• Yield loss from crown rot ranged from 2.5% (not significant) in the bread wheat variety LRPB Gauntlet up to 21.9% in the bread wheat entry VO7176-69.
• Bread wheat variety choice impacted on yield in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection with ten entries being between 0.34 t/ha and 0.76 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory.
• The barley varieties Commander and La Trobe were 0.75 t/ha and 0.99 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory under high levels of crown rot infection, respectively.
• Rancona Dimension did not provide a yield benefit in the presence of high levels of crown ot infection at this site in 2015.

• Yield loss from crown rot ranged from not significant in the variety DBA LillaroiA and seven of the 13 bread wheat varieties, up to 32.9% in the durum variety JandaroiA.
• Only the bread wheat variety MitchA was higher yielding (0.41 t/ha) than the susceptible bread wheat variety EGA GregoryA in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection.
• Grain protein levels were low across the site and varied from 7.7% in MitchA up to 10.1% in the durum line 190873. Crown rot infection did not affect protein levels in any entry.
• Crown rot infection caused a small (1–2%), but significant, increase in the level of screenings in the barley variety La TrobeA, and 10 of the 13 bread wheat entries.
   

• Yield loss from crown rot ranged from 6.9% in the bread wheat variety Viking up to 31.9% in the durum variety Jandaroi.
• Bread wheat variety choice had a large effect on yield where there were high levels of crown rot infection with Suntop, Sunguard, Beckom and Viking, being between 0.37 t/ha to 0.62 t/ha higher yielding than EGA GregoryA.
• The barley varieties La Trobe and Commander were 0.62 t/ha and 0.84 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory under high levels of crown rot infection, respectively.
• Rancona Dimension did not provide a yield benefit in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection at this site in 2015.

•  Yield loss from crown rot ranged from not significant in the barley variety CompassA, durum entries 190873 and JandaroiA and six of the bread wheat varieties, up to 19.7% in the barley variety CommanderA.
• Only the bread wheat variety BeckomA was higher yielding (by 0.58 t/ha) in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection than the susceptible bread wheat variety EGA GregoryA.
• Grain protein levels were very low across the site (average 8.2%) and varied from 7.5% in LRPB ReliantA up to 8.9% in LRPB SpitfireA. Crown rot did not affect protein levels in any entry.
• Screening levels were very low across entries, but crown rot infection caused a small (0.5–1.3%), yet significant, increase in the level of screenings in the barley varieties CompassA and CommanderA, as well as in the bread wheat varieties CoolahA and LRPB SpitfireA.

CONCLUSIONS:

Cereal crop and variety choice affected yield in the absence and presence of added crown rot inoculum, which differed by 1.41 t/ha and 1.30 t/ha, respectively between the best and worst entries. Only the bread wheat variety BeckomA provided a yield benefit (15%) over growing the susceptible bread wheat variety EGA GregoryA under high levels of crown rot infection at Merriwa in 2016. This could have maximised profit in this growing season, but will not reduce inoculum levels for subsequent crops because all winter cereal varieties are susceptible to crown rot infection. Winter cereal crop and variety choice is therefore not the sole solution to crown rot, but rather just one element of an integrated management strategy to limit losses from this disease.

• Yield loss from crown rot was relatively low at this site in 2015 which ranged from 2.6% (not significant) in the barley variety La Trobe up to 15.2% in the bread wheat variety Sunmate.
• Bread wheat variety choice had a large effect on yield where there were high levels of crown rot infection with LRPB Lancer, Suntop, Beckom and Mitch being between 0.31 t/ha and 0.51 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory.
• The barley variety La Trobe was 0.59 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory under high levels of crown rot infection.
• Rancona Dimension did not provide a yield benefit in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection at this site in 2015.

• Yield loss from crown rot ranged from 11.0% (not significant) in the barley variety La Trobe up to 70.0% in the bread wheat variety EGA Gregory.
• Bread wheat variety choice had a large effect on yield where there were high levels of crown rot infection with nine varieties being between 0.46 t/ha to 1.69 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory.
• The barley variety La Trobe was 2.08 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory under high levels of crown rot infection.
• Rancona Dimension provided a small (0.29 t/ha) yield benefit compared to no seed treatment in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection at this site in 2015 but was far from providing complete control of the disease with 63% yield loss still occurring.

