Temperature results from both sites have demonstrated that stubble loads above 2t/ha increased the severity and duration of some frost events. Analysis of results on yield and frost damage is ongoing and will be presented.

Temperature results from both sites have demonstrated that stubble loads above 2t/ha increased the severity and duration of some frost events. Analysis of results on yield and frost damage is ongoing and will be presented.

• In 2016, a Decile 10 season, stubble load had no effect on soil mineral nitrogen or soil water.
• The presence of stubble resulted in higher soil mineral nitrogen over the summer fallow period.
• Wheat yields were higher following peas or fallow than they were after wheat or canola in 2016.

• The combination of stubble burning and post-emergent use of a Group A herbicide has effectively controlled ryegrass in plots continuously cropped for 21 years at Condobolin.
• This combination worked well in both cultivated and direct drilled systems.

• Glasshouse experiments indicate that phosphorus deficiency is likely.
• Zinc deficiency is not likely to be widespread but could be marginal on some soils.
•  Boron, molybdenum, copper and manganese deficiencies are unlikely on these soils.

• Six out of seven sub-tropical species were successfully established.
• The Panicum maximum cultivars (cv.) of Petrie and Gatton, Panicum coloratum cv. Bambatsi and Digitaria milanjiana cv. Strickland established well and produced in excess of 1.4t dry matter/ha in 2007 and 1t dry matter/ha in 2008.
• Panicum maximum cv. Petrie produced the most biomass in both 2007 (4.5t dry matter/ha) and 2008 (1.8t dry matter/ha).

• On black soil the average wheat yield increase due to zinc was of the order of 240 kg/ha between 1939 and 1949.

• The best yield response by wheat was to zinc. 
• Zinc induced early maturity and produced better root systems than without zinc.
• The increase in yield was mainly related to superior root development which in turn had some effect on the severity of eelworm and root rot.

As results become available from the trials FarmLink will capture these in our Annual Research Report (the first set of date will apear in the 2016 edition) and these trial sites will be used for field events as and when it is appropriate.

• Grain yield at Hill River was increased on two soil types by 12% and 33% through the addition of soil amendments to the surface or subsoil.
• There was no yield difference between applying amendment to the surface or subsoil in 2016, except at one of the seven sites sown to lentils.
• There was little difference between applying large rates of synthetic fertiliser or applying 20 t/ha chicken litter.

• The highest yielding treatments at five of the seven sites were the standard paddock practice where no additional nutrition or deep ripping has been applied.
• Placing the amendment in the subsoil did not provide any benefit over placing the amendment on the surface.
• There was little difference in response to applying chicken litter at 20 t/ha or matched rates of synthetic fertiliser.

• PPS believes that the results in the Jallukar trial show that the technique of sub soil amelioration has potential to produce large increases in productivity in certain soils in the Upper Wimmera region.  
• The drier than average springs allowed for only one dry matter cut each year; more favourable seasons may have altered the results. 
• For further discussion please see the attached trial report.

• Subsoil manuring resulted in consistent grain yield increases across the network of sites in the HRZ of Victoria. In years with drier finishes, the yield of the commercial control crop was constrained due to water deficits during grain filling, while the subsoil manured crops were able to access additional subsoil water. Thus, these crops were not constrained and significantly higher yields were achieved.
• Please see attached trial report for further comments.

• Subsoil manuring resulted in consistent grain yield increases across the network of sites in the HRZ of Victoria. In years with drier finishes, the yield of the commercial control crop was constrained due to water deficits during grain filling, while the subsoil manured crops were able to access additional subsoil water. Thus, these crops were not constrained and significantly higher yields were achieved.
• For further results and discussion please see the attached trial report.

• Trace elements applied to the soil (either shallow at seeding or deep prior to seeding) two years previously benefitted wheat at a clay spread site.
• Accross all sites and six years of measurements there were no measurable residual responses to deep placed nutrients.

• Incorporating clay that has high calcium carbonate (lime) content has potential to cause extreme manganese deficiency although this can be addressed with addition of micronutrient fertiliser either shallow or deep.

• Chlorsulfuron herbicide was found to reduce wheat yields at some sites.
• Phosphorus (P) responses were closely correlated with soil P levels.
• No significant responses to zinc (Zn) fertiliser were recorded.
• P and Zn nutrition was not found to interact with chlorsulfuron herbicide damage in wheat

• Chlorsulfuron (e.g. Glean) was found to reduce wheat yields at some sites.
• No Zinc (Zn) responses were recorded at any of the sites.
• Phosphorus (P) response was closely correlated with soil P levels.
• Increasing Zn and P nutrition did not reduce the Chlorsulfuron effect.

• When superphosphate was the commonly used cropping fertiliser, adequate sulphur nutrition was assured. With the move to high analysis fertiliser such as MAP and DAP sulphur deficiencies have become more common. Of all winter crops canola is most prone to show sulphur deficiency. Canola has high requirements for sulphur.
• It is twice that of pulses and five times greater than wheat for the same yield. At Sea Lake in 1999, a product or group of products that supplied a balanced level of phosphorus, nitrogen and sulphur produced the highest yields, however DAP proved the most economic

Sulfurs and zinc fertiliser increased wheat yields by 120 and 300kg/ha above MAP + urea.

• The addition of sulphur increased wheat grain yield at both trial sites.
• Grain yield at the clay loam site was consistent for all of the sulphur rates, sources (gypsum and SoA) and application times tested
• In contrast, there was variation in grain yield for the sulphur treatments tested at the sandy dune location due to the poor nutrient holding capacity of this soil type.

