• Stripe Rust (SR) caused yield losses in all but the highly resistant variety Sunstate (8) at most sites.
• Fungicides helped to protect yield potentials in susceptible varieties, except when SR pressure was either very low or very high.
• Timely early and late protection appeared more important than fungicide choice at Z39
• The genetic resistance in Sunstate (8) was clearly the most outstanding form of SR control when disease pressure was very high, exceeding any fungicide strategy used on susceptible varieties.
• Fungicide protection of SR on susceptible varieties is a practical and profitable option in the absence of resistant wheat varieties with desired agronomic traits.

Both cultivar and N fertiliser treatments significantly affected grain yield but there were no cultivar by N fertiliser interactions.

• CWFS regional site trials during 2013 and 2014 suggest stubble loads greater than 3 t/ha can limit yield.
• “No till with no stubble is no good” on hard setting red brown soil types. The delimma is that the annual incorporation of stubble just prior to sowing by cultivation or removal by burning would result in the loss of signifigant long term benefits to soil health.
• “If you do not measure it you cannot manage it!” Field measurements of stubble are the starting point for deciding what to do.
• Options to manage stubble loads above 3t/ha need to be made seasonally. Good planning may allow other agronomic and farm efficiency outcomes to be achieved at the same time.

• There has been no measured grain production or soil health decline associated with grazing sheep on pastures and crop stubbles over a 4 year pasture-wheat rotation. Grain yields were higher as a result of increased wheat seed and fertiliser rates in 2013.
• Higher applied crop seed and fertiliser rates with an improved medic pasture increased estimated gross margins by $16/ha/annum over a 6 year wheat-wheat-pasture-wheat-pasture-wheat rotation

• Over nine seasons, incorporating livestock into the rotation improved overall system outcomes in this trial, including; increased nitrogen cycling and water use efficiency, reduction in weed and pest populations and no negative effects on cereal performance or soil health, while value adding to stubble and pastures by grazing.
• The high input grazed farming system had a gross margin of over $100/ha/year more than lower input and ungrazed treatments over the nine-year trial period.

Filed peas, lentils and chickpeas are responsive to the application of phosphorus.

Growers should soil test paddocks going into grain legumes to determine the optimum phosphorus rate to apply and ensure lentils and field peas are priority crops for P fertiliser.

Overall, moderate grazing up to Z25-Z30 and clip grazing at and after Z25-Z30 had little to no significant impacts on yield. However,assessing the value of grazing to the farm system is complicated as grazing can affect time of flowering and frost impacts. It can also increase water use efficiency, allow pasture paddocks to be deferred, reduce the need for supplementation and allow increased stock numbers and/or crop area.

• Moderate grazing up to Z30 and clip grazing after Z30 did not appear to have significant impacts on yield in 2012 when compared to early sown crops.
• However, assessing the value of grazing to the farm systems is complicated as grazing can affect time of flowering and frost impacts. It can also increase water use efficiency, allow pasture paddocks to be deferred, reduce the need for supplementation and allow for increased stock numbers and/or crop area.

• Grazing livestock can compact surface soil and reduce infiltration rates, but their biggest impact on fallow efficiency is through stubble removal.
• Stubble improves summer fallow efficiency primarily by increasing infiltration; it slows but does not stop evaporation, and this is only beneficial where rainfall events occur close together or if it aids crop establishment.
• Despite high rainfall during the 2009-10 fallow period at Condobolin, there was little response in soil water storage to the grazing and stubble treatments.
• Wheat yield in 2010 was reduced by very heavy grazing but not by moderate (more typical) grazing.

Estimating what a paddock will yield allows growers to manage herbicide and fertiliser inputs during the season; forward sell grain and accurately insure their crops. This is an important tool for managing gross margins and ensuring profitability.

Estimating what a paddock will yield allows growers to manage herbicide and fertiliser inputs during the season; forward sell grain and accurately insure their crops. This is an important tool for managing gross margins and ensuring profitability.

Estimating what a paddock will yield allows growers to manage herbicide and fertiliser inputs during the season; forward sell grain and accurately insure their crops. This is an important tool for managing gross margins and ensuring profitability.

Estimating what a paddock will yield allows growers to manage herbicide and fertiliser inputs during the season; forward sell grain and accurately insure their crops. This is an important tool for managing gross margins and ensuring profitability.

