Sumemr fallow efficiencies at these sites were generally found to be within the range of 20 to 30%.

Zinc should be applied every three to four years as part of the normal fertiliser program when cropping in the Mallee and Wimmera.

• An advanced breeding line (AF07125) has been developed with improved resistance to CLS.
• There was no CLS in the trial, and the fungicide amended fertiliser (Impact-in-furrow) provided no additional benefits in terms of grain yield.
• Disease levels were low, and grain yield was high, averaging 4.3t/ha across the trial.
• The potential release AF07125 was the highest yielding variety, outyielding Farah and Nura by 5%

• Adding phosphorus (P) did not significantly increase yield or seed weight in the varieties PBA WardaA and PBA NasmaA.
• PBA NasmaA produced greater yield and seed size than PBA WardaA.

Conclusions:

In this experiment, additional P did not increase yield, however, on a lower P site, a positive response to P might occur. The reduction in yield caused by adding N might be due to reduced nodulation in N-treated plots, although nodulation was not measured in this trial. The greater yield and seed size of PBA NasmaA compared with PBA WardaA supports other experimental data.

• Where phosphorus (P) was applied in-furrow with seed, increasing P fertiliser rate to 20 kg/ha (227 kg/ha single superphosphate) reduced plant establishment by ~12% compared to where no P was applied. P application in-furrow with seed did not affect establishment at rates up to 10 kg/ha.
• There was no effect of P application on establishment where it was broadcast in front of the seeder and incorporated by sowing (IBS).
• The application of 5 kg/ha P (57 kg/ha single superphosphate) increased yield by 0.3 t/ha compared to nil P, but there was no further yield increase with higher P rates.
• There was no difference in yield between the P application treatments, either incorporated by sowing (IBS) or placed in-furrow with seed.

• PBA Samira was damaged by Intercept, with damage including stunting, chlorosis and coupled leaves
• Double the rate of standard rhizobia and the new acid tolerant strain improved root nodulation compared to the recommended rate of the standard strain
• Fertiliser rate impacted on lodging only, with standard rate of P standing up  slightly more
• All treatments achieved excellent yields >2.5 t/ha
• PBA Bendoc looked better all year and out yielded PBA Samira for all herbicide treatments

New acid-tolerant rhizobia strains can increase nodulation of faba beans on acid soil. However, sustained ability of faba beans to fix atmospheric nitrogen strongly depends on appropriate lime programs. Inoculating faba beans with peat inoculants significantly increased nodulation compared to the controls that were not inoculated.

Applying inoculant at sowing has proven to be beneficial to early season crop vigour in faba bean production. Adequate phosphorus fertiliser increased early season crop vigour, biomass and grain yields. Applying 75 kg/ha MAP to faba bean at sowing doubled biomass production compared to faba bean being sown with no fertiliser, at Strawberry Hill in 2019.

• Grain yields were low and variable in 2018 due to low soil pH at the site, and waterlogging that occurred during winter. The removal of molybdenum from the fertiliser significantly reduced plant vigor and grain yield. However, due to the high soil variability results should be treated with caution. 
   

• Soil amelioration, particularly liming with incorporation to depth, increases break crop options.
• Faba beans can be successfully grown on light soil types if pH is managed.
• Subsequent nitrogen fertiliser programs should take account of residual N to optimise the benefits of pulse crops.

• Applying Nodulator granular inoculant at recommended rates led to a significant increase in nodulation, compared to the untreated plots, but did not increase yield.
• Increasing the rate of Nodulator to double or triple the recommended rate had no additional effect on nodulation, compared to the standard rate.
• Applying nitrogen fertiliser (40kg N/ha) at sowing had no negative effect on subsequent nodulation and increased grain yield by 0.96 - 1.39 t/ha compared to treatments where no nitrogen was applied, however the more variable nature of the trial meant that the
advantage not statistically significant.
• Applying nitrogen at pod set increased grain yield by 0.22 – 0.65 t/ha compared to treatments where no nitrogen was applied, however again this yield advantage was not statistically significant.
• Although there were no significant differences between dry matter and nitrogen offtake at flowering, there was a trend for more dry matter and nitrogen in the dry matter at flowering where nitrogen had been applied at sowing.