Early vigour – no significant difference. 

NDVI, 3 September - no significant difference.

Yield – see results.

• Durum quality wheat was produced at Lubeck, although high soil N levels pushed protein levels above the maximum for noodle wheat. Milling wheat grown at the same site achieved H2 quality. There was no yield response to N fertiliser at sowing. This demonstration highlights the importance of careful paddock selection when producing specialty wheat.
• While it has been demonstrated that durum wheat can be produced in this part of the Wimmera, durum is a high risk option. A basic economic comparison highlighted the high penalty when downgraded to feed quality if durum specifications are not met.

Canola yields in low and medium rainfall regions of south-western Australia are inherently low and variable.  We have shown that although N fertilisation increases the yield of canola, the yield increases are often relatively low.  Nitrogen also reduces the concentration of oil in the seed of canola and the rate of decrease can be rapid in low rainfall areas. 

The combined effect of N on yield and oil, along with the current payment structure for high oil canola, results in uncertain economic returns from N fertilisation in low to medium rainfall areas. 

We found that 90% of maximum gross margin was achieved at an average nitrogen rate of 17 kg N/ha, and the first 10 kg N/ha gave a return on investment in N greater than $1.50 per $1 in 80% of occurrences (experiments x variety combinations).  The next 20 kg N/ha applied gave a return on investment in N of $1.25 for every $1 spent on N in 80% of occurrences, and further increases were most likely to breakeven. 

We have shown that while farmers should continue to plan to apply N onto canola within the first eight weeks, delaying top-up N until 12 weeks after sowing – when the canola crop is near flowering, is a viable second option which provides some level of risk management for canola growers in low and medium rainfall areas in south-western Australia.

Despite the prevalence of cereal leaf disease in the Wimmera in 2003, these sites were relatively clean. Low levels of spot form of net blotch (SFNB) were present at most sites.

Yields ranged from 1.5-2.1t/ha at Minyip and 2.3 to 2.7t/ha at Lubeck. Oil contents ranged from 38- 43% with no clear varietal trends. Table 1 summarises the yields grown and the source and level of blackleg resistance. Hyola 60 and Surpass 603CL had the highest mean yields, followed by AVSapphire and ATR Beacon. The yields of ATR Stubby were comparable to the other triazine tolerant varieties. ATR Stubby is an early maturing variety and would be more suited to Mallee environments. Pioneer 45C05 and Pioneer 44C11 were sown at Minyip and performed well. These varieties are suited to the northern Wimmera and southern Mallee.

These demonstrations were not fully replicated and reflect performance only for the 2003 season at each site. Therefore, consider long-term variety trial data before selecting a new variety.

1. Summer cover crops can be very profitable; improving ground cover and increasing fallow water storage in long fallows to improve grain yields and boost returns in northern farming systems.
2. A later spray-out produced additional levels of a cover that is more resilient and stored more water in the longer fallow. Delaying spray-out too long reduced fallow water storage considerably.
3. Using a summer cover crop saved two fallow herbicide sprays and dramatically improved establishment of the subsequent wheat crop.
4. Yields and returns were increased by the cover crops, and yields were well in excess of those expected from the increased soil water storage alone.

The growing season rainfall in 2019 was below average at Perillup, and the summer cropping demonstration did not suffer from water-logging.

Grain growers in this region believe that the soil drying effects from growing summer crops has the greatest potential benefit to winter cropping yields.

In 2019, there was a 770kg/ha barley yield increase above the control from the plots where cowpea was grown in the summer.

There was a 470kg/ha decline in winter barley yield in the plot that was planted to canola between January 30 and May 9, 2019.

Nutritional requirements of summer crops need to be considered when selecting species. Cowpeas fixed useful nitrogen in the 90 growing days.

2019 Demonstration Key Messages

• The growing season rainfall in 2019 was below average at Perillup, and the summer cropping demonstration did not suffer from water-logging.
• Grain growers in this region believe that the soil drying effects from growing summer crops has the greatest potential benefit to winter cropping yields.
• In 2019, there was a 770kg/ha barley yield increase above the control from the plots where cowpea was grown in the summer.
• There was a 470kg/ha decline in winter barley yield in the plot that was planted to canola between January 30 and May 9, 2019.
• Nutritional requirements of summer crops need to be considered when selecting species. Cowpeas fixed useful nitrogen in the 90 growing days.
• The growing season rainfall in 2019 was above average in Williams, and the summer cropping demonstration site was severely water-logged.
• Buster Radish could also be a perfect non-machinery deep ripping tool with its great root system.

2018 Demonstration Key Messages

• The summer cropping demonstration sites were sown at two different timings. The Ryansbrook trial, 35km south west of Kojonup, was sown 4th October 2018 into moisture and the Woodgenellup trial was dry sown on the 30th January 2019 prior to a predicted rainfall event.
• According to our producer rainfall records, since 2003, every 4 out of 5 years they have had summer rainfall events in January and February. Unfortunately, in the 2018/19 summer there was minimal summer rainfall and the summer crops at the Ryansbrook site failed. The C4 grasses (millet and sorghum) persisted better with little to no moisture in the soil profile compared to the broadleaf crop types (canola and cowpea).
• At the Woodgenellup site germination was patchy however, plants have developed reasonable biomass.
• Winter season in-crop measurements will be taken at the Woogenellup site to determine the effect of the summer crop on water logging. Due to the failure of the summer crop at the Ryansbrook site, no further measurements will be taken at this

Forage sorghum and millets achieved the highest yields during the summer forage trial. Lab lab was the most promising forage legume although DM yields were low. Other legumes along with t eh brassicas and winter cereals either failed to emerge or achieved only sparse plant numbers.