• Achieving quality high protein hard wheat (11.5% protein) and Durum (13% protein) can be difficult.
• Agronomic practices can have a large influence on wheat yield and quality achieved. Soil testing for available N is essential if high yielding and high protein crops are targeted. Topdressing nitrogen fertiliser after the 5 to 6 leaf stage of the crop will further add to protein. Sowing on narrow rows (between 18 and 23 cm or 7 and 9") results in higher yields and can also reduce the level of screenings. High sowing rates (between 90 and 120kg/ha) can increase yield and reduce screenings in some situations.
• No negative effects on yield or screenings were found with high sowing rates.

Weed seed data (weeds above and below the harvest height) measurements were taken immediately prior to harvest and assessments of weed populations in the soil will be taken after autumn treatments (windrow burn and large scale burn) are applied to allow for an understanding of the effects of different treatments on the weed seed bank.
Harvest data was also collected through the yield monitor. This data is being analysed so that the additional cost of the iHSD can

Leaving straw in windrow to be burnt Weed seed data (weeds above and below the harvest height) measurements were taken
immediately prior to harvest and assessments of weed populations in the soil will be taken after autumn treatments (windrow burn and large scale burn) are applied to allow for an understanding of the effects of different treatments on the weed seed bank.
Harvest data was also collected through the yield monitor. This data is being analysed so that the additional cost of the iHSD can be established to run various economic simulations on the weed seedbank through the LUSO model and to compare the cost of the treatments. There was no significant difference in the yield across treatments or the efficiency (ha/hr). This was as expected as
the groundspeed rate was kept constant between all treatments so that the other factors.

• Phosphorus (P) responses were visual and evident from 3 leaf stage until the end of September with the 50 of P treatments being well ahead of the nil P.
• The 15 P plots also were visibly behind.
• There was a strong trend to increased yield with increasing rate of P applied, however this was not significant due to the high CV as a result of crown rot.
• The zinc and copper cote treatments performed better than most treatments and were significantly better than the nil P treatment, but not significantly better than the straight 25 P treatment as DAP. 
• Grain proteins were lower than expected with a very high CV 13%, usually grain protein CV's are about 2 - 3% showing that there was a dramatic effect of possibly crown rot in the site.
• The site had been in barley the year prior which is the best cereal host for carry over of crown rot and a dry finish makes the crown rot worse. 
   

• More salts in the high input soil which can be detrimental to some plants. 
•  Significantly higher residual phosphorus and potassium in the high input soil, along with higher levels of sulphur. 
•  A soil structural problem in both soil types indicating a need for gypsum and possibly lime. • A crop could be grown in the high input soil with minimal fertiliser input in 1999, whereas significant fertiliser input would be required for the district practice treatment. 

• Similar to the previous 4 years, the district practice treatment has given better performance than the high input treatment.
• This to a degree reflects the relatively fertile site and the fact that the seasons have finished quickly in November.
• On the data gathered so far, it is not economic to increase inputs, particularly fertiliser, beyond what is regarded as good district practice.

• Regional survey on the nutrient status of nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S) and the micro-nutrients Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) of soils in the HRZ of south-eastern Australia undertaken and status report prepared.
• Two omission trials sown in 2015 to test crop yield response and the interactions between nutrients where N, P, K and S and micro-nutrients Zn and Cu are omitted.
• Seasonal conditions resulted in the only responses being received from nitrogen applications; the omission trials to be repeated in 2016 under different seasonal conditions.

• Regional survey on the nutrient status of nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S) and the micro-nutrients Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) of soils in the HRZ of south-eastern Australia undertaken and status report prepared.
• Two omission trials sown in 2015 to test crop yield response and the interactions between nutrients where N, P, K and S and micro-nutrients Zn and Cu are omitted.
• Seasonal conditions resulted in the only responses being received from nitrogen applications; the omission trials to be repeated in 2016 under different seasonal conditions.

Previous trials and demonstrations have highlighted zinc deficiencies in both cereals and pulses, which could produce substantial profits over the cost of zinc. A trial conducted on wheat at Hopetoun in 2006, on a zinc responsive soil type with a good zinc history defined responses to zinc and demonstrated that responses to phosphorus or nitrogen cannot be achieved if zinc is deficient, in a drought year.

• Deep ripping was very worth while at this site but had not effet of lowering crop requirements for N in this situation.
• Nitrogen requirements may have been lower after deep ripping if there had been more organic N to mineralise (say after a lupin crop) and/or the soil had higher mineralised N levels that were subjected to more leaching pressure.
• After deep ripping, high N inputs may be more effective delyaed until late tillering. 

