Carbon is generating plenty of interest at present and the project aims to answer questions around increasing organic carbon in agricultural soils through the addition of carbon source. It would be expected that the results will show minimal impact on soil carbon levels in the first year of trialling however will to be tested by the Facey Group in continuance to the project. Harvest results however require further investigation with such variance between the remainder of the paddock and the treatments within the trial.

• Plant density counts were estimated on the 3rd August 2012 by counting 8 x 1 metre rows along each treatment.
• The treatment without Bio Char, there were counted 126 plants per square metre
• Where Bio Char was applied, there were 130 plants per square metre. 
• There were no replications of the treatment applied, so it is difficult to conclude if biochar application was beneficial in plant establishment.
• Subsequent visual observations and ratings were done on the 25th September 2012 with no difference noticeable.  The inherent variation across the site mad it difficult to gain adequate measurements at this site.
• We were not able to detect any difference in grain yield between untreated (nil) and the biochar plot.

The next step is to engage a Carbon Farming service provider, to work with the proponents to prepare a submission to register both a revegetation project and a natural regeneration project with the Emissions Reduciton Fund.

The laboratory results suggest that the inoculum load of the crown rot pathogen, which is normally stubble-borne, may be significantly reduced in the soil within 3-6 months of application of the control fungus to the stubble.

The West Midlands site had an average yielding year for the Moora area. The Liebe Long Term Research Site had a good growing season in terms of rainfall and seasonal distribution. The average yield was about 50% higher than previous wheat trial years. This was similar to Forrestdale which also had good rainfall and seasonal distribution.

On average, all Bioprime treatments combined resulted in a 4% yield increase. Treatment 2 (foliar Bioprime and granular fertiliser) performed best, achieving a 10% yield increase averaged across the three sites). At the WMG site, five Bioprime treatments resulted in positive yield responses whereas this number was lower at the Liebe site (2 treatments). With data corrected for outliers, all Bioprime treatments resulted in a positive yield response. Given that the Liebe site, relative to the WMG site had a higher soil pH, and higher pre-seeding phosphate and exchangeable cations concentrations (Table 2), an average higher yield was expected and achieved here compared to the WMG (3.36 t/ha and 2.15 t/ha, respectively in unamended control treatments). Thus, the higher soil quality and soil health present at the Liebe site combined with the good 2016 season in terms of rainfall likely narrowed the yield gap.

As such any management options aiming to close the gap between actual and potential yield, would have had less scope to achieve this at the Liebe site in 2016. In contrast, the lower soil fertility at the WMG allowed Bioprime to more consistently improve crop production. The 2016 data suggest the opportunity to improve yield on a poor soil in a poor year is greater than on good soil in a good year.

Ongoing research will continue to further develop Bioprime technology as a tool to improve soil biology and maintain plant health and yield. There is a substantial database of microbiological and yield results which continues to expand with the expectation of understanding the links between root and plant colonization by beneficial bacteria and fungi with Bioprime application and growth improvements.

For the current information please contact Nimesha Fernando - 0434871969

Table 1 shows there was no benefit in applying black urea at 75kg/ha or white urea at 75 or 100kg/ha over the control.

• Where blackleg disease pressure is low, fungicide application is not necessary.
• The greater the amount of canola grown, the more likely is an infestation of blackleg.
• Consequently, in 2012, blackleg disease pressure may increase in the Wimmera and Mallee.
• A buffer of 500m from the previous year’s canola stubble is desirable when selecting canola paddocks.
• Growers should utilise the “Blackleg Risk Assessor” and the current “Blackleg Ratings” on the GRDC website.

• Blackleg internal infection was found in many varieties including some varieties that had higher levels than would be expected.
• Due to the good winter and spring, the level of yield loss at a certain level of internal infection was much lower than measured in 2008.
• Farmers need to cut canola stems at windrowing time to assess the level of blackleg.

• Blackleg internal infection was found in many varieties inclding some varieties that had higher levels than would be expected. 
• Due to teh good winter and spring, the level of yield loss as a certain level of internal infection was much lower than measured in 2008.
• Farmers need to cut canola stems at windrowing time to assess the level of blackleg. 

