• Crop establishment increased with on row sowing. Stubble from the previous season helps soil moisture infiltrate into non-wetting sands and into a position closer to the seed.
• Initial germination of brome grass weeds was higher with inter row sowing.
• Late brome grass weed numbers was also greatest with inter row sowing. Sowing on row may also increase crop and weed competition as will a higher seeding rate.

• Commercial viability has been difficult to demonstrate.
• Field trials demonstrated that the H Senor was able to accurately classify annual ryegrass in several broadleaf crops, including canola, faba bean, lentil and field pea.
• Other grass weeds such as brome grass and wild oats were also correctly identified as grasses in these crops.
• Broad leaf weeds were accurately classified in cereal crops, however this was more difficult due to the overlapping nature of the cereal crops at the time when the broadleaf weeds had emerged.
• Classification accuracy was lower for detection of grass weeds in cereal crops and broadleaf weeds in broadleaf crops, and these scenarios were not pursued for that reason.  

Crop selection in 2003 is complicated by the conditions in 2002. The main issues that can affect your crops this year are:

Cereal Root Disease levels in 2002 were very low and disease levels from 2001 will be carried over - 2002 was NOT a disease break year. The last time we saw CCN in the southern Mallee was after the 1994 dry year when eelworm did not hatch but was carried over from 1993 and affected wheat crops in 1995.

Foliar Disease levels were low in 2002 and stubbles from 2001 will be the main source of inoculum outbreak for diseases in 2003.

Residual Herbicides used in 2001 and 2002 can have a large impact on susceptible crops in 2003.

• Legume crops consistently increased pre-sowing soil nitrogen in the year following the break.
• Two-year break phases that included a brown manure vetch phase have generally resulted in the highest pre sowing soil nitrogen levels in the subsequent wheat crops.
• One and two-year break phases reduce Rhizoctonia soil inoculum, however levels increase significantly following the first cereal crop.
• Two-year break treatments generally reduced brome grass populations in the cereal phase, however all rotations relied on Clearfield herbicides for brome grass control by the second wheat crop following the break.
• The benefits from extra soil water following some break phases in this trial have been variable and small.

• The choice of legume species and management were found to influence the amount of nitrogen fixed by both crop and pasture legumes byaffecting either legume reliance upon N2 fixation for growth or changes in dry matter accumulation.
• Medium to high soil mineral N concentrations at sowing appeared to suppress N2 fixation by field pea more than lupins or faba beans.
• Pulse legumes grown for grain generally result in lower net inputs of fixed N.
• Available soil N following either legume crops or pastures can represent an additional 40 to 90kg N/ha in the 1st year.
• The increased N uptake by the 1st wheat crop grown after legumes was equivalent to 27-40% of N in the previous year's legum residues.

More reliable management strategies for the production of broad leaved phases.

Identification of more reliable break phase options.

Guidelines to identify trigger points for when, for how long and which break phases to use for improved farming systems outcomes.

Reliable estimation of risks with break phases as well as their total impacts on following cereal crops.

• Break crops can be just as profitable as wheat crops.
• Antas sub-clover (for hay production) as the break crop was the most profitable option.
• Beans were the most effective at fixing nitrogen, averaging 13 kgN/tDM produced.

• Break crops can be just as profitable as wheat crops
• Antas sub-clover (for hay production) as the break crop was the most profitable option
• Beans were the most effective at fixing nitrogen, averaging 13 kgN/tDM produced

• Time of Sowing; get it right after the break crop.
• Effects of the break crops are often realised for at least 2 seasons after being planted.
• Beans consistently fixed the most nitrogen over the 3 year period; averaging 15Kg N/ha per tonne of dry matter produced (above the ground).
• Financial benefit of a break crop needs to be worked out over life of rotation.

• Yield loss response curves are an additional tool to help growers in varietal selection decisions to maximise returns where disease is present.
• Variations occurred in the yield response of varieties to crown rot, along with their resistance to this disease.
• The variety Suntop, although displaying crown rot symptoms similar to that of a susceptible variety, demonstrated a greater ability to maintain yield where disease was present than other varieties that are considered tolerant.
• The selection of varieties based purely on current resistance categories may be overlooking genetics with improved tolerance, such as the variety Suntop.
   

Based on this trial it appears CG could be used as a substitute for DAP fertiliser in cereal production however blending with urea to ensure adequate N would be essential. 

• The trial area was seeded in June 2015 to wheat by Peter Negus, while he was seeding the surrounding paddock.  Unfortunately, the seeder ran out of seed as the trial was being sown.  The result was that there were large unseeded strips running through the trial. 
• Rainfall at the site was very poor in September and October 2015; approximately 70% below average for that period.  As a result, cereal crops on soils with low water holding capacity were badly affected, with yields well below average.
• Analysis of the harvest results (excluding plots affected at seeding) showed no significant differences, leading us to conclude that either (a) the tillage and lime treatment effects have ‘worn out’ at the site, or that (b) poor rainfall in September and October severely reduced yields, obscuring any other effects.  We believe that (b) is more likely.
• This trial will be sown to lupins in 2016.

The pH results from this trial show some interesting trends. 

The treatments with greater disturbance at depth (spade, deep rip + spade, mouldboard) tend to decrease surface pH.  This is of concern if the ‘new’ topsoil pH is acidic enough to inhibit root development. 

The treatments with greater disturbance at depth (spade, deep rip + spade, mouldboard) tend to increase midsoil pH most rapidly.  This is the effect hoped for.  The differences between treatments are generally not significant, but more intensive sampling may tease out differences.