• Both cultivars showed a similar yield response to increasing plant population with no advantage in yield from plant populations above approximately 20 plants/m2, but significant reductions in yield associated with populations of 15 plants/m2.
• Establishment rate for the different seed rates in the trial averaged 77% with 10-36 seeds/m2 producing 8 – 27 plants/m2
• Fiesta had slightly higher biomass at early flowering but moisture stress had begun to affect the trial. Optimum yields were associated with crop canopy harvest dry matters of 11-12t/ha.
• Water use efficiency was 16.1 kg/mm

• Under surface irrigation faba yields exceeded 7t/ha with a significant interaction between plant population (seedrate) and cultivar.
• Fiesta achieved its highest yields at only 17plants/m2 whereas PBA Amberley had an optimum of 27 plants/m2.
• However, the results indicate more severe consequences of dropping too low (15-20 plants or below) with plant population in faba beans vs higher plant populations 25-30 plants/m2. irrespective of cultivar.
• Establishment rate for the trial averaged 89% with decreasing establishment at higher seed rates.
• Biomass increased as seeding rate increased at early flowering, but there was no influence on harvest biomass from plant population.

• A seeding rate of 18 seeds/m2 (17 plants/m2) was sufficient to achieve the highest yield with
Fiesta .
• Water use efficiency was 14.1 kg/mm

• The Making Better Fertiliser Decisions for Cropping Systems in Australia (BFDC) database allows us to search for soil test calibrations for four macronutrients across a range of crops, soils types, regions and time spans.
• As an example, the critical range for soil test P (Colwell) for wheat grown in red chromosols in NSW has increased under minimum-tillage management.

Cu greatly increased yield fro 560 kg/ha to 1570 kg/ha.  Grain yield and analyses of tops of wheat showed large granules greatly reduced the effectiveness of Cu incorporated into them, the effect being more marked at the lower granule number provided by the 100 kg/ha super mix compared with the 200 kg/ha. Doubling the rate of Cu applied by doubling the Cu concentration in the granule had little effect on Cu uptake and failed to ovecome the restrictivew effect of large granules. It is the number of granules in the root zone of the wheat plants that is critical for adequate uptake of Cu and that large granulated "wet mixed" Cu superphosphate mixtures are unsatisfactory Cu fertilisers.

In general oxide source was equal to or superior to the sulfate source in wet mixes. In dry mixes in the same trial Cu oxide was only 66 % as effective as the sulfate.

Shallow placement was miuch less effective than placing Cu fertiliser at 5 cm or more. Cu foliar at 0.54 kg cu/ha applied at 6 weeks after seeding gave highest yield.

It was concluded that application methods that reduce the number of CXu particles available for root copntact greatly reduce the effectuiveness of Cu fertiliser.

 

Cu greatly increased yield fro 560 kg/ha to 1570 kg/ha.  Copper was applied as copper sulfate at 6.6 kg/ha.

Highlights of the results are:

(a) preseeding cultivations after drilling the Cu in 1979 markedly increased Cu uptake;

(b) medium sized Cu-OSP was inferior ti fine granule size

(c) the effects of granule size & 1979 pre-seeding cultivations were not reflected in 1980 Cu uptakes.  The effectiveness of the treatments which were relatively ineffective in 1980 as those treatments which were most effective in 1979

(d) Cu drilled with the seed in 1980 was much less effective than all Cu treatments applied the previous year

(e) although all grades of Cu-OSP drilled with the seed in 1980 were relatively ineffective compared with that applied the previous year, the inclusion of 15% fine material with 85% medium material increased Cu uptake from the fertiliser by 40%, 50% fine material increased Cu uptake from fertiliser by 80%.

GRanules > 3 mm are much less effective than medium sized granules.

REsearch suggests that 1 kg/ha copper sulfate at early boot is required for the first crop where Cu fertiliser is applied at recommended rates.

 

• A survey was conducted in early 2010 to determine the current management practices of farmers and the average water use efficiency of farms on upper Eyre Peninsula.
• The survey will be repeated in 2013 to see if there are changes in the management practices and water use efficiency.

This study of Victorian wheat crops shows that:

• increasing the uptake of nitrogen by 50kg N/ha improves WUE by 3.4kg/mm,
• introducing a break crop increases WUE by 2.1-4.2kg/mm,
• the efficiency with which fertiliser nitrogen is taken up by wheat increases from 40 to 80% as GSR increases from 200 to 400mm,
• each 1% of OC contributes from 16kg N/ha (200mm GSR to 32kg N/ha (400mm GSR) to the uptake of nitrogen,
• at current prices for fertiliser N ($1kg/N) and for wheat ($170/t) is is still more economic to apply fertiliser N than to increase N supply by raising OC levels with pasture,
• grain protein levels tend to fall by 1% for each 100kg/ha increase in yields.

