This years findings mirror those of last year. The trials demonstrated that current P application rates may be suboptimal, and significant grain yield gains may be achieved by applying greater amounts of P.

This years findings mirror those of last year. The trials demonstrated that current P application rates may be suboptimal, and significant grain yield gains may be achieved by applying greater amounts of P.

• A pot study using 32 virgin soils from south-eastern Australia (Vic - Qld).
• Subclover grown in pots in the glasshouse and nutrient relations examined.
• Sulphur deficiency occurred almost as frequently as phosphorus deficiency.
• 75% of the soils were deficient in both phosphorus and sulphur, 31% were deficient in all three elements.
• Molybdenum responses were obtained only after the other deficiencies had been corrected.
• A deficiency in one of the elements is no indication of deficiency or sufficiency of either of the other two.
• Responses to phosphorus were less on the black earths than on the red or yellow podzolic soils; those on the red earths were intermediate.
• The intensity of sulphur deficiency increased, and the intensity of molybdenum deficiency decreased, with increasing soil pH.

• On light soils, nitrogen is generally the most important nutrient in achieveing optimum cereal yields and maximising return.
• It is important to maintain a balanced approach to crop nutrition.
• In deficient sandy soils, nitrogen can be confidently applied to malting barley, particularly if applied early and to crops free of disease and weed competition.

• During 1997 make the most of the technology and services available.
• Soil testing prior to sowing.
• Monitoring your crops with sap nitrate testing, NIR analysis, plant tissue and grain tissue testing during the season will enable you to make informed decisions and to capitalise on the opportunities presented.

• This project has had a large impact on Albany and Esperance growers.
• The underrepresented soil types are now predominantly covered making the Yield Prophet project more relevant to the area.
• Growers can access the information in the paddock on smart phones and tablets.
• This enables them to make better informed decisions when it comes to soil inputs and management.

 

• Grain yields of most canola varieties at Salmon Gums started to plateau at ~ 20 plants/m²
• Taking into account the costs of increasing plant density we calculated the economic optimum for higher cost seed types such as RR and hybrid TT to be 25 plants/m² or less
• Hyola 404RR had the flattest response indicating its yields were less affected by lower plant densities.

• RR hybrid canola maximised gross margins
• OP TT variety Sturt produced similar gross margins to the hybrid TT variety Hyola 450 TT
• Gross margins were optimised at:

             ~ 50 plants/m² for Sturt TT.

                5 to 25 plants/m² for Hyola 450TT.

              ~ 13 plants/m² for Pioneer 43Y23 RR.

 

In this 2013 trial:

• Canola yield responded to increasing plant density to 65 plants/m² but there was very little response at densities greater than 20 to 30 plants/m²
• The response was variable within this trial site, which means that is very likely to be quite variable across different years and locations. 
• Roundup Ready canola enabled much better weed control than triazine tolerant canola on this site.

In stressed conditions canola yields and gross margins were reduced at plant densities above 20 plants/m².

Despite being higher yielding and producing higher oil than CB Telfer TT, the higher seed costs of hybrid triazine tolerant variety Hyola 450TT resulted in lower gross margins.

Hybrid RoundupReady cultivar Hyola 404RR produced the highest yields and oil at Mullewa in 2013. 

Despite higher upfront costs Hyola 404RR also produced the highest gross margins.

At Chapman Valley in 2013 canola grain yields began to plateau at approximately 20-30 plants/m².  Economic optimum target densities were found to be @ 16 plants/m² for Hyola 404RR, 24 plants/m² for GT Viper, 33 plants/m² for Hyola 450TT, and 34 plants/m² for ATR Stingray.

Taking into account contingencies such as seeding errors, dry conditions at seeding and changes in seed size or viability we suggest that seed rates of RR and TT hybrids and RR OP at similar sites be around 1.9 to 2.3 kg/ha, whilst the cheaper seed of less competitive TT OP lines be sown at @ 4.0 kg/ha.