• Yield loss from crown rot ranged from 1.4% (not significant) in the bread wheat variety Suntop up to 35.0% in the bread variety EGA Gregory.
• Bread wheat variety choice impacted on yield in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection with all 12 entries being between 0.33 t/ha to 1.53 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory.
• The yield of the two barley varieties was impacted by late rain at this site in 2015 which resulted in considerable lodging, especially in La Trobe. The barley data from this site should be considered with caution.
• Rancona Dimension provided a small (0.22 t/ha) yield benefit compared to no seed treatment in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection (added CR) at this site in 2015 but was far from providing complete control of the disease with 29% yield loss still occurring.

• Yield loss from crown rot ranged from 0.5% (not significant) in the bread wheat variety Sunguard up to 47.3% in the bread wheat variety EGA Gregory.
• Bread wheat variety choice had a large effect on yield where there were high levels of crown rot infection with eleven entries being between 0.65 t/ha to 1.35 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory.
• The barley varieties Commander and La Trobe were 1.64 t/ha and 2.47 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory under high levels of crown rot infection, respectively.
• Rancona Dimension did not provide a yield benefit in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection at this site in 2015.

•  Yield loss from crown rot ranged from not significant in the bread wheat varieties MitchA and BeckomA up to 18.6% in the bread wheat variety LRPB FlankerA.
• The two barley varieties Spartacus A and La TrobeA along with nine of the bread wheat entries were higher yielding (0.28 t/ha to 0.86 t/ha) in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection than EGA GregoryA.
• Grain protein levels were relatively low at across the site which varied from 9.2% in CoolahA up to 11.5% in the barley variety SpartacusA . Protein levels in all other entries were not affected by crown rot infection.
• Crown rot infection caused a small (0.6 to 1.4%) but significant increase in the level of screenings in the four barley varieties and four of the thirteen bread wheat entries but remained below 5% for all entries.

Conclusions

Cereal crop and variety choice provided a 6–20% yield benefit over growing the susceptible bread wheat variety EGA GregoryA under high levels of crown rot infection at Parkes in 2016. This could have maximised profit in this growing season but will not reduce inoculum levels for subsequent crops because all winter cereal varieties are susceptible to crown rot infection. Winter cereal crop and variety choice is therefore not the sole solution to crown rot, but rather just one element of an integrated management strategy to limit losses from this disease.

Key findings

• Yield loss from crown rot ranged from not significant in five of the bread wheat varieties, the barley variety CommanderA and the durum variety JandaroiA up to 12.9% in the bread wheat variety EGA GregoryA.

• The recently released durum variety DBA LillaroiA produced a protein level of 15% which was over 1% higher than the two other durum entries JandaroiA and 190873.

• Crown rot infection did not significantly impact on the level of screenings in any of the entries due to limited expression under the wet seasonal conditions at this site in 2016. However, genetic differences were evident with screening levels which ranged from 3.2% in the durum line 190873 up to 17.6% in the bread wheat variety BeckomA.

Conclusions

Cereal crop and variety choice affected yield in the absence and presence of crown rot infection, which differed by 2.26 t/ha and 2.24 t/ha, respectively between the best and worst entries. The three durum entries were higher yielding relative to bread wheat and barley entries in both the added CR and no added CR treatments at this site in 2016. This was likely due to seasonal conditions (near full soil water profile at sowing plus 472 mm of in-crop rainfall), which limited crown rot expression.

Cereal crop and variety choice still provided a 9% to 35% yield benefit over growing the susceptible bread wheat variety EGA GregoryA under high levels of crown rot infection at Tamarang on the Liverpool Plains in 2016. This can maximise profit in the current season but will not reduce inoculum levels for subsequent crops, because all winter cereal varieties are susceptible to crown rot infection. Winter cereal crop and variety choice is therefore not the sole solution to crown rot, but rather just one element of an integrated management strategy to limit losses from this disease.

Key findings

• Yield loss from crown rot ranged from not significant in the bread wheat variety LRPB ReliantA up to 16.9% in the barley variety CompassA

 • Bread wheat variety choice affected yield in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection with three entries being between 0.45 t/ha and 0.85 t/ha higher yielding than the susceptible bread wheat variety EGA GregoryA.

