• 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.

• Timeliness of operations is essential. The paddock may need to be dry sown as once the soil wets up you may not get back on the site again.
• Whilst the results from 2005 were very encouraging, for the technique to be cost effective the delved areas will need to produce increased yields for at least two years.
• Care must also be taken with the run-off flows to ensure there are no negative off-site impacts.

• Incorporation of lime has not shown a yield response above that of surface applied lime in the first year with wheat or canola in a wet year.
• Acid layers exist within soils and are mainly confined within the topsoil on basalt soils and can extend deeper in other soil types.
• Sampling soil in 5 cm increments is useful for identifying exactly where acidity is the profile so that lime can be potentially incorporated within the acid area.
• Surface-applied lime takes time to move down the soil profile and ameliorate acidity.
• To minimise yield losses where acidity issues exist (pH less than 5.0), sow acid tolerant cereals (eg. wheat) following liming or look to incorporate lime. 

• Sclerotinia disease ratings were low in this trial as is expected in a season with a dry and late start (Bennett et al. 2018) but there was more disease in the Hyola 404 at the higher plant density than the other treatments.
• Pioneer 43Y23 had significantly more branching than the Hyola 404 and a reduced length to the first branch. There was no significant difference in plant height between the two varieties but stem diameter was narrower in Hyola 404 than Pioneer 43Y23
• Overall, the plant architecture dimensions or row spacing trial did not indicate a mechanism for increased or reduced disease control.
• Grain yields decreased with increasing row spacing and reducing plant density.
• This trial demonstrates that refining the agronomic package for wide row spacing in canola could lead to reduced up front and in season input costs

Perennial based pasture systems can offer numerous benefits, including increased access to fresh summer feed,
lowered water table with a decrease in associated salinity issues, and minimisation of surface erosion. While it
is premature to apply these results broadly across KI, these results suggest that the decision to switch to a perennial
pasture should not be made based solely upon anticipated changes in soil carbon levels.

• Three seeding systems, disc (slot), tyne and tyne-after cultivation were tested over two  seasons in a paddock with a long history of minimal soil disturbance. Soil water repellence, plant establishment and yield were compared.
• In the wet 2016 season, the effect of soil water repellence was minimal and soil disturbance caused by disc, tyne or tyne-after-cultivation did not significantly affect plant establishment or yield.
• In the dry 2017 season, plant establishment and yield of field peas was higher in the disc seeder treatment than the tyne or tyne-after-cultivation treatment.

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

• Eight trial sites were established across South Eastern Australia to investigate whether soil organic carbon levels can be increased in no-till farming systems, inclusive of adding nutrients to aid the biological breakdown of stubble into soil organic matter.
• After three or five years of treatment, no increase in soil organic carbon could be confirmed across four trial sites. However, it is well known that no-till and stubble retention protects the soil from wind and water erosion and over a longer time-frame soil organic carbon levels may increase. But, based on these results it is likely that any potential increase in soil organic carbon will be small.

Prior to treatments being imposed aluminium toxicity was visually identified as a constraint by digging up plants and examining the roots. It was evident from the roots sideways growth that root pruning was occurring, affecting plant growth by limiting access to nutrients and water. Compaction was thought not to be an issue as it was possible to push a 1cm rod to a depth of 140cm by hand.

When the Grizzly treatments were being implemented it was difficult to have an even depth throughout the plot due to plot size. The discs were only achieving maximum depth (30-35cm) in the centre of the plot however; the average depth achieved within the plot was 25-30cm.

At seeding it was difficult to establish an even seed bed which led to uneven germination in both the Spaded treatments and the Grizzly treatments. This resulted in these treatments having lower plant establishment numbers over the no till (Control).

Throughout the season it was visually evident that the incorporation treatments had major effects on crop growth and health. The Grizzly and spaded treatments had better vigour and larger head sizes when compared to the control treatments. This is likely due to the lower plant numbers, leading to less competition for water and nutrients in the cultivated plots. Although this didn’t translate to significant yield increases in the first year, the second year of the trial is expected to show more as the seeding bed will have settled allowing for an even germination. 

• Cost of treatments repaid in the first year.
• Grizzly/Control returned the best net margin in the first year.