• Glasshouse experiments measured plant DM response and recovery of Zn fertilisers in oxide and sulfate form using three placement treatments - banded, mixed throughout the soil volume, and applied to the soil surface.
•  Also plant recovery of Zn from pure Zn phosphates and carbonates, which are likely reaction products of banded Zn fertilisers in soil, was measured. Recovery of Zn from Zn phosphates, carbonates and oxides was lower than that of Zn sulfates when banded.
• Placement was the major factor controlling plant responsiveness to Zn.
• Zinc oxide fertilisers had very low water solubility and slow dissolution rates in water, which is related to the high pH when the oxide is dissolved in water.
• There was significantly less recovery of fertiliser Zn by plants from Zn oxides than from Zn sulfates when the fertiliser was banded near the seed, likely due to higher pH in the band as the oxide dissolved.
• However, the Zn supply to plants was the same for both sources of Zn when fertilisers were mixed through the soil, as the soil likely buffered any dissolution-induced pH increases.
• This means that Zn oxides, despite their low water solubility, can be effective fertilisers if uniformly mixed throughout the crop rooting depth but Zn sulfate is preferable for banding or surface application.

 The trial produced the highest yields since 2016 when HYC yields exceeded 16t/ha at the research centre.
 Four varieties yielded in excess of 14.5t/ha with Cesario under high input (five fungicide units, 260 kg N/ha and split PGR) topping the yields with 15.2t/ha. RGT Accroc and Big Red under the same input were slightly lower yielding than 15t/ha.
 The superior disease resistance (primarily STB and leaf rust) exhibited by Big Red and RGT Cesario resulted in superior yields under standard input compared to the more disease susceptible RGT Accroc and Anapurna.
 There was significant interaction between cultivar and management (p=0.039) meaning that cultivars responded differently to the three management levels applied.
 Although it was not always statistically significant mechanical defoliation “grazing” reduced the yield of the winter wheats relative to the standard management input. However with the earlier developing spring wheats there was no difference in performance.
 It should be noted that in part the reduction in yield with the winter wheats might have been partially offset by adding more nitrogen post grazing.
 Both Scepter and Trojan gave significant yield increases in response to higher input, principally associated with additional fungicide.

 Grain protein levels indicated that levels of N fertiliser applied did not need to be increased from 200 to 260kg N/ha as only Tabasco had a protein level below 10.3%.
 Influence of fungicide input was most evident in Trojan, particularly with regard to test weight.

• There was a significant interaction between variety and management on grain yield with Anapurna, Nighthawk, Beaufort and Cobra giving statistically similar yields under the three management regimes (low, standard, high).
• In contrast, cultivars such as Zanzibar (spring feed wheat), gave almost 2.5t/ha yield increase as input moved from lower input to higher input.
• The winter wheat Anapurna and spring wheat Zanzibar grown under a high input regime (three fungicides, 160kg N and PGR) were the only varieties to yield over 10t/ha, with Anapurna topping the yields at 10.6t/ha.
• Unlike Zanzibar, Anapurna maintained yields over 9t/ha when grown under reduced management strategies primarily as a result of significantly better disease resistance.
• The dominant disease was Septoria tritici blotch (STB) with leaf rust present throughout the season and a late stripe rust infection evident in susceptible varieties.
• Varieties giving over a 1.4t/ha increase in yield when grown under higher input compared to low input were Zanzibar, RGT Accroc and Catapult.
• All protein levels were 11% or above therefore it was concluded that grain yield was not compromised by lack of nitrogen supply (soil & fertiliser).
• Of the newer milling wheat options Rockstar outperformed Catapult and the controls of Scepter and Trojan, a difference that was significant when inputs were reduced under the low input management approach.
• Harvest dry matters varied from approximately 14 – 18t/ha compared to 13 – 19.5t/ha at the first sowing date (excluding defoliation treatments at the first sowing date).

This demonstration has shown that there are many tools available to help farmers identify paddock zones. In this case, the farmer was easily able to identify roughly each zone, however from the yield map it is apparent that using the yield maps, to get those zones 100%, slight changes were required. There was little advantage in applying fertiliser in any of the zones, however, emergence issues may have confounded some of these responses. Both P tests (Colwell and DGT) indicated that Zone 2 was responsive to P. There appeared to be a slight increase in yield to P. This was indicated visually during the season, though the difference was thought to be greater and unlikely to be significant. Most importantly, this demonstration has highlighted that you don’t need to invest heavily to practice PA and VR. The farmer identified 80-90% of the variation with the help of other tools. Those tools will prove very important when the zones as less pronounced or in paddocks that have been recently acquired.

• Eleven days after seeding, emergence in Minnipa and Cungena soils was higher with no fertiliser or with all the DAP banded below the seed row, compared to DAP placed with the seed or split.
• Emergence was most affected by the presence of DAP in the Streaky Bay soil, least in the Minnipa soil and Cungena soil was intermediate.
• Shoot weights decreased where DAP was placed in the seed row and this occurred in all soil types. The soil EC (salinity) was higher with DAP placed in the seed row.
• Fertiliser toxicity may be reducing wheat emergence on grey calcareous soils, even at quite low application rates of DAP at 30 kg/ha.

