• Phosphorus response trials were undertaken on barley, wheat, canola, lentils, faba beans and field peas at four sites across the Wimmera and Mallee over the past three seasons.
• There was no consistent response to the rate of phosphorus applied in wheat, barley, canola, lentils and field peas on sites that had a good fertiliser history (a positive P balance) and good P fertility (Colwell P of 15ppm or more). Faba beans were the exception responding to higher rates of phosphorus (up to 18 kg P/ha) – this was a consistent result over the 2000 and 2001 seasons.
• At the Donald sites, phosphorus rate significantly increased yield. This result was not unexpected as the trials were typically located on soils that were low in fertility (Colwell P <12ppm) and acidic (pH BBwaterB = 6.3).
• Reducing phosphorus inputs to between 6 and 12 kg P/ha will not compromise short-term soil fertility and crop production on sites with good fertiliser history and soil P fertility but further research needs to be conducted investigating the long-term implications of this strategy.

• Phosphorus response trials were undertaken on barley, wheat, canola, lentils, faba beans and field peas at four sites across the Wimmera and Mallee over the past three seasons.
• There was no consistent response to the rate of phosphorus applied in wheat, barley, canola, lentils and field peas on sites that had a good fertiliser history (a positive P balance) and good P fertility (Colwell P of 15ppm or more). Faba beans were the exception responding to higher rates of phosphorus (up to 18 kg P/ha) – this was a consistent result over the 2000 and 2001 seasons.
• At the Donald sites, phosphorus rate significantly increased yield. This result was not unexpected as the trials were typically located on soils that were low in fertility (Colwell P <12ppm) and acidic (pH BBwaterB = 6.3).
• Reducing phosphorus inputs to between 6 and 12 kg P/ha will not compromise short-term soil fertility and crop production on sites with good fertiliser history and soil P fertility but further research needs to be conducted investigating the long-term implications of this strategy.

• Lentils were better at establishing and reaching target plant densities than canola.
• Canola was considerably more responsive to converting increasing sowing densities into yield than lentils.
• Seeder type had no consistent effect on establishment and yield.
• The differences in yield response to plant numbers suggests that it is more critical to get it right in canola than lentils.

Matching a wheat variety maturity to growing season length was critical to maximising yields at Cranbrook and South Stirling’s.

Long Season winter wheats sown in mid-April resulted in equivalent yields to spring verities sown in mid-May.

Deep ripping sandy soils at South Stirlings increased yields by 370kg/ha, which closed the yield gap between harvest yields and the water-limited yield potential by 8%.

Barley both out-yielded and achieved a greater percentage of water limited yield potential at both Cranbrook and South Stirlings. Whilst barley was more profitable at South Stirlings it was not at Cranbrook.  

• Once you have decided on how much crop to put in, the greatest impacts on your bottom line will come from how you managed the crop and what it cost you.
• Making in-crop decisions on inputs has to be done in context of the likley yield.
• Yield Prophet will help you make better decisions.

• At the Howlong site, applied nitrogen gave a yield and dry matter (DM) response, however there was no sulphur response.
• The Yarrawonga site showed a clear response to applied sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N), despite high soil sulphur levels. This suggests canola roots may not be effectively exploring the soil profile to access soil sulphur.
• The Yarrawonga site had an optimum sulphur application rate of 20kg S/ha, with yield penalties measured with sulphur rates above and below this optimal rate.
• The dry finish to the season caused significant challenges during 2017. This trial will be repeated at two sites during 2018 to understand how variable the responses to sulphur are likely to be during different seasonal conditions.

• At the Howlong site, applied nitrogen gave a yield and dry matter (DM) response, however there was no sulphur response.
• The Yarrawonga site showed a clear response to applied sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N), despite high soil sulphur levels. This suggests canola roots may not be effectively exploring the soil profile to access soil sulphur.
• The Yarrawonga site had an optimum sulphur application rate of 20kg S/ha, with yield penalties measured with sulphur rates above and below this optimal rate.
• The dry finish to the season caused significant challenges during 2017. This trial will be repeated at two sites during 2018 to understand how variable the responses to sulphur are likely to be during different seasonal conditions.

1. Heat and drought significantly influenced phenology and grain yield responses in 2018.
2. Higher grain yields were achieved by faster developing genotypes, with significant reductions in grain yield with delayed sowing (associated with later flowering dates).
3. Whilst 2018 conditions favoured faster-developing genotypes, some newer genotypes such as LongReach MustangP and SunprimeP showed flexibility with stable grain yields across a wide range of sowing dates.
4. It is important to consider long-term data to determine suitability of varieties based on matching phenology and sowing time for your growing environment.

• Significatn variation was observed with tiller counts from one time of sowing to another.
• Early sowing provided a clear yield advantage over the later sowing dates.
• Revenue wheat was the highest yielding variety in the trial and adaptable to sowing time variation.