• WA2211 had lower disease severity and slower build up of blackspot than Kaspa and Alma,
  however this was not reflected in final grain yield due to dry spring seasonal conditions.
• P-Pickel T slows the blackspot epidemic during the early stages of the crop growth. The effect of P-Pickel T wears off and disease levels are no different to untreated controls beyond 12 weeks after sowing.
• The blackspot epidemic spreads further in the crop during flowering and podding, by spore
  splash (demonstrated by trap plants placed at Kingsford trial). Fungicide sprays at this stage, to stop the infection on upper foliage and stems, may be beneficial in higher rainfall regions. This needs to be tested in trials by timing spraying with spore release.
• Concept trial methodology was successfully developed to assess wether field pea lines with
  improved blackspot resistance levels can be sown at earlier sowing dates than currently
  recommended. However further evaluation is required on WA2211 to assess wether its black spot resistance improvement is significant enough due to the dry seasonal conditions which prevailed in 2007 . This will occur again in 2008.
• The importance of an additive effect of varietal improvement, seed dressing and foliar sprays in allowing earlier sowing is not fully understood and requires further evaluation in a year more favourable for disease infection and spread.

• The risk of blackspot is influenced by many factors of which seasonal conditions play a significant role in disease outbreak as was observed in this trial.
• Fungicide use to control blackspot is one of the strategies to minimise the disease.
• Although there was no effect of fungicide treatment on yield, previous trials have shown that crops sown into high blackspot risk and with a high yield potential can benefit from a fungicide strategy of P-Pickel T seed dressing combined with a mancozeb spray at 9 nodes growth stage followed by a second spray at early flowering.

• Early sowing plus large numbers of airborne spores caused severe blackspot infection in pea crops in 2009.
• Winter and spring rain increased severity of blackspot in the pea crops.
• Airborne blackspot spore numbers are expected to be high in 2010 since pea stubbles have severe disease loads.

In 2008, the optimal strategy for yield was the spilt application treatment of 40kgN/ha (urea) at GS33 and 40kgN/ha (urea) at GS39, which yielded 5.96t/ha. However, the optimal strategy for profitability was the single application treatment of 40kgN/ha (urea) at GS33, which returned a profit on investment of 15% or $10.76/ha. Therefore, it is questionable whether it was worth applying any nitrogen at all in this particular case, as the profit is marginal compared addition risk and outlay. Growers should be aiming for at least a 50% profit on investment, if not higher. As a result, the untreated nitrogen strategy appears the most rational decision given the 2008 scenario.

• Acidic soil layers below 5 cm adversely affect root growth and architecture, nodulation, plant vigour, N2
fixation and yield potential of acid-sensitive pulses.
• Moderately (pHCa 4.6–5.0) and severely (pHCa <4.5) acidic layers in the 5–20 cm soil profile are not detected using soil samples collected over standard profile depths of 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm.
• Finer sampling at 5 cm intervals is recommended to detect pH stratification.
• The current standard industry practice of spreading lime with no incorporation and sowing with knife point press wheels or disc seeders confines the lime effect to the surface layers.
• Careful paddock selection and forward planning is required to correct pH stratification in the topsoil (0–10 cm).
• Lime application and incorporation with a full cultivation operation at least 6–12 months before sowing acid-sensitive species could be necessary.
• Appropriate lime rates should be used to ensure pHCa >5.5 in the entire top 10 cm layer.
• The effect of pH stratification on more acid-tolerant species, including canola, lucerne and cereals, should also be monitored.

• Application of nitrogen based fertilisers will increase both feed quality and quantity.
• There is limited evidence of any nitrate leaching occurring.
• Encouraging responses from the slow release forms of Nitrogen – if a commercially form becomes available it may be worth considering – depending on price.
• Most economical responses come from urea @25 and 50 kgN/ha.

Cereals can be successfully established into existing stands of lucerne to increase winter production without compromising summer
production of the lucerne. The choice of cereal will influence the amount of winter and spring production.

• Boron (B) efficiency of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and mustard (B. juncea) genotypes was determined on a low B soil at Mt. Compass, South Australia.
• B efficiency was observed in oilseed rape genotypes, Zhongyou 821, Dunkeld and Zheyou 2, and in mustard genotypes Pusa Bold and CSIRO 6.
• Genotypes grown in the field were also grown under glass-house conditions, in pots filled with pre-washed sand extracted from the Mt. Compass field site.
• Two B treatments, one B adequate (0.25 mg B /kg soil) and one B deficient (imposed by omission) were used to indicate whether vegetative response to B could predict final yield response and provide a more convenient selection criterion for identifying B-efficient germplasm .
• Vegetative response of 35 d old (D35) genotypes grown in pot culture closely reflected field response, indicating the expression of B efficiency traits in early growth, and its potential use in selection.