The treatments with greater disturbance at depth (spade, deep rip + spade, mouldboard) tend to increase subsoil pH most rapidly.  This is the effect hoped for.  The differences between treatments are generally not significant, but more intensive sampling may tease out differences.

• Investigated infertile soils over clay in SA and Victoria.
• Earlier work showed that a "shotgun" mix of N, P, zinc, copper and manganese placed at 40cm regularly doubled cereal yields.
• Have shown that such applications have onging residual benefits.
• Need at least 25cm of sand or haying off can occur in dry years.
• Deep ripping tyne type and spacing appear to be less important than depth of application at 40cm.
• Apply nutrients at a rate which would double current yields.
• Management of erosion after ripping is the primary challenge.
• Addition of deep nutrient during ripping would appear to be a good option with reliable benefits.

At Minnipa in 2013 there were cereal yield responses to fungicide treatments in both wheat (up to 14% better than no fungicide) and barley (up to 12 % better than no fungicide but not all strategies were effective). However there were still visual Rhizoctonia patches present. In-furrow fungicide applications were more effective than seed treatments. Tillage, starter nitrogen and zinc produced similar yields to many of the fungicide treatments. A three week delay in seeding reduced yield by nearly one third. Fungicide treatments did not prevent an increase in Rhizoctonia inoculum levels during a cereal phase.

• In 2019 the IMI system had the lowest barley grass plant numbers.
• The Cultural Control strategy did not achieve the desired outcome of having a more even seed spread and increased competition in the inter row for barley grass weed control.
• The medic pasture produced low dry matter compared to the cereal systems, had the highest barley grass population and the lowest competitive ability with the barley grass.
• The loss of Group A herbicides to control barley grass within local pasture systems has the potential to change rotations and decrease farm profitability.

• In 2019 the IMI system had the lowest barley grass plant numbers.
• The Cultural Control strategy did not achieve the desired outcome of having a more even seed spread and increased competition in interrow row for barley grass weed control.
• The medic pasture produced low dry matter compared to the cereal systems, had the highest barley grass population, and the lowest competitive ability with the barley grass. 
• The loss of Group A herbicides to control barley grass within local pasture systems has the potential to change rotations and decrease farm profitability.

 

• Broadleaved break crops increased pre sowing soil nitrogen by up to 40 kg/ha in 2014 while Rhizoctonia inoculum was also significantly reduced following these crops.
• Growing a legume break crop in 2014 increased the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop by 0.6–0.7 t/ha.
• Wheat crops following legumes were twice as profitable than following another cereal crop in 2015.
• The profitability of paddock rotations that included legume break crops in 2014 were similar to or exceeded the profitability of the cereal intensive rotation in the same paddock.

• Broadleaved break crops increased pre sowing soil nitrogen by up to 40 kg/ha in 2014 while Rhizoctonia inoculum was also significantly reduced following these crops.
• Growing a legume break crop in 2014 increased the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop by 0.6 – 0.7 t/ha.
• Wheat crops following legumes were twice as profitable than following another cereal crop in 2015.
• The profitability of paddock rotations that included legume break crops in 2014 were similar to or exceeded the profitability of the cereal intensive rotation in the same paddock.

• Broadleaved break crops increased pre sowing soil nitrogen by up to 40 kg/ha in 2014 while Rhizoctonia inoculum was also significantly reduced following these crops.
• Growing a legume break crop in 2014 increased the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop by 0.6–0.7 t/ha.
• Wheat crops following legumes were twice as profitable than following another cereal crop in 2015.
• The profitability of paddock rotations that included legume break crops in 2014 were similar to or exceeded the profitability of the cereal intensive rotation in the same paddock.

• Broadleaved break crops increased pre sowing soil nitrogen by up to 40 kg/ha in 2014 while Rhizoctonia inoculum was also significantly reduced following these crops.
• Growing a legume break crop in 2014 increased the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop by 0.6–0.7 t/ha.
• Wheat crops following legumes were twice as profitable than following another cereal crop in 2015.
• The profitability of paddock rotations that included legume break crops in 2014 were similar to or exceeded the profitability of the cereal intensive rotation in the same paddock.

• Broadleaved break crops increased pre sowing soil nitrogen by up to 40 kg/ha in 2014 while Rhizoctonia inoculum was also significantly reduced following these crops.
• Growing a legume break crop in 2014 increased the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop by 0.6–0.7 t/ha.
• Wheat crops following legumes were twice as profitable than following another cereal crop in 2015.
• The profitability of paddock rotations that included legume break crops in 2014 were similar to or exceeded the profitability of the cereal intensive rotation in the same paddock.

• With a disease like rhizoctonia crop rotation away from cereals is important to reduce inoculum levels. In high risk rotations or in paddocks known to have high disease levels EverGol Prime will be a useful new option for growers based on Australia wide trial experience.
• EverGol Prime has demonstrated excellent control of smut diseases (including bunt) with work conducted in Western Australia on loose smut this year confirming it as an excellent new tool for grower’s to target this hard- to- control disease.

• Adequate pre and post emergent weed control is critical for maintaining yield potential and quality of grain legume crops.
• Canola remains the most profitable non-cereal crop type demonstrated at this site in 2018.
• Where vetch grain is not harvested and sold as feed, consideration of this legume crop type for its grazing value may be advantageous for a mixed farming system.
   

• Preparation of paddocks is key to the success of legume crops such as chickpeas and field peas. Control of weeds prior to sowing is crucial and, rolling to level the seed bed post seeding improves the ability to harvest such crop types.
• Field peas and chickpeas are more susceptible to frost damage compared to canola or lupins.
• Canola remains a highly profitable non-cereal crop in Kalannie in 2018.
   