2018 Season

• At Speddingup, yield of late sown Scepter wheat was highest (3.6 tonnes/ha) in treatment strips that received a 100L top-up of Flexi-N at early stem elongation in early September following a period of waterlogging in August. Yield was lowest (3.4 tonnes/ha) in the treatment to which all nitrogen was applied up front at seeding.
• At Condingup, mid-May sown Scepter wheat yield and grain protein increased as nitrogen application increased, with the Playing the Season treatment seeing the highest (8.4 tonnes/ha) and the Farmer Practice treatment seeing the lowest (6.9 tonnes/ha).
• Moderation of nitrogen applied up front provided the host grower at the Speddingup demonstration site with an opportunity to tailor nitrogen applications to the potential of the season and to address waterlogging issues faced during the season.
• The addition of extra nitrogen following waterlogging at the Condingup demonstration site resulted in improved yield and financial return (after nitrogen input costs had been deducted).
• Applications at stem elongation at Speddingup and as late as full flag leaf to head emergence at Condingup were able to provide yield with an associated positive effect on grain protein.

2019 Season

• There was no statistically significant difference in Scepter wheat grain yield or protein between the nitrogen application regimes applied at the Jerdacuttup, Speddingup and Condingup demonstration sites, despite there being a difference in the rate of nitrogen and timing of application. Each of these sites experienced below average rainfall in 2019 and no waterlogging occurred. Crops at Jerdacuttup and Speddingup were also affected by frost.
• Despite dry growing conditions and exposure to a significant frost in September, Scepter wheat replicates that received the highest rate of nitrogen were the most profitable at the Jerdacuttup demonstration site. The margin between the most profitable and the least profitable treatment was $79/ha while the difference in nitrogen rate applied between these was 54.9kg/ha.
• The difference between gross income achieved from each of the 4 treatments applied at the Speddingup demonstration site was very small but the variation in input costs did affect profitability. The most profitable treatment was the ‘Farmer Practice’ treatment as it had the lowest fertiliser input cost with little yield or grain quality penalty. The ‘Regular Intervals’ treatment was the least profitable of the nitrogen treatments as the input and application costs were highest. Conditions were too dry for the crop to utilize the additional applied nitrogen in this treatment. The difference between these 2 treatments was $72/ha.
• Grain price varied by only $0 to $10/t between nitrogen treatments at the Condingup demonstration site. The most profitable treatment was the ‘Playing the Season’ treatment, with the highest rate of nitrogen applied and the latest application date when the crop was at growth stage Z24/32-33; just prior to flag leaf emergence. The ‘Farmer Practice’ treatment was the next most profitable of those applied, the difference being $29/ha, followed by the ‘All Up Front’ treatment with a margin of $31/ha. The difference between the most profitable and least profitable treatment was $60/ha.

With the varying results from this project, it is evident that response to N is both site and situation dependant. Further work needs to be undertaken to be able to create a broad rule of thumb around the cost/benefit of feeding N to crops on waterlogging soils

• The ‘farmer practice’ strategy ultimately ended up being the best nitrogen strategy for the 2019 season. The crop responded to the applied n up front after good rainfall and resulted in a 5.43 tonne yield and achieved a good return on investment.
• It is likely the crops in 2019 achieved its water limiting yield potential due to the dry finish; therefore, more nitrogen did not improve yield.
• Despite the treatments that received additional N achieving a higher wheat grade, the cost of applying the N in a season with decile 8 pricing, actually reduced profits.
• Growers remain interested in this research and would like to see further results from tactical N applications, especially in wet years and more waterlogged conditions.

• Matching a wheat variety maturity to the growing season length was critical to maximising yields at West Cranbrook and South Stirlings

• Long-season wheats (winter-types) sown mid-April can yield equivalently to Scepter wheat sown in mid-May in the high rainfall zone of WA.

• Deep ripping on South Stirlings sand plain showed a yield increase of 370kg/ha which closed the gap between the harvested yield and the water-limited yield potential (WLYP) by 8%.

• Barley yielded more than wheat at both trial sites and was closer to the WLYP. Barley was more profitable at the South Stirlings trial but not the West Cranbrook site.

• Fertilising above the optimum plant nitrogen (N) demand level reduced N-use efficiency and increased environmental impact.
• Despite receiving 8–9 irrigations as well as several intense rainfall events in a season, there were typically only 3–4 significant nitrous oxide (N2O) flux periods during the season, with most occurring early in the season, i.e. irrigations 1 and 2.
• Other significant N2O emissions events occurred mostly in response to adding in-crop N fertiliser followed by irrigation and/or intense rainfall.
• Initially, higher N2O emissions came from the beds where N fertiliser had been applied pre-sowing. Later in the season, emissions often peaked in the non-irrigated furrows after rainfall and irrigation events, particularly after additional N was added in the irrigation water.
• Farmers’ N rates were at least 25% higher than necessary to achieve the same lint yield in 2014–15, i.e. 50–100 kg N/ha. Less N fertiliser could have produced the same amount of cotton.
• Increasing N rates increased total N2O emissions, especially in prolonged wet conditions.
   