• The level of genotypic variation in tolerance to low boron (B) supply was investigated in solution culture grown, 10 day old (D10) oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) plants, by using a rapid screening technique whereby root length, root elongation rate and total root dry weight were used to indicate plant response to B.
• Root length proved more reliable in determining genotype responses, and was used to characterise a total of 61 genotypes, of which Huashuang 2, Nangchang rape, Huashuang 1 and Zhongyou 821, and to a lesser extent, Zheyou 2, Dunkeld, Xinza 2, Nangjin 2051, 92-58, 92-13, and Awassa 115 exhibited some form of tolerance to low B supply.
• The genotypic rankings based on this early vegetative response corroborated with field based B-efficiency.
• The results demonstrate the expression of the B-efficiency mechanism in the early vegetative stages of plant growth, and establish the value of root length as a selection criterion for B-efficiency in oilseed rape.

Green manuring canola or mustard has not been proven to be beneficial following wheat crops in the southern Mallee.

• Brassica carinata is a crop similar to canola that may be used to produce biojet fuel.
• Carinata is grown in Canada over summer but is very late flowering and taller when grown under our winter conditions.
• Earlier flowering carinata lines were selected in 2017 and tested in 20 yield trials in 2018.
• Several carinata lines have produced higher grain yields than canola at Bordertown.
• Future studies will develop an agronomic package to optimise carinata production.
   

• Brassica juncea has the potential to be grown on a substantial area of low rainfall cropping country in South Australia with a likely area of up to 165,000 ha per year.
• Production may be expected to vary from year to year based on the timing of the seasonal break.
• Previous trials have shown that under low yield conditions, B. juncea can produce higher grain yields than canola.
• In the past two years with mild, wet conditions canola has performed relatively better than B. juncea.
• We are starting to see more blackleg occurring in low rainfall regions as the area sown to canola increases. It is not yet enough to cause problems but we need to keep our eye on it.
• Even more canola varieties have been released that may be good options in low rainfall areas.

Wheat yields were highest when grown after chickpeas or lupins at both low and moderate phosphorus (P) sites. Benefits provided by the previous chickpea or lupin crops could not be attributed to an increase in residual P sources alone.

From the sequences gathered from the survey group, 70% of the hectares planted were to cereals, with the balance to break phases. This appears to be a little higher than the average at around 60% to cereals. All growers surveyed noted flexibility as important to each rotation. Meaning longer sequences were often subject to change. Rotational changes are predominantly driven by weeds burdens and seeding conditions/seasonal outlook.  
 

• Two Clearfield varieties, Pioneer 44Y84 and Pioneer 45Y82, exceeded 2.5 t/ha at Mt Cooper.
• There were no standout varieties in the Triazine Tolerant (TT) and Conventional canola varieties at both Minnipa and Mt Cooper.
• Juncea canola and Biodiesel canola produced lower yields than in the past compared to traditional napus canola due to above average rainfall year.
• No significant difference between the newly released pea lines at Mount Cooper.
• Break crops were successfully grown at Penong in 2010.

• Field pea, vetch, faba bean and lentil had 3-125% higher biomass yield and 51-110% higher grain yield than chickpea and canola at Minnipa, 2018.
• Current high demand and grain prices for faba bean meant they were the most profitable break crop species.
• Low grain yield of canola (0.43 t/ha) and chickpea (0.39 t/ha) resulted in these crop species not being profitable as grain crops.
• Field pea and vetch, in particular, have multiple alternative end-use options in dry seasonal conditions that can be utilised to recover crop input costs.