• Significant weed burdens can impact yield of legume crops considerably if not controlled well with rotation or pre and post emergent herbicide options.
• Without control of weeds, soil borne diseases can be carried from legume phase into the cereal phase. 

• Zinc deficiency caused production losses in cereals of up to 25% and in medic of up to 300% in biomass.
• Critical level for zinc deficiency in wheat was established as 18 mg/kg in YEBs at late tillering.
• Zinc deficiency in crops can be corrected with foliar sprays, zinc coated fertilisers or zinc applied to the soil and thoroughly incorporated by tillage. Fertilisers which are a mix of NP granules and zinc granules are poorly effective.
• Zinc applied to the soil will provide residual benefits for 3-10 years, the longer persistence in sandier mallee soils.
• 70% of cereal crops in the SA mallee were zinc deficient in the early 1990s.
• An application of 2 kg zinc/ha to the soil (as an incorporated soil spray or zinc coated fertiliser) will correct zinc deficiency in broadacre crops and pastures.

• A combination of old and new technology is being used to detect and analyse airborne fungal spore patterns affecting cereal and pulse grain crops.
• Intense spore showers were detected for blackspot of field pea and NFNB of barley, but negligible for YLS of wheat, at the experimental site at Hart during the 2013 season.
• Spore dispersal patterns of blackspot of field pea fitted with Blackspot Manager predictions.

Taking account of fungicide costs (both application and product) revealed that untreated Teesdale generated the equal highest margins (Table 6-16). With both Mitre and Kellalac the most cost effective treatments were two applications of fungicide based on a GS32 Bayleton followed by Opus, however as stand alone treatments the flag leaf spray of Opus was substantially more cost effective than either Jockey or Impact. The application of Bayleton at GS32 followed by GS39 Opus was slightly more cost effective than the Impact followed by Opus. Impact had an edge over Jockey in this trial in terms of green leaf retention, yield and margin.

• Axe and Gladius produced the highest gross income at Franklin Harbour.
• Correll and Yitpi produced the highest gross income at Mt Cooper.
• Pugsley and Yitpi produced the highest gross income at Elliston.
• Flagship and Capstan produced the highest gross income of barley at Mt Cooper.

• Results from experimentation undertaken in southern NSW in 2011 and 2012, have demonstrated that crop sequences which include a brassica or legume break crops can be as profitable as, and in many instances more profitable than, continuous wheat.
• Canola was consistently the most profitable break crop option. However, the rotational benefits of canola were usually restricted to just the first subsequent wheat crop whereas additional wheat yields can occur for two years after a legume.
• Growing pulses for grain maximises profit, particularly in favourable seasons, but compromises grass weed control and (depending upon species) reduces N available to subsequent crops compared to brown manuring.
• Growing pulses for hay was found to be profitable across a range of season types, achieves excellent grass weed control and provides greater N inputs and higher carry-over of soil water than when the same crop is grown for grain.
• Growing pules for brown manure loses money in the year they are grown, but achieves excellent grass weed control, high N inputs, residual carry-over of soil water, provides more ground cover, and requires less labour than when grown for hay or grain.

• The monitoring undertaken showed no evidence for significant reduction of soil borne disease by ripping and cultivation.
• The spatial variability of soil borne diseases dictates that careful site selection, small plots, multiple replications and intensive sampling is required to obtain meaningful results.

Chara and Mackellar are still suitable varieties for growing in high rainfall enviroments despite increased susceptiblity to some diseases.

• Growers' choice of wheat variety in south-west Victoria must take into account the possible need for fungicide sprays to protect some varieties from leaf diseases, in particular stripe and leaf rusts.
• Wheat growers who are not fully prepared to adopt an adequate regime of correctly timed fungicide sparys should choose only varieties that have high levels of resistance to Stripe Rust and Leaf Rust.
• As new strains of both rusts appear very regularly, varieties may rapidly lose their resistance.
• It is very important to check the disease ratings of your chosen varieties every year.

• This trial aims to investigate opportunities for symbiotic improvement.
• Inoculation will be critical to the establishment of new legume species, where they have not previously been grown. The extent to which inoculation can still improve medic nodulation is being investigated.
• There was no response to medic inoculation in the 2018 trial, even when the inoculation rate was doubled.
• Trigonella was better nodulated and produced greater root weights than the medics.
• These results cannot be fully interpreted until the N-fixation data becomes available.
• Medic breeding lines with improved N-fixation capacity are being developed as part of the Dryland Legume Pasture Systems project and will be tested in 2019.

• This is a component of a new five year Rural Research and Development for Profit funded project supported by GRDC, MLA and AWI; and involving Murdoch University, CSIRO, SARDI, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; Charles Sturt University and grower groups.
• This trial aims to assess a diverse range of annual pasture legumes in order to determine whether there are more productive and persistent options for the drier areas (<400 mm) of the mixed farming zone of southern Australia.
• Several new legume species established well under very difficult conditions, but in general were not as productive as the medics or vetch. 
• In the 2018 growing season, Caliph barrel medic was the best adapted pasture legume species to the conditions at Minnipa.
• Astragalus was the best adapted alternative legume species, although it was poorly nodulated.
• Zulu arrowleaf clover also performed well, however its peak dry matter production and flowering time may be too late for SA conditions.

