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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Many wheat varieties grown in WA already have the major gene for acid soil tolerance. In this trial several other acid tolerance traits are being assessed under field conditions to determine if they confer growth and yield advantages in addition to the major gene. If the traits do prove useful they can then be back-crossed into current well-adapted WA wheat varieties and ultimately become available for growers to use. In addition to these field trials, the project aims to identify molecular markers to facilitate the breeding process. The traits are likely to be beneficial in situations where soils are being limed to correct soil acidity but are not likely to help in highly Al toxic soils in the absence of liming. This trial and others like it will help determine under what soil acidity levels the traits are likely to be beneficial.

Acid soil tolerance in wheat is not a stand-alone solution for managing acid soils, rather it complements a liming program to ameliorate subsoil acidity. Subsoil at the site is acidic to a depth of at least 40 cm as demonstrated by the indicative site soil pH (CaCl2): 0-10 cm = 5.4; 10-20 cm =  4.2; 20-30 cm = 4.3; 30-40 cm = 4.3. Prior to the site being seeded 1.5 t/ha limesand was spread and this has lifted the topsoil pH to ~5.4 on average. More lime will need to be applied to the site to lift the low subsoil pH values.

The experiments re-enforce the need for the presevation of older highly allelopathic and competitive varieties, so that these benefits can be incorporated into new cultivars.

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

• Kaspa continues to show a yield advantage over earlier maturing varieties and blends in regions with high yield potential (eg Turretfield) due to its later maturity and subsequent higher yield potential.
• Earlier maturing varieties and blends may confer a yield advantage over Kaspa in lower yielding situations/seasons.
• This work will continue for a number of years reusing the seed from each location to identify any potential benefit for growers using a mix of these varieties to manage pea yields across variable seasonal conditions.

• 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.  

• Kaspa continues to show a yield advantage over earlier maturing varieties and blends in
  regions with high yield potential (eg Turretfield). This is due to its later maturity and
  subsequent higher yield potential.
• Earlier maturing varieties and blends will generally provide better yield stability compared to
  Kaspa in lower yielding situations/seasons eg Minnipa, Snowtown.
• At sites with generally lower yield potential (eg Minnipa, Snowtown), blends containing Kaspa
  may confer a yield advantage over earlier maturing varieties in some favourable seasons (eg
  Snowtown in 2013).

• The field peas sown at Hart on the season break in 2009, were heavily infected with blackspot and grain yields were reduced by 30% (0.8 t/ha) compared with later sowing times.
• Sowing peas two to four weeks earlier (late May) than the conventional time (early–mid June) optimises production of Kaspa and the earlier, longer flowering line OZP0602.
• OZP0602 was generally higher yielding than Kaspa particularly in later sowing treatments.
• Yield loss from blackspot can be minimised if peas are sown after 60% of airborne spores have been released.
• The combination of P-Pickel T with two sprays of mancozeb was economic in some cases in the time of sowing trial at Hart in 2009, resulting in an average 7-14% yield gain in Kaspa and OZP0602.

• Timely sowing is essential for the profitable production of field peas. Sowing in May or June produces the highest grain yields and biomass.
• Despite several frost events and dry, hot conditions during flowering, all varieties sown were able to produce profitable grain yields.

• Overall lentil and pea grain yields averaged 1.18 t/ha across all sites and treatments.
• There was no significant foliar disease and the major yield limiting factor was the lack of late season rainfall, only 25mm in September and October.
• Although only small the slightly higher grain yield at the eastern site compared to the western site highlights the importance of paddock and crop selection to maximise pulse yields in these more marginal areas.
• A similar result was found in 2011 where there was a 0.46t/ha yield increase from the western site to the eastern site, 1.76 t/ha to 2.23 t/ha respectively.

NVT is a national program of comparative crop variety testing with standardised trial management, data generation, collection and dissemination. The program is supported by the Australian Government and growers through the Grains Research Development Corporation and is managed by the Australian Crop Accreditation System Limited.