• The highest yield of 5.20 t/ha under overhead irrigation was achieved when 45Y28 RR hybrid was sown at 80 seeds/m2 and established a plant population of 51 plants/m2.
• There was no interaction between variety and plant population with both varieties achieving increased yields as the plant population was increased.
• The oilseed yield of 45Y28 RR hybrid (4.77 t/ha) averaged across 4 plant populations, was significantly higher than HyTTec® Trophy (4.05 t/ha).
• Seed yield of HyTTec® Trophy showed little difference (0.21t/ha) when grown at populations between 37-58 plants/m2 with 0.7t/ha drop associated with populations of approximately 20 plants/m2.
• With 45Y28 RR hybrid the drop in seed yield associated with a population of 13 plant/m2 was relatively small but there was a trend for a seed yield increase up to 50 plants/m2.
• HyTTec® Trophy had a higher plant establishment (82%) than 45y28 RR hybrid (64%), averaged across 4 seed rates.
• There was no significant difference in seed oil content across plant population or variety and oil content ranged from 44.5% to 46.2% (data not shown).
• HyTTec® Trophy had a low seed test weight (60.3kg/hL) and was well below the minimum receival standard of 62kg/hL, 45Y28 RR hybrid achieved an average test weight of 63.3kg/hL.

• This trial was irrigated post-sowing with 80mm of surface irrigation due to the dry conditions in early April, however the excessive rain that followed sowing led to water logging and poor drainage in the trial area and the resultant poor establishment.
• The effect of lower plant population and water logging winter compounded and significantly reduced resultant yields in relation to those achieved under the overhead lateral.
• The highest yield of 2.67 t/ha was achieved when 45Y28 RR hybrid was sown at 80 seeds/m2 with an established population of 9 plants/m2.
• There was no interaction between variety and plant population with both varieties achieving increased yields as the plant population was increased.
• There was no significant difference in grain yield between 45Y28 RR hybrid (1.66 t/ha) averaged across 4 plant populations, and HyTTec® Trophy (1.49 t/ha).
• There was no significant difference in seed oil content across plant population and variety which was low and ranged from 41.2% to 43.2% (data not shown).
• HyTTec® Trophy had a low seed test weight (62.0 kg/hL) and all but the lowest population only just met the minimum receival standard of 62kg/hL, 45Y28 RR hybrid achieved an average test weight of 63.0 kg/hL.

• Seeding rate and resultant plant population had little influence on grain yield. A seeding rate of 100 seeds/m2 is the equivalent of approximately 60 kg/ha seeding rate established 70 plants/m2.
• Establishment rate for the trial averaged 75%, but was generally lower at higher seed rates.
• Biomass at GS30 showed a trend to higher biomass generated by higher shoot numbers as plant population increased.
• There was no difference in biomass at mid-flowering (GS65) in DBA Aurora due to plant population.
• Biomass at harvest was influenced by variety and plant population.
• Seeding rate had little influence on grain yield. A seeding rate of 100 seeds/m2 is the equivalent of approximately 60 kg/ha seeding rate or an establishment of 70 plants/m2.
• Protein content was influenced by variety more than seeding rate and resultant plant population with DBA Vittaroi producing 13.9% protein vs 12.7% protein with DBA Aurora
• Water use efficiency was 21.4 kg/mm.

• Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions respond to large rainfall events.
• Most N2O emissions were generated after the crop was harvested.
• Tillage did not increase N2O emissions significantly in the first two years under wheat and canola.
• Including perennial grass into legume-based pastures would reduce N2O emissions.

• Early observations during the 2011 growing indicated the plots treated with chicken manure were severely impacted (negatively) by the burning associated with the high ammonia content.
• There was some indication of a small increase in crop biomass on Picken  treated plots.
• The high volumes of product applied do not flow through the banding unit and further work would need to be undertaken with the engineering design.
• Visual observations on this demonstration are to continue in 2012.  At this stage pastures is likely to be established on the site in 2012
• We expect further breakdown of the banded products, especially the treatments using highly volatile chicken manure
• If there are visual indications of biomass differences appearing, appropriate measurements will be made during the 2012 growing season.

The INSPIRE Summit was an overwhelming success. Registrations quickly sold out and were then extended. The atmosphere at the 2-day event was inspiring in itself. Growers were enthusiastic, ready to learn and relished the opportunity to network with like-minded women and industry representatives. Feedback from participants, speakers and sponsors was all extremely positive. The event received good publicity locally, state-wide and nationally. Participants left the event feeling confident and ready to implement changes in their businesses.

• Crop productivity on infertile sandy soils can be greatly improved by incorporating organic matter deep into the soil (>30 cm).
• In some cases, crop yields are further boosted with the incorporation of clay and/or fertiliser to depth.
• Two years of recent research show that the best soil modification treatments can increase crop yields by 70 to 200 %, even in challenging seasons.
• Treatments that address multiple constraints in these soils provide greater benefit than those addressing individual issues.
• Crop yields are reduced when clay is poorly incorporated into the soil.

5 Experiments started in 1980's.

3 sources of Cu (sulfate (25%); oxychloride (52%)  & chelate (EDTA 15% Cu) at 7 levels of Cu

Applied at 2 growth stages of wheat grown at 5 sites

1 kg Cu/ha rsuilted in maximum yield of 2.5 t/ha (summarised over 5 experiemnts in each particular year.

1-2kg of Cu sulfate required for maximum yield on severely deficient soil (.5 tha nil Cu ; 2.5 t/ha adequate Cu)

Little foliage damage if sprayed under cool, cloudy conditions. Warm sunny conditions increased leaf damage and decreased response to foliar sprays.