• This is a component of a new five year Rural Research and Development for Profit funded project supported by GRDC, MLA and AWI; and involving Murdoch University, CSIRO, SARDI, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; Charles Sturt University and grower groups.
• This trial aims to assess a diverse range of annual pasture legumes in order to determine whether there are more productive and persistent options for the drier areas (<400 mm) of the mixed farming zone of southern Australia.
• Annual medics continue to be the best pasture option for neutral/alkaline soils on the upper Eyre Peninsula. Common vetch is an alternative option where a sown legume ley of one year duration is preferred.
• Building up a seed bank is critical to the longer term performance of the pasture. The aim in the pasture establishment year should be to maximise seed set.
• Levels of hard seed affect regeneration. Legumes with high hard seed levels should be cropped in the year following establishment.

Grain protein, but not grain yield was significantly affected by the type of pasture legume previously grown.

The annual medics were the most persistent species after cropping. 

The findings will be used to prioritise further research and development of novel pasture species on sandy soils.

Volga vetch produced the most biomass in the establishment year at both sites. 

This is a component of a five year Rural Research and Development for Profit funded project supported by GRDC, MLA and AWI;
and involving Murdoch University, CSIRO, SARDI, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; Charles Sturt University and grower groups.
• This trial aims to assess a diverse range of annual pasture legumes in order to determine whether there are more productive and
persistent options for the drier areas (<400 mm) of the mixed farming zone of southern Australia.
• The annual medics were the most productive pasture legume producing > 2 t/ha DM and setting > 500 kg/ha of seed. A new Tetraploid Barrel medic was the most productive.
• Astragalus was the most promising alternative legume and warrants further evaluation.

Wheat grain yields following grazing were surprisingly high and it would appear grazing was not detrimental to grain yield. Reduced dry matter from grazing may have resulted in less water useage early in spring with more then being available during grain fill. Of the wheat varieties, the grain yield of the line 1SR594-34 was particularly high. Dry matter production (from the one cut taken) was significantly lower for the wheat varieties but given the current high grain price dual purpose wheat is an attractive option. 
 

Most varieties showed a significant reduction in biomass protein levels following grazing. This was particularly the case for Monstress triticale.

Dual purpose cropping can have a role in an intensive grazing operation if crops can be sown on an early break – early growth is essential whilst conditions are still warm. The season will have to have a mild finish otherwise yield will be lost from the early grazing. More work needs to be done in the Wimmera and Mallee to see whether it is commercially viable to graze cereal crops early in the season, without suffering a yield penalty at the end of the season. It might only be a proposition in those areas which have a regular early start to the season and a longer wetter finish.

Canola Grain Yield at Pindar

All varieties apart from Stingray were able to yield the same or higher from the 9th April sowing opportunity.

As expected the shorter seasoned varieties were not able to capitalise on the 9th April sowing as the longer season varieties.    Grain yield declined with delayed sowing for longer season canola varieties.

Growers may not see a flat yield response for early sowings as an issue.  Instead, the early sowing window allows them to get crop out of the ground and reduces the risk of dry spells leading to a lack of future sowing opportunities.   However pests (eg Diamondback moth) and diseases (such as Sclerotinia), depending on rainfall zone and soil type, need to be factored into decisions about very early sowing windows.

The success of very early sowing depends heavily on soil type, soil moisture and temperature. Growers need to assess the conditions they face in the lead into each season closely before embarking on very early sowing, especially when using hybrid seed with high seed costs.

• An early sown cereal crop provides a green paddock of feed when regenerating or sown legume pastures are establishing, and avoids the cost and labour of handfeeding.
• In low to medium rainfall areas, barley and oat crops best tolerate grazing. They have better forage value and their ability to recover lessens production penalties. Grazed wheat varieties are likely to suffer grain yield and quality penalties. Dual purpose winter varieties are generally not suitable.
• In low rainfall areas, it is best to graze well before stem elongation for better crop recovery.

For trial results please see the attached trial report.

Intensive grazing at GS 30 – GS 31 (start of stem elongation) reduced grain yield compared to no grazing by an average of 37%. The greatest yield loss of 57% occurred with Monstress triticale and the lowest yield loss occurred with Amarok wheat (18%). Up to 2.1 t/ha of drymatter was available for grazing before stem elongation was reached. Yerong barley yielded the greatest drymatter pre grazing, with Brennan wheat the lowest drymatter yielding at 1.5 t/ha.

• Wheat following wheaten hay produced the highest grain yield, averaging 3.22 t/ha.
• The highest gross margin for the 4 years was from the standard rotation, which included field peas and canola.
• The greatest limitation to rotation productivity was from brome and barley grass, especially in the continuous cereal rotation.

• Wheat following wheaten hay produced the highest grain yield, averaging 3.22 t/ha.
• The highest gross margin for the 4 years was from the standard rotation, which included field peas and canola.
• The greatest limitation to rotation productivity was from brome and barley grass, especially in the continuous cereal rotation.

• Wheat following wheaten hay produced the highest grain yield, averaging 3.22 t/ha.
• The highest gross margin for the 4 years was from the standard rotation, which included field peas and canola.
• The greatest limitation to rotation productivity was from brome and barley grass, especially in the continuous cereal rotation.

• Wheat following wheaten hay produced the highest grain yield, averaging 3.22 t/ha.
• The highest gross margin for the 4 years was from the standard rotation, which included field peas and canola.
• The greatest limitation to rotation productivity was from brome and barley grass, especially in the continuous cereal rotation.