 

site.

• Our results from the first year of the study show that the method used to manage soil water repellence had little impact on soil nutrient supply with the exception of phosphorus. The lack of grain yield response to applied P in the mouldboard and spading treatments suggest that soil phosphorus is more available in these soils, though is not clear whether this is due to the removal of the non-wetting constraint or mineralisation following tillage.
• The lower grain yield and harvest index in the spading treatment suggests that there was less soil water available late in the growing season. Further research is required to determine how these management practices, in particular inversion and rotary spading, changes fertiliser advice. The results of this work will be used to develop guidelines on if or how nutrition should be managed for crops sown on soils treated for water repellence.

• Concentrated chaff distribution had no significant impacts on nutrient stratification either horizontally or vertically across the landscape at three sites.
• Chicken litter applications appear to complement traditional chemical fertiliser applications by increasing P availability.
• All nutrients assessed were well above established critical levels and there was a tendency for all nutrients to be concentrated at the surface (0-5 cm) regardless of the known differences in mobility between N, P, K and S.

• No measured improvement in phosphorus uptake through low seed bed utilisation systems.

• EM38 surveys need to be calibrated through soil testing to identify areas with subsoil constraints.
• Simulated wheat yields using historical rainfall data demonstrated the effects of soil type and subsoil limitations on potential crop yields and recharge.
• Variable rate technology for fertiliser could optimise returns for paddocks with subsoil limitations.

• Nitrogen offtake in grain was higher with mid-row banding urea than urea broadcast and incorporated by sowing for both BeckomA nd LongReach SpitfireA at the 80, 120 and 160 rates of N application.
• Apparent fertiliser recovery in grain was also higher from mid-row banding urea than from urea broadcast and incorporated by sowing in five of the possible eight treatment comparisons.
• Soils cored at stem elongation from the mid-row banding treatment showed higher ammonium levels in the top 20 cm and lower nitrate concentration at 60–100 cm than urea broadcast and incorporated by sowing.
• Roots proliferated around and below the original mid-row banding. These results indicate potential for mid-row banding to improve N use efficiency.

(i) Baits do kill juvenile snails. (ii) Stubble and/or green plant material reduce uptake of snail bait by juvenile snails. (iii) A baiting program that is integrated with appropriate stubble and weed management at presowing is likely to optimise snail control. (iii) Calibrate your bait spreader to optimise the effectiveness of your baiting program. (iv) Perlka® did not have a significant effect on reducing snail populations in caged field trials. (v) The effectiveness of bait product and bait size differs between the pest snail species; once fully researched,future bait program recommendations will be tailored to the species being targeted.

• At Streaky Bay and Cungena in 2019, establishment was similar with dry sowing or sowing at the break, and at Minnipa establishment was better with dry sowing.
• There was a yield penalty if no fertiliser had been applied at Minnipa.
• Dry sowing increased grain yield at Minnipa by 0.2 t/ha compared to waiting for the break in the season.
• Dry sowing at Streaky Bay and Cungena reduced grain yield, by 0.7 and 0.3 t/ha respectively, compared to waiting for the break and sowing into a moist soil bed.
• All three sites showed a decrease in early dry matter with dry sowing.
• The herbicides and fungicides evaluated in the trial did not impact on plant establishment when dry sowing.

• With the current climate trending to decreased seasonal rainfall, each 1% increase in productivity is important.
• Increases in productivity can come from increased yield, more efficient application of inputs, or more timely grain marketing.
• Knowledge on the soil water holding properties, the time when the crop is taking up the most water from the soil and the current yield estimation models allows growers to market grain with more confidence pre harvest.
• Tools such as Yield Prophet, iPaddock Yield, soil moisture Probes and water use efficiency models are all very useful in assisting to predict grain yields with a relatively high level of confidence when accurately set up.
• In this project “iPaddock Yield” provided the greatest level of accuracy in predicting final grain yield on July 31st 2015. The simple French & Shultz “Broken Stick” model was very close to the accuracy of the ipaddock Yield at 77% & 74% accuracy.
• When there is confidence in the early to mid-season yield prediction combined with accurate soil Nitrogen testing and modeling, there is a greater chance of maximizing profits from applied nitrogen.