Chelate Cu always resukted in the highest yield per quantity of Cu while oxychloride always rsulted in the lowest grain yield per quantity of Cu .For example 100 g Cu/ha of chelate , 200 g as sulfate and 4000g oxychloride Cu for maximumgrain yield.

Sprays at 6th leaf were higher than late boot.

Cool condition for leaf absorption.

Results replicated over several season and soil types.

The objective of this GRDC / SPAA funded project is to increase the level of adoption of PA 'beyond guidance' by broadacre farmers. The project specifically aims to increase the level of adoption of variable rate (VR) by growers in the project to 30% by 2013.This goal will be achieved by demonstrating how to use PA tools to growers at a regional level and by increasing the skills of growers and industry in PA to a level where they can then use PA tools in their farming systems to achieve economic, environmental and social benefits.

Nufarm are currently developing a new controlled release formulation of Triflualin.

5 Experiments started in 1980's reported in 1985-86.

Sources of Zn (sulfate (22%);  & chelate (EDTA 15% Zn) at 5-7 levels of Zn

Applied at 2 growth stages [4th leaf; mid-tillering] of wheat grown at 5 sites.

Wheat sprayed at 4th leaf yielded higher [ about 0.5 t/ha higher) than delaying until mid-tillering under severely Zn deficient plants.

0.45 kg Zn/ha for both times of spraying resuilted in maximum yield of 1.5 -2.5 t/ha (summarised over 5 experiemnts) in each particular year. About 50 -60% grain yield increases.

Zn chelate was more effective at the  4the leaf stage. About 200 g Zn/ha for maximum grain yield for chelate while 450 for the sulfate source.

At mid-tillering about 250-300 g Zn/ha required for maximum yield for both chelate and sulfate 

 Recommendation : 1 kg of Zn sulfate required for maximum yield on severely deficient soil; spray on onset of symptoms.

Little foliage damage if sprayed under cool, cloudy conditions. Warm sunny conditions increased leaf damage and decreased response to foliar sprays.

Sprays at 4th leaf were higher yielding than the mid-tillering stage.

Cool condition for leaf absorption.

Results replicated over several season and soil types.

• The 2016 trial results looking at cultural control techniques for barley grass largely confirmed the 2015 findings.
• Increasing barley seeding rate in the presence of barley grass can provide substantial benefits to both yield and reduced weed seed carry-over. This applies particularly to competitive varieties such as Fathom, but also to less competitive varieties such as Hindmarsh.
• In contrast, doubling the seeding rate of wheat had no beneficial effect on yield or weed carry-over.
• Doubling the district practice seeding rate in barley substantially reduced the competitive effect of barley grass to the stage where crop yields were similar to those plots where herbicide was applied.

• High soybean grain yields can be achieved on a flat layout under overhead irrigation.
• Djakal and N005A-80 varieties yielded the highest across all densities and row spacings.
• The 40 plants/m2 targeted plant density yielded the highest across all varieties and row spacings.
• At targeted plant densities of 40 plants/m2, the highest yields were achieved with 30 cm row spacing.

 

The objective of this GRDC / SPAA funded project is to increase the level of adoption of PA 'beyond guidance' by broadacre farmers. The project specifically aims to increase the level of adoption of variable rate (VR) by growers in the project to 30% by 2013.This goal will be achieved by demonstrating how to use PA tools to growers at a regional level and by increasing the skills of growers and industry in PA to a level where they can then use PA tools in their farming systems to achieve economic, environmental and social benefits.

The objective of this GRDC / SPAA funded project is to increase the level of adoption of PA 'beyond guidance' by broadacre farmers. The project specifically aims to increase the level of adoption of variable rate (VR) by growers in the project to 30% by 2013.This goal will be achieved by demonstrating how to use PA tools to growers at a regional level and by increasing the skills of growers and industry in PA to a level where they can then use PA tools in their farming systems to achieve economic, environmental and social benefits.

• Drying soil conditions at the time of sowing, caused a poor initial germination of seedlings.
• Grain yield tended to increase as the rate of phosphorus fertiliser applied increased.
• The liquid NP source performed no better or worse than the solid NP source.

• The early crop vigour results in this trial demonstrates the need to apply fresh phosphorus to crops at seeding to ensure good plant shoot and root growth during the early stages of crop growth.
• There was no difference observed between potassium drilled with the seed or topdressed immediately after sowing.  Good rainfall conditions early in the season may have rapidly moved the topdressed potassium into the root zone of the crop therefore overcoming any differences due to placement.  Subsoil testing for potassium may be important to determine the size of the soil potassium pool.

• Movement of water towards P fertiliser granules occurs and in calcareous soils this causes P to form a solid precipitate with calcium ions and prevents P moving away from where it is applied and reduces likely availability.
• Manganese from fluid fertilisers moves further away from point of application compared to a granular source of Mn and was potentially more available.
• Movement of zinc away from point of application was restricted regardless of the source and in both soils but fixation of zinc was less when the sources was fluid rather than granular.