Tedera did not have enough biomass to take in any of the two samples in August and November, which was due to frost damage.Balansa and Serradella produced the same amount of biomass, and both were more productive than ryegrass. However, it was observed that ryegrass was severely grazed by kangaroos, so samples were not reflective of what the true biomass would normally be.

• After stem elongation, mature prickly lettuce plants are difficult to control.
• Controlling mature prickly lettuce plants early achieves better results.
• No single treatments, except paraquat, achieved 100% control of mature prickly lettuce plants that emerged after a wheat crop was harvested. The paraquat, either used alone or as a follow-up application, was the only outstanding treatment, achieving 100% control.
   

• Wheat yield increased from 2.6 t/ha in controls to 3.2 t/ha in plots receiving the equivalent of summer rainfall decile 5 (50mm) or decile 9 (100mm) in a single event in February.
• Stubble treatments (bare ground control, standing 2 t stubble/ha, flat 2 t stubble/ha, flat 5 t stubble/ha) did not affect the dynamics of soil water nor grain yield.

• The presence of stubble did not increase stored soil moisture, regardless of the size and number of irrigation events.
• In 2010 additional soil moisture at sowing did not generally increase final grain yield.
• Additional soil moisture can increase crop demand and response to nitrogen.

• Traditionally, forage legumes are sown after the main cropping program is completed and require the application of a pre-sowing knockdown herbicide to control established weeds.  This treatment seriously reduces early winter pasture production which is then compounded by the slow growth rate of legumes under the cold winter conditions. 
• Summer sowing offers early winter grazing in a mixed enterprise farm. The technique has the ability to lift the legume component in a pasture which has degraded through a range of factors such as drought and/or intensive cropping. On a farm without grazing animals, summer sowing can be used to produce a green fallow with a high legume content that can be brown manured to provide  high nitrogen residues  and maximise the organic matter for the benefit of subsequent crops.
• Summer sowing reduces establishment cost by firstly, minimising seed processing particularly in the case of serradella where seed extraction is difficult and expensive and secondly, sowing does not require a pre-sowing application of herbicide.
• The requirement to sow hard-seeded cultivars in summer or early autumn does lose some of the flexibility to tactically respond to seasonal conditions and this needs to be balanced against the clear productivity advantages demonstrated.

• Traditionally, forage legumes are sown after the main cropping program is completed and require the application of a pre-sowing knockdown herbicide to control established weeds.  This treatment seriously reduces early winter pasture production which is then compounded by the slow growth rate of legumes under the cold winter conditions. 
• Summer sowing offers early winter grazing in a mixed enterprise farm. The technique has the ability to lift the legume component in a pasture which has degraded through a range of factors such as drought and/or intensive cropping. On a farm without grazing animals, summer sowing can be used to produce a green fallow with a high legume content that can be brown manured to provide  high nitrogen residues  and maximise the organic matter for the benefit of subsequent crops.
• Summer sowing reduces establishment cost by firstly, minimising seed processing particularly in the case of serradella where seed extraction is difficult and expensive and secondly, sowing does not require a pre-sowing application of herbicide.
• The requirement to sow hard-seeded cultivars in summer or early autumn does lose some of the flexibility to tactically respond to seasonal conditions and this needs to be balanced against the clear productivity advantages demonstrated.

• Summer sowing into perennial grasses is showing some promise, but the results are inconsistent.  We need to develop guidelines for the required soil conditions (including soil fertility) and there is a need to reduce weed competition by controlling the seed-set of annual pasture weeds in the preceding year.
• Results from these trials plus a range of other summer sowing sites demonstrate that serradella pods need to be drilled for successful establishment. Broadcasting pod is not a reliable alternative.
• The experimental line of yellow serradella (72.1A) was slow to establish in the first year at Badgingarra but has has really gone ahead in the second year.  This yellow serradella is unique in having a very different hard seed breakdown pattern compared with the commercial yellow serradella varieties (i.e. Yelbini, Charano, Santorini) and is suitable for ‘summer sowing’.  It is earlier flowering (80 to 90 days compared to 105 to 115 for Margurita) and yellow serradella is hardier than French serradella.
• Summer sowing using pod avoids the need for de-hulling, so seed is cheaper, but higher sowing rates are required.  Consequently the concept relies to a large extent on farmers being able to source or to produce their own hard-seeded serradella pod at low cost

• The results for summer sowing into an established perennial grass pasture were encouraging in a season with minimal spring rainfall. The results were negatively impacted by the low rainfall in spring. Drilling pod was more successful than broadcasting pod and then using animals to trample it into the soil.
• This was the first summer sowing trial into perennial grasses in WA so it is too early to develop recommendations, but it appears that you need to use 20 to 40 kg pod/ha to achieve a good seedbank. The mid-March sowing time is at the end of the ‘sowing window’ for summer sowing. Sowing in early February is desirable to maximize the time for hardseed breakdown.
• With summer sowing using pod rather than seed there is no need for de-hulling, so there is a cost saving per kilogram, but higher sowing rates are required as the seedlings need to compete with annual grasses, broadleaf weeds as well as the perennial grasses. The summer sowing method requires relatively high sowing rates and the concept relies to a large extent on farmers producing hard-seeded serradella pod on-farm at a low cost.After these promising results in 2010, similar trials will be undertaken in 2011 with local producers.