• Grain protein levels were low across the site (mean of 9.8%) and varied from 8.7% in MitchA up to 10.6% in LRPB SpitfireA Crown rot infection did not affect protein levels in any entry.

• Crown rot infection caused a small (1–4%), but significant increase in screenings in the barley variety La TrobeA and all of the 13 bread wheat entries.

• Yield loss from crown rot was relatively low at this site in 2015 which ranged from 2.2% (not significant) in the bread wheat variety SuntopA up to 12.7% in the bread wheat variety LRPB Flanker.
• Bread wheat variety choice impacted on yield in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection with LRPB Spitfire and Beckom being 0.30 t/ha and 0.48 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory, respectively.
• The barley variety La Trobe was 0.99 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory under high levels of crown rot infection.
• Rancona Dimension did not provide a yield benefit in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection at this site in 2015.

• Yield loss from crown rot ranged from 9.9% (not significant) in the bread wheat variety LRPB Spitfire up to 60.1% in the bread wheat entry VO7176-69.
• Bread wheat variety choice had a large effect on yield where there were high levels of crown rot infection with nine varieties being between 0.54 t/ha to 1.76 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory.
• The barley varieties Commander and La Trobe were 1.56 t/ha and 2.27 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory under high levels of crown rot infection, respectively.
• Rancona Dimension did not provide a yield benefit in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection at this site in 2015.

• Seasonal conditions reduced stress during grain fill at this site in 2016, which limited the effects from infection on yield.
• Although the effect of crown rot infection on yield was not significant, there was still a 52% (1.76 t/ha) difference between the overall yield of the best and worst entries.
• Grain protein levels were relatively low across the site, varying from 7.8% in MitchA up to 9.8% in the durum line 190873. Crown rot did not affect protein levels in any other variety.
• Crown rot infection caused a moderate (2–6%) increase in the level of screenings in 10 of the 13 bread wheat entries.

Conclusions:

Cereal crop and variety choice affected yield at this site in 2016, which differed by 1.76 t/ha (52%) between the best (SpartacusA) and worst (DBA LillaroiA) entries when averaged across CR treatments. CR treatment did not significantly affect yield in any of the entries due to seasonal conditions (~120 mm of plant available water at sowing plus 555 mm in-crop rainfall), which limited stress during grain filling. The added CR treatment also did not affect grain protein levels, but resulted in a modest 2–6% increase in the level of screenings in 10 of the 13 bread wheat entries.

It should be remembered that cereal crop and variety choice in paddocks with a medium crown rot risk can maximise profit in the current season, but will not reduce inoculum levels for subsequent crops because all winter cereal varieties are susceptible to crown rot infection. Winter cereal crop and variety choice is therefore not the sole solution to crown rot, but rather just one element of an integrated management strategy to limit losses from this disease. 

• Yield loss from crown rot ranged from 5.3% (not significant) in the bread wheat variety SuntopA up to 31.0% in the durum variety Jandaroi.
• Bread wheat variety choice had a large effect on yield where there were high levels of crown rot infection with Beckom, LRPB Lancer and Suntop being between 0.30 t/ha and 0.41 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory.
• The barley varieties Commander and La Trobe were 0.93 t/ha and 1.65 t/ha higher yielding than EGA Gregory under high levels of crown rot infection, respectively.
• Rancona Dimension did not provide a yield benefit in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection at this site in 2015.

 For results please see trial report attached.

Please see article

This year's site, being responsive to nitrogen, fits with the other responsive sites at the lower end of the range of deep nitrogen test results. However, as the site with the highest deep nitrogen test result recorded a response to nitrogen in another year, more sites are required to further clarify the relationship. 

The incidence of stripe rust was severe at Hamilton and far lower at Mininera and Inverleigh. Subsequently, differences in grain yields of stripe rust susceptible varieties with and without fungicides was particularly dramatic at the Hamilton site whilst there was no difference at Mininera and only five varieties differed at Inverleigh.

Row Spacing: Most pulse crops are adapted to wider row spacings:

• Lupins 18 - 50cm
• Chickpeas 18 - 75cm
• Faba beans 18 - 75cm

Wider rows can reduce foliar fungal disease incidence (increasing airflow) and allow better stubble clearance by sowing machinery. However, good weed control is essential with wider rows.