• The highest recorded water use efficiency (WUE) was observed at Spalding where 26.6 kg of wheat was produced per hectare for every mm of growing season rainfall.
• Growing season rainfall was below average meaning that stored summer soil moisture was very valuable in 2011.
• The WUE at Hart has been 14 kg/mm/ha or 70% calculated since 2001.

• The highest recorded water use efficiency (WUE) was observed at Spalding where 26.6 kg of wheat was produced per hectare for every mm of growing season rainfall.
• Growing season rainfall was below average meaning that stored summer soil moisture was very valuable in 2011.
• The WUE at Hart has been 14 kg/mm/ha or 70% calculated since 2001.

• At three out of the 4 sites gladius wheat sown onto a pea crop background from 2011 produced the best grain yields.
• At Condowie wheat on barley (2.54t/ha average) was always better than wheat on wheat (2.10t/ha average), regardless of extra nitrogen.

• The addition of a straw layer acted to reduce evaporation and significantly increased grain yields and water use efficiency in 2012, at 4 field sites.
• Soil evaporation also decreased with increasing light interception from larger crop canopies.

• The addition of a straw layer acted to reduce evaporation and significantly increased grain yields and water use efficiency in 2010 and 2011 at 3 field sites.
• Soil evaporation also decreased with increasing light interception from larger crop canopies.

The highest recorded WUE was observed at Spalding where 18.3 kg of wheat was produced per hectare for every mm of growing season rainfall.

• The best WUE for 2008 occured at the Tarlee site for barley, 28.5kg/mm/ha or 141%.
• Frost in August and October reduced WUE at Spalding.

• The best WUE for 2008 occured at the Tarlee site for barley, 28.5kg/mm/ha or 141%.
• Frost in August and October reduced WUE at Spalding.

• The best WUE for 2008 occured at the Tarlee site for barley, 28.5kg/mm/ha or 141%.
• Frost in August and October reduced WUE at Spalding.

• The best WUE for 2008 occured at the Tarlee site for barley, 28.5kg/mm/ha or 141%.
• Frost in August and October reduced WUE at Spalding.

WUE was generally low at the 4 sites in 2009, ranging from 9.1 kg wheat/mm/ha at Tarlee to 12.2 kg wheat/mm/ha at Spalding.

• Pasture legumes are suited to crop rotations, even short 1:1 rotations.
• Pasture legumes can improve the grain yield and protein content of subsequent crops.
• Pasture legumes appear to provide an advantage to the subsequent crops not provided by fertiliser N (50 kg/ha).
• Pasture legumes regenerate well in the year following a crop.
• Reasonable yields can be obtained from spring sowing of wheat. 
   

• Yield differences between soil types were less than seen in previous seasons on this paddock.
• Yield responded to an extra 25kg/ha N at sowing on the deep yellow sand over gravel and shallow gravel yielded around 2.5t/ha.

• Yield differences between soil types were less than seen in previous seasons on this paddock, although they did yield in expected order.
• Starting nitrogen levels were quite high (>100kg N/ha) due to previous crop history.
• Overall with the better responses to applied N being achieved on the better soils or where there was plenty of starting soil nitrogen, this experiment has given encouragement to the idea of managing soil types (or management zones) differentially for N.

These experiments provide a framework to allow growers in the Wimmera and Southern Mallee to use soil tests for nitrate N, organic carbon, and soil water to determine firstly, their yield potential, and secondly, whether there is a need for nitrogen fertiliser to achieve that potential.

• The trial was confounded by a severe shortage of plant available water (e.g. very low rainfall) and severe sub-soil acidity that resulted in toxic levels of plant aluminum concentrations that impacted negatively on crop productivity.
• The treatments (excluding prilled humate, which produced negative crop impacts) should be repeated (with VAM) at a site with more even sub-soil conditions. CALCIPRILL and VAM seed dressing showed particular potential for quality grain production and MAGPRILL showed particular potential as an effect agent for increasing soil pH.

• EM38 successfully mapped differences in soil water properties across the paddock.
• Positive response to fertiliser in wheat on wheat and higher yielding season.
• Barley yield decreased with increasing rates of nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser.

• EM38 successfully mapped differences in soil water properties across the paddock.
• There were no significant yield increases from increased fertiliser.
• Reducing fertiliser on heavy soils had no negative impact on yield.

The main agronomic issues to be assessed in 2012 are:

• Targeting of seeding and post seeding nitrogen applications in line with identified changes in soil water characteristics ie changes in the ‘bucket’
• Assessment of gypsum applications over soil zones identified as having variations in sodicity levels. A trial has already been implemented which will allow economic assessment for several years.
• Sound agronomic and economic phosphorus fertiliser management in line with changes in productive capacity of soil zones and responsiveness of soil types to phosphorus applications.