• The results for summer sowing into an established perennial grass pasture were encouraging in a season with minimal spring rainfall.  The results were negatively impacted by the low rainfall in spring.
• Drilling pod was more successful than broadcasting pod and then using animals to trample it into the soil.  This was the first summer sowing trial into perennial grasses in WA so it is too early to develop recommendations, but it appears that you need to use 20 to 40 kg pod/ha to achieve a good seedbank.  The mid-March sowing time is at the end of the ‘sowing window’ for summer sowing.  Sowing in early February is desirable to maximize the time for hardseed breakdown.
• With summer sowing using pod rather than seed there is no need for de-hulling, so there is a cost saving per kilogram, but higher sowing rates are required as the seedlings need to compete with annual grasses, broadleaf weeds as well as the perennial grasses.  The summer sowing method requires relatively high sowing rates and the concept relies to a large extent on farmers producing hard-seeded serradella pod on-farm at a low cost.
• After these promising results in 2010, similar trials will be undertaken in 2011 with local producers.

Traditionally, forage legumes are sown after the main cropping program is completed and require
the application of a pre-sowing knockdown herbicide to control established weeds. This treatment
seriously reduces early winter pasture production which is then compounded by the slow growth
rate of legumes under the cold winter conditions.

For further comments please see the attached trial report.

• Based on current prices, adjuvants can account for 5-50% of the total cost of application.
• Vegetable oils in general performed better than BS1000, Hot-up and Companion.
• Based on cost, Infiltrator was the best adjuvant to accompany Roundup CT.

For most effective weed control of heliotrope an early applied residual herbicide such as Glean, Ally or Atrazine (be careful with plant backs for different crops!) is most effective. For grass and heliotrope control later in the season, weeds have to be sprayed before they are fully grown and flowering.

• The benefit of summer weed control can vary across soil types and conditions.
• Conserving summer soil moisture is generally money in the bank and can prove invaluable when there is a dry finish, although the benefits seem to differ according to soil type.
• Higher glyphosate prices meansthat growers need to become more efficient when controlling weeds. Targeting weeds while they are young and fresh will help with reducing glyphosate rates. The addition of residual herbicides, such as Ally, will reduce the need for follow-up spraying.

Results from a demonstration in December of 2012 suggest weed control had an impact on stored soil moisture and consequent yield in 2013 across a range of soil types at seven locations across the Eastern Wheatbelt. Another factor that could have been quantified in this work, was the effect of weed control on nitrogen status (and consequent effect of N on yield). Opening values were collected at the beginning of the trial but no closing N values were measured. Removing summer weeds has an impact on the nitrogen levels in the soil, and this will be further quantified with more field work in 2014.

• Weed counts were taken before and after treatments were applied and no significant difference in weed numbers was recorded.
• This was only a demonstration, further studies are needed.

• Controlling summer weeds improves crop yield.
• Summer weeds like Heliotrope use large amounts of stored soil water and nitrogen, which is then not available to the following crop.

In-paddock surveys were conducted in 197 paddocks over the summers of 2019-20 and 2020-21 to identify the diversity and abundance of summer weed species present across the GRDC Western region. The surveys covered the 6 agro-ecological zones (Agzones).

Physical surveys were conducted from late January to early April 2020 and mid November to mid-March 2020-21. The development of SARS-Cov-2 complicated the final stages of the first season’s surveys preventing several properties from being surveyed.  Surveys in the second season were dictated by timing of rainfall, and tight accommodation availability in some areas.

In the 2019-20 summer patchy rain was received in mid-January north of Dalwallinu and east of Esperance, with more widespread patchy rain occurring mid-February. Some areas remained dry until late March. The 2020-21 summer saw a large fall of rain in the northern and south-eastern zones in early November then patchy rain through the summer then more widespread rain fell mid-March. Rain received in November and March was accompanied by high temperatures.

Over the two surveys 57 broadleaf, 16 grass and one monocotyledon weed species and 13 volunteer crop and pasture species were identified. Volunteer crop and pasture species tended to be the most abundant and have the highest incidence confirming what Michael et al (2010) observed in their 2006 paddock survey. Eight weed species identified in 2019-20 were not found in 2020-21. Eleven weed species found in 2020-21 were not found during the previous survey.

Weed abundance and diversity varied between Agzones and years.

Barley, wheat and annual ryegrass were consistently the most frequent grass species followed by the native grass species stink grass (Eragrostis cilianensis) and small burrgrass (Tragus australiensis). Grass diversity is generally lower than that of broadleaves, although inter-zone variability is less. Grass abundance was lower in 2020-21. Agzone 1 was the least diverse with four grass species while Agzone 4 was the most diverse with 12 species.

Feathertop Rhodes grass (Chloris virgata) was not found in-paddock despite increasing along roadsides across the cropping zone in the past decade.

The six most abundant broadleaf weeds were capeweed, mintweed, paddy melon, Afghan melon, small-flowered mallow and caltrop while annual ryegrass, stink grass and small burrgrass were the most common grass weeds.

 Weeds that were found in 5 or 6 of the Agzones were considered widespread, and likely to have fewer specific requirements for germination and establishment compared with other less common species.