• In 2016, the soil mixing (grizzly or spader) had a greater wheat yield than the control (0.27-0.42 t/ha), regardless of product applied. The incorporation treatments are still being paid off and therefore have not produced the greatest net margin.
• Limesand/No till returned the best net margin for the 2nd consecutive year due to the low yield increases from either application of product or mixing treatment.
• The lime or dolomite treatments had greater yields (0.22-0.5 t/ha) regardless of mixing treatment.
• Care must be taken in interpretation of results due to pH variation across the site.
•  

• Tedera geminated well on gutless sand in Watheroo
• It is expected that the first tedera cultivars will be released to a commercial partner in 2015.
• Tedera can persist with an average rainfall of 150mm and up to 5 months in drought.

 

• Average establishment was 5, 8, 16 and 36 plants m-2 from seeding rates of 0.5, 0.9, 1.8 and 3.7 kg/ha.
• Differences in canopy cover (assessed by NDVI) persisted through to the start of flowering.
• The yield of the lowest seeding rate (2.8 t/ha) was significantly lower than the other seeding rates (3.4-3.6t/ha, not statistically different).
• Quadrat cuts indicated that yield reductions at low plant densities (e.g. 5 plants m-2) were likely the result of bare areas rather than the inability of canola to compensate where 5 plants m-2 were established.
• Although plant stands of as low as 8 plants m-2 maintained yield relative to higher seeding rates, suboptimal or variable establishment that results in bare areas is likely to significantly reduce yield and so aiming for at least 20 plants m-2 is recommended.

• My conclusion is that Conservation Farming practices are just as applicable in a marginal environment as in a more reliable one, perhaps more so. The trick here is to establish a blend of the existing knowledge (e.g. need to store moisture when possible, weed control, fertility management, sound pasture phase, timeliness of sowing, disease management), plus the newly available technology of seeders and herbicides that can continue to grow solid yielding, but importantly more profitable crops into the future.

• N applications at flowering in 2012 increased grain protein (%) in barley and improved grain quality, but were not economically viable. In the Wimmera, 20kg N/ha/t grain at flowering time increased grain protein by 1% in wheat.
• Applying UAN late (GS65) in wheat did not increase grain protein and resulted in no economic returns.

• Overall yield from May 17 sowing was impressive for this AgZone, at 1.6 t/ha.
• Delayed sowing by 34 days, to June 20, led to 1042 kg/ha less yield – 30 kg/ha/day.
• Short season hybrids could extend the safe sowing window later in this environment.
• Difficulty establishing canola in hot conditions could limit how far the sowing window can be brought forward.
• To take advantage of early autumn rains in this environment larger seeded broadleaf species that can be sown deeper should be tested.

• Yield were impressive; 1.9t/ha from April 26 and 2.2t/ha from May 17.
• Mid-season maturity varieties showed the greatest plasticity in plant development across sowing dates and may be a good option over a wide sowing/establishment period.
• Short season hybrids may enable the sowing window to be extended later with reduced risk.
• Long season varieties yielded poorly from these sowing dates.

• Yields were relatively stable across sowing times ranging from 2.2 to 3.1 t/ha.
• Early and mid-season hybrid varieties out-yielded the open pollinated varieties of the same season length.
• These hybrids combine early flowering, high biomass and in some cases a long flowering period.
• In general varieties had substantial plasticity and growers may be able to use a few varieties across a wide range of emergence dates; this is important if pre-ordering hybrid seed and/or dry sowing.

• Our standard package of 100 kg 18:20/ha at seeding under the seed row (to avoid fertiliser toxicity),  and two top-ups of nitrogen during the season (50 kg N/ha as broadcast urea each time) was not the right combination for wheat at our site last year. It would appear that we were far too generous with our N inputs because we could leave out all fertiliser N and not suffer any yield loss. However, some N would appear to have been necessary to maintain high protein levels.
• In addition, our standard package of one trial spray in September did not cope with the stripe rust  infection in such a susceptible crop as Wyalkatchem. A Jockey seed dressing helped but another foliar spray of Tilt at flag leaf emergence gave the best control of the options tested.
  • This trial showed that under the high productivity conditions of Kangaroo Island, P fertiliser is still a vital requirement, even if the soil has high P reserves.
  • There was no evidence that extra management options provided any further benefits to wheat performance (ie extra seed dressings, an early aphid spray, B or K fertiliser or use of a growth regulant) under the conditions of last year’s trial.
  • All yields fell far short of the French/Schultz potential yield of 8.4 t/ha (based on the growing season rainfall in 2005 of 532 mm) which suggests that we still have a lot to learn about growing wheat under Kangaroo Island conditions, although the delayed seeding date of 28 June would have contributed to the relatively low yields.