• The goal of achieving a 10% increase in water use efficiency appears to have been achieved quite comfortably as evidenced by the entry and exit survey results.
• Farmers in the Upper North district have madesubstantial gains in knowledge, skills and practice change to increase their water use efficiency.

The complex nature of these trials has generated a vast array of information. To best extract meaningful results it is necessary to pry apart the data to generate answers addressing the key facets of the hypothesis: see attached report for full details and discusison.

• The Kerang site had a Potassium (K) soil level (0-10cm) that exceeded 600 ppm (Colwell K) at sowing and showed no yield response to additional K applied in crop.
• As was the case at Yenda the application of K as potassium sulphate at V4 or V8 saw no change in leaf tissue levels when compared to the control (no added K) assessed at V10 or tasselling.
• Harvest results showed no response to added potassium, indicating that the soil was able to supply the required potassium to the crop.
• There was no evidence of luxury uptake of K in tissue and grain samples (assessed in untreated, 40 (tissue only) and 80 kg /ha K).

• The Yenda site had a Potassium (K) soil level (0-10cm) that exceeded 500 ppm (Colwell K) at sowing and showed no yield response to additional K applied post sowing in crop.
• Application of K as potassium sulphate at V4 and or V8 saw no change in leaf tissue levels when compared to the control (no added K) when tissues were assessed at V8 or tasselling.
• Harvest results showed no response to added potassium, indicating that the soil was able to supply the required potassium to the crop.
• There was no evidence of luxury uptake of K in tissue and grain samples (assessed in untreated and 80 kg /ha K).

• The effects of zinc supply in subsoil were examined in three genotypes of Brassica napus in a glasshouse experiment.
• The topsoil was supplied with zinc in all treatments whereas zinc was either supplied or omitted from the subsoil.
• Supplying zinc to subsoil significantly increased the root growth in the lower zone, markedly decreased the number of aborted and unfilled pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, individual seed weight and overall seed yield.
• Subsoil zinc also significantly increased the zinc concentration and zinc content of seed and improved the ratio of zinc uptake by seed to total zinc uptake by seed and shoots.

• High-pressure injection shows promise as an alternative method for applying fertiliser into the soil.
• Deep banding fluid fertilisers with extra long knife points is another option which also showed promise.
• This research is still in its early days.

• The use of Lucerne in the Upper Wimmera catchment and similar areas can be extended away from traditional areas such as river and creek flats.
• Introduction of lucerne into grazing systems lengthens the period of available green feed and can allow for enterprise change such as adding a lamb finishing operation to the farm business.
• Sowing time of lucerne is best suited to late winter.
• Soil testing is important to test for nutrient deficiencies and pH prior to lucerne establishment. Adequate lime and fertiliser should be applied to address deficiencies prior to establishment. Attention must be paid to ensuring that aluminium levels are suitable for lucerne production prior to sowing.
• A sub soil pH test should be taken to ensure that there are no acidity or aluminium toxicity issues at depth which could affect the lucerne plants as their roots penetrate the sub soil.
• Weed control is of critical importance before and during the establishment phase of lucerne pastures.
• Sowing depth of lucerne is important to allow an even germination. Care should be taken not to sow seed too deeply. The seed should be covered by 1 – 2 cm of soil, ensuring good soil contact.
• Control of annual grass and broadleaf weeds is of critical importance during the life of the lucerne stand if maximum production is to be achieved.
• A suitable fertiliser regime including the use of potash needs to be applied to replace nutrients removed by the lucerne system.
• Lucerne pastures can produce high quality hay which can enhance the farm’s production system if kept on farm.

In a high yielding trial (5-6 t/ha), Baudin barley gave small responses to fungicide (mean 2- 4%), compared to Gairdner which gave no response.

• Canola in rotation reduced Rhizoctonia inoculum levels and increased following cereal yields.
• Fluid fertiliser increased plant dry matter and yield on highly calcareous grey soils.
• A barley/vetch brown manure increased soil mineral nitrogen and this appears to have exacerbated Rhizoctonia disease symptoms on a following barley crop.
• Added carbon (10 t/ha/yr) has increased microbial respiration and microbial nitrogen.

Combined yields of companion crops were equivalent to those of monoculture crops.

Companion cropping Wheat with Chickpea has provided more stubble cover.