• All varieties showed similar levels of yield loss from crop topping two weeks prior to the recommended timing (rye grass milk dough stage) and no yield loss at the recommended timing under dry finishing conditions in 2014 and therefore no one variety was more or less suited to this agronomic practice.

• Yield losses from Early crop-topping generally followed cultivar maturity, with latest maturating varieties (eg Glenroy) showing the highest yield losses. Glenroy was also the only variety to show yield loss at the Recommended timing, supporting previous findings that later maturing varieties are not as well suited to crop-topping as earlier maturing recent releases PBA Twilight, PBA Gunyah and PBA Oura.

• Overall yields were low in this trial, mainly due to poor establishment and heavy week burden.
• Kaspa was the lowest yielding variety.
• The insect damage was significantly higher in Kaspa than all other varieties.
• Kaspa was released in Victoria and the late maturity of the variety would most probably cuase reduced yields when sown into drying soils in late June.

• PBA Coogee being a dual purpose pea provides growers the option to either cut for hay, harvest for grain, or graze.
• PBA Pearl is consistently the highest yielding pea variety in all areas across SA (2013 NVT data). It stands well and has better pod shattering tolerance than traditional varieties.

• There was low disease pressure in 2018 and no differences in grain yield between the untreated and fungicide programs.  

• The optimum hay cut timing for both maximum biomass production and ease of drying (i.e. before pod set) is likely to be approximately 7-14 days after commencement of flowering.
• Varieties with later flowering and pod set are likely to be better suited to hay production as this allows maximum vegetative growth prior to cutting, and extends hay cut timing into more favourable (warmer and quicker) drying conditions.

• See Milestone 2 for weather interpretation.
• Emergence was 55 plants/m2 for Kaspa, 45 plants/m2 for Moonlight and 42 plants per/m2 for Sturt. Targeted densities were 50 plants/m2 for Kaspa and Moonlight and 40 plants/m2 for Sturt.
• All varieties responded similarly to the herbicide treatments. No visual damage was observed for any of the herbicide treatments. This was probably due to the dry conditions experienced.
• Grain yields were strongly correlated with weed populations, i.e. herbicides that gave good
  weed control resulted in highest grain yields. To overcome this affect, we used weed score as a covariate. This showed that Imazethapyr applied at double rates caused a significant reduction in yield (approximately 40%). This implies that the safety margin for this chemical is relatively low, therefor growers need to use caution and avoid overlapping within their crops.
• Sturt appears to have the best adaptation to dry environments with yields 50% greater than
  Kaspa and Moonlight. This is the same trend as has been observed in the breeding program.

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

• There was no grain yield response to supplementing a foliar application of micronutrients as a foliar spray to field peas.  
• 2018 was a low disease pressure year and there was no grain yield response to fungicide applications.  

• A high rainfall growing season favoured blackspot disease build up and generally later flowering pea varieties at Minnipa in 2009.
• Kaspa was 17% higher yielding than Parafield, its highest margin over this variety at Minnipa in 11 years of testing.
• Kaspa’s grain yield was reduced by 19% when sowing date was delayed from 30 April to 20 May, however no grain yield reduction occurred in the advanced PBA field pea lines OZP0602 and OZP0601 with this delayed sowing date.
• OZP0601 and OPP0602, despite lower performance than Kaspa in the MAC variety trial in 2009, will provide better adapted “Kaspa type” options for low rainfall environments when they become available due to their earlier and longer flowering periods.

• Similarly to other seeding population trials, there was a significant interaction with seeding rate and grain yield.
• There was also a significant varietal difference between the 6 varieties. Again there was no interaction of variety by population across the trial.
• Again also this is of little concern as we wish to compare populations within a variety not across
  a range of varieties.

• There were significant responses to both increasing plant density and variety across the
  entire trial (curvature and slope) but no interactions with variety.
• This is of little concern as we wish to compare populations within a variety not across a range of varieties.