• Several sites where the main soil is grey sand over a yellow gravelly sandy loam {Altas of Australian Soils sheet 5; CSIRO Division of Soils).
• Neither Cu nor Zn applied alone gave increase grain yield.
• Increased grain yield resulted where Cu & Zn were applied together
• Application of greater than 2.75 - 5.5 kg bluestone (Cu sulfate] and about 1.5 -2.0 kg Zinc oxide drilled with a cereal crop gave maximum yields
• Aerophos treatements with low Zn content showed extrememly low grain yield compared to super; illustrating the value of Zn in plain super.

• The soil treatments investigated at these sites are considered to be ineffective for broad acre farming.
• Changes to nematode composition and microbial biomass were small and did not result in plant biomass production.
• Inprovements in the effectiveness of the soil treatments may occur when applied as seed dressings.

Applying gypsum can reduce soil pH and lower the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (C) to 30 cm depth within a year. Soils with pH > 9 will benefit most from gypsum. The solubilisation of soil organic C increased markedly at pH above 8.5. The availability of aluminium (Al) in soil increases at pH above 9. There was no significant effect of gypsum on the biomass or yields of crops within 2 years.

Applying gypsum can reduce soil pH and lower the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (C) to 30 cm depth within a year. Soils with pH > 9 will benefit most from gypsum. The solubilisation of soil organic C increased markedly at pH above 8.5. The availability of aluminium (Al) in soil increases at pH above 9. There was no significant effect of gypsum on the biomass or yields of crops within 2 years.

• Pulse crops can suffer from root diseases.
• Next generation sequencing (NGS) technology has potentially identified multiple pathogens of economic significance on South Australian (SA) crops — further work needs to determine which are the most important.
• Intensification of pulses in cropping rotations can increase pulse soilborne diseases.
• If you suspect soilborne disease issues in your pulse crops, send samples to SARDI.
   

• The long season UK wheat RGT Relay out yielded Manning but none of the treatments of insecticide or fungicide produced any significant difference in grain yield.
• There were clear indications that symptoms of BYDV were present in the RGT Relay that were not present in the BYDV tolerant variety Manning, but these differences did not result in a yield effect.
• BYDV like symptoms became more apparent in the canopy as the crop began to grain fill with less BYDV observed in the insecticide treated plots in RGT Relay (non-tolerant).
• Little or no BYDV like symptoms were observed in the Manning.
• There was no significant expression of erect heads in this trial or significant differences in erect head numbers.
• ELISA testing confirmed Cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV-prv) presence but not Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV-pav).

A combination of fertiliser inputs and irrigation can rapidly breakdownincorporated cereal stubble and allow sowing 4 weeks later. Getting the balance of fertiliser, in particular N rates, to ensure rapid breakdown, but creating neither N deficiency or excessive N remains elusive.

Measuring soil organic carbon following incorporation is giving mixed results as to the ability to increase soil OC via incorporation with fertiliser

Burning the stubble gave greater yield and oil content

• In 2017 the removal of a high barley stubble load resulted in better medic plant numbers late in the season (September), and increased (but still very low) dry matter production.
• Heavy barley stubbles from harvesting either high or low resulted in similar medic regeneration.
• Treating heavy barley stubbles with either rolling, a light tickle or left standing did not change medic establishment or dry matter production in 2017.

There were no differences in medic regeneration in wheat stubbles either harvested at two heights, left standing or rolled.

• Loose smut in barley is internally seed borne so if you are seeing infected heads then it means your grain souce was contaminated. It is the hardest of the smut diseases to control because it is an internally seed borne infection and most current seed treatments are not as effective on internally seed borne diseases.
• EverGol Prime has excellent local systemicity, being able to move across the seed wall and into the seed. It is an excellent option for control of loose smut.
• The applicaiton of Sakura into barley was not successful with the APVMA. Therefore we will not review the results as this component of the trial in regard to the interactions with pre-emergent herbicides.

In a barley trial where the principal diseases were leaf rust (Puccinia hordei) and powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis), foliar fungicide application increased yield by between 0.36 – 1.75 t/ha, taking the untreated yield from 2.79 t/ha to a maximum of 4.54 t/ha.

• A single slug baiting was ineffective at controlling slug populations.
• Direct drilling into a heavy cereal stubble from a previous crop can result in significant slug damage to canola, even with a single baiting.
• Cereal stubble removal by burning, will significantly reduce the amount of slug damage.
• Cultivation prior to sowing will have a positive effect on reducing slug numbers and damage to canola.
• An integrated pest management approach is required to control slugs effectively. Each treatment alone does not adequately control slug populations.

There has been widespread use of continuous cereal in the Mallee over the past decade, and with many drought years throughout this period fertiliser inputs have generally been greater than crop demand. As a consequence, soil phosphoruslevels are often well above the critical level. By identifying soils and conditions where continuous cereal systems perform best and where inputs can be most effectively targeted, there is an opportunity to reduce input costs and increase profitability. This trial used PA methods to identify soil types for targeted soil sampling to achieve a greater understanding of soil phosphorus levels in different soil zones. Yield mapping was then used to identify if and where fertiliser applied to the crop impacted grain yield.

• Grain yield was highest for Revenue and Endeavour (5.4 and 5.1 t/ha respectively) and lowest from Barley Z and Henley. Dry matter production was lowest from Revenue as with the water-logged conditions no third cut was taken.
• Winter barley germplasm is late flowering and may have considerable potential for early sowing in the more frost prone areas of Tasmania.
• There appears to be a strong interaction between grazing/cutting and water-logging with the additional stress of water-logging leading to poorer recovery after cutting.

Provided disease pressure does not become an issue, dual purpose wheats are an attractive option particularly where an initial irrigation is possible.

