This dataset originates from a 2024 field experiment conducted at Waikerie, South Australia, designed to investigate the interaction between wheat genotype, sowing depth, and presswheel pressure on crop establishment and performance. The trial included six wheat genotypes (e.g., Mace18, Scepter, Calibre, Magenta, Magenta13, Mace) sown at two depths (shallow: 30–40 mm and deep: 80–100 mm) under three presswheel pressure treatments (light, standard, heavy). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with four replicates, using 12 m × 2.2 m plots and 28 cm row spacing. Fertiliser treatments varied by placement (above, with, or below seed) and rate (standard, high), and seed size (standard or small) was recorded for each plot.
The Excel file (.xlsx) contains seven sheets. The “Trial details” sheet outlines the experimental design, site conditions, soil test results, and assessment schedule. The “Trial plan” sheet maps plot layout and treatment combinations. The “Metafile” provides metadata including sowing date, genotype list, and measured variables. The “Exp_data” sheet is the core dataset, containing 56 plots with variables such as plant density at three time points, sowing depth, coleoptile length, root and shoot biomass, NDVI at two dates, dry biomass at GS31 and GS65, grain yield, protein content, 1000-grain weight, and harvest index. The “Exp_soildata” sheet includes gravimetric soil water content at three depths (0–5, 5–10, 10–15 cm) for selected plots. The “predicta B” sheet reports soil-borne pathogen DNA levels and nematode counts across depths and blocks. The “soil fertility” sheet provides detailed chemical and physical soil properties (e.g., pH, organic carbon, macro- and micronutrients, salinity, texture) across five depth intervals (0–100 cm).
The dataset includes over 40 variables. Codes such as “deep_Small_fert with_High rate” describe treatment combinations. Depths are in mm, biomass in t/ha, and nutrient concentrations in standard agronomic units. The dataset supports analysis of genotype performance under varying mechanical and environmental constraints, with implications for optimizing deep sowing strategies in low rainfall environments.