It was hypothesised that the benefits of the growth regulants would be related to the amount of crop growth. It was expected they would have a greater beneficial impact where the crop was identified as being thick and bulky, according to the aerial imagery and that the effects would be less or negative where crop growth was less and possibly already constrained by other factors such as nutrition. If this hypothesis were correct, crop imagery could be used to target growth regulants to areas where a positive response is most likely. There was lower NDVI at the southern end of Ronnies paddock, and this is where a negative yield response was observed, indicating the hypothesis may be correct, however the link is not strong.

Yield differences between treatments were highly significant. Differences observed between the growth regulant treatments and nil were up to 0.5t/ha along the trial strip. The yield differences were not significant at the northern end of the trial strips, this is where localised waterlogging was observed in the trial and crop growth was reduced before the growth regulants were applied, as observed in the crop spec data.

In 2014 – a dry season with limited growth and yield at the trial site – Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) were not economically viable or worthwhile.

PGR use in a tough season may pose more risk than benefit to cereal crops; their use should be gauged on seasonal outlooks.

In 2014, reduction in plant height was greatest with a PGR applied either as a single late, or a split application, not an early application.

The combination of a fungicide such as Amistar Xtra with a PGR such as Moddus Evo, appears to increase the effect of the PGR on plant growth.

• Plant growth regulators had no significant impact on wheat grain yield in 2012, at four different sites.
• Plant growth regulators can reduce grain yield and quality with incorrect application timing, especially to crops under stress i.e dry, nutrient deficient, frost, waterlogging.

• Moddus Evo reduces lodging and can increase yields
• Application timing and concentration of Moddus Evo is critical
• Moddus Evo should not be applied to plants under stress
• Moddus Evo has improved formulation stability and plant uptake

The key message that came out of these trials is that despite the lack of lodging, a Moddus application at 400ml/ha applied at GS31, with or without a second application of Moddus at 200ml/ha at GS37, had a beneficial effect on yield and reduced crop height. These results are supported by previous research on PGR use in cereals.

• Bidgee and Djakal performed best at 45 plants/m2.
• N005A-80 and Snowy performed best at 30 plants/m2.
• Severe lodging occurred in all varieties at the 60 plants/m2 sowing density.
• Snowy has poor resistance to lodging, which was exacerbated at higher sowing densities.

Late application and/or higher rates of clethodim pose a high risk to canola yields. Split applications at lower rates do not appear to cause as much damage as a single higher rate. Varieties appear to differ in their tolerance of high rates, but further investigation is required.

PodGuard is a trait which strengthens what is known as the indehiscent zone of a canola pod, the area which naturally bvreaks open to allow shattering to occur.  The trait has been shown across 10 years of trialling to greatly reduce the incidence, risk and severity of shaqttering in varieties bred to contain Pod Guard. IH51RR is the first commercial variety with PodGuard, and grower-scale trialling in 2014 showed that the trait has a number of applications for growers.

The polymer coated canola had very poor germination, even after 60 mm of rainfall in the month post sowing. More work needs to be done on the coating thickness and cost before polymer coating could be considered as an early sowing tool in our growing conditions.

• Field data from 2007, as well as modelling data, has shown that there is an optimum time to remove the polymer film before it gets too hot under the film resulting in a reduction in yield.
• A low cost structure is required to make polymer film economically viable, however there seems to be good initial results when using polymers to establish native tree species. There is potential that polymer film may have a future with perennial species (salt bush establishment etc) more so than with annual species due to the high cost of laying the film each year with annual crops.

See attached report for results.

• Preliminary results have shown that post sowing use of some pre-emergence herbicides can improve control of late emerging ryegrass and could be beneficial as a late salvage exercise where ryegrass has escaped earlier control.
• Although no damage to the wheat crop was observed, these treatments present a higher risk to crop safety, depending on soil type and rainfall after application.
• Post sowing use of these herbicides is currently off label & requires further investigation before registration can be granted.

• It is difficult to effectively control witch grass in summer.
• No single herbicide treatment achieved 100% control.
• Glyphosate-based herbicide treatments were the best performers, achieving 86–88% control.
• The mixture of glyphosate + simazine had residual control on subsequent emergences.