There are two main forms of ‘precision agriculture’: guidance, to improve accuracy, decrease overlapping, improve efficiency etc (the benefits are well understood for guidance); and variable rate agriculture. Variable rate agriculture

The Victorian Mallee has experienced more than a decade of below average rainfall (including 3 droughts). This has placed an enormous amount of financial pressure on the farm businesses. By reducing up-front expenditure on inputs such as fertiliser, provided there is no yield penalty, delayed applications can significantly reduce risk. Delayed applications also allow for rates/inputs to be refined to suit the season.

• Seeding depth uniformity is influenced by both seed placement quality within the furrow and the consistency of added soil cover
• Many machinery design and operating parameters affect the uniformity of seeding depth across a paddock
• Deep sowing (eg. beyond 50-6omm) can significantly affect crop emergence and final grain yield
• Many paddock situations can soon suffer a 5-10% yield loss as a result of inadequate seeding depth, with more extreme situations suggesting possible yield penalties of 15-20% or more.

• Trace element investigations have revealed that pastures previously unresponsive to improvement can now be expected to respond after the application of molybdenum.
• Molybdenum should not be applied in excess.
• On coastal soils of southern Victoria and the far west copper is the most important trace element deficiency.
• In east Gippsland both copper and molybdenum deficiency occur together.
• In poorer dairying districts there is no response to molybdenum until potash is applied.

• Commercially acceptable grain yields can be achieved from pasture cropping systems in Southern Victoria.
• At this stage, traditional winter crops sown into a lucerne stand has the best fit for our environment..
• Lontrel can be successfully used to inhibit lucerne growth during the crop phase.
• Barley returned the best grain yield averaging 5.5 t/ha and topping at 6.3 t/ha.
• Wheat averaged 4.3 t/ha and canola averaged 1.7 t/ha.
• Lucerne on wide row spacings (30 cm) can help to improve yield and grain quality.
   

• Crop seeding rate and perennial row spacing both influence grain yield of pasture crops.
• Lifting seeding rate of pasture crops might compensate for poorer establishment and, in turn, help to reduce any grain yield penalty.  For this experiment and assuming lupin seed is $300/t, lifting seeding rate by 50 kg/ha ($15) helped to avert a 26% yield penalty and proved to be $165/ha more profitable overall.
• Where growers do not own a disc machine but have invested in precision guidance technology, with forward planning, it is feasible to use a tined machine to sow crops into perennial pastures without damaging the perennial base.

Pasture cropping is an option for KI producers wishing to maximise grazing/cropping options.
The key principles are:

• Graze the paddocks down to 75-100 mm with livestock, or apply herbicides. Aim to suppress (but not kill) the pastures either with the judicious use of herbicides to burn the perennials or through appropriate grazing to take out the annual weeds.
• Zero till with a tyne or disc. Minimise soil disturbance as it kills pastures and encourages weeds. The aim is to open a slot and loosen the soil to create sufficient tilth for germination of the seed crop.

• Pasture cropping is an option for KI producers wishing to maximise grazing/cropping options.
• If you want to remove kikuyu from a paddock use roundup – if you want to pasture crop use other herbicides.
• Excellent lamb growth recorded 250g/hd/day.
• Producers now have a range of herbicide options toast will enable them to establish a crop without killing the kikuyu.

The selection of a herbicide in newly sown pasture is a metter of required weed control, level of acceptable damage to the pasture and cost.

Lathyrus stood out as a good producer of dry matter when sown early. It also appears to be less affected by insects and more tolerant to post emergent herbicides compared to Morava vetch.

• Serradella, both French and yellow, produced large biomass and pod yields at Warradarge by taking advantage of late rains.
• There was greater budworm damage to seed in French serradella compared to yellow serradella.
• Early maturity serradella did not significantly decrease seed loss to budworm predation.

Livestock in farming systems provide a level of risk management compared to a solely cropping enterprise. Average stocking rates on pastures are substantially lower than could potentially be achieved through the adoption of more appropriate pastures. The lack of suitable pastures is due to perceptions of poor economic returns as a result of difficulties with the establishment and persistence of pastures, and problems with the seasonal nature of pasture production leading to excessive production in the spring and lack of production in the autumn.

• Charano had a significantly higher mean biomass than the other annual species tested.
• There was no significant difference between Cadiz and Serena/Santiago pastures.

At both sites wheat yields and protein following lucerne or a lucerne based mix were high. Yields and protein following lovegrass alone or lovegrass and medic mixtures were the lowest.

• Wet seasonal conditions hindered establishment of some crop species
• Seasonal conditions were ideal for pasture re-growth
• 3 cuts were taken at Conmurra throughout the season

• August pasture termination may produce water and nitrogen benefits for the following crop, compared to leaving the pasture to grow, but these may be neutralised by dry summers and other limitations in an average growing season.
• Termination timing is only as important as you abiliy to capitalise on the benefits with either livestock (extra pasture growth) or crop (extra water and nitrogen).

• Plant tests at the end of July showed that crop N and P uptake were significantly increased where 300 kg/ha Super Phos had been previously applied.
• Super Phos applied to pasture increased crop yield from 3.0 t/ha to 3.9 t/ha but responses to more than 100 kg/ha Super Phos were not significant. There were no significant responses to potash, lime, manipulation or to Intake in Furrow.
• Grain proteins were about 11 %, hectare litre weights 78 kg/hl and screenings 2 % (data not presented).
• 100 kg/ha Super Phos increased protein yield by 77 kg/ha (or grain N recovery by about 14 kg N/ha). 
• This is the equivalent to about 40kg fertiliser N/ha (assuming a nitrogen use efficiency of 35%).
• The value of the crop response to pasture topdressing alone was big enough to more than offset the cost of 100 kg/ha Super Phos applied over the previous three years.