• Wheat grain yield can be expected to be reduced by around 0.5 t/ha for every tonne of in-crop grass weed dry matter present in spring.
• Wheat following break crops were consistently more profitable than wheat on wheat. This in part reflected the  relatively low wheat grain prices experienced during experimentation, and the high returns for canola, but was also related to the efficacy and costs of ryegrass control.
• Growing pulses for brown manure (Bm) lost money in the year that they were grown, but achieved excellent weed control, provided high inputs of N and a residual carry-over of soil water, and more ground cover than if they had been cut for hay.
• In the presence of a high density of herbicide resistant ryegrass a ‘single break’ was not adequate to reduce weed seedbanks and subsequent in-crop weed competition. ‘Double breaks’ (two broad leaf break crops, or break crop - cereal hay sequence) reduced ryegrass seedbank numbers to manageable levels and were amongst the most profitable sequences.
• Break crop choice and selection should be based on individual farm management and ability to manage the various break crops options in the rotation. If growers remain flexible in break crop and end-use decisions, and make suitable choices, risks associated with producing them can be greatly reduced.
• A cropping program that includes break crops is likely to be more sustainable in terms of N inputs and risk of build-up of root diseases than continuous wheat, and provided cheaper, more effective strategies for controlling herbicide resistant grass weeds.

• Field pea had higher biomass and grain yield production than other break crop species at Minnipa, although @RISK analysis suggests field pea is only profitable as a grain crop in 41% of years.
• @RISK analysis model outcomes indicate chickpea, vetch hay and lentil are lower risk break crop species, and are profitable in more than 50% of years.
• Field pea and vetch have multiple alternative end-use options in dry seasonal conditions that can be utilised to recover crop input costs and salvage a financial return.

 

The grain yield of wheat sown after pulses were 300 kg/ha higher on average compared to wheat sown after canola. The yield gap between the canola-wheat rotation and canola-pulse rotation was a result of reduced soil nitrogen levels following harvest of the break crop phase in 2018.

The grain yield of wheat sown after pulses were 300 kg/ha higher on average compared to wheat sown after canola. The yield gap between the canola-wheat rotation and canola-pulse rotation was a result of reduced soil nitrogen levels following harvest of the break crop phase in 2018.

Biomass and grain yield performance of varieties differed between environments, particularly when there were major differences in soil characteristics and rainfall.

• Crop sequence experimentation undertaken in Central West NSW in 2011 and 2012, has demonstrated that crop sequences which include a brassica or legume break crops can be as profitable as, and in many instances more profitable than, continuous wheat.
• Growing pulses for hay was found to provide high quality feed as good as from cereals but hay from canola was less nutritious. However, canola hay provided an alternative option in cases where a possible crop failure is likely due to adverse weather.
• Growing pulses for hay was found to be profitable across a range of season types, achieves excellent grass weed control and provides greater N inputs and higher carry-over of soil water than when the same crop is grown for grain.

• Average wheat yield gains were approximately 0.6 t/ha in the first year after a break and the size of this yield gain was similar in high and low yielding seasons.
• Second year break effects were generally in the order of 0.3 t/ha and third year break effects 0.1 t/ha, resulting in a total of approximately 1 t/ha more wheat being produced following a break compared to continuous wheat.
• The effect of breaks on subsequent wheat yields is usually more consistent across soils, seasons and break type than the yield of break crops.
• Cumulative gross margins from wheat following legume, brassica and legume-based pasture breaks were generally much higher than continuous wheat, but the overall profitability of including breaks is strongly determined by the high variability in the relative profit from the different break options on different soils in the year that they are grown.

• Canola produced the highest gross margin of all break crops grown in 2010.
• Wheat grown following peas and vetch had the highest grain yields and protein concentrations.
• Crop sequences of canola, pea grain or hay and vetch following by wheat have gross margins equal to or higher than wheat-wheat and fallow-wheat on both sand and clay soils.

Wheat consistently yields more following a broadleaf break-crop than following wheat or a long-fallow. Wheat yields more when grown after legumes (peas and vetch) than after brassicas (mustard, canola). Wheat yields are consistently higher following vetch than all other break crops. Canola, pea hay or vetch hay followed by two wheat crops were more profitable than continuous wheat or fallow followed by two wheat crops.

Canola, juncea canola, vetch and pea hay were all more profitable than wheat on both sand and clay soil types.

Brassica or legume break crops can be as profitable as wheat. In most cases, the higher the legume dry matter produced, the greater the amount of nitrogen produced. Strategic timing of operations such as hay cutting and brown manuring provide an opportunity for improved weed control.