Grain yield after two dry matter cuts tended to be lower than for one cut for nearly all lines with an average of nearly 0.6t/ha difference.

Winter and spring wheat, barley, triticale and oat lines were evaluated for fodder dry matter production and grain yield. The two barley varieties and a spring wheat produced the highest dry matter (DM) in the first cut. However their recovery was poor and DM production from the second cut was significantly lower than for all other material.

The results of Trial 1 (forage and grain) have shown that Yerong Barley, 5092 Barley and Monstress Triticale produced the most dry matter (DM/Ha) up to GS30 for grazing. Amarok and Wedgetail produced the most dry matter of the wheat varieties. For Hay production (GS85), Wedgetail produced the most dry matter followed by Rudd and the HRZ03.1010.3 wheat variety. In total (Grazing and Hay), Wedgetail outperformed all varieties producing the most dry matter.

• Two trials were conducted to compare dry matter production and subsequent grain yield from cereal crops. In one trial four cereal crop species wheat (Mackellar), barley (Urambie), triticale (Breakwell), and oats (Bass) were compared. With a longer vegetative period, a second DM cut was able to be taken from Bass oats and consequently total DM production was significantly higher than from Mackellar which in turn produced significantly more DM than Breakwell and Urambie. Grain yield was significantly higher from Breakwell (9.4 t/ha).
• In a second trial, 7 wheat varieties and breeding lines were compared. There were statistically no differences in DM production between the wheats. The CSIRO line 95102.1 and Alberic were the highest grain producers.

Across both trials Capstan barley appears to have performed the best on average in a dry & challenging season.

• Barley was the clear winner in terms of grain production for this year's trial whilst the wheat varieties performed best in terms of the hay and grazing potential.
• Hay production was probably the best economic outcome in 2009 for most of the varieties covered in this trial. This reflected prevailing market prices at the time of harvest.
• For more take home messages please see the attached trial report.

• A range of cereal, grass, vetch, brassica and clover varieties were selected for their suitability in medium-high rainfall zones ina forage break in cropping rotations.
• In 2009 and 2010, specialist forage oats (Graza 51 and Graza 80) and annual ryegrass (Grassmax and Drummer) grew the largest amounts of dry matter.
• In 2009 Morava vetch grew the highest amount of dry matter for legumes, whilst in 2010 it was Zulu II arrowleaf clover.
• In 2010, the site was extremely wet, and some varieties performed better than others. If 2011 also proves to be wet, growers need to carefully select their varieties.

• A range of forage varieties were grown as rotational options at the MFMG site at Frances.
• Drummer Annual tetraploid ryegrass (6.482t/ha DM) grew the largest amount of dry matter, followed by Graza 80 (5.491t/ha DM) and Grassmax (5.099t/ha)
• The annual clovers grew signifcantly less dry matter, with Laser Persian Clover growing (3.025t/ha DM), Zulu Arrowleaf (3.008t/ha DM) and Bolta Balansa (2.977t/ha)
• The cereal/grass based options grew more DM and offered more competition, but legume & broadleaf crops offered different herbicide options, disease breaks and in case of legumes, nitrogen fixation.
• More work required to show possible yields, both as monocultures and as mixes for rotational options

• A range of forage varieties were grown as rotational options atthe MFMG site at Frances and Conmurra. 
• At Conmurra and Frances,the highest DM producing forages were annual ryegrass; R2 tetrapkhid annual ryegrass (12.28 t/ha DM) at Conmurra and Grassmaar Diploid annual ryegrass  (7.53 t/ha DM), primarilty due to their ability for a winter cut. 
• The best annual clovers at both Conmurra and Frances include Zulu II Arrowleaf (6.46t/ha and 3.93t/ha) and Bolta Balansa (6.27t/ha and 4.11t/ha).
• The cereal/grass based options generally grew more DM and offered more competition but legume and broadleaf crops offered different herbicide options, disease breaks and in the case of legumes, nitrogen fixation. 
• The legume and brassica varieties produce forage of a higher quality than that of cerels and grasses, which provides greater benefit to grazing animals.
• More work required to show possible yields both as monocultures and as mixes for rotational options. 

• Cereal and pea mixtures increase the crude protein and measurable energy content without reducing yield.
• Growing cereals with peas appears to help to reduce lodging in the peas.

The performance of the canola varieties evaluated in this study indicates that this crop is a viable option for inclusion as a non-cereal break crop in the nothern Wimmera and southern Mallee rotations. 

There was no take-all evident in the second cereal (wheat on wheat) trial and as a consequence no seed treatment differences in yield, however there was evidence of late season leaf rust control in the second wheat trial.

The variability across the paddock in the level of Take-all and deep soil N were relatively low and the results can be used to devise a management plan. Rhizovonia and Pratylenctus neglectus the results between the site were more variable

Key messages:

• Treating EGA GregoryA seed with Rancona Dimension reduced establishment losses associated with the addition of crown rot inoculum to 7% compared with 26% when no seed treatment was used.
• In this instance, Rancona Dimension did not provide a significant or consistent yield benefit in the presence of high levels of crown rot infection across the 12 trial sites in 2015.
• Growers should not expect Rancona Dimension to provide a significant and consistent reduction in yield loss from crown rot infection when used as a standalone management strategy.
• Growers considering the use of Rancona Dimension should follow the manufacturer’s advice and only consider it as part of an integrated management strategy against crown rot.