Broadstrike Herbicide with or without wetter and Broadstrike + Brodal all provided commercially acceptable control of wild cabbage in lentils without causing crop damage. Warm, sunny conditions at spraying resulted in good Broadstrike activity. The late finish to the growing season also suited Broadstrike mixes, as the delay in crop maturity resulting from Broadstrike application did not reduce yield. These results need to be verified in other environments.

Standard farmer practice of 'pasture topping' in the previous year, followed by a knock down around the seasons break, remain the best practice before sowing saltbush or bluebush by seed.

Diuron at 1L or 2L applied post sowing pre-emergent in a wheat crop was not effective in controlling fop and dim resistant ryegrass. However, Diuron with Dual Gold or Dual Gold on its own (especially at the 0.5L rate) had better control of ryegrass. The level of control was not sufficient in a commercial sense but it may be in combination with trifluralin or with other ryegrass control strategies. Dual Gold is a Group K herbicide and will not initially add to a resistance problem.

Barley yields exceeded 5 t/ha with strong responses to lime and potassium fertiliser.

The 1.0 t/ha response to potassium (K) was not as strong as in the previous two wheat crops (1.4 t/ha in 2013 and 2.4 t/ha in 2014). This was probably partly due to better control of ryegrass in plots without K fertiliser compared to previous years.

The response to lime applied in 2011 and 2014 was also 1.0 t/ha. This followed a 0.35 t/ha response in 2014 wheat. Like 2014, lime did not affect response to K.

Compared to topdressing potash, banding K increased early crop vigour, but 140 kg/ha K-Till Extra (15K) did not supply enough K to satisfy demand of the high yield potential.

This trial has highlighted the importance of maintaining K inputs (if required) when undertaking liming programs.

Ongoing responses to lime are likely to increase future demand for K because soil reserves will be depleted at an increasing rate.

Significant yield responses were observed indicating that lentisl can respond to K & S application during the growing season where soil nureition levels are depleted

• This trial produced a 0.9 t/ha yield response to potassium (K) fertiliser (trt 1 v 6).
• Early rains and a wetter than average season contributed to waterlogged growing conditions through June/July and most likely to significant leaching losses of nitrogen (N).
• Topdressed MoP treatments lacked the early vigour of plots sown with potassium (K) banded with K-Till Plus. This was despite about 50mm of rain falling between the date of topdressing (12 April) and sowing (16 May).
• As the season progressed, crop growth improved up to the highest rate of MoP (144 kg/ha) applied.
• There were no significant yield differences between strategies supplying between 9 and 24 kg K/ha (trt 2, 3, 4, 5).
• There was no response to magnesium (Mg) supplied by kieserite (trt 7).

.

• Growth of lupins receiving chelated iron was greater than those receiving iron sulphate when grown on an alkaline soil (pH 8.7 H2O).

• Djakal has powdery mildew resistance.
• Other varieties are susceptible to powdery mildew.
• New chemistries are effective in powdery mildew control.
• Split fungicide application can have excellent results.
• BidgeeA and Djakal grain yields were not affected by powdery mildew.
• SnowyA and N005A-80 grain yields were reduced by powdery mildew.

Crop vigour: the low input treatments showed the least amount of vigour; a direct result of minimal nitrogen and a low seeding rate.

This trial was severely limited by dry conditions, with yields ranging from 0.16 to 0.42t/ha with not significant differences between any variety or management input level.

• Higher rainfall in 2015 allowed the crop to capitalise on extra nutrient availability with the top three treatments (canola, wheat and field pea) under a high input rotation.
• Low input on continuous wheat rotation is returning the highest gross margin in this scenario.

For results please see the attached trial report.

For results please see the attached trial report.

Slender iceplant exhibits a germination quality that increases its chance of survival.

Good iceplant control results were achieved with Broadstrike, diflufenican and diuron in various mixtures in these trials.