In this paper, a simple, robust method for quantitatively mapping fPV, fNPV and fBS across the Australian tropical savanna region was deveoped.

Lime increased soil pH and decreased the exchangeable aluminium percentage (Alex%) significantly.
• Organic amendments could be used to ameliorate soil acidity, but they were not as effective as lime.
• Crops responded more to nutrient addition than amelioration of soil acidity with organic amendments in the short term.
• The long-term effect of organic amendments on soil acidity and crop yield response needs further investigation.

• Lime is the most effective amendment to increase pH and reduce exchangeable aluminium (Al).
• Deep placement of organic materials had a limited effect on soil pH, but reduced exchangeable aluminium percentage (Al%) significantly.
• The combination of lime with organic materials could facilitate alkalinity downwards in the soil profile in the short term.
• However, applying a large amount of organic materials could acidify soil over a longer term due to nitrification.
• No crop response was observed over the past three years due to severe drought conditions.

• Deep placement of organic amendments (e.g. lucerne pellets) did not increase soil pH as high as measured in laboratory/glasshouse experiments, but it did reduce exchangeable aluminium (Al) significantly at 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm, indicating that the organic amendment would relieve Al toxicity by combining Al3+ to form insoluble compounds, hence reducing toxicity to plant growth.

• There was a large crop yield response to deep organic amendments in year 1 due to extra nutrients supplied from the lucerne pellets, but no crop response was detected in year 2, partly due to lack of soil moisture during the crop growing season. To date, soil treatments have had little effect on soil water.

• Soil chemical, physical and biological properties will continue to be monitored to understand the soil–plant interactions, the factors driving the differences in crop response to the various treatments, and the residual value of the amendments over the long-term.
 

• Subsoil nutrition placed at 20cm has provided a residual yield benefit in the second year after application at Edillilie.
• Yield increases were greater where trace elements were also applied.

This trial was conducted to evaluate the residual control of button grass in fallow. An establishment of button grass was already present at the site with the majority of weeds ~15-25cm in diameter. These weeds were controlled with Roundup 450 @4L/ ha + Liase @1%. Residual treatments were applied on the 19/11/18, 5 days after the Roundup application.
Significant rain events occurred 3 days after residual application (52mm) and 29 days after application (30mm). There was no new emergence of button grass even in the untreated areas. A second maintenance spray of Roundup was applied to control any surviving mature button grass plants ~30 days after the residual herbicide application. Assessment on the 5/2/19 (77 days after application) still showed no new button grass emergence.
Additional rain events occurred in March 2019 (85mm on 16/3/19 and 35mm on 30/3/19) with an assessment of control conducted on the 1/5/19 (163 days after application). The majority of button grass at this assessment were flowered, up to ~30cm in diameter and expected to have emerged following the March rainfall. Dual Gold 2L provided ~99% control of the emergence flush with Flame at 150-200 mL/ha in excess of 90% control. Stomp Xtra and Valor provided useful levels of suppression and controlled ~70-80% of the emergence. Neither Balance 100 g/ha nor Terbyne Xtreme 1.2 kg/ha provided any button grass control and there was no obvious indication of biomass suppression.

This trial was conducted to evaluate the residual control of button grass in fallow. An establishment of button grass was already present at the site with the majority of weeds ~15-25cm in diameter. These weeds were controlled with Roundup 450 @4L/ ha + Liase @1%. Residual treatments were applied on the 19/11/18, 5 days after the Roundup application.
Significant rain events occurred 3 days after residual application (52mm) and 29 days after application (30mm). There was no new emergence of button grass even in the untreated areas. A second maintenance spray of Roundup was applied to control any surviving mature button grass plants ~30 days after the residual herbicide application. Assessment on the 5/2/19 (77 days after application) still showed no new button grass emergence.
Additional rain events occurred in March 2019 (85mm on 16/3/19 and 35mm on 30/3/19) with an assessment of control conducted on the 1/5/19 (163 days after application). The majority of button grass at this assessment were flowered, up to ~30cm in diameter and expected to have emerged following the March rainfall. Dual Gold 2L provided ~99% control of the emergence flush with Flame at 150-200 mL/ha in excess of 90% control. Stomp Xtra and Valor provided useful levels of suppression and controlled ~70-80% of the emergence. Neither Balance 100 g/ha nor Terbyne Xtreme 1.2 kg/ha provided any button grass control and there was no obvious indication of biomass suppression.