Wheat yields in 2012 were higher following hay, brown manure or fallow in 2011, probably due to extra water conserved in these treatments. Crop sequences including a break crop are at least as profitable as continuous wheat, with some examples of substantial profit gain. Where continuous cereals are grown, cutting wheat for hay can provide substantial yield and profit benefits to subsequent wheat in seasons with low growing season rain.

Wheat yields in 2012 were higher following hay, brown manure or fallow in 2011, probably due to extra water conserved in these treatments. Crop sequences including a break crop are at least as profitable as continuous wheat, with some examples of substantial profit gain. Where continuous cereals are grown, cutting wheat for hay can provide substantial yield and profit benefits to subsequent wheat in seasons with low growing season rain.

The time from sowing to emergence represents a key period in the development of high-yielding wheat crops.

• The +Zn treatment received 7 kg Zn/ha at sowing plus 2 foliar sprays of 0.33 kg Zn/ha.
• Generally, yield responses to Zn are greater in durum and bread wheat than in barley.
• The most inefficient lines of wheat and barley showed distinctive symptoms of Zn deficiency, such as reduced growth, pale leaves with chlorotic and necrotic lesions along the mid-vein.
• In 1999 a dry spring limited the yield response to Zn to about 0.5 t/ha, whereas, in 1998 yield increases up to 1 t/ha were measured.
• The disparity between the vegetative and the yield responses has tended to be greater in barley than in wheat.
• The wheat cultivars Goldmark and Kukri have low Zn efficiency, whereas the widely adapted, high yielding cultivars Trident, Krichauff and Worrakatta are Zn-efficient.
• Within barley, a number of Japanese breeding lines (eg SBWI-1) are very inefficient, but many current cultivars from SA as well as Arapiles (Vic.) and Stirling (WA) show a high level of efficiency.
• Pot assays for Zn efficiency have been developed and generally show similar rankings to the field tests.
• Wheat double haploid populations derived from the cross between Trident (efficient) and Songlen (inefficient) have been produced to develop molecular markers for Zn efficiency.

• Highly winter active lucerne varieties had better establishment than the winter active or semi dormant varieties.
• Many of the breeder's lines showed better establishment than the commercial cultivars.

Chickpeas have not been widely grown in the Brim district since the outbreak of ascochyta in 1998. This trial has shown it is possible to grow chickpeas in the district and newer lines with improved disease resistance show promise for the future and would eliminate the need for a fungicide in this district. Improved disease resistance may also allow newer lines to be sown earlier, which is likely to have a yield affect – especially in shorter growing season districts such as Brim.

Trial conducted to continue evaluation into the use of chemicals to manipulate broad been plant architecture without decreasing yields.
• Unseasonably dry and warm conditions and resulting poor yields were not conducive for conclusive results.
• In three years of trials Ethephon reduced plant height without a significant yield penalty.

• Agronomic or chemical assisted canopy management could have significant benefits to fungicide penetration and efficacy, disease intensity, grain yield and harvestability.
• Four treatments reduced height without a significant yield penalty: Clomazone, Paraquat + Diquat (High), Ethephon (applied 26 Aug) and Ethephon (applied 9 Sept).

• Agronomic or chemical assisted canopy management could have significant benefits to fungicide penetration and efficacy, disease intensity, grain yield and harvestability
• Two canopy management treatments (simulated grazing and a low rate of glyphosate) suppressed plant height with no significant effect on grain yield.
• All other treatments either caused a yield penalty or did not suppress plant height.
• Several herbicides, including glyphosate and imazamox show promise as growth regulators, but require revision of application rates.

Post-emergent herbicide was scored for visual damage on 26th September 2012. These results have been combined with yield data and the results will be discussed with Pulse Australia to look at future work in determining herbicide permits for Broad Bean crops.

• Liming to help reduce some of the inherent nutritional problems of low soil pH.
• Application of Molybdenum pre seeding to assist with nodulation.
• Improving nodulation by either increasing the number of rhizobia applied, ensuring rhizobia survival in those acid soils or ensuring both collar and lateral nodules develop.
• Early tissue testing and subsequent nutrient correction with foliar applications to overcome some of the deficiencies associated with lower soil pH.
• Raised beds for water logging control in wetter areas, or sowing the beans into a ‘hill’ rather than a ‘furrow’.
• Retention of cereal stubble to improve soil moisture status prior to and at sowing may assist with improving germination and nodulation.