• Wheat was surprisingly tolerant of continuous flooding for nearly 4 months, yielding up to 2.8 t/ha with the best combination of nutrients tested.
• Despite the extended flooding there was a 13% response to P at a starting Colwell P of 29 mg/kg, with an economic optimum application rate of 7 kg P/ha.
• Canola was intolerant of extended flooding, producing no harvestable yield.
• In-crop application of urea shortly before flooding showed no grain yield response in wheat, while there was a negative response of 9% to applying S as in-crop sulfate of ammonia.
• Ideally in-crop applications of fertiliser should be made at least a week prior to flooding to allow time for the crop to take up the nutrients.

• Application of P fertilisers increased pasture growth and dry matter production (t/ha).
• Application of P above maintenance levels will increase soil P levels.

Sowing more than 20kg of N with seed (seeder set at 9inch spacings) resulted in seedling burn and poor crop establishment.

The success of this project continues to grow as the concept of developing useful tools to empower farmers to make changes to their practices takes hold

Many articles in this manual will help you in making better fertiliser decisions for 2005 and into the future.

• Crop nitrogen requirements should be applied at or before sowing as poor spring conditions can reduce crop responses to topdressed nitrogen.
• When drilling nitrogen with the seed, rates should not exceed 25 kg/ha (7" rowing spacing).
• Grain protein levens under 10.5% indicate crop yields are below thier optimum potential - apply additional nitrogen.

Stretegic (up-front) nitrogen was useful in a wet year, but no N rate used was high enough to anticipate the wet and cool spring at Ouyen.

• Zinc (Zn) has been shown to be a clear limiting factor in achieving maximum fertiliser response from N and P on all soils sown in the SA Operation FerTill experiment program.
• Increased wheat grain yield of 4-6% has been achieved with Zn as a coat to DAP applied in each year over 3 years.
• This clearly questions the current practice of Zn application once every 3-4 years.
• These results suggest that Zn when used in combination with higher P and application should be considered every year.
• P and Zn placement are very effective management tools to reduce the severity of Rhizoctonia spp, in crops.
• Some P and Zn placement in the seed row of cereal crops is beneficial in reducing the severity of Rhizoctonia patch by up to 50%, increasing grain yield.

It is important to remember what the primary objective of seeding equipment is. Some farmers have been disappointed in the overall performance of banding fertiliser due to poor seed placement.

• Both desi and kabuli chickpea varieties suffered severe plant establishment reductions from fertiliser placement with the seed and with increasing fertiliser rates.
• Fertiliser rates of 20 kg P/ha and above placed with the seed had a significant negative effect on grain yields.
• The dry spring conditions have compressed achieved yields to that possible from the limited water supply. Differences in plant population still negatively influenced achieved yields. Yields increased with fertiliser rate up to about 20kg/ha of P in this particular season.

• Both desi and kabuli chickpea varieties suffered severe plant establishment reductions from
  fertiliser placement with the seed and with increasing fertiliser rates.
• All amounts of fertiliser placed with the seed had a significant negative effect of kabuli grain yields.
• Desi type PBA Slasher can tolerate low rate of fertiliser with the seed.
• Yields increased with fertiliser rate up to about 20kg/ha of P in this particular season and soil type

Grain yield increased by approximately 1.0t/ha as fertiliser increased from nil to the higher rates.

• Applying MAP with the seed at sowing resulted in a 25% increase in plant emergence compared to using DAP at Piednippie.
• Applying MAP at sowing resulted in higher grain yields and better water use efficiency (WUE) in plots which had high seeding rates at Nunjikompita.
• In combination with a high seeding rate, a blend of DAP and triple super phosphate (TSP) applied at sowing at Piednippie and Nunjikompita (plus urea) resulted in grain yields which were closer to the crop yield potential than the control.

• Fertiliser trials often take a few years for the real results to become evident.

• Fertiliser trials often take a few years for the real results to become evident.

• After 3  years of no fertilizer applications in the low P sites, residual P levels have fallen by 25% and are significantly affecting productivity.
• After three years there appears to be little significant difference between the three products applied.

• After four years of no fertilizer applications, residual P levels have fallen and are significantly affecting productivity.
• Granule placement appears to be more critical in low P sites.