• Residual control of herbicides applied before crop emergence was not effective for short to medium term control or suppression of radish.
• It appears that in-crop control techniques are more effective.

• Group D herbicides should not be used alone – it is important that resistance to this very important group of herbicides does not develop.
• There was no difference in yield between the trifluralin in mixes with metribuzin, diuron or avadex applied; however there was a reduction in ryegrass heads at flowering due to the addition of Dual Gold (metolachlor) to trifluralin.

• Seasonal conditions reduced the potential impacts of the pre-emergent herbicides evaluated in this trial with sowing taking place under dry conditions. The top 5 cm was dry with little follow up moisture although there was enough to get the crop out of the ground. The effects of pre-emergent herbicides are generally more pronounced under very moist conditions particularly under intense heavy rain events at seeding or when the top soil is saturated for an extended period at plant establishment.
• In this trial neither yield or weed density were significantly different between the herbicide treatments.
• Weed plant densities were extremely variable within each treatment so caution should be taken when comparing grass weed efficacy in this trial.

Standard farmer practice of 'pasture topping' in the previous year, followed by a knock down around the seasons break, remain the best practice before sowing saltbush or bluebush by seed.

Standard farmer practice of 'pasture topping' in the previous year, followed by a knock down around the seasons break, remain the best practice before sowing saltbush or bluebush by seed.

Increased crop density reduced annual ryegrass density.

Herbicides offered effective weed control, and performance of Sakura® and Boxer Gold® was similar in this season.

• Continuous cropping is not an effective way to manage herbicide resistant annual ryegrass over the long term in the high rainfall zone.
• The increase in weed numbers over time can be slowed by adopting an intensive and high cost herbicide strategy, but not enough to reduce soil weed seed bank.
• Increasing annual ryegrass density by 100 seed heads per square meter was associated with a 150 kg/ha decrease in grain yield. 

• From the statistical analyses performed on this trial it is concluded that Paraquat at 1L with adjvant LI700 at 0.5% is most efficient in causing fast brownout on Paddy Melons, Wild Radish, Serradella, Mint weed, Capeweed, Couch grass and Blue Lupins.  

• Barley is more susceptible to sprouting than wheat, which may require more rainfall (>50mm) for sprouting to occur.
• Protection against sprouting (seed dormancy) reduces following maturity; all varieties will become more susceptible the longer they are left standing in the paddock.
• Grain quality diminishes with delayed  harvest and multiple rainfall events.

• Variable rate nitrogen management has great potential; particularly in the higher rainfall areas of the region with good responses being received in years where rainfall hasn’t been limiting.
• EM38 technology is useful in detecting depth to limestone; the benefits of this however will depend on if the yield is being constrained by rock or not (and in a lot of cases this isn’t occurring)
• In most cases, NDVI biomass readings have been highly correlated with yield.

• Knowing the amount of moisture that is available in the soil profile is invaluable when making nitrogen management decisions.
• Previous crop history (particularly hat of pulses) can have a very large impact on the levels of nitrogen required in following seasons. 

The data received from the 2007 trial year proved similar results to 2006. Although we received an extra 50mm more growing season rainfall than 2006, it was still 50mm short of the Corrigin average rainfall. With yields over 3t/ha, no-one can complain though, especially with barley prices around $480/t cash, at harvest in 2007. In terms of the trials’ aim – to find which stubble treatment better suits downhill tramlinning, the jury is still out as for the two years that the trial was run; 2006 & 2007, with limited rainfall we can only draw conclusions on the results that have been found; and for both years it was found that the burnt stubbles had higher yields over all. The burnt plots [having barer ground to seed into] collected more runoff than the other treatments in 2007. Removing the stubble can allow for light falls of rain to be more useful for a crop in such years, hence the better yield whereas having high levels of stubble in such cases can often intercept this moisture making it not available to the crop; rainfall that ponded on the stubbles evaporated before the plant could acess it [Jeff Russell pers.comm]. Subsoil moisture could have played a part in the earlier establishment of the burnt stubbles too as these plots would have got away sooner having no surface restrictions [stubble or organic matter] and therefore these plots would have had a chance to tap into the summer rainfall earlier than the other treatments [Glen Reithmuller pers.comm]. According to Dan Carter [DAFWA], burning stubbles removes valuable nitrogen, soil carbon and other nutrients and leaves the ground vulnerable to damage from wind erosion. In most cases, retaining stubbles will contribute to long-term soil fertility, through both preservation of nutrients and better moisture-holding capacity.