There appears to be a geographic trend in the distribution of some summer weeds. Species that had a more northern distribution include tarvine (Boerhavia coccinea), sandplain (blue) lupin (Lupinus cosentinii), button grass (Dactyloctenium radulans) and mulla mulla (Ptilotus polystachyus). Species more common towards the south included blackberry nightshade (Solanum nigrum), flaxleaf fleabane (Conyza bonariensis), common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus) and common heliotrope (Heliotropium europaeum).

Paddock management can influence abundance of species and to a lesser extent species diversity. While little paddock management data was gathered it was noted that a failure to control early emerging summer weed species in spring resulted in large weeds which are difficult to control in summer.

In both years the majority of fleabane, wireweed (Polygonum aviculare) and jersey cudweed (Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum) were large plants that had established in spring in the previous winter crop having not been controlled prior to harvest. Wireweed and jersey cudweed were more likely to be found in canola, pea and vetch stubbles.

This project has raised the question of the effect on stubble cover on summer weed germination. Most research has looked at the effects of stubble on weed growth and seed yield. This suggests there is a need for some research on effects of crop stubbles on a selection of important summer weeds.

This research has shown that a wide range of climatic and environmental factors dictate the occurrence for specific weeds. The differences between Agzones in abundance and species mixtures suggest management messages need to be zone-specific to a degree. The high prevalence of crop volunteers (3 of the top 6 most abundant species) encourages a focus on volunteer management across the region.

Differences in the surveys between years shows the importance of multi-year projects involving weeds. Ideally this project would have run for a third season to help remove any bias from highly variable summer seasons. This would also give additional information on how different weed species react to different seasonal conditions.

Other outcomes include the training of five early career Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development agronomists in weed identification and survey technique. They now have increased skills in in weed identification, particularly experience with the wide range of useful weed identification resources.

• Time of weed removal at the high rainfall site did not affect canola yield but the canola had a higher biomass when weeds were removed earlier.
• The medium rainfall site had consecutively higher wheat yields with earlier times of weed removal; however these were not significantly different.
• At the low rainfall site plots sprayed for summer weeds had significantly higher oat yields than unsprayed plots. Timely control of summer weeds increased soil moisture and nitrate conservation.

• In dry regions, summer fallowing is not just about controlling weeds but mainly about conserving moisture!
• Cultivation conserved the most amount of soil moisture over the summer period. ƒ
• The three treatments which controlled summer weeds: (i) cultivation every three weeks; (ii) cultivation when required; and (iii) knockdown when required, had a significantly higher yield (0.4 to 0.7 t/ha) compared to the treatments where there was no or poor summer weed control. ƒ
• Greater than 80mm of available moisture was lost under heavy heliotrope and melon populations

• All fertiliser treatments significantly lifted grain yield from the untreated control with 15cm working depth.
• There was no significant response to applied potassium.

Applying high phosphorus and potassium rates in Vigour significantly maximised grain yield.

Liquid fertiliser significantly increased grain yield above the control at equivilant P rates.

• Sunflower yields were very low at this site in 2015–16, averaging 0.56 t/ha.
• Plant population affected plant measurements, with larger head diameters and 1000 grain weights resulting from lower populations.
• Hybrid selection also affected plant measurements. Ausistripe 14 had the longest arc length but the smallest head diameter. Ausigold 4 and Ausigold 62 had very similar plant characteristics.

• The more area of leaf removed, the greater the yield loss in sunflowers.
• The greatest effect on yield was from total leaf defoliation at the start of flowering or the end of flowering, which reduced yield by 1.16 t/ha (78%) and 1.02 t/ha (66%) compared to the control.
• Removing the top 10 leaves at the end of flowering had no effect on grain yield or any of the quality parameters measured.

• Yields from the 35,000 plants/ha and 45,000 plants/ha target plant populations were significantly higher than the 25,000 plants/ha treatment (by 0.52–0.56 t/ha). Plant population did not affect oil content.
• The solid 75 cm treatment achieved a yield significantly higher than the solid 100 cm and superwide (150 cm) configurations. Varying row configuration did not affect oil content.
• Ausigold 62 and Hyoleic 41 produced higher yields than the experimental sunflower hybrid. Ausigold 62 had significantly higher oil content than the other two hybrids evaluated.

There was a significant difference in canola yield between the high and low fertiliser treatments.

• There was no significant difference in field pea yield between the treatments.
• The yield only reached 20% of potential, according to WUE principles.
• A severe frost in late September resulted in massive pod damage.

• The crop reached 100% efficiency rating according to WUE principles.
• In years with low rainfall agronomic practices aimed at optimising produciton are unlikely to have any special benefits.
• It is only in years with average to above average rain that limiting factors can start to be identified.

• The target of a six tonne wheat crop was not achieved at all three sites.
• The dry spring reduced the yield potential of Frame, hence the most limiting factor was water.
• The demonstration showed little consistencies for treatment responses across the three sites.

• There were responses to Super Phos but these were difficult to assess due to uneven pasture growth, the presence of blue lupins and a high stubble load from 2009.
• Pasture cuts on 17 June measured a 0.6 t/ha dry matter response to 200 kg/ha Super Phos.
• There were no responses to Muriate of Potash (MoP) or lime. Late season responses were variable.