• Despite a late break to the season (12 June), very favourable conditions followed resulting in exceptionally well grown plants and above average yields with very little disease.
• Yield declined in all varieties when densities were below 35-40 plants/ sq m.
• There were no significant yield responses above 35-40 plants/ sq m in all varieties except 96-262*1.
• Seed size increased with density for Kaspa, Moonlight & Parafield but unaffected in others
• Increasing density increased lodging in the semi-dwarf types (Kaspa, Moonlight, Yarrum and 96*262*1).

• Yields peaked between 30-40 pants / sq m but trials too stressed to draw meaningful conclusions.

• The main effects of variety and plant density were highly significant.
• There was a distinct and significant curvature response to increasing densities with some varieties showing greater yield increase with increase populations.

• The main effects of variety and plant density were highly significant.
• There was a distinct and significant curvature response to increasing densities and this effect was similar across all varieties.

• Despite a late break to the season (12 June) and very late sowing, very favourable conditions followed resulting in exceptionally well grown plants and above average yields with very little disease.
• Yields at Yenda were not significantly different for the 19, 30 & twin 50 cm spacing.
• Stretching row spacing to 50 cm reduced yields

• Row spacing had no affect on yield of any variety.
• Yields were too low to help with row spacing recommendations for field pea.

• Yields were very low reflecting the very dry season.
• However, despite this, trials were clean and even and the results obtained were real and meaningful and should have general application under similar conditions.
• Yield in the wide (50cm) row spacings were significantly lower.
• There were no significant interactions, only significant main effects of variety, row spacing and seeding rate.

• Yields were very low reflecting the very dry season.
• However, despite this, trials were clean and even and the results obtained were real and meaningful and should have general application under similar conditions.
• The wide rows (50cm) resulted in significantly lower yields, particularly in Kaspa

• The full three interactions and the interaction of plant population and row spacing were not
  significant.
• All other interactions and main effects were either highly significant or significant.

• Field peas performed exceptionally well at Minnipa in 2012, despite a decile 3 growing season and a rapid season finish. This is likely due to good stored soil moisture levels, good early winter rainfall amounts and generally mild winter temperatures.

The effect of sowing date and sowing rate on four field pea cultivars was investigated. Results showed that the cultivars responded differently to increases in sowing rate at each sowing date. Generally, Parafield and PSL4 (Kaspa) had the highest yields, 10% greater than Snowpeak and 20% greater than Dundale. Late sowing (11 July) was particularly beneficial for conventional cultivars (Dundale and Parafield), but less so for the semi leafless, semidwarf cultivars (Kaspa and Snowpeak). Optimum sowing rates of Kaspa and Snowpeak appear to be higher than Dundale and Parafield (eg. 55 - 75 plants/m2 compared with 35 - 55 plants/m2 ).

• Establishment of Moonlight was very poor any yield was still very responsive at the highest
  seeding rate
• Excell and Yarrum had similar response curves with an optimum density of 40-50 plants/m2
• Parafield and Kaspa had similar response curves with a noticable decline in yield at the higher
  seeding rates. Optimum plant densities were around 30 plants/m2 for Parafield and 40 plants
  /m2 for Kaspa.
• Increasing seeding rate in most varieties resulted in a quicker finish to flowering, increasing
  lodging and earlier maturity
• Seed size was unaffected by seeding rate

•  Field peas sown on May 3 had grain yields of 2.6 to 3.4 t/ha. PBA Butler and the blue field pea breeding line OZB1308 were highest yielding.  
    

• Grain yield was highest sown earlier; 1.2t/ha May 17 c.f. 0.7 t/ha June 6.  
   

Selection in the breeding program is continuing for improved yield potential, early flowering, prolonged flowering duration, greater biomass, resistance to Asochyta blight and marketability of the grain.