Conclusions

Rancona® Dimension is registered in Australia for the suppression of crown rot infection. Rancona® Dimension reduced establishment losses associated with severe early infection, created by the addition of crown rot inoculum to the seed furrow at sowing, to 7% compared to 26% in the absence of a seed treatment. Further research is required to determine if this improvement in establishment is associated with reduced Fusarium seedling blight. It should also be established whether such severe establishment losses are an artefact of the inoculation process used in the trials or occurs naturally in paddocks with high stubble-borne inoculum loads. In a separate larger trial conducted at Tamworth in 2015 in which infected stubble at the surface was the inoculum source Rancona® Dimension did not have a significant impact on the establishment of EGA Gregory compared to the Nil seed treatment (data not presented). Establishment benefits apparent in the 12 trials unfortunately did not translate into any improvement in grain yield. Rancona® Dimension did not provide a significant yield benefit over the use of no seed treatment or the two other commonly used seed treatments examined in this study under high crown rot pressure across 12 sites in 2015.

Although Rancona® Dimension is registered for the suppression of crown rot, with activity against early infection and potential establishment losses evident in this study, growers should not expect this to translate into a significant and consistent reduction in yield loss from crown rot infection when the product is used as a standalone management strategy. Integrated management remains the best strategy to reduce losses to crown rot. Growers may like to consider including Rancona® Dimension (320 mL/100 kg seed) as one additional component in their integrated management of crown rot.

• Both Aramo and Bounty performed as expected in the field in accordance with the label recommendations.
• Conditions at time of spraying and for the rest of the season were not favourable, however, both products stood up and performed quite well when compared to the unsprayed areas.

• Seasonal conditions can affect the disease complexes that exist for sub-clovers in any season (eg. the drier summers in 2014 & 2015 would be expected to cause a higher incidence of Rhizoctonia, whereas the wetter season in 2016 saw Pythium sp., Aphanomyces sp. and Phytophthora sp. more likely to be the dominant diseases).
• Current sub-clover establishment management practices (knockdown herbicide, cultivation, use of Apron seed dressing and sowing newer varieties or those that are widely adapted to the region) appear to be reducing the risk posed by root disease across the region.

• Sowing late into a high disease burden may offset any benefits of varietal disease resistance or the benefits of chemical control methods (i.e. seed treatments).
• Seasonal conditions can affect the disease complexes that exist in any season (eg. the drier summers in 2014 & 2015 would be expected to cause a higher incidence of Rhizoctonia, whereas Pythium sp., Aphanomyces sp. and Phytophthora sp. are likely to be more dominant in wetter seasons).
• Varietal differences were observed in establishment and persistence, however it is yet to be determined if this was due to root disease tolerance.

• The timing of brownout had no significant effect on the germination rate. This may have been due to a simulated “cultivation” immediately prior to sowing.
• Significant differences were found in the germination levels between varieties; Woogenellup is an older variety that is thought to be more susceptible to root diseases. The varietal difference suggests that root disease may be an issue across the region.
• Demonstration site responses to metalaxyl seed treatments in sub-clover germination suggests that root disease may be present and affecting establishment and persistence.

Findings are from one site in one season and more data will be needed before firm recommendations can be made.
• Where eyespot inoculum is present in paddocks at medium to high levels, avoid sowing Wedgetail and Orion. Trojan, Manning, and DS Pascal would be better choices, as would Compass if sowing a barley.
• Experience across 6 screening trials undertaken in SA in 2014 and 2015 indicates that some varieties (e.g. Trojan, Compass) are very consistent in their response to eyespot, but others (e.g.Hindmarsh, La Trobe, Corack, Shield) are not.
• Cereal types and varieties with weak straw are more likely to be at risk of lodging (and harvest difficulties) in the presence of eyespot than those which have good straw strength. Plant growth regulants might assist in reducing lodging issues.
• The range of susceptibilities shown within the varieties screened should provide a good base for breeding programs.

• Know the risk of yield loss from eyespot before sowing a cereal - inspect stem bases (lodging does not always occur) in a previous cereal crop or take soil samples pre-sowing and submit them to PreDicta B for analysis.
• Select less susceptible varieties which are well adapted to the area - untreated they will perform better and they may also be more responsive to fungicide application, particularly where disease pressure is high. Avoid varieties with weak straw strength as they are more likely to lodge when affected by eyespot.
• No fungicides are registered at present for eyespot management, but a number are in the process of registration. Once these are registered - use the correct rate (lower rates can be less effective); apply before canopy closure (GS30-31 is usually recommended); use high water rates; target the base of the plant.
• Delays (due to waterlogging) in fungicide application until after early stem elongation may reduce eyespot incidence and severity but may not give a yield response.
• Inoculum carryover is unlikely to be influenced by variety resistance alone but is likely to be reduced where a fungicide is applied prior to canopy closure. Greatest reductions in inoculum carryover were seen where two fungicide applications were made (tillering plus GS30-31) or where one fungicide application was made to a less susceptible variety.

• Commercial viability has been difficult to demonstrate.
• Field trials demonstrated that the H Senor was able to accurately classify annual ryegrass in several broadleaf crops, including canola, faba bean, lentil and field pea.
• Other grass weeds such as brome grass and wild oats were also correctly identified as grasses in these crops.
• Broad leaf weeds were accurately classified in cereal crops, however this was more difficult due to the overlapping nature of the cereal crops at the time when the broadleaf weeds had emerged.
• Classification accuracy was lower for detection of grass weeds in cereal crops and broadleaf weeds in broadleaf crops, and these scenarios were not pursued for that reason.  