• No significant differences noticed in sheep supplemented with La Trobe pellets and grazing medic compared to sheep grazing medic only, however the sheep added 8 kg liveweight in 4 weeks.
• Trial to be repeated next year earlier in the season on rapidly growing medic with younger animals.

• Trials are underway investigating the effects of rotational grazing versus set stocking of stubble residues on surface cover and soil characteristics in arable paddocks.
• Early rain in 2014 disrupted the trial’s implementation but initial results on a stubble / self-sown pasture grazed in June indicated no difference between set stocking and rotational grazing on surface cover.

During 2006 and 2007, a field trial designed to quantify the effect of two different surface drainage strategies of pasture (hump & hollow and raised beds) on farm productivity, profitability and sustainability was conducted on a commercial farm near Derrinallum. Under the rainfall conditions experienced for the two years of the trial, it is concluded that the use of raised beds for the growing of pastures for grazing has little to offer the sheep industry. On the basis of the data obtained in this trial, it is recommended that the hump & hollow system is the preferred method of surface drainage for sheep grazing systems in this environment and should be promoted in the region. Major findings included:

• In both years, total annual pasture dry matter (DM) yields from the raised bed treatment were substantially less than for the undrained and the hump & hollow treatments.
• In the drought year of 2006 the raised bed treatment grew 37% (2.8 t DM/ha) less while the hump & hollow treatment grew only 7% (0.6 t DM/ha) less than the undrained (total of 7.6 t DM/ha).
• In the higher rainfall 2007 year the raised bed treatment produced 15% (1.6 t DM/ha) less pasture than the undrained. In contrast, the hump & hollow grew 10% (1.1 t DM/ha) more than the undrained (total of 10.7 t DM/ha) in 2007.
• The reasons for the lower than expected pasture yields on the raised beds are speculated to be a combination of low yields in the furrows, poorer plant establishment and density on the beds, and a reduction in the water holding capacity of the soil relative to the other treatments.
• Soil physical health was however considerably better on the raised beds than the other treatments. Aeration porosities at field capacity in November 2007 were a very healthy 16.3% in the raised beds, a moderate 11.8% for the hump & hollow and a poor 7.0% for the undrained.
• No significant differences in ewe or lamb weights at weaning were found between treatments in either year. This was most likely due to the set stocked sheep having pasture on offer in excess of requirements for most of the spring. In 2006 however, the raised beds were stocked at around 1 ewe/ha less due to the lower pasture growth rates.
• From a catchment and general environmental health perspective, the water run‐off results raise some concerns about the environmental impact of growing and grazing pastures on raised beds.
• The raised beds proved to be very effective in removing excess water from the pasture. Over 2007, the raised bed treatment (47.1 mm) had 170% more runoff water than the undrained (17.4 mm) while the hump & hollow (26.7 mm) had 53% more runoff.
• Both drainage treatments had considerably higher concentrations of, and total loads of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in runoff water. Of particular concern were the losses of 0.5 and 0.4 kg P/ha for the raised bed and hump & hollow treatments respectively compared to 0.1 kg P/ha for the undrained in 2007. For N, corresponding losses were 6.3, 2.1 and 0.9 kg N/ha for the raised beds, hump & hollow and undrained respectively.
• It is recommended that if raised beds are to be used for grazed pastures, then the best practice recommendations developed for raised bed cropping also be applied to pasture.

• Changes in farming practices in the past 15 years have increased crop disease pressure in southern NSW.
• Annual crop surveys are important for monitoring disease incidence and severity between districts and years. They also identify emerging disease issues and provide forewarning of potential problems.
• Sclerotinia diseases were widespread in broadleaf crops across the region in 2020, especially in narrow-leaf lupin and canola crops. This will have implications in 2021 and beyond.
• Blackleg was observed in every canola crop assessed as part of the integrated disease management (IDM) crop survey.
• Canola sown into a double break scenario will potentially require pre-emptive management to minimise disease risk.
• The decision to use fungicides is not always clear and should be assessed every year, depending on your crop’s disease risk profile.

• The survey received 224 responses from growers aligned with the different farming systems groups participating in this project.
• 39% of the grower respondents identified barley grass as having a medium to high impact on their cropping systems.
• 40% of the grower respondents feel that barley grass emergence patterns have changed over the last 10 years and that it now emerges later in the season.

51% of growers thought barley grass had become more common in their cropping paddocks. Some of the factors responsible for the increase in barley grass include delayed emergence and early seed-set, low efficacy of pre-emergence herbicides, particularly during dry starts to seasons, resistance to group A herbicides, continuous cereals in the system and wide crop row spacing

• From 2007 to 2009 field pea crops in the Hart district were sown in an even spread from early May through to June.
• The majority of crops were within 500 m of field pea stubble from the previous year.
• Blackspot was most severe in early sown crops adjacent to field pea stubble.
• There was a significant relationship between predictions of disease risk made by Blackspot Manager and the disease severity observed in these crops.

Both invertebrate pests and beneficials are found in association with chaff in paddocks. However, the species composition depends on the location of the paddock. Paddocks located in the Albany port zone are more likely to have higher densities of pests associated with chaff, whereas paddocks located in the Kwinana East port zone had the least pest densities and highest numbers of seed-harvesting ants associated with chaff.

The most abundant beneficials were weed seed harvesting ants which were found in close association with chaff. As these ants predate on weed seeds and live in holes in the ground, it is unlikely they are using chaff as a refuge, it is more probable that they are foraging in the chaff. This trend presents an opportunity to investigate in greater detail whether seed-harvesting ants provide an economic benefit to growers by consuming weed seeds from HWSC systems left to rot-in-situ.