Kaspa, Parafield, Sturt and Bundi provide different options for growers in Victoria in 2009.

• Pea yields were high in 2011, but less than in the previous 2 years.
• Later maturing lines were favoured by the longer season, and apart from lower yields in Parafield there was generally little difference in grain yield between named varieties.
• A four week delay in sowing from early May resulted in a 32% yield loss across all varieties.
• Agronomy trials showed no significant effect of stubble management of grain yield in 2011, however standing stubble treatments showed increased standing height and reduced lodging compared to slashed stubble plots, which could aid harvest.

• New field pea varieties PBA Gunyah and PBA Twilight performed similarly to Kaspa and Parafield under extremely favourable conditions in 2010 at Minnipa, and given their yield advantages over these varieties in drier seasons, will be better adapted varieties for this region.
• Grain yield of PBA Stage 3 field peas averaged 2.9 t/ha at Minnipa in 2010 due to the wet and long growing season, which generally favoured later flowering pea varieties.
• Most advanced breeding lines showed no difference in yield to Kaspa (2.93t/ha) due to the favourable conditions.
• Though blackspot was present in 2010, it was not as extensive as in 2009 and had little impact on yield. This will have contributed to the 27% higher yield achieved in 2010 compared with 2009.
• Agronomy trials showed no significant effect of sowing date or stubble management treatments in 2010. This is likely due to the long growing season, and lack of disease. However early sowing is still recommended for low rainfall regions providing frost, weeds and blackspot risks are considered.

• New varieties of field peas are available for southern Victoria, offering a range of grain types and forage options, associated with excellent yield potential.
• Kaspa continues to perform well with new line OZP1101 consistently producing the highest yields.
• Crop topping saw a yield reduction in most varieties due to crops not being advanced enough when ryegrass was at milky dough stage.
• In 2013, a fortnightly fungicide program proved profitable to control disease in field peas (particularly black spot).
• Sowing earlier has been found to be most profitable in this region, but disease management needs to be a priority.
• Based on yields achieved where disease was managed (4.7 t/ha) peas could have achieved a net profit of approximately $1000/ha based on management costs of $370/ha and grain price at $300/t.
   

Of the four field pea varieties compared at Berriwillock, Parafield performed the best at 1.5t/ha. Kaspa and Snowpeak also yielded very well. Dundale was the lowest yielding variety and has been outclassed by newer varieties on the market for some time now.

• The best field pea varieties recommended for growers in the Wimmera and Mallee are for: Dun type peas: Kaspa (available 2003), Parafield and Paravic White peas: Snowpeak, Mukta and Bohatyr Blue peas: Excell, and Soupa.
• A new high yielding white field pea named, Sturt is being commercialised in 2003.

The best field pea varieties recommended for growers in the Wimmera and Mallee are for:

• Dun type peas: 1) Kaspa, 2) Parafield,
• White peas: 1) Snowpeak, 2) Mukta,
• Blue peas: 1) Excell.

A new high yielding white field pea "Sturt" was commercialised in 2003 and showed the highest yield performance in 2003 in Victoria. Sturt will be available from growers from 2005/06.

Field pea grain yields were severely affected by a combination of moisture and heat stress and frost damage during flowering and podding. As a consequence, experimental and commercial grain yields were very low and discrimination between varieties often too small to interpret. Downy mildew and bacterial blight were observed in the Wimmera but had relatively very little impact on yield.

• Field pea trial yields across the Mallee were variable, ranging between 0.8 and 2.5 t/ha, reflecting those achieved in commercial crops in the region.
• The main factors affecting yield were low spring rainfall and presence of powdery mildew and downy mildew.
• Many of the new varieties show a significant advantage in yield, disease resistance, harvestability, early vigour, shatter resistance and seed quality compared to the commonly grown variety Dundale.
• A series of late maturing breeding lines have given superior yields in the Mallee over the last three years.
• The yield advantage due to shatter resistance in PSL4 was clearly demonstrated at the North Central sites where heavy rains fell prior to harvest.
• The dun pea PSL4 with its excellent shatter resistance and the white pea PSL10 will be multiplied as potential variety releases.