• Describes research into the opening up of new land in east Gippsland Victoria and the need for fertiliser application .
• Superphosphate, lime, potash and copper sulphate are all required before pasture growth can be assured.

• The MLA trials demonstrated that early summer seeding (January) of Serradella pod was a viable option. The summer sowing of Serradella pod has outperformed the twin sowing methods in the two trials conducted by SCF growers
• The current district practice of dry seeding pasture seed in Autumn on sandplain soils has severe limitations compared to summer pod sowing or seeding when soil is moist after full seasonal break. This was confirmed in the 2014 season in the MLA trial where the second time of sowing (into moist soil) outperformed the first time of sowing in total legume biomass production and this advantage has carried right through to seed set in Year 3 (in M1 trial Santorini and Margurita plots).
• The performance of a precision seeder for sowing Serradella in a 2015 trial demonstrated that modifications of conventional seeding systems could improve plant establishment efficiency by more that 35%.
• The hard seeded Serradellas are performing well in specific treatments in the MLA trials even on the lower fertility, acidic and non-wetting sandplain soils. Mixed maturity Serradellas like cv Margurita lose significant pod set with spraytopping ryegrass compared to Cadiz or Santorini.

• Alkaline, calcareous, sandy soils in low rainfall (300-350mm annually) regions can support a wide range of pasture species.
• Cereals and grain legume varieties provided the highest volume of production in low rainfall years such as this year.

• Further examination is necessary to determine to what degree winter cleaning in the final pasture year will improve the nitrogen status of the soil.
• These conclusions will need to be verified over several more seasons before reliable relationships can be confirmed.

• The most important results from this work, being those obtained from the wheat stage of the system, will need to be collected for several more years in order to develop substantial findings.

• There was good correlation between the visual cuts and satellite data early in the season, but during the spring results diverged.
• Further work is required to fine-tune the satellite data for KI, including soil characteristics and more accurate rainfall data.
• Pastures from Space is a useful tool for landholders to further fine-tune their grazing operations.

The Drummer ryegrass is a valuable source of early feed and can greatly improve stocking rates if managed in a rotational grazing system.

• The faba beans produced lower yield in 2011 than in the previous two years, but the overall trial yielded almost 3 t/ha indiates their potential as a crop in the Western Districts.
• Please see attached trial report for further findings.

• At present, there is inconsistent evidence to suggest that seed size at sowing can affect grain yield in the faba bean cultivar PBA Nasma, with a positive yield benefit associated with sowing larger seed at Trangie, but no significant yield effect at Tamworth in 2015.
• Seed size at sowing appears to be positively related to seed size at harvest.
• Further experimentation is required.
   

• Benefits from inoculating peas far outweigh cost.
• Higher rates of inoculants may be worth considering.
• Granular inoculant yielded better than peat but not statistically significant.
• Lime pellets must use seed coat grade lime.

There were 2 varieties of peas that both yielded well and had good standability at harvest, namely Excell and Kaspa. If peas are to be grown on raised beds, then both these varieties could be considered because of their standability trait. It is important however to make sure that other agronomic issues such as disease resistance and grain quality are considered along with marketing options, before a final decision on varietal choice is made.

• A survey of the incidents of black spot and downey mildew on field pea was conducted in South Australia.
• Analysis of manganese and zinc implants was conducted, along with a field trial with manganese and zinc addition.
• Effect of micronutrients on the diseases was not clear but manganese concentrations in plants was negatively correlated with blackspot.
• Deficiencies in zinc were measured but these were not correlated with blackspot or downy mildew.

• Inter-cropped peas and canola return higher gross income than monoculture peas or canola.
• The addition of canola to field peas reduced post harvest wind erosion risk.

• The yield of the trial was not collected by the weigh trailer, but I felt the wheat on the fallow trial was at least 20-30% higher yielding than the wheat on wheat.
• The wheat on the fallow trial was higher in stature, looked a lot healthier and larger grain size.
• Looking overall at yield wheat on wheat would have been 0.9 to 1 t/ha and the fallow would have been approx. 1.2 to 1.3 t/ha.

• The highest yielding variety was GT Mustang. It is not a recommended variety for the area but due to the long growing season it produced the best yield and highest gross margin. The hybrid variety Eclipse yielded better than all open pollinated varieties except GT Mustang. It would be expected that with an average season length that GT Mustang would perform much worse than the other varieties.
• GT Mustang flowered approximately 3 weeks later than all the other varieties. Hybrid varieties are yet to prove that it is better than open pollinated varieties.

• All plants performed poorly on the shallow gravel with moisture stress becoming evident.
• Weed control was poor with wild radish competing strongly with the perennials for moisture.
• The trial will continue for the next 2 years with more results becoming available during this time, including palability, feed value and persistence.

