Mj. Robertson et al., Evaluation of a new cropping option using a participatory approach with on-farm monitoring and simulation: a case study of spring-sown mungbeans, AUST J AGR, 51(1), 1999, pp. 1-12
In the northern Australian cropping region, mungbean is commonly sown as an
opportunity crop, usually on low soil water after a winter cereal, and con
sequently has a reputation for being a low yielding, high risk crop. Yield
prospects could be improved and risks reduced if it was sown on soils with
a higher soil water content, for instance in spring after a winter fallow.
However, there is a lack of experience and confidence in alternative roles
for mungbean in the farming system. This paper describes a research approac
h involving researchers, farmers, advisers, and grain traders in which on-f
arm monitoring of spring-sown commercial crops and cropping systems simulat
ion with APSIM were used to explore yield prospects for a spring-sown crop
after a winter fallow. The key elements of the approach are: (1) identifica
tion of possible options through simulation of scenarios, (2) testing the n
ew practice with innovative farmers, and (3) monitoring of the management a
nd performance of commercial crops and comparing yields with benchmarks est
imated with a model. In this case, after 2 years of on-farm testing, spring
-sown mungbean has been shown to have a potential for high returns in the n
orthern cropping systems.