The best field pea varieties suggested for growers in the Wimmera and Mallee are: Blue peas: 1) Excell, 2) Soupa, Dun type peas: 1) Kaspa (widely available 2003), 2) Parafield and 3) Paravic White peas: 1) Snowpeak, 2) Mukta and 3) Bohatyr.

• With a dry warm summer few grass weeds were present.
• Wet weeds controlled well with sprays.
• Trial germinated well.

• Yields for the spring sown field peas at both Gnarwarre and Hamilton were promising this year, despite the dry spring conditions. Site means of 2.89 and 2.51 tlha were obtained for Gnarwarre and Hamilton respectively. 
• For further discussion please see the attached trial report.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Grain yield of PBA Oura field pea was 400 kg/ha at Kimba, 2019, due to dry seasonal conditions. A foliar fungicide strategy is only recommended for crops that have a potential yield of at least 1.5 t/ha. However, it is not economic to apply fungicides in crops with grain yields below 1.5 t/ha.

Field pea cultivar mixtures show potential in terms of decreasing lodging and increasing harvestability. Cultivar combinations dd not increase biomass and grain yield compared to sole varieties in 2019.

• Well below average growing season rainfall did not provide favourable conditions for the development of blackspot, therefore there were no significant differences in grain yield between any treatments.  The mean yield across all varieties was 0.64 t/ha. 

Seed dressings were more effective at controlling the mild infections in Hart while seed dressings or foliar fungicides were not effective in controlling the severe infection levels in Minnipa. Seed dressing is more effective than foliar sprays for low to moderate disease severity, but for severe disease conditions both were less effective.

• There were no significant differences in grain yield between treatments.  The mean yield across all varieties was 0.79 t/ha. 

• The inoculation treatments did not significantly affect the number of nodules per plant despite the paddock having no history of chickpea production.  However, field pea production was influenced by the treatments.

• Yields were relatively high at these sites in 2012, particularly given the drier than average growing season. Chickpeas performed particularly well, yielding equal to lentils at Minlaton
  and higher than lentils at Pinery. Yields may have been buoyed by the presence of stubble in all treatments, helping to conserved soil moisture, and the mild (although dry) finish to the season.

• Despite consistent stubble loads between treatments, differences in lodging (in all crops) and
  grain yield (field peas only) were generated between the three stubble heights at Pinery in 2013.
• In a similar trial in 2012, stubble treatments generated significant responses for biomass, maturity and grain yield.
• This supports previous work conducted by this project showing that the physical arrangement of stubble (ie standing versus slashed) can have a significant effect on the growth and performance of pulse crop types, as well as the amount of stubble present (ie retained versus removed).

• Our results show that stubble management (reduction in height from 40cm to 5cm) had no improvement on yield and lodging between crop types and varieties within a crop type under the seasonal conditions in 2014.

PBA Butler was the highest yielding variety at Inverleigh in 2019 with an average yield of 4.5 t/ha for both sowing dates. Average gross margin for 2019 was $835/ha with a field pea price of $400/t. This is the predicted grain price for the 2020, which is lower than the long-term average price of $459/t.

• there was a highly significant effect of sowing time across all varieties.

Field pea grain yields were generally well above average across south eastern Australia in 2005, despite late and or dry sowing in many regions. Timely spring rainfall and mild temperatures at flowering were the main factors contributing to high yields. The mild spring temperatures at podding also produced grain of relatively good size and with few splits and breakages compared to previous years.