• Atriplex nummularia (Old man saltbush, 79.2% survival), Atriplex rhagodioides (Silver saltbush, 77.1% survival), and Rhagodia parabolica (Mealy saltbush, 76% survival) are the species with the highest survival rates.
• Weed control was poor with wild radish competing strongly with the perennials for moisture.
• The trial will continue next year with more results becoming available during this time, including palability, feed value and persistence.

Although the results were inconclusive at the Tottington site, the group believes that use of the triple pack program in normal years is likely to improve perennial pasture establishment in this drier northern region. It could also be relevant in other areas, where run down low fertility paddocks have a low legume content and have become dominated by onion and silver grass.

Further cost benefit analysis is warranted for the Triple Pack system before it is widely promoted to producers. PPS were unable to conduct a cost benefit analysis at Tottington due to the extreme seasonal conditions affecting results.

• Demonstration sites are monitored annually for pasture and surface cover, biomass production and frequency of perennials.
• Soil sampling will occur again in late 2014/15 to determine any change in soil organic stocks as a result of the implementation of a change in management practice.

• Establishment of perennial pastures is relatively expensive and represents a high risk activity during years with very low spring rainfall. • Ideally Lucerne and pasture grasses should be established by sowing early in paddocks with low weed populations, such as may occur after several years of a well managed cropping program.
• Press wheels will improve establishment in some soil types.Establishment of perennial pastures is relatively expensive and represents a high risk activity during years with very low spring rainfall.
• Ideally Lucerne and pasture grasses should be established by sowing early in paddocks with low weed populations, such as may occur after several years of a well managed cropping program.
• Press wheels will improve establishment in some soil types.

• Atriplex and Rhagodia species fared best in these experiments, producing the hightest biomass on offer to sheep, plant survival rate and health scores.
• Four species showed poor adaptation to the environment at Walpeup and produced little edible biomass, namely Atriplex semibaccata, Convolvulus remotus, Cullen australasicum and Medicago strasseri.
• Results from this experiment and others across the nation have led to establishment of a new site a Manangatang that demonstrates the most promising spcies for the Mallee region's poorest soils.

• Start with paddock preparation and weed control in the year (or two) before establishment.
• Get the right machinery for incorporating lime. 
• Gain technical knowledge.

• First wheat following canola yielded between 3.65 and 5.35t/ha depending on row spacing, plant population and nitrogen application.
• A narrow row spacing of 22.5cm produced higher dry matter (DM), grain yields and water use efficiency than a wider row spacing of 37.5cm.
• Higher grain yields were associated with plant populations of 150-165 plants/m2.
• Wide row spacing reduced grain yields by and average of 6.5% and DM by 15% compared with narrow row spacing. 

• Juncea canola (Brassica juncea) shows potential as an alternative to canola in the low rainfall zone.
• 2008 was another very tough year for both canola and juncea canola. Only one out of six trials were harvested but the results were too variable to be meaningful.

• New late maturing non-commercial lines were amongst the highest yielding, with yields greater than 6 t/ha.
• The winter-spring crosses K50058 and K50058 and winter types AGF437 and AGF484 have performed consistently well across a number of seasons at Hamilton and Inverleigh.
• Optimising sowing times may provide additional yield increases.
• High yields were achieved from poor plant establishment numbers, showing that canola has the ability to compensate from low plant numbers if the seasonal conditions are favourable.

• Crusher TT canola yielded between 2.24–2.79 t/ha with 232mm of growing season rainfall (Apr–Oct) and an estimated 118mm of stored available soil moisture (total 350mm).
• All plant populations were high (150–200 plants/m2) due to an error in calibration, however results produced were similar to previous years, with no significant difference in yield between the narrowest (22.5cm — 2.67t/ha) and widest (37.5cm — 2.75t/ha) row spacings.
• The 30cm spacing yielded significantly lower than both the 22.5cm and the 37.5cm spacings in this trial. 

For a summary of key messages and results see the attached trial report.

• Canola following two years of wheat yielded 2.08t/ha despite establishing 50% fewer plants than canola grown during 2009, which yielded 1.59t/ha. The higher yield achieved during 2011 was attributed to more stored soil moisture at sowing. 
• The higher biomass produced with the narrower row spacing (22.5cm) did not translate into higher grain yield with the same yield achieved across the narrowest (22.5cm) and widest (37.5cm) row spacings.
• About 102-122kg nitrogen/ha was removed in aboveground biomass (straw and grain). There was no statistical difference in nitrogen off-take between the 22.5cm and 37.5cm row spacings.  

• Canola trials during 2012 had high plant populations, which may have created atypical crop canopy structures in relation to different row spacings.
• In four canola datasets generated from 2009 – 2012 at Coreen, New South Wales and Bungeet, Victoria the influence of row spacing on yield has been inconsistent.
• During 2012, the narrow row spacing (22.5cm) produced higher yields and a higher harvest index (HI) than wider row spacing, however this has not been the case in previous years. 

• Of the conventional varieties: Outback (1.2t/ha), Emblem (1.1t/ha) and Rivette (1.3t/ha) performed the best at Berriwillock in 2003.
• The triazine tolerant (TT) lines that yielded highest in this trial were Surpass501TT (1.1t/ha) and Beacon (1.0t/ha). Eyre, a TT variety performed poorly at 0.7t/ha.
• The Clearfield line that performed very well in the trial was Pioneer 45C75 (1.3t/ha).
• In the Wimmera, monola is worth keeping an eye on as a niche crop as it performed similar to, if not slightly better, than some canola varieties and receives a premium of $40/t on delivery.