• Commercial viability has been difficult to demonstrate.
• Field trials demonstrated that the H Senor was able to accurately classify annual ryegrass in several broadleaf crops, including canola, faba bean, lentil and field pea.
• Other grass weeds such as brome grass and wild oats were also correctly identified as grasses in these crops.
• Broad leaf weeds were accurately classified in cereal crops, however this was more difficult due to the overlapping nature of the cereal crops at the time when the broadleaf weeds had emerged.
• Classification accuracy was lower for detection of grass weeds in cereal crops and broadleaf weeds in broadleaf crops, and these scenarios were not pursued for that reason.  

• Commercial viability has been difficult to demonstrate.
• Field trials demonstrated that the H Senor was able to accurately classify annual ryegrass in several broadleaf crops, including canola, faba bean, lentil and field pea.
• Other grass weeds such as brome grass and wild oats were also correctly identified as grasses in these crops.
• Broad leaf weeds were accurately classified in cereal crops, however this was more difficult due to the overlapping nature of the cereal crops at the time when the broadleaf weeds had emerged.
• Classification accuracy was lower for detection of grass weeds in cereal crops and broadleaf weeds in broadleaf crops, and these scenarios were not pursued for that reason.  

• In a year with high rust pressure, fungicide application provided beneficial to all genotypes, even those with a good level of rust resistance.
• Several advanced breeding lines from the northern breeding program show promise, with high yield and large seed size combined with rust and chocolate spot resistance equal to or better than the current northern varieties.

Conclusion:

The high rust pressure and frequent rainfall towards the end of the season was likely responsible for the poor fungicide response in the LF experiment in terms of reducing symptoms and improving yield and seed size. In the HF experiment, mancozeb and
tebuconozole were most effective overall in reducing symptoms and improving yield and seed size. Four of the five fungicides were effective in increasing yield in the HF experiment compared with only one in the LF experiment, indicating the need for repeated sprays when disease pressure is high.

Note that the permit for tebuconazole allows for only three applications of 145 mL/ha in commercial crops.

 

• In a year of high disease pressure, most fungicides did not provide a yield and seed size benefit when used at low frequency.
• A high frequency fungicide strategy provided yield benefit using a number of products.
   

• PBA Samira and PBA Zahra have consistently been among the highest yielding commercial entries at teh Westmere site in 2015-17, out-yielding older faba bean varieties.
• There is a continued improvement in yield of faba bean linies with teh top breeding lines out-yielding current varieties at the Westmere site in 2015-17
• Seed wt was lower in 2017 than 2016 and this is most likely due to lower rainfall during the seed development phase in 2017.

• In a season with very little disease pressure, small varietal differences in chocolate spot did occur throughout the season, but these differences did not manifest into yield differences. Seed rate was critical to maximise yield in 2020, where lower seeds rates produced significantly lower yields when compared to higher seed rates. Seed rates also had a major effect on crop architecture, with lower seed rate treatments podding over a longer portion of the stem and having a higher pod number but lower overall dry matter harvest than that of higher seed rates.

 

• In 2020 grin yields were high (3.36 and 2.96 t/ha) considering the dry finish to the season. As with the sowing rate trial, varieties that were slower to mature and held a green canopy for longer and could not convert the green leaf area into yield due to the very dry spring conditions Variety selection is the key to minimise diseases. However, in low disease pressure situations, less disease doesn’t mean higher yields.

PBA Samira, PBA Zahra, and PBA Amberley, varieties with improved resistance to chocolate spot had less symptoms and better grain yields than PBA Marne and PBA Bendoc. At Tarrington, where there was very high disease pressure, the new chemistry fungicide strategy increased grain yield by 33% (to 4 t/ha) compared to the control where fungicides were not applied (3 t/ha).

• Despite very low disease pressure in 2018, there was a significant and profitable grain yield increase of between 40 and 55% with the use of fungicide strategies. 

• Disease was not an issue in 2018 due to very dry seasonal conditions. There was no difference in grain yield between the disease management strategies, and the varieties and breeding lines.  

The grain yield of faba beans significantly increased at higher plant densities especially when the when the diseases were controlled. Despite a late autumn break, with adequate chemical disease control, PBA Samira grain yields more than tripled (from 1.5 t/ha to 5.4 t/ha) when plant densities increased from 5 plants/m2 to 45 plants/m2 at Tarrington in 2019.

2012 was a set up year for the Rhizoctonia best bets demonstrations. Fungicides banded with fluid fertilisers at seeding did not reduce Rhizoctonia in the following cereal crop.

In 2013 the Rhizoctonia best bets demonstrations using rotations were over sown with cereal and showed break crops which are grass free are the best option to lower Rhizoctonia inoculum levels.

The four farmer demonstrations showed

• By sowing a cereal into established lucerne, total winter production can be increased although lucerne production will be decreased.
• Variety and cultivar selection is important to match growth to animal demand.

o Spring wheat, oats or barley suit early production.
o Winter wheat suits extended production.
o Barley can be used for grain production.

• Different types of sowing machinery can be used successfully.
• Live weight gains in excess of 200grms/day/hd can be achieved at a period when pasture is usually in short supply
• A viable grain yield can be achieved under good seasonal conditions by using barley.

Average trial yield was 3.8 t/ha, close to the potential as identified by Yield Prophet during the season. No significant differences in yield were found between stubble treatments (stubble retained, worked or removed) and nutrient treatments (normal practice, normal practice plus additional nutrients to enhance stubble breakdown). Changes in Soil Organic Matter fractions over the duration of the trial (2012 to 2014) resulting from the stubble and nutrient treatments will be assessed in March, 2015.