• These data demonstrate a significant yield response to teh application of 20kg P/ha when compared to teh control. There were no yield differences to the various treatments. 
• The trial was moisture stressed in late spring but moderate grain protein levels indicate that the trial was not stressed for nitrogen. 
• Visually it was difficult to pick up any differences between treatments, however the poor growth control was very evident throughout the growing season and the Airseeder treatment appeared to lack early vigour, but at the end of the season this was not apparent. 
• The application of zinc as either foliar or as fertiliser at sowing (Granulock Supreme Z treatments) did not result in additional yield. 
• The liquid treatments did not prove to have any significant benefit over the solids fertilizer products; contradicting results from SFS Mininera trials in 2007 where liquid fertilisers proved to have distinct advantages as conpared to solids. 

• Early zinc uptake can be increased when zinc is applied as soil spray, seed coat or granular fertiliser but this does not necessarily increase yield.
• Products differ markedly in price per kg of elemental zinc so carefully consider your choice to get best value for money.
• Make sure choice of application method fits your farming system: for example if you are no-till then soil spray inefficient as not worked into root zone, foliar spray too late if you have zinc deficient soil as yield losses will already have occurred.
• Some products have short term benefits (seed coats and foliar sprays) and some longer term benefits.

Fertiliser treatments aimed at increasing phosphorus efficiency did not improve yield but the trial site is not responsive to P.

Added potassium did not see any increase in yield, once again the site has adequate K supply (> 600 ppm Kcolwell).

Copper applied as a foliar spray at booting resulted in decreased yields demonstrating the potential toxic effects an excessive supply of a particular trace element can create.

- Although this trial wasn’t executed exactly as planned due to weather there were still some good to be drawn out of it.
- Soil testing is critical prior to planting a durum crop to avoid under or over application of fertilisers.
- When applying fertiliser to target 7+ tonne crop, it is important you have the water required to meet this yield commitment. As seen in this project, when top dressing with these larger amounts of nitrogen, the water use of these crops increases dramatically with the crop drawing from deeper and harder over the same period of time as crop with less N applied. 

• No significant difference between treatments but interesting trend supporting combined use of protectant fungicides with soil surfactancts, delivered on furrow rather than on fertiliser (this is not a registered pattern of use).
• Warrants further investigation in 2005.

• The fluid fertiliser system increased yield and dry matter production at both sites.
• The added carbon treatments with increased microbial activity have not increased grain yield in 2011.

Crop stubbles provide a valuable feed source for stock over the summer period. The results from this trial indicate that grazing stubbles does not reduce either the amount of soil water stored during the summer fallow period or subsequent crop yield. In low rainfall environments, it is rarely possible to grow sufficient stubble to improve summer fallow efficiency by reducing evaporation (>5t/ha): growers should make use of this valuable feed source. Growers should maintain at least 70 per cent stubble cover (about 2t/ha of cereal stubble) to minimise the risk of wind erosion.

At low available soil P and moderate PBI levels relatively high P inputs are required to maximise yields. Replacement P programs should incorporate a measure of PBI in order to effectively balance available P across different soil types. Significant yield differences between varieties of wheat and barley could not be attributed to varying P uptake efficiencies

Zinc needs to be applied as part of the fertiliser program every three to four years in the Wimmera and Mallee. The use of zinc as a seed dressing or foliar application will only be beneficial when the paddock has had a poor zinc history. In trials at the Rupanyup site where zinc had been applied 2 out of the last 5 years there were no yield benefits of adding more zinc even to responsive crops such as faba beans and lentils.

There was no yield or protein response to the application of K-Komplex at the rates tested.

• Kikuyu has the potential to become a valuable addition to pasture mixes on parts of KI.
• Follow the nine golden rules for success – weed, insect and vermin control, good seed/soil contact, shallow seed at 2kg/ha in spring, don’t graze until well established, use N fertiliser or legumes.

• Weed control is essential for effective kikuyu establishment.
• Two sprays of round up is the ‘safest’ bet although you do lose some grazing value and may have difficulties with seeding at the optimum time if the paddock is too wet to spray early.
• Further work is required to quantify the benefits of application of TM 21 on kikuyu pastures on KI.

• The use of eNtrenchTM, adequate sulphur at sowing, AwakenTM foliar all should be considered to enhance hay yields.
• A more complete approach to nutrition (sulphur, zinc & copper) is only beneficial if the nutrition is managed within the environment provided. This is what AwakenTM, eNtrenchTM & Pro Gibb take advantage of.
• By stabilising the nitrogen, big gains in utilisation were able, which results in more efficient use of land for hay production which could be adopted easily as all changes fit with existing operations.
• The extra costs are easily returned in yield, even in a poor rainfall season.
• The adoption of these products is not difficult as they fit as part of existing regimes.

Late (Z39+) application of N resulted in yield and protein increase over the control.