If the time and costs incurred in sowing are compared to broadcasting in relation to the yields achieved it is more cost effective to broadcast then to sow. The BCG will continue work in this area in 2001.

• Pre-emergent herbicides were equally as effective at controlling broadleaf weeds as post-emergent herbicides in this faba bean trial
• Reflex® is a new pre-emergent herbicide option for control of broadleaf weeds with good residual activity and is effective at reducing weed density and biomass
• If a post-emergent herbicide is required Ecopar® is best for broadleaf weed control in non-imi-tolerant varieties and Intercept® is good for imi-tolerant varieties

• RR canola which was sown into plots to mimic wild radish produced 4.1 t/ha of biomass by maturity and reduced the seed yield of CBA Captain chickpea by 47% compared to weed free plots.
• Majority of the herbicides and herbicide mixtures registered 95-100% weed control efficiency against RR canola and produced similar seed yields to weed free plots. Application of flumetsulam 800 at 25g/ha at 4-5 node stage of chickpea reduced canola biomass by 99% and increased chickpea seed yield by 74%.
• Post-seeding pre-emergent application of a three-way mix of Simazine 900 835g + diuron 900 333g + isoxaflutole 750 100g/ha and post-emergent application of REDPI21 at 4-5 node stage caused significant seed yield loss of chickpea.
• Pre-emergent application of fomesafen, flumioxazin, terbuthylazine + isoxaflutole, and simazine + diuron + isoxaflutole had no significant negative effect on root nodules of CBA Captain.

• Chickpea varieties - CBA Captain and Neelam showed similar competitiveness against broadleaf weeds. Competition of RR canola (mimicked wild radish) and broad leaf weeds with these varieties to maturity accumulated 4.2t/ha dry biomass and reduced chickpea seed yield by 35% compared to weed free plots.
• Majority of the herbicides and herbicide mixtures registered 95-100% weed control efficiency against RR canola and broadleaf weeds and yielded on par with weed free plots. Application of flumetsulam 800 at 25g/ha at 4-5 node stage of chickpea reduced canola/weed biomass by 69% and increased chickpea seed yield by 25%.
• Incorporated by sowing application (IBS) of herbicides/mixtures appeared safer than their post-seeding pre-emergent application (PSPE). IBS application of fomesafen, flumioxazin, terbuthylazine + isoxaflutole, and simazine + diuron + isoxaflutole had no significant negative effect on root nodules of CBA Captain.

• Majority of the pre-emergent herbicides and herbicide mixtures registered 88-100% weed control efficiency against wild radish. Post-emergent application of flumetsulam 800 at 25g/ha alone at 4-5 node stage of chickpea reduced wild radish number by 86%.
• Interaction of post-emergent flumetsuam with pre-emergent herbicides/mixtures for wild radish control was positive, whereas for chickpea seed yield it was negative in majority of the cases.
• Pre-emergent application of flumioxzin alone and in mixture with other herbicides, BADPI21 and simazine + diuron + isoxaflutole caused 21 to 41% loss in chickpea seed yield.
• Pre-emergent application of fomesafen, flumioxazin, terbuthylazine + isoxaflutole, and simazine + diuron + isoxaflutole had no significant negative effect on root nodules of CBA Captain.

T

Although there were no significant differences between herbicide treatments in wheat yield the control plots yielded the lowest.

Choice of product depends on mix, population and size of weeds, crop safety and growth of the crop.

There was no effect on crop emergence from any treatment.
Climbing Buckwheat (Fallopia convolvulus) and Wireweed (Polygonum aviculare) were the key target weed species. In this trial, no treatment provided significant levels of control of climbing buckwheat at either assessment. Low levels of wireweed were apparent at the 69 DAA assessment with no apparent difference between treatments. However significant levels of control were found from all treatments following a germination in late August and early September. The poorest treatments for wireweed suppression were Balance 50 g/ha, Diuron at both rates, Balance + Simazine and the low rate of Terbyne. All treatments provided good control of turnip weed.

There was no effect on crop emergence from any treatment.
Wireweed (Polygonum aviculare) was the key target weed species. In this trial, no treatment provided significant levels of control of wireweed at 43 DAA. Wireweed populations were dense but patchy.

The use of Lexone on both barley and wheat was quite safe in 1996, spray conditions were quite good with moist soil and some dew on hte crop, and no heavy rain occurred within a week of appying the herbicie.