Pitfall trapping was able to capture a higher diversity of invertebrate species than direct sampling of chaff. As pitfall trapping did not rely on samplers locating an invertebrate, it is more likely to be a more accurate representation of species presence and diversity in a paddock. However, this technique does rely on invertebrates moving and falling into a pitfall trap.

Leaving chaff to rot-in-situ does not affect abundances of pests such as desiantha weevil. However, other pests do use chaff as refuges. For instance, pest beetles, Rutherglen bugs, European earwigs were found in association with chaff. It is unlikely these species are feeding on chaff, but rather are using chaff as a refuge. This survey was not able to determine if long term retention of chaff will increase abundances of these pests.

There was no correlation between the presence of chaff and the presence of a mouse holes, nor was there a correlation with HWSC system and the presence of mice.

Of the twenty paddocks sampled for mice, only 5 paddocks had active mouse holes.  Four paddocks  were located near Minginew and had at most two active holes along 4 transects. These are considered to have low levels of mice. One paddock in Esperance had mouse numbers that were considered high, at this site there were an estimated 488 mouse holes per hectare. 

 

UWA trials on an MLA funded project showed that using more disease-resistant or disease-tolerant cultivars across Australia in 2015 and 2016 significantly increased plant productivity by up to 4 to 5-fold. This opportunity to identify cultivar resistances and cultivar field tolerances to the soil borne pathogen complex offers the best and most cost-effective, long term, and economically feasible means of managing damping-off and root diseases in subterranean clover across southern Australia. However, despite this tremendous opportunity to benefit producers, this opportunity is unlikely to be realised unless there is ongoing commitment by Industry funding to support such an approach and to realise this potential.

• Inoculum are living bacteria.
• Survial of rhizobia is vital for inoculation and effective nodulation of crop and pasture legumes.
• Chemicals and fertilisers can affect survival and persistence of rhizobia in the soil.
• Therefore, ensure high numbers of rhizobia are sown, especially where chemicals are used.

• Chickpea pods can split open when harvest is delayed (harvest date (HD)3 and HD4), allowing easy access for water and an easier exit for seeds that can drop to the ground before or during the harvest process.
• HD3 averaged 28.6% split pods per plant (varietal range of 2.8–51.9%) while HD4 averaged 46.0% split pods per plant (varietal range of 30.0–64.9%).
• Averaging across HD3 and HD4 for the desi chickpeas, Howzat had the least split pods (10.5%) and PBA SeamerA had the most (55.6%). For the kabuli chickpeas, Genesis™ 090 had the least split pods (22.5%) and Genesis™ KalkeeA was the worst affected (55.6%).
• Loss of seed from split pods and pod abscission, seed shattering and reductions in grain weight caused from delaying harvest were shown to reduce grain yields by up to 44%.
• A delay of six days with one rain event (44.2 mm) was enough to reduce the grain yield in chickpeas (averaged across varieties) by 2%, due to lower seed density.
• Growers should aim to harvest chickpeas on time to avoid yield losses and grain quality penalties at receival.
   

• The 2013 Tamworth and 2014 Trangie environments were not conducive to high levels of seed markings, with all varieties having <5% tiger stripe/blotches.
• The later sown chickpeas had a lower incidence of seed markings in two of the three environments.
• The 2015 Tamworth experiment was conducive to seed markings for the first sowing date (SD1). In this case, the most susceptible commercial varieties were PBA PistolA and PBA BoundaryA, with 9.7% and 6.7% of individual seeds having tiger stripe/blotches respectively.
• All five kabuli varieties did not display any seed markings in any of the three environments.
• All desi varieties showed at least low levels of tiger stripe/blotch type markings in one or more of the three environments and two sowing dates

Conclusions

Time of sowing and variety influence the amount of seeds showing the tiger stripe/blotching type markings in chickpea. Kabuli chickpeas do not suffer from this defect. Desi chickpeas sown in mid-June at Tamworth and Trangie had a lower incidence of this type of seed marking. Research is ongoing to identify both the genetic basis and the environmental triggers of tiger stripe/blotch type markings in desi chickpeas to minimise any potential risk to the Australian chickpea industry.

In 2001 the Rankins Springs CWFS plan to sow lupins across all treatments with the exception of organic treatment, which is considering vetch. The original plan was for barley in 2001, but at the last meeting a motion was passed for lupins to be sown this year to aid soil nitrogen levels.

The Sustainable Land Management Demonstration Sites in the Mallee have been established to demonstrate improved farming practices through a better understanding of crop management and water use to reduce groundwater recharge and soil erosion.

• Test your soil- soil testing individual paddocks for nutrient status and plant available water at the start of the season allows you to determine the paddocks yield potential and requirements. Knowing this information at sowing can assist in making decisions throughout the season.
• Yield Prophet- the crop simulation model is a great tool for assessing crop risk and predicting potential yields.

• Yield Prophet- the crop simulation model- is a great tool for assessing crop risk and predicting potential yields.
• For renovating overgrazed perennial pasture paddocks, the sowing of cereals is a low risk strategy.
• Pasture establishment is extremely difficult in the Mallee in years with limited spring rainfall.
• Cereal biomass production may be greater by an order of 10 times than either perennial or leguminous pastures in the first year of establishment.
• Best pasture options for a June sowing in terms of biomass in the first year of establishment are either forage brassica or Italian Ryegrass

The results to date from the systems trial are broadly summarized in the attached tral report.