• Reducing P inputs has a risk attached to it, but excessive use of P fertiliser is also a risk to profit making.
• After several seasons with high crop yields, reduced P inputs are not maintaining soil P fertility.
• Monitoring soil P fertility can be a cost-effective method to manage the risk associated with reduced P inputs.

Long term trial work on KI, backed up by work inter and intra state has shown that as soils acidify the portion of acid tolerant weeds increases, growth of sub clover and perennial grasses decreases and crop yields decline. In addition many nutrients eg phosphorus, moly, magnesium and calcium become deficient but some like Aluminium can become toxic.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

• 1995 wheat grown on a 1994 canola a chickpea stubble yielded similarly.
• From agronomic measurements taken the wheat grown on the canola stubble had a potential to yield 15% greater than that on the chickpea stubble; however, this did not eventuate.
• From one year results, wheat grown on a disease free paddock with an immediate history of either chickpeas and/or canola will yield comparably.

Based on this year's results, there was no benefit to be gained in applying Cultar to reduce lodging in canola. The variety ATR Grace appears to have very good lodging resistance, superior to Pinnacle, the variety used in previous trials. Hopefully lodging resistance will be given a high priority by plant breeders in the future, thereby reducing the need to chemically manipulate the height of the crop. 

• The results suggest that there was no significant impact on yield or oil content of the canola following the application of growth regulators. This was again demonstrated in the economics, with only a $ 24/ha difference in the price of canola received from the plots. The only exception to this was the Cycocel @ 1.3 L/ha, which produced slightly less yield. 
• For further conclusions please see the attached trial report.

• The early growth of commercial and farmer retained canola seed appeared to be similar.
• Jockey fungicide seed treatment improved the yield of farmer retained seed for the triazine and imidazolinone tolerant varieties.
• The conventional variety Hyola 50 was consistently higher yielding when grown from commercial seed.

• Improved knowledge of how canola varieties develop in differing regions and the drivers behind development will assist growers in choosing the correct variety for a particular sowing opportunity.
• The development of site specific optimal flowering windows, where the balance between plant growth and frost and heat risks are accounted for, will allow growers and advisors to match canola variety selection with sowing opportunities.
• Nitrogen is an important driver of canola yields in above average seasons. Low risk techniques to ensure adequate nitrogen supply are critical to capitalise on above average rainfall in the low rainfall zone.

• As long as enough plants are established, canola can be sown at low rates as the plants compensate so well. Lodging was reduced by lower sowing rates. 
• Using retained hybrid seed for sowing resulted in lower grain yeilds and increased plant losses from blackleg.
• Winter types of canola from international sources may allow us to get increased grain yeilds in seasons when we can sow early. 

• Applications of gypsum and lime did not increase canola emergence in 2015.
• This result was expected as May rainfall was not sufficient to induce slaking of the soil.

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

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

The choice of most suitable canola variety for any situation will often follow consideration of maturity, herbicide tolerance, blackleg resistance and eraly vigour together with relative yield and oil content.

See trial report attached for discussion.

• Please see attached trial report for full details on each variety.

• An early break that allows canola to be sown in April is the best option for farmers to grow canola in the rotation in low rainfall areas. Use it as an opportunity crop rather than trying to grow it each year. Mustard is an earlier flowering option and when canola quality mustard is available it may be able to be included more frequently than canola is now.
• Conventional canola cultivars, triazine tolerant cultivars and Clearfield canola are all suitable for low rainfall areas, but the conventional cultivars have the highest yield & oil content. The other cultivars have weed control advantages.