• Trifluralin can provide useful control of low levels of brome and barley grass.
• No crop damage was observed this season from Metribuzin/Diuron mixes applied pre-sowing.

• Brome grass is becoming more prevalent in the Victorian Mallee with adoption of no-till farming an dintensification of cereal cropping systems where few effective herbicides are available for control.
• The ecology of brome grass has changed, making it more problematic to control in crops.
• Aim for two consecutive years of control to deplete the seedbank of hthis troublesome weed.

• There was no significant difference netween any of the treatments.

There was no significant difference between the lentil counts, but there was a trend evident of some of the group C herbicides causing some slowness and even plant death. Rain events in the first month post planting were below average, it is likely that those herbicides that are known to have some level of toxicity to lentils (such as Metribuzin) were concentrated in the furrow and thus negatively affected some of the germinating plants.This apparent damage  highlights the importance of understanding how herbicides interact with the soil type, stubble loading and the planted crop.

Managing Brome grass populations in wheat is a challenge facing many growers but chemical control options have increased over the past two seasons with the introduction of Clearfield wheat technology and Atlantis herbicide.

• Knockdown treatment of Gramoxone offer good control of Brome grass but must be applied before the 0.5-leaf crop stage to provide sufficient crop safety. RoundUp is also used in some situations but because it is a translocated herbicide it can do significantly more crop damage.
• Lexone offers good in-crop control of Brome grass in both barley and wheat (Lexone is not registered in wheat and only registered for broadleaf control in barley) however the window for application is both small, and critical, for safe and effective use.
• Monza offers suppression of Brome grass (at the 1 to 3 leaf stage) in wheat but has long plantbacks that need to be observed.
• The introduction of Clearfield technology in wheat appears to offer another tool against Brome grass.

Non-chemical methods work hand in hand with chemical methods for controlling brome grass

Non-chemical methods work hand in hand with chemical methods for controlling brome grass

• Brome grass control in wheat is difficult (except when using Clearfield technology).
• Brome grass is becoming an increasing problem and there is evidence that the problem is increasing faster under direct drill systems with an intensive cereal rotation.
• Pre-emergent herbicides such as trifluralin and metribuzine do have activity on brome grass but the effect is slight suppression only (metribuzin is not registered in wheat).

• The ecology of brome grass has changed, making it more problematic to control in crops. Higher levels of seed dormancy are allowing brome to escape pre-sowing control tactics, resulting in greater in-crop emergence.
• Increased seed dormancy associated with a requirement for cold or chilling. Under field conditions this increased chilling requirement would not be met until late Autumn or early Winter.
• Knockdown herbicides are less effective in the management of highly dormant populations of brome. Therefore, brome grass management has become heavily reliant on Group A and B herbicides, especially the Clearfield(TM) technology, which is expected to increase the risk of herbicide resistance development.
• High levels of seedbank persistence from one year to the next (approximately 25%) means multiyear control of brome grass is required to exhaust seedbanks to manageable levels. Plan a three-year rotation.

• Many techniques can be employed to deplete the brome seedbank but an integrated weed management (IWM) approach reduces reliance on herbicides (ie. imi’s).
• In the best managed paddocks, two years of effective management reduce brome grass seedbank to <50 seeds/m2 (8-32 seed/m2 ).
• The most effective rotations for reducing brome populations incorporated oaten hay, break crops, legumes and CLF cereals.

• On average for the three harvest dates there were 12 brome grass plants/m2, over 1000 brome grass seeds/m2 and 88 seeds per brome plant.
• The proportion of brome grass seed retained above the 15 cm harvest height was 59, 38 and 30% for the measurements on 7 November, 21 November and 5 December 2014 respectively.
• Harvesting the crop on these dates, combined with HWSC would potentially result in 41, 62 and 70% of brome grass seed being added to the seed bank, and possibly more if seeds above 15 cm were dislodged in the harvesting operation.
• These measurements indicate insufficient brome grass seed is retained above harvest height, especially with later harvests, to expect control techniques such as seed carts and seed destructors to be effective on their own. However, when used as part of an integrated weed management program, these techniques will undoubtedly assist in achieving brome grass control.
• Research is continuing with MSF and the University of Adelaide to evaluate the effectiveness of a range of brome grass control approaches.