• In 2016 only 40% of the barley grass was greater than 17 cm tall and had the potential to be collected by early swathing, or 60% of the barley grass seed had already shed or was below harvest weed seed collection height.
• Sampling of the swathed paddock area showed slightly better barley grass weed seed collection using swathing than from the rest of the paddock which was harvested normally.
• Seed capture at both swathing and harvest is higher with annual ryegrass than with barley grass.

• Applying a monolayer of ethylene glycol monooctadecyl ether polymer reduced evaporation by 50%–60% under small scale, controlled environmental conditions.
• Under field situations its efficacy is significantly reduced and produces inconsistent results with evaporation savings of less than 10%.
• Windy conditions and/or a decrease in the polymer’s longevity on the water surface under field situations probably cause this reduced effectiveness.
   

• For this trial, the N-calculator prediction optimised yield and gross margin in Mace wheat.
• In Season N Calculator model predictions were
• Getting mid-season N decisions right can have a significant impact on profitability since optimal top up N rates indicatively increased yields by 480 kg per hectare and net returns by $70 per hectare.
• The value of split N applications was shown and the trial provides more weight to the building confidence that the N calculator can provide real and robust N recommendations that are not in excess of crop requirement and produce maximum or near maximum margin returns from mid-season N applications.

• N Calculator recommendation was accurate for 9 weeks after sowing (WAS) application with additional nitrogen not increasing yeild. The recommendation was slightly below optimumfor 7 WAS.
• Achieving close to the target 10.5% protein indicates that recommended N rates were utilised to optimise growth and yeild and application of N was not deficient or excessive.
• This provides confidence to incorporate the use of N Gauges and the N-calculator to assist in making N application decisions to wheat crops during the season based on the growth status of the crop.
• Summit will continue further testing of the N Calculator under differedt seasonal consitions in the noerthern Wheatbelt and the effect if timining of NVDI assessment and N-Calculator recommendations on yield response to in season N applications.  

• TagTeam™ has increased the yield of field peas by 4.5 percent in trials using half the rate of phosphate fertiliser, resulting in a productivity gain of at least $30/ha from both the yield increase and fertiliser reduction.
• JumpStart™ has been shown to increase the wheat yield by 5 percent in farmer split-paddock trials where half the rate of the grower’s fertiliser was used, resulting in productivity gain of at least $30/ha from both the yield increase and fertiliser reduction.

• In the unusually wet growing season of 2016, increasing the barley plant density did not increase the yield of all varieties.

• High tiller numbers reduced overall grain size.

• In ideal growing conditions, some varieties with lower plant densities of <125 plants/m2 out-yielded higher density treatments.

An Ally tank mix gives farmers a fantastic weapon in the fight against weeds.

• Ancient barley germplasm from Ethiopia harbours resistance to scald and other diseases.
• Twenty-eight out of 355 Ethiopian lines were moderately resistant to scald.
• Careful selection for disease-resistant lines is important to retain other desirable traits.

• Nuseed Diamond achieved 5 t/ha grain yield from early sowing (watered for germination on 12 April).
• The high yield of Nuseed Diamond was due to its high biomass accumulation and high harvest index. ATR BonitoA was the lowest yielding variety, largely because it accumulated less biomass than hybrid non-TT varieties.
• Split nitrogen application resulted in higher grain yield than all nitrogen applied at sowing or all nitrogen
delayed to the 8-leaf stage.

• Pioneer® 45Y88 (CL) was the highest yielding variety, averaging over 4 t/ha, with Nuseed Diamond and Pioneer® 45Y25 (RR) also achieving high yields.
• Sowing on 5 April resulted in higher grain yield, reduced lodging and lower oil content compared with sowing on 26 April.
• A plant population of 35–56 plants/m2 resulted in higher grain yields than populations of 18 plants/m2 or 68 plants/m2.
• Applying 200 kg N/ha resulted in higher grain yields than 150 kg N/ha when the soil available nitrogen (N) at sowing was 64 kg/ha. Nitrogen rates above 200 kg N/ha resulted in no extra yield.
• Increasing N application rates above 200 kg N/ha reduced oil concentration.
• Crop lodging increased with plant populations above 35 plants/m2 and N rates above 150 kg N/ha.

• Correct varietal selection and optimal agronomic management can result in irrigated wheat yields of over 10 t/ha.
• LongReach CobraA, LongReach TrojanA and BeckomA were the highest yielding varieties.
• Delaying nitrogen fertiliser application by applying the greatest amount at booting was shown to improve grain protein concentration and reduce lodging compared with applying more nitrogen at sowing.
• A plant population of 120 plants/m2 was shown to yield more than higher plant populations whilst also minimising lodging.

• The results must be treated with caution as the late break, extremely wet September/October period and then extremely dry finish to the season did not suite any of the wheat varieties with very little significant differences occurring between the yields of different varieties.
• For further conclusions, please see the attached trial report.

In this experiment foliar application of tebuconazole at label rates to a wheat crop (cv. Yitpi) at GS38-49 resulted in a significant yield loss (0.43t/ha or a 43 percent decrease relative to the control)

One way plough and Grizzly Offset discs appear to be the most efficient, practical most cost effective method of incorporating lime into the topsoil in the eastern wheatbelt wodjil soils.