winter oilseed rape from Pioneer show how this trial method (established by Agri Con) works.

Semi-dwarf winter rape hybrids have been on the market since 2005 and were introduced by Pioneer Hi_bred under the collective name of Maximus. They are supposed to have better technological characteristics as well as a better adaptability to changing soil conditions. In order to verify these statements, two trial series were laid out in 2008/2009 with semi-dwarf hybrids and normal straw types.

Agri Con was able to find 28 arable farms, which were willing to test the profitability of a new short growth type under their farm conditions.

• Trial series 1: In 6 trials the Maximus semi-dwarf hybrids PR45D03 and PR44D06 were compared to the normal straw hybrids PR44W22 and PR46W31.
• Trial series 2: At 22 locations the semi-dwarf hybrid PR45D03 was compared to the normal straw variety.

The harvest of the trials took place over the whole area in the normal course of production, with combine harvesters equipped with yield mapping – without taking into consideration the trial areas. The driving speed of the machines was recorded automatically. Through the use of a GPS autopilot with RTK precision, it was ensured that the complete cutting width was used. The data were recorded and georeferenced. They are distinguished by their high complexity. This requires different methods of evaluation and portrayal from those usually used in precise trials.

Higher grain yield

18 of the original 22 trials laid out in the trial series 2 were able to be evaluated after being georeferenced. In 11 of the trials the semi-dwarf hybrid achieved higher yields; in 4 trials the farm variety was better. In three trials identical yields were obtained.

Faster threshing

The semi-dwarf hybrid achieved much higher harvesting speeds than the normal straw varieties. The difference amounted to up to 2.4 km/h. The total effect of 0.45 km/ha in favour of the semi-dwarf hybrid is equal to a performance advantage of 10 %.

The total yield advantage and higher threshing performance with the cultivation of hybrid varieties resulted in a financial advantage of 51.67 Euro/ha.

In the trial series 1 the superiority of the semi-dwarf hybrid PR45D03 was once again clear. Higher harvesting speeds could be achieved with the new semi-dwarf hybrid PR44D06, but the yields were somewhat lower. The same was true for the results for the early ripening normal straw hybrid PR44W22. Overall, the semi-dwarf hybrids were superior to the normal straw hybrids by 36 €/ha in performance, corrected for harvesting costs.

Conclusion

The advantages of winter oilseed rape semi-dwarf hybrids compared to normal straw varieties could be clearly determined in farm production with OFR. This trial method shows that the trial can be carried out with low outputs and the data recording takes place without subjective influences. A particular advantage is the large area covered and reported on through the trials compared to small-area trials. Thus the OFR is an efficient tool for implementing field trials under practice conditions.