Ally applied as per label recommendations with a 9 month plant back period for pulses and canola grown on alkaline soils did not appear to have a negative effect on the growth of chickpeas, field peas, lentils, faba beans and canola.

In 1978, a residual value trial in which it is possible to compare the effectiveness of previuos applied Mn with cuuently applied Mn.  The Mn sulfate at 15, 30 & 60 kg/ha in 1978 produced maximum seed yield. The 15 & 30 kg Mn sulfate applied in 1982 produced the same maximum seed yield as Mn applied in 1978.  However, the 15 kg/ha of Mn sulfate applied in 1978 & 1982 still resulted in 11 - 16% split seed compared to the nil Mn that had 40% split seed. THe 30 kg Mn sul /ha reduced split seed to <5%.

The Mn concentration in whole shoot was 34 mg/kg; indicating Mn deficiency The Mn concentration in whole shoots with 15 kg Mn sul/ha was similar (80 mg/kg) for 1978 and 1982 applications.

THese results suggest that the residual value of soil applied Mn is greater than originally thought 

• Tested effect of rates, methods of application and residual effects of zinc oxide on hybrid maize XL45.
• Zinc was either broadcast or drilled at initial rates of 0, 5.6, 11.3 or 38 kg Zn/ha and 0 or 5.6 kg Zn/ha in subsequent seasons.
• In most seasons, treatment with zinc almost doubled grain yields.
• Broadcasting and working in was more effective than drilling zinc with the fertilizer.
• Residual effects of the initial 5.6, 11.2 and 38 kg Zn remained evident throughout the 6 years and the higher rates continued to produce highest yields.

Rates nil to 5 kg Zn/ha applied in 1970. Results for 1977.

Zn applied in 1970 barely detectable although application of plain super at 250 kg/ha /yr since 1970 maintain Zn levels for near maximum yield of pasture..

The author indicated the following:  

Suggestion that results indicated need to reassess the Zn requirement of a wide on inherently Zn deficient soils. This is particularly so in the absence of Zn via the Zn impurities in super from traditional sources of rock phosphate. It maybe highly likely that some future date we may have to rely on low Zn containing Zn phosphates .  Unless more information is obtained in advanced there could be serious losses due to Zn deficiency some time in the future.

Residual effects from soil nitrogen can be observed in the following cereal crop whcih makes a good case for utilising pulse innoculants

• Residual subsoil zinc improved root growth and grain yield of wheat in a pot experiment.
• Canola genotypes did not differ in their effects on the following wheat.
• A greater proportion of wheat zinc was located in grain where subsoils had received zinc (but it should be noted that these pots had received 3 times the total zinc of the surface zinc pots).

Residual herbicides can be an effective management tool in providing an extended period of weed control but careful consideration must be given to potential crop selection limitations, or crop loss, that their application may impose.

1. Terbyne® Xtreme® and Valor® provided the best residual control of common sowthistle as stand-alone residual herbicides and as mix partners with ‘grass active’ herbicides.
2. Group K, Group D and Flame® provided the best residual control of grass weeds as standalone residual herbicides and as mix partners.
3. Herbicide mixtures provided improved control over individual products and are likely to provide more wide-spectrum control of a range of weed species.

• This trial yielded 3.4 t/ha without fertiliser but there were still good responses to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The application of both nutrients increased yields up to 4.5 t/ha.
• There was a 0.6 t/ha response to 80 kg N/ha and a 0.7 t/ha response to 24 kg P/ha.
• 24 kg P/ha applied in both years produced 0.4 to 0.5 t/ha more than where 16 kg P/ha applied both years.
• Residual responses to N and P applied in 2011 were not significant.
• NS 41 applications increased protein from about 12.3% to 13.3%. Hectolitre weights were about 77 kg/hl and screenings averaged 1%.
• The most profitable treatment over the two years of the trial was 24 kg/ha (136 kg/ha Double Phos) applied both years.

• P fertilisers applied in 2006 did not improve grain yield in 2007, even at the high P rate (18 kg P/ha).
• In terms of residual value, there was no difference between granular and fluid P.
• 2007 applied fluid P (TGMAP) at 6 kg P/ha increased dry matter at GS30 from fresh granular P and control treatments.
• Soil testing is a useful tool for estimating P status in the soil.