 

In saying this however, we found in 2007 [as we did in 2006] that the burnt [bare] stubble treatments yielded higher than any of the other stubble treatments as seen in trials. To compare against the control treatment, which has the least runoff, we use the 5%LSD = 2.14*3.94 = 8.4, which suggests that the burnt/bare and raked are significantly higher than the control since the difference between the means is higher than the LSD.

 

Key achievements were getting the trial in the ground, harvesting and collection of results. Also successful application for 2nd & 3rd years of funding Project 053042 – Precision Agriculture Systems – Impact on zone management, soil health and surface water management (Years 2 & 3).

Key findings from the trial in 2006 were that the most run off was collected from burnt stubble tramline which suggests that bare ground with tracks, can potentially aid the channelling of water more than with stubbles where water can ‘dam’ with the interference of stubble and foreign matter. As this was the first year of the trial at Corrigin it raised many more questions which will hopefully be answered in the next two years.

Late notification of project approval combined with difficulty in employing a suitable coordinator resulted in the project starting 6 months late (February 2006).

Farmer with tramlining capability easily identified.

Paul Blackwell’s (DAFWA) assistance proved beneficial, were able to combine two trial sites into one paddock to better utilise the farmers controlled traffic system. Minor issue occurred when fire from burning chaff heap destroyed original stubble trial site. New site established.

The biggest issue for the trial in 2006 was lack of heavy rainfall events, while a crop was taken off, there were very few rainfall events greater than 10mm.

Several issues occurred with the design, construction and collection of water from the water traps. After consultation with Paul Blackwell on trap design and a visit to his Pindar site (Liebe project) to visually assess the traps, we had a better understanding of how to construct the Corrigin traps. To bury 20 chemical containers into hard soil it was decided to hire local contractor to use his backhoe/digger to dig them out.

Collection of water from the water traps was a major issue too. A range of equipment and methods was trialled and found to be inadequate. After consultation with the local businesses in town, a powerful suction pump that could be screwed to a battery pack for power and ease of moving was order. The pump proved to be the right combination for the job required. A further issue arose over the 2006 trial year with water traps chemical drums becoming

slimy and animals getting trapped resulting in  blocking and clogging of the pump. To overcome this problem in 2007 we decided to a) place gauze over the hole from the trap to the pipe leading to the drum, so large matter cannot enter the drum. This has worked well so far, however it has restricted some trap’s water from entering the pipe. We are currently working on rectifying this problem. and b) a second filter was put on the water pump so now it has a main filter and a hose filter to sort though the ‘gunk’ before allowing it to enter the water pump.

 

Crop dry matter at maturity and grain yield were significantly higher in the ‘High Yielding’ zones than in the ‘Low Yielding’ zones.

Reducing sowing rates to 50 kg/ha did not impact on yield, which is consistant with 2009 trial results. Yield at the site did not respond to applied phosphorus or nitrogen fertiliser even following early plant growth responses.

Precision agriculture can be used to apply variable rates of nitrogen fertiliser; generating fertiliser savings and optimising yields throughout the paddock. Optimising applied nitrogen fertilser results in optimum yields and gross margin.

• Precision soil mapping for pH and nutrients can result in significant cost savings for producers.

• Mapping soil pH has greatest value if the paddocks are into their second or third rotation of lime.

• Consider including sulphur in the testing if mapping phosphorus.

• Establish several sites across the farm to monitor the ongoing pH, P and S status.

The forecasting models also have potential to significantly improve production levels in other agricultura, pastoral and horticultural industries.

Although this trial yielded less than half the other NVT trials conducted in AgZone 1 in 2006 there is some consistency with their results and the ranking of these varieties in this trial.