• The impact of nitrogen rate and fungicide strategy on canola grain yield and seed quality was investigated at two field sites.Increasing nitrogen rate decreased oil % in seed.
• 280kg/ha nitrogen increased protein compared with the 100kg/ha treatment.
• There was no impact of fungicide applications although the season was not conducive to disease development. Observations failed to detect disease in either trial.
• Analysis of coarse and fine stubble fractions showed increasing N concentration and yield of each fraction with increasing N rate.
• Higher amounts of soil mineral N were present at end of autumn 2021 following high rates of fertiliser N in the previous season.
• High N fertiliser rates increase the N concentration of stubble residue and the total amount of stubble.
• The higher soil N in the following season is only a small proportion of the additional fertiliser N, a small compensation for over fertilising should the previous canola crop yield well below expectation.

• Significant lime response in third year after application
   
• Sub soil acidity can be addressed with lime incorporation but may not be most cost-effective treatment – requires further seasons of testing

There was a 0.6 t/ha response to fertiliser, but no response to molybdenum (Mo) or lime. Plant tissue analysis showed that sodium molybdate (Na2MoO4) was effective applied as a seed dressing or banded with Flexi-N. The high Mo levels in these treatments indicate that application rates were much higher than needed. Grain analysis results confirmed that Mo was not limiting. Grain protein was about 9.0%, hectolitre weights 80 kg/hl, and screenings 3% in all treatments.

• A full liquid system including N, P, Trace elements and fungicides provided the greatest yield response and was significantly better than district practice granular treatments.
• Liquid N gave the most significant response of all liquid treatments in terms of mid-season biomass and yield.
• Full liquid and liquid N treatments provided similar returns to that of traditional treatments and greater returns than liquid P only.

• Granular and liquid fertilisers were equally effective in terms of grain yield for wheat. ƒ
• The addition of zinc and copper had no effect on crop performance.
• Liquid P produced more dry matter production at the 5-leaf stage than granular P. ƒ
• More P was taken up by the crop as a liquid rather than as a granular.

• There was no significant difference between seeding systems or level of nutrition on grain yield or oil content.
• Soil available N was the same for all seeding systems pre-seeding however, the no till treat had released more available soil N.
• In-season more available N was measured in the high nutrition treatment compared to the medium.

• Changing rotation and nutrition have changed the microbial population activity and diversity but not developed disease suppression after seven years.
• One year of wheat in 2009 resulted in high Rhizoctonia inoculum regardless of previous rotation or fertiliser histories.
• Take-all has increased in the continuous cereal district practice treatment to severe levels; higher nutrition treatments give the plants the ability to cope better with these increased disease levels.
• The high input systems have continually yielded higher than the other systems, but inputs of N have not matched production levels completely so soil reserves of mineral N are now lower in these treatments.
• In good seasons the high input treatments have shown that district practice performance is severely limited by inadequate nutrition.

• The higher input brassica break system had higher cereal yields than the other systems in 2009.
• Rhizoctonia inoculum levels were higher under the continuous cropping systems compared to the medic pasture and brassica break crops.
• The different rotations and fertiliser systems have resulted in differences in the microbial community (number) and microbial diversity (their ability to use different sources of carbon).
• Disease suppression is still the same in all rotations.

The value of starter P for early crop vigour was clearly demonstrated in 2014 by the decreased growth of wheat plants when P fertiliser was omitted. This effect continued through the grain development stages and was very evident in the final grain yield differences. If P application over the previous four years averaged 12 kg/ha or less, there is a good value return from applying P.  Although the highest yield was seen at 24 kg P applied in 2014, looking at historical trends shows that continual application of P at greater than 12kg/ha can provide yield gains but little or no margin and should not be considered unless low P application history, confirmed by soil P tests associated with P binding capacity, has resulted in low soil P levels. Results indicate a P recommendation of greater than 6 kg/ha to be appropriate for soils and conditions in the vicinity of the trial site, pushing up to 10-12 kg/ha if the input cost is affordable.

After 8 years of trial work on a Mallee clay loam with subsoil limitations:

• In only 2 years did yields increase after applying P fertiliser,
• the site has remained responsive at nil and 5P treatments, but maintaining rates >5kg P/ha did not produce any extra yield,
• in 2010 there as a 25% increase in wheat yield between nil P and where P had been applied (at rates 5kg P/ha or higher),
• the 5kg P/ha treatment provided the highest net income, and
• soil Colwell P together with PBI accurately estimated the response seen in 2010.

• After nine years, applying more than 5kg P/ha had no impact on grain yield in 2011.
• Consistently applying 5kg P/ha has been the most productive and profitable rate used.
• The DGT soil P test will undergo commercial testing at CSBP laboratories in 2012.