• Weather patterns experienced early in 2015 resulted in growers in many districts being advised by DAFWA’s Blackspot Manager Prediction model to delay sowing of field peas in SA. This sowing was often out of alignment with optimal sowing times based on best agronomic practice for some districts.
• Under high disease risk situations, growers in low rainfall areas may be best suited to choose alternative break crop options to field peas to avoid significant yield losses through delayed sowing or disease infection. If field pea remains the preferred crop it is important that growers consider the current recommended fungicide strategy of PPT and Mancozeb treatments, selecting paddocks with little or no field pea history, avoiding close proximity to previous field pea stubbles, and delaying sowing as long as possible.
• Several experimental fungicides with greater efficacy than Mancozeb showed improved blackspot control and significant yield increases over the nil and Mancozeb treatments in 2015.
• Disease progression and grain yield were both reduced by dry and hot spring conditions in early October at all sites in 2015. Further evaluation is warranted in years and environments with more favourable spring conditions. Earlier application timings than the 8 week treatment used in these experiments may also be warranted, along with additional ‘spring’ treatments in longer more favourable seasons.
• A number of industry support groups have reported the economic benefit of using fungicide in controlling blackspot in field pea. Results in 2015 showed the current fungicide application strategy, using PPT and two Mancozeb applications suppressed blackspot at most sites, but previous yield benefits reported from this treatment were not realised due to the hot and dry spring conditions experienced in 2015.
• New fungicide actives and formulas being evaluated showed significant increases in efficacy for controlling blackspot compared to untreated plots and those treated with Mancozeb. Furthermore, a significant yield benefit (approx. 15%) were also identified in these treatments this year. Further trials are planned in 2016 to explore these results.

Despite the lack of significant disease, grain yields were reduced by 20% (0.54t/ha) in a ‘nil’ treatment compared with a fortnightly fungicide application regime.

• Early sowing of field pea is essential for economic yields in dry years in low rainfall environments, providing frost, weed and blackspot risks are considered.
• Kaspa & OZP0602 had lower disease severity and slower build up of blackspot than the old Alma cultivar.
• Strategic applications of foliar fungicides led to a small but significant reduction in blackspot.
• Sowing field peas on the season break will increase blackspot risk however exposure to risk can be reduced through the use of the blackspot predictive tools (Blackspot Manager and DIRI) and careful paddock selection.

• Pulse production was generally much higher at the Mildura site than the Ouyen site.
• Field pea was the best yielding pulse crop at both sites.
• Selecting the right crop was more important than selecting the best variety.
• Field pea, lupins and faba beans had the greatest biomass production.
• Vetch biomass production was low due to the late break.

• Pulse production was generally much higher at the Mildura site than the Ouyen site.
• Field pea was the best yielding pulse crop at both sites.
• Selecting the right crop was more important than selecting the best variety.
• Field pea, lupins and faba beans had the greatest biomass production.
• Vetch biomass production was low due to the late break.

This project is funded by SAGIT as a follow-up to a 12-month study which screened oat varieties using pot assays in growth room/greenhouse. Two seasons (2018 and 2019) of field trials will be conducted.

 

About 60% of SA agricultural soils are sodic (high Na, etc) or saline-sodic (high NaCl & high Na, etc), which reduces yield. This study extended screening trials into two seasons of field trials at Redhill and Turretfield, to assess tolerance of oats to saline-sodic soils.

Main findings:

• The most tolerant oats (grain yield) were early-to-medium maturity milling varieties: Bannister, Bilby, Mitika, Williams, Echidna, Kowari. My message to farmers: “To maximize yield and profitability from salty paddocks, sow milling oats Bannister, Bilby, Mitika, Echidna or Kowari”

• The most tolerant oats (biomass yield) were Kangaroo, Bannister, Wintaroo, Mulgara, Mitika. All oats listed are commercial varieties, available now

• The grain yields of tolerant oats at Redhill (the saline-sodic site, under low growing season rainfall of 170 mm) were outstanding, e.g. Bannister (3.2 t/ha), Bilby (3.1), similar to Compass barley (3.2) and much higher than Mace bread wheat (1.5) and Aurora durum wheat (1.1)

• Pasture oats (e.g. Bond, Wizard) and overseas oats were intolerant of saline-sodicity

• The pot and field trials showed that the ability of the plant to extract water from salinesodic soil, rather than its ability to exclude sodium, is the key to acceptable yield on this type of soil.