• Nodulation can be very poor and very patchy, and measures to improve both the level and consistency of nodulation are needed.
• Growers are encouraged to take root samples of legume crops in late winter or early spring to assess nodulation. A nodulation assessment guide that includes photos of plants with poor and good nodulation is available online.
• AgKI has received funding through GRDC for bean nodulation trial work in 2015 – so hopefully next year’s Ag Trial booklet will have good news about how to improve nodulation.

• Chaff lining is an evolving harvest weed seed control method
• It presents as a low cost, easy weed management tool
• It is considered to be good control for ryegrass and radish but not as successful for brome grass

This trial has identified that foliar fungicides can provide good control of eyespot but there is variation in fungicide efficacy and that results are seasonally dependent. Fungicides with a higher level of activity on eyespot might give satisfactory control or suppression of eyespot if applied in-furrow.

• Yield Prophet provided good background information to apply nitrogen during the season. Whilst the nitrogen applica-tion treatment based of Yield Prophet reports was the second highest yielding treatment it did provide a delayed spend on nitrogen. Treatment 4 had exactly the same nitrogen application rate but the timing was far early than treatment 7 (Yield Prophet guided treatment). This does prove that Yield Prophet can help growers to make less risky nitrogen de-cisions without sacrificing yield and grain quality. Obviously with the excellent finishing rainfall the highest nitrogen application was the highest yielding treatment.
• This site was very responsive to Flexi-N and some very high yields were produced.

 

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for crop growth. Insufficient plant-available P, ultimately results in reduced yield. 

Crops, particularly cereals require a high amount of P for crop production, and P can often be depleted over time if optimal rates are not applied. Given P is an immobile nutrient historical application rates can bank P within the soil profile. 

Variable rates of starter fert were applied over a 4 year period, to assess the cumulative yield effect and P balance, to determine an optimal rate for crop production.

The control rate of 100kg/ha of MAPSZC:MOP (15.8kg/ha P), produced identical cumulative yields across the time span of the project to the 140kg/ha luxury rate. 

The 80kg/ha application provided sufficient P levels to maintain the phosphorus balance for cumulative yields achieved since 2017. However lower P rates will consume stored soil P reserves. 

• Previous BCG results indicated that higher plant densities achieved by increasing seeding rates provided many benefits including stable or increased yields (never a yield penalty), reduced screenings, increased access to moisture, nutrient and light and better competition against weed populations.
• The results of this trial support the findings of previous BCG research.
• For many growers seed of their preferred variety may be in relatively low supply following the 2002 drought but it will be important to maintain or increase current seeding rates in 2003.

• From soil tests we knew that P was going to be the limiting factor.
• This trial shows that there is no substitue for keeping your P rates up. For example a ~$90/ha investment achieved a return of $483/ha.
• It also show the importance of soil testing.
• Plant analysis did not show any improvement in P uptake from either product enhancer and neither of these'enhancers' improved crop yeilds.

• Field peas were the stand out crop in terms of both dry matter production (5.8-6.5 t/ha) and grain yield (1.7-2.3 t/ha)
• Excellent grain yields were generally achieved for the other pulse crop options; chickpea (1.5-1.6 t/ha), lentil (1.5 t/ha), faba bean (1.4 t/ha) and lupins (0.9-1.2).
• Over two seasons at the site, Kabuli chickpeas have been the most profitable crop option followed by Desi chickpeas and field peas. Lentils were the most profitable option in 2014.
• There were no significant dry matter differences between treatments in the Brown Manure trial with all producing about 4.5 t/ha.

•  There were no significant yield effects of fungicide application at either V8 (8 leaf) or VT.
• No disease was observed in the trial and there was little evidence to suggest that fungicides improved green leaf retention when assessed at V14, V15 and V16.