Fluid fertilisers available in South Australia are relatively expensive compared with the granular fertilisers available. In early 2004, DAP and MAP were available on the Upper Eyre Peninsula at a cost of about $422/tonne delivered. The unit cost of P was $1.92/kg with MAP and $2.11/kg with DAP. In this case, any N combined with the P was supplied at no extra cost, with P the major limiting nutrient.

• Significant grain yield responses to P fertiliser application occurred at the Goonumbla site.
• At Goonumbla, 25 kg P/ha significantly increased grain yield over 15 kg P/ha only when applied with starter N.
• Field peas proved very sensitive to heliothis damage at Gunning Gap and to harvest delays at Wirrinya.

Knowing phosphorous levels in the soil is critical. At low levels of nutrition, an economic response to phosphorous application will be achieved. This work is critical in determining where the nutrient response curve flattens out – allowing for improved management decisions to be made.

• X-rays of small dishes of soil to which fertiliser had been added in the centre showed that fluid forms of copper, zinc and manganese are more mobile (diffuse further) in soil compared to granular forms.

• Intake (on fertiliser) and Jockey (on seed) is current standard practice for lower EP canola and reduced Blackleg stem infection. In 2014 this practice also increased grain yield. This remains the recommended practice.
• The application method for the fungicide, either as seed treatments or in-furrow, did not increase canola yields in 2015 or 2016.
• The source of nutrients and application method, either fertiliser, in-furrow or foliar had no effect on canola yield in 2014, however further research should be undertaken in this area before final conclusions are drawn.

• Trace elements can be added to a farming system via a fluid delivery system.
• Economic responses to trace elements did not occur in non-responsive situations regardless of form of application.
• Addition of N and P to trace element fluid fertiliser did not appear to enhance trace element uptake.
• Lower cost foliar applied trace elements offer a cheaper approach to trace element application whilst still providing economic returns.

• Phosphoric acid as a liquid fertiliser resulted in 13% and 8% higher yields in 2014 and 2015 respectively at Streaky Bay, and an 8% yield increase at Warramboo in 2016 when compared to the same rate of P delivered in granular fertilisers.
• Despite the yield increases at Streaky Bay and Warramboo, the economics showed granular fertiliser had greater returns in $/ha compared to using phosphoric acid at 9 units of P.
• The guidelines for moving to the adoption of phosphoric acid as a P source exist in the Fluid Fertiliser Manual which adequately covers the principles, economics, recommendations and chemistry of adopting fluid delivery systems. The manual is available at www.fluidfertilsers.com.au.
• Knowing the responsiveness of a soil type to phosphoric acid is an important factor to consider before investing in a fluid delivery system. The responsive soil types are generally higher n calcium carbonate (greater than 25%). P source responses may also be driven by soil moisture conditions because in 2016, which had wetter seasonal conditions, phosphoric acid and granular P performed similarly in the same soil type at Streaky Bay.
• The adoption of fluid fertiliser systems to place fungicides in-furrow for rhizoctonia disease management is not recommended in this environment. The addition of fungicides showed small and variable yield advantages at Warramboo in 2014 and 2016 and Streaky Bay in 2016. Using fungicides in above average seasons the greatest yield benefit was only 0.22 t/ha with an in-furrow application with granular phosphorus and trace elements. This is lower than the benefits achieved in other regions where yield increases of up to 0.49 t/ha in wheat with split applications of fungicides were achieved. Inluding fungicides on wheat up front will increase input costs and risk over a large cropping program. 
• Large scale demonstrations by growers across Eyre Peninsula with in-furrow fungicide applications at seeding did not reduce rhizoctonia or produce yield benefits over three seasons.
• The adoption of fluid fertiliser systems will depend in growers' soil types for phosphorus responses, the existence of trace element deficiences and ease or timing of application (in-furrow at seeding) and machinery ability to deliver fluids.

• Fungicides as seed treatments or in-furrow did not increase canola yield in 2015 or 2016.
• In 2016 Intake (on fertiliser) and Jockey (on seed) which is current standard practice, lowered Blackleg stem infection, and in 2014 this treatment increased yield.

• Fluid forms of Phosphorus such as Ammonium Polyphosphate (APP) and Phosphoric Acid have been shown to significantly increase the growth and grain yield of crops on highly calcareous soil on the Eyre Peninsula of SA compared to granular fertiliser forms such as DAP and Triple Super.
• Field trials conducted at three sites in 2003 in Victoria on alkaline soils (central and southern Mallee and Wimmera Plains) demonstrated that fluid forms of P fertiliser promoted the growth of wheat more than granular forms at all sites but this was translated to a yield response at only one site (Birchip).
• There is no reliable diagnostic tool however presently available for predicting under what circumstances fluid forms will outperform granular forms of P.
• Experimentation will continue at the same sites in 2004.

