To provide evidence-based, innovative research for diversified farms in south-eastern Australia.
The projects aims are:
1. to demonstrate the potential role of legumes incorporation in the wheat/canola monocropping system
2. further consider the option of dual-purpose wheat (grain and graze option) cultivars in the Riverine Plains region
3. to showcase cost effective drought mitigation strategy to the farming community, i.e., foliar application of Si
4. to consider the health of cropping ecosystem, integration of native vegetation on the farmland to diversify farms income.

• When applied in drought-stress trials, silicon (Si) has demonstrated increased photosynthetic activity of the plant and
improved water relations, leading to improved crop yield.
• Silicon fertiliser application has not shown any significant differences in biomass and grain yield of the evaluated crops
this season. The season’s climate must be considered when interpreting this result, as it was not a typical season where crops can face periods of moisture or heat stress.
• Visual effects of stay-green phenotype (prolonged green foliage) were observed in wheat plots later in the season, indicating Si’s beneficial effects.