• There was a significant interaction between fungicide product and the timing of application with propiconazole being more effective than prothioconazole at the later VT timing and visa versa at V8, however there is no evidence that this is a real effect.
• Application of three different fungicide active ingredients (four products) at either V8 (8 leaf) or VT tasselling produced no yield response at the Kerang site
• Application of a fungicide at either 8 leaf or tasselling did not result in an extended period of green leaf retention during grain fill.
• No disease was evident in the trial for the duration of the season. 

• Application of three different fungicide active ingredients (four products) at either V8 (8 leaf) or VT tasselling produced no yield response at the Yenda site.
• Application of a fungicide at either 8 leaf or tasselling did not result in an extended period of green leaf retention during grain fill.  
• No disease was evident in the trial for the duration of the season.

Two significant weather events that had an important influence over the results in this project, in 2016, frost and 2017, summer rain. In 2016, there were multiple severe frost events during the critical, flowering stage of the growing season. Oats being a relatively frost tolerant species proved to be the best performing species for yield and gross returns in 2016. The broadleaf crops, both legumes and canola were severely impacted by frost.

For barley in 2016 the accumulated gross returns for two years was higher in rotation, fallow 2015; barley 2016 when compared with wheat 2015 barley 2016. This supports previous work by CFIG that including fallow in the rotation can increase gross returns over a two year period.

In season 2017 frost damage was minor when compared to 2016. Season 2017 was dominated by heavy summer rainfall and a very dry start to winter. The fallow plots were impacted by the summer rain due to lack of soil cover. The loamy, morrell soil set hard at the surface as a result of the heavy summer rain which severely impacted penetration of the seeding equipment and subsequently, crop establishment was poor. The very dry start to the season likely exacerbated the poor establishment on the fallow plots.

Oats performed well again in 2017 in terms of yield but barley produced higher gross returns. Chickpeas and lentils were the best performing of the broadleaf crops in 2017.

When the gross returns in 2017 were compared by rotation (2015-2017), it is interesting to note that 2017 cereals grown in rotation with legumes in 2016 generally performed well.

The gross returns for every rotation tested in the trial were compared on an accumulative return over 3 years (2015-2017) and the rotation with the highest accumulative return was year 1; wheat year 2; chickpeas and year 3; barley. This demonstrates the value of a legume in a rotation which contributed to the highest yielding plot, which was barley in 2017.

The top two highest total gross return rotations over three years had a legume crop in one year of the rotation. The third highest return rotation had a fallow phase which confirms fallow as a rotation option. In the top 10 highest returning rotations, 4 had fallow in one year of the rotation.

•  Legume break crops reduced populations of RLN (Pratylenchus neglectus) in the soil while canola increased the population.
• RLN levels increased across the site after one season of Scepter wheat (a susceptible host) to medium risk levels on legume plots and high risk levels where canola had been a break crop.
• A single break crop in the rotation may be insufficient to effectively reduce disease inoculum beyond the season following a break crop year.

• The results from experimental comparisons of crop sequences of at least two and three years’ length undertaken over the last five years in the SE Australian cropping belt were consistent with findings from previous local and global research
  that has demonstrated that sequences including break crops tend to be more productive than continuous wheat.

• Canola is not a break crop in paddocks if root lesion nematodes (RLN) and Rhizoctonia solani are both present
• Weed free legumes, pulses and pastures are the best options where RLN and R. solani co-exist in a paddock
• Cereals substantially increase RLN and R. solani levels while canola will also increase RLN

The outcome from this project will be more reliable and more productive low rainfall farming systems through the increased use of less risky broad leaved break phases.

This will be achieved through the promotion of the following outputs from the proposal in low rainfall regions of south eastern Australia 1. More reliable management strategies for the production of broad leaved phases.

2. Identification of more reliable break phase options.

3. Guidelines to identify trigger points for when, for how long and which break phases to use for improved farming systems outcomes.