• Starter application of P was important in maximising yields at GS30.
• Grain yield responses (< 90 percent relative yield) to P were obtained for 35 percent of the paddocks surveyed.
• DGT accurately predicted wheat responses to P accounting for 64 percent and 79 percent of the variation in early dry matter and grain respectively.
• Colwell P could only explain 36 percent of the variation in early dry matter and no significant relationship could be obtained with grain.
• Colwell P plus the Phosphorus Buffering Index (PBI) correctly predicted wheat response in 60 percent of the sites.

• With 537mm growing season rainfall (April- mid-November) wheat yields followig faba beans were 2.2t/ha higher than those experienced in 2009.
• The yield reduction moving from a narrow row spacing (22.5cm) to wide (37cm) was 12% (0.64t/ha), compared with 16% (0.49t/ha) in 2009.

For a summary of key messages and results see the attached trial report.

• With 570mm growing season rainfall (GSR) 2010 wheat yeilds were more than double those experiences during 2009 in the same rotation position (wheat after canola).
• Yield drop-off associated with the wide row spacing (37.5cm) was almost identical to 2009 results, with a 12% yield reduction compared with the narrow row spacing.

• In the 2012 wheat after canola trial, moving from a narrow row spacing (22.5cm) to a 30cm spacing reduced yield by 9%.  Moving from 22.5cm to the widest (37.5cm) row spacing reduced yield by 11%.
• In a season where yields averaged about 3t/ ha overall (based on a GSR of 196mm plus 85mm stored soil moisture), increasing row spacing beyond 22.5cm significantly reduced yield.
• During 2009, in the same rotation position on the same trial site, there was no difference in yield between the 22.5cm and 30cm row spacings (based on 2.5t/ha average yields), although the 37.5cm row spacing still yielded significantly less. 

For a summary of key messages and results see the attached trial report.

• In second wheat after faba beans, moving from a narrow row spacing of 22.5cm to 30cm and 37.5cm row spacings reduced yield by 4% and 10% respectively.  This compares with respective yield reductions of 12% and 14% in the fi rst wheat trial grown in the same paddock at the same time.
• The narrow row spacing (22.5cm) produced greater biomass than the wider row spacing but had a relatively poor harvest index (26%) compared with other row spacings in this trial.
• There was no difference in crop establishment or yield due to drill opener (tine versus disc), however plant establishment was superior with the narrow row compared with the wider spacings tested.
   

• Gauntlet wheat sown as the second wheat crop after canola yielded between 3.84–4.44t/ha with 232mm of growing season rainfall (Apr-Oct) and an estimated 118mm of stored water at sowing (total 350mm).
• Moving from a narrow row spacing (22.5cm) to 30cm and 37.5cm row spacings reduced yield by 13% and 11% respectively in the 2012 season.  In 2011, moving from a 22.5cm spacing to 30cm and 37.5cm spacings reduced yield by 4% and 10% respectively for the second wheat trial grown in the same paddock.
• It was estimated that the narrow row spacing (22.5cm) resulted in better water use efficiency (WUE) than the widest spacing (37.5cm), despite having a lower harvest index (44% vs 47%) than the widest rows.  

• Wheat on wheat (following canola) yielded 4.91t/ha, almost 1t/ha less than the neighbouring first wheat trial after canola, which yielded 5.84t/ha.
• There was no yield drop-off associated with wider row spacings (30cm and 337.5cm) in this wheat-on-wheat situation.

• Plant establishment at a 22.5cm row spacing was signifi cantly superior to 30cm, which in turn was signifi cantly higher than 37.5cm. The disc drill opener gave better establishment than the tine at the narrow (22.5cm) row spacing but not at the wider row spacing. 
• Advantages with the narrow row spacing were seen early in the season in terms of plant population, dry matter (DM) and tiller production. These advantages did not translate to signifi cantly higher yield in this rotation position. This result was identical to the results of the 2010 trial when wheat on wheat yields showed a similar, but not signifi cant, trend for narrow row spacing (22.5cm) to be better than wide row spacing (37.5cm). 

Wheat yields in 1997 were generally below average to average across the Wimmera, Mallee, Central and North Eastern cropping zones.

• Trial sown at Lameroo on a zinc deficient soil, very dry season.
• Untreated crop was severely zinc deficient.
• Zinc seed dressings (Teprosyn and Broadacre products) were effective at alleviating zinc deficiency but not as effective as the dressings plus mid season foliar spray.
• The soil sprays were not very effective, even at double the recommended rate, perhaps because the soil was so dry.
• Although laboratory experiments had shown that MAP was more effective than DAP fertiliser in terms of zinc availability, no differences were observed in the field experiment.

• Wet conditions from June to September resulted in high levels of petal infestation.
• High-disease-risk districts were identified as having high intensity canola production, reliable spring rainfall (particularly during flowering) and long flowering periods.
• Petal infestation levels were similar to that of 2015, but above average rainfall in August and September in southern NSW and northern Victoria favoured sclerotinia stem rot development.