• This variety is moderately resistant to Ascochyta blight and moderately susceptible to chocolate spot.
• Faba bean growers now have six varieties of faba beans to choose from.

• 2013 was a year of multiple germinations of radish and products with good residual were required.
• Velocity + MCPA, Precept + Lexone and Flight are currently the best performing products on the market to control radish in situations of multiple germination.
• Wild Radish with Group B and I resistance was found in 50% of surveyed paddocks.

• The cereal varieties and winter gap fill blend provide livestock with substantial feed during autumn and winter, then go on to produce high quality hay in spring.
• Clover, medic and forage brassica varieties provide nutrious feed over winter, spring and into early harvest time. These varieties also offer a disease break in a cereal rotation.
• Nutritional value of varieties was exceptional and would provide an excellent feed source for lactating ewes, and lambs.
•  

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

• Since the year 2000 farm debt has doubled but so have land values hence current debt has adequate security.
• Farming systems which increase income through intensive cropping and higher inputs also increase costs of farm input and machinery. Higher costs will increase the loss in droughts. Target low cost options in 2007 to reduce the level of new debt and the risk of losses in 2007/08
• In 2007 it will be OK to leave 25 to 40% of area to livestock or fallow. Focus crop selection towards the low cost paddocks.

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

1. There was a 35% (970 kg/ha) grain yield response to the highest deep-P treatments in the 2018 sorghum crop.
2. There was no significant response to K in the 2018 sorghum crop.
3. Over 5 crops the deep-P treatments have produced between 2500-3000 kg/ha of extra grain over the zero P treatments.
4. After 5 crops the return on investment for 20 kg and 40 kg P/ha are 4.7 and 3.4 respectively.

This site had high soil nitrate reserves (45 mg/kg Nit N in 0 - 10cm) but there were still very good responses to Flexi-N. Although there were no Flexi-N placement/timing or stubble effects on yield, an analysis of protein yield showed that stubble reduced N recovery in the grain by about 30 kg protein/ha or 5 kg N/ha – most likely due to increased immobilisation. Leaf disease symptoms were most severe where stubble was retained but they were less obvious where Flexi-N was banded. Hectolitre weights were 78 – 79 kg/hl and screenings were 2 - 3% in all treatments.

These results show a strong tend towards N applied and what is remaining in the soil after the failed wheat crop.

• There were no significant responses to Flexi-N. There was little scorch when Flexi- was applied on its own but there was severe scorch with the wetter (Superscharge).
• Site variability meant the effects oof Scorch could not be quantified.

• Cereals yield well relative to other crop types under low rainfall conditions, but use all available water and nitrogen
• Grain legumes do not yield well in dry seasons but can fix valuable amounts of nitrogen if brown manured
• Forage legumes (vetch and forage peas) can produce profitable amounts of dry matter in dry seasons.
• Research in higher yielding environments has shown that break crops provide significant yield benefits to subsequent wheat crops. Benefits to subsequent crops should be accounted for when making decisions regarding break crop options and end-uses.

• Cereals yield well relative to other crop types under low rainfall conditions, but use all available water and nitrogen
• Grain legumes do not yield well in dry seasons but can fix valuable amounts of nitrogen if brown manured
• Forage legumes (vetch and forage peas) can produce profitable amounts of dry matter in dry seasons.
• Research in higher yielding environments has shown that break crops provide significant yield benefits to subsequent wheat crops. Benefits to subsequent crops should be accounted for when making decisions regarding break crop options and end-uses.

• Many of the management issues in till and no-till systems are similar.
• A flexiable approach is beneficial in both systems.