4. Reliable estimation of risks with break phases as well as their total impacts on following cereal crops.

A break of two years can produce a better financial outcome than continuous wheat over a four year period of production where there are substantial pressures on wheat performance (eg. grassy weeds). Wheat yields after a two year break were a significant step up from wheat crops following a one year break, which were in turn, much better than the continuous wheat. Large break crop benefits of 0.5-1.25 t/ha were achieved following a two year non-cereal break phase compared to continuous wheat. The break crop benefit of a one year break may only last one season if grass weeds are a significant factor. The major benefit of breaks in these long term cereal paddocks was to reduce grassy weed pressures for subsequent wheat crops phases. The benefit of a two year break had little to do with the phases chosen for those two breaks, providing that excellent grass weed control could be achieved in both. Many of the most profitable crop sequences over the four year period often started with a two year break phase.

• Continuously cropping cereals has increased grass weeds and root disease to a point that it is no longer the most economical option, due to decreased yield and costs associated with addressing weed and disease issues.      
• Two year breaks starting to pay their way in the third year of the rotation. One year breaks have lifted wheat performance but have not kept grassy weeds or diseases under control.

When compared to fallow, the 2005 grain yields from the field pea more than compensated for the subsequent 2006 wheat grain yield reduction.

• Crops can be established and grown in 6.6 t/ha of retained stubble in the HRZ without compromising establishment
• Stubble retention in the HRZ requires careful systems based planning and attention to detail
• Seasonal conditions will strongly influence outcomes of stubble retention through factors such as pest pressure and conserving soil moisture
• Burning may not be an option in the near future because of unacceptable risks of litigation 

• The standard treatment in this trial, namely Sencor (metribuzin) 750WG plus TriflurX, provided no more that weak suppression of brome allowing substantial seed set.
• The trial demonstrates a new option for brome control in barley crops now available to growers, namely growing Scope barley and using Clearfield herbicides such as Intervix or Midas. Both products provided excellent to absolute control of brome, as well as silver grass.
• The trial also demonstrates that while the pre-emergence treatments alone provide only modest control of brome, their use in combination with Clearfield herbicides has the potential to improve the overall Clearfield performance. Their use is recommended for resistance management purposes and as a means of securing yield by reducing early weed competition.
• Achieving absolute control of brome grass by treatments that pay for themselves and deliver a surplus to users (of $45 – $150 per hectare) should make most Clearfield treatments highly attractive. Atlantis, Crusader and Monza each only provided strong suppression that in the long run cannot be expected to overcome brome. Regardless of their return on investment, they failed to deliver satisfactory brome control (i.e.. >90% so that the seed bank is not dramatically reduced) and are useful only in terms of managing brome within the current crop at best.
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For take home meeages please see the attached trial report.

• At application the canola was growing well although there were blackleg lesions on the older leaves across both varieties in the paddock which was the reason the 450 mL/ha rate was selected.
• There had been no canola grown in the trial paddock in recent history with the only canola grown on farm back in 2009 in a paddock located ~ 2 km to the North West.
• With both varieties rated as MS or moderately susceptible to Blackleg and given the seasonal conditions with a High blackleg disease risk an application of Prosaro would be beneficial.
• The advantage of using a seed treatment under these conditions can be seen with the Jardee HT treated with Jockey Stayer not having as severe infection early and losing the plant stand. This can be seen in the differences between Prosaro treated Cobbler and untreated with a much bigger yield increase (see attached report).

• Proximal sensing reflectance data predicts soil moisture with reasonable accuracy at depths (0-10, 10-30, 30-90 cm) on upper Eyre Peninsula in 2018.
• Reflectance data may also be useful for predicting the amount of soil nitrogen and crop macronutrients, including but not limited to nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur.
• Further experimental data is required to use soil and crop reflectance as a means to predict nutrient content because environmental parameters can confound results.

• Proximal sensing reflectance data predicts soil moisture with reasonable accuracy from samples taken at depths (0-10, 10-30, 30-60, 60-100 cm) across 46 Eyre Peninsula locations.
• Moderate relationships were found between % organic carbon, pH(water) and soil spectral data.
• Reflectance data have been proven useful for predicting the amount of crop macronutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur.
• Further experimental data is required to test the reliability of the existing predictive models of soil absorbance and crop reflectance as a means to predict nutrient content.