• If early sowing, Morava vetch is the best choice for brown manuring, particularly if brown manuring for early weed control is the objective since early desiccation will preclude any persistence of hard-seeded vetch into subsequent crops. Field peas are the preferred option for later (mid May) sowing for either brown manuring or crop topping
• TOS 1 field peas had disease problems in early winter reducing biomass.

With the cooperation and commitment of some 15 farmers, a network across the Wimmera-Mallee existed during 1994 to monitor the moth of native budworm (Heliothis punctigera) in grain legumes. This trial used the information gained to forecast the pest's development and economic thresholds for spraying. The information gained was faxed and posted weekly to some 40 agribusiness and interested farmers.

Please see attached report.

Soil physical health assessments have been carried out, in line with the Integrity Soils process, which measures several soil and plant health indicators along with recording photographic records of the sites. Soil biological health has been monitored using laboratory testing from Microbe Labs. Soil mineral analysis has been undertaken on each site with samples analysed by Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL). This data completes the whole picture of soil health and is viewed alongside soil physical and biological health indicators.

Please see attached report for results. 

• Spader generally produced a positive yield response (grain and biomass) on sandier soils that had previously been clay spread and /delved.
• The inclusion of organic matter prior to spading generally improved the level of response to spading.
• Know your soils that you are spading; (not recommended on shallow red loam soils over clay where there is a sodic A2 horizon)

• Cereal windrow burning achieved temperatures in excess of those required to achieve high levels of weed seed mortality, except in paddocks which had 11mm of rainfall the week before.'
• The open paddock burn with a high stubble load had a quicker, faster burn but still achieved the necessary temperatures of 450 degrees Celsius for longer than 60 seconds.

The six business case study growers featured in this Kwinana East RCSN-initiated publication are managing complex, multi-layered farm businesses that are well set up and function efficiently. As many of these businesses grow in size and scale in the future, these growers highlight the many positive outcomes that can be achieved from having a willingness to learn and implement new ideas and a desire for continuous improvement.

• Root development on all treatments showed an improvement over the control.
• There was no difference in leave developments between the treatments and the control.
• Calcinit provided the best return on investment with a $131 increase/ha over the untreated control and a $62 increase/ha over the Calbud.

• Capital value improvement of $61,000 by using the stripper front.
• The cost per rotor hour of the machine increased as the capital cost went up and the number of hours decreased.
• There was a 24% reduction in fuel usage and a 16% reduction in labour costs.
• Harvest was completed on average two to three days faster with a stripper front.

• Capital value improvement of $61,000 by using the stripper front.
• The cost per rotor hour of the machine increased as the capital cost went up and the number of hours decreased.
• There was a 24% reduction in fuel usage and a 16% reduction in labour costs.
• Harvest was completed on average two to three days faster with a stripper front.

• With low rainfall and poor growth at many sites, crops required little P to maximise grain yield.
• On a red sandy clay loam at Minnipa, wheat only needed a Colwell P value of 10-15 mg/kg to achieve maximum grain yield without P fertiliser.
• Canola appears to have a lower critical P level than wheat.

• Compared to 2008 map, rezoning based on 2009 yield monitor map improved variable rate technology (VRT) performance in 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons.
• The highest gross margin was returned from paddock N1 as a result of zoning whereby no fertiliser was being applied to 89% of the paddock.
• A limited yield response to applied fertiliser has restricted any gross margin benefit from the VRT technology from this paddock with high soil P reserves.

• Across the trial series at Grass Patch, Ballidu, Merredin and Holt Rock the highest grain yields, oil and gross margins were from the open pollinated variety, so growers should continue to use open pollinated TT varieties in the low rainfall regions, rather than hybrid varieties.
• In the hybrid treatments, there were generally increased yields and oil from the purchased (F1) seed, compared with the retained (F2) seed.  The gross margin was only significantly better at the Grass Patch site, for the 2014 F1 compared with the retained seed. Grading to increase seed size and sowing at a target density of 40 plants/m² improved the yield and gross margins of F2 retained hybrid seed, but at Grass Patch in 2015 using F1 hybrid seed or OP seed provided better results..

• Bees have an obvious role in honey production, but their role in pollination has yet to be truly measured in broad acre cropping.
• Inclusion of bees, as pollinators, increased crop yield between two and 3-fold, with no increase in inputs.