• Field trials were conducted at two sites (comprising Sodosol and Calcarosol soil types) in the southern Mallee and one in the Wimmera (Vertosol soil) to assess the responsiveness of wheat to fluid forms of phosphorus (P) fertilisers.
• Fluid P forms (APP and phosphoric acid) generally produced greater growth during vegetative stages of crop growth compared to granular forms (DAP and Triple Super) at all three sites.
• However, in a season characterised by a late break and dry conditions prior to flowering, early growth responses to P fertiliser (regardless of form) translated to grain yield responses at only one Mallee site. In contrast there was significant grain yield responses to fluid P at Dooen (Wimmera).
• At this site, fluid P forms produced 0.24 t/ha (or nearly 10%) more grain on average than granular forms at commercially applicable rates (4 to 12 kg P/ha).

• There was no significant difference in early dry matter (GS30) or grain yield from the application of P at three trial sites at Hopetoun, Sea Lake and Waitchie
• The addition of chelated Zn and Flutriafol failed to increase grain yield at any of the sites
• There was no yield difference when P was supplied either as a fluid or a granular product
• There was no increase in grain yield from the addition of P or Zn at any of the sites.

• With an average grain yield of 16.51t/ha there were no significant differences in header grain yield from varying nitrogen rate or applying liquid potassium products.
• Applying Calcium Nitrate Ca (NO3)2 caused a decrease in yield when it was combined with an additional application of pre drill 90 kg/ha of nitrogen.
• There was evidence that additional nutrients significantly interacted (p=0.044) with the overall level of N fertiliser applied with liquid calcium nitrate giving greater benefits with 230N (applied as fertigation than when N was application was increased to 320kg N/ha (predrill urea = fertigation).

At the time of first visit (30th May), plants were at ~3 leaf stage and no foliar disease was evident.  Seedling establishment showed no spatial differences, with average emergence of >100 plants / m2 in all treatments except those with triadimenol seed treatment where >20% reduction in emergence was noted.

Minimal foliar disease was evident at 7th July (~Z31) assessment, minor levels of Stagonospora nodorum (septoria nodorum blotch) (SNB) were evident in the lower canopy but severity was too low for fungicide differences to be assessed.  

Trace levels of powdery mildew (PM) were evident on stems and lowest canopy leaves of untreated plots at booting (27th July) when the second foliar spray was applied. Development of PM was slow and on 15th September (~Z69) average severity in untreated controls was <1% leaf area affected on top 3 leaves, with infection primarily restricted to Flag-2 (Table 1).

PM was also present on heads and stems at low severity at this time, however the distribution of disease, particularly on heads, was patchy across the trial making differentiating between treatments difficult. At this time only the booting foliar spray provided consistent significant reduction in incidence of powdery mildew on stems and leaves.

SNB was present at low levels throughout the season, assessments at head emergence (23rd August) showed a small but significant effect of foliar treatments (Z31 and Z45) and flutriafol and Uniform in-furrow on necrotic leaf area. Assessments 3 weeks later at Z69 indicated that flutriafol in-furrow, triadimenol seed dressing and both foliar spray timings were providing a small reduction (~8-15% leaf area) in necrosis associated with SNB infection (Table 1).

With late and patchy onset of PM, yield responses to fungicides were 0-320kg/ha, with only the flutriafol in-furrow treatment having significantly greater yield than the untreated control, this response is likely due to the reduction of SNB rather than any effect on powdery mildew. Neither foliar spray timing gave significant yield response. Reduced emergence in triadimenol treated plots resulted in a 15% yield reduction (Table 2).

At two other sites (Geraldton, Dalwallinu), where powdery mildew infection commenced during stem elongation, all tested seed dressing and in-furrow fungicides had significant impact on disease severity and incidence. At the one site (Geraldton) where powdery mildew was yield limiting, in-furrow and foliar fungicide treatments gave a significant yield response.

Delaying the onset of a stripe rust outbreak can be achieved using fungicide seed dressings or fertiliser treatments. In situations where this is beneficial such as in the Wimmera where conditions may be too wet for fungicide application late in the season, this could be a good strategy.

• 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.