• • All machines tested in this trial successfully established a no-till wheat crop after pasture
  • On average across all machines, there was no positive response to pre-sowing cultivation on yield

• The Seeder Demonstration enabled a large number of farmers to see and compare a wide range of seeding equipment in the one paddock on the same day.
• Machine depth and accuracy of seed placement affected plant establishment.
• A germination test is a simple process and can result in significantly better plant establishment.
• An incorrectly calibrated or set-up precision seeder will result in poor germination rates and potentially reduced yield.
• A well calibrated and set-up conventional seeder or knife point and press wheel seeder will result in good plant establishment rates and good yields.
• Cultivation had a negative effect on plant establishment.
• Prickle Chaining had a negative effect on plant establishment.
• Precision Seeders showed better plant establishment due to better seed placement, however this did not uniformly translate into a yield benefit.

• Allowing weeds to grow during summer reduced subsequent wheat yield by more than 50 percent
• Provided summer weeds were controlled, other surface treatments (slashed stubble, standing stubble, cultivation, bare earth) had little effect on crop yield
• Controlling summer weeds is one of the most cost-effective input investments available to growers in the Mallee, returning $5 for every $1 invested in this demonstration.

• Including legume crops and pastures in rotations increases soil nitrogen even two years after the legume break was grown.
• Brown manure vetch has proven to be the best break phase for increasing soil mineral nitrogen.
• Crop sequences have had small and variable effects on plant available soil water.
• Rhizoctonia inoculum levels are highest following cereal crops and high Rhizoctonia levels have corresponded with poor root health. Canola decreased inoculum levels to levels similar to a fallow.
• High brome grass numbers re-emerged two years after a one year break.

• Another dry season has highlighted the increased resilience that early-maturing cereals express over mid-season-maturing varieties in these adverse years
• Season 2009 will see an increased opportunity for farmers to include new innovative wheat varieties into their farming systems
• Relying on one wheat variety is like ‘putting all of your eggs in the one basket’. New varieties with differing maturity dates and improved agronomics/disease resistance are now commercially available to help offset this potential threat
• Yitpi continues to be the Mallee benchmark, although as Table 1 indicates, a number of new release varieties have grain yields and agronomics that compare favourably with the Mallee icon.

• Increasing row spacing reduced plant establishment and shoot densities but this was notreflected in reductionsin grain yield at widerrow spacing treatmentsin droughtstressed trial environments: there were no statistically significant differences in grain yield between any of the row spacing treatments.
• Key management decisions for optimising production were variety choice (at all sites) and nitrogen management (Curyo).
• At Curyo, barley varieties responded differently to row spacing, nitrogen timing and combinations of row spacing and nitrogen.
• Varying pre-emergent herbicide did not effect yield at Manangatang or Jil Jil.
• Variety yield performance was consistent with long-term National Variety Trial data (Hindmarsh, Buloke performing well, Commander and SloopVic performing poorly in dry environments).

• The key to long term Rhizoctonia disease control is to keep inoculum in the soil low in the crop and pasture phases and increase the ability of crops to tolerate the infection (create environments where plant infection is reduced and plant tolerance to infection improved).
• The success of available disease control strategies, e.g. soil disturbance, fertilizer addition or fungicides is greatest at low to medium inoculum levels and their effectiveness declines as inoculum levels increase or where disease suppressive activity is low.
• Overall, effective control of rhizoctonia disease in cereal crops requires both the reduction of the pathogen inoculum in the soil prior to seeding and control of the infection process in the crop itself. This has to be achieved through management practices spread over more than one cropping season and through an integrated management strategy.

• The nitrogen application strategy that maximised grain yield was not always the same strategy to minimise nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions.
• While nitrogen applied at GS31 maximised wheat yield following field pea it produced 10 times higher emissions compared to the same application at seeding.
• The pattern and concentration of N2O emissions were similar for wheat following field pea or canola.

Barley can be successfully grown on retained wheat stubble, but it is advisable to burn wheat stubble when growing wheat on wheat. If stubble is retained then Yellow Leaf Spot can be a devastating disease in a wet winter. The most important management practices when growing a cereal on cereal are as follows:

• Select paddocks with low numbers of grass weeds.
• Retain wheat stubble for barley, burn the stubble for wheat.
• Control summer weeds to ensure summer rainfall can be used by the crop.
• Use varieties with good disease resistance such as Silverstar or Krichauff.
• Disease - select paddocks with low disease pressure (monitor the previous crop) and DNA test the paddock prior to sowing.
•  Apply sufficient nitrogen for a good crop (soil test to know how much to apply).
• Barley on barley can lead to serious problems with leaf diseases such as net blotch.

Canola can be successfully grown on cereal stubble if the stubble is removed and nutritoin (especially N) is adequte.

Apart from the groups continuing to roll out the results of this project there will be further development in two main areas:

• THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SIMPLE TOOL FOR FARMERS AND CONSULTANTS TO USE WITH THEIR OWN FIGURES TO ASSESS VARIOUS DECISIONS,.AND
• THE FURTHER APPLICATION, WITH CSIRO TO USE THE TOOL TO ASSESS RESEARCH RESULTS IN TERMS OF THEIR IMPACT ON PROFIT AND RISK ON FARM”.

From this trial:

• Soil applications from 2015 were poorly effective at improving grain yield. Foliar applications of sulphate increased yield by about 1t/ha. Best yield increases of more than 2t/ha were achieved with a combination of soil and foliar applications. 

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• The site was severely deficient in Cu for wheat. 
• Under these severely deficient conditions, soil applications of Cu were poorly effective compared to foliar sprays but fluid applications performed better than Cu enriched granular fertilisers.  However, soil applications of Cu can persist for decades.
• There was no evidence that a chelated source of Cu as a foliar spray was more effective than a sulphate source and less Cu seemed to end up in the grain with the chelated source.
• A single foliar spray of Cu prior to flowering is often sufficient to protect a cereal crop from Cu deficiency but under the severe deficiency encountered in 2015, two foliar sprays were necessary to overcome the problem completely (one at first node, the second prior to flowering).
• Cu deficiency can make a crop more sensitive to adverse conditions.  In this trial, the hot drying conditions of the early October weekend, severely scorched all plots with no or poorly effective Cu management strategies.
• The soil and leaf tests taken during this trial support that the current guidelines for Cu deficiency are still relevant to modern farming systems and varieties.  A DTPA Cu level in soil of less than 0.3 ppm in the top 10 cm is considered deficient, and 1.3 ppm Cu in YEBS is considered very deficient for wheat.

From the whole project:

Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.

Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.

No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.

Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.

Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial: 

• No crop response to the addition of copper. Soil and plant tests not in the deficient range.

From the whole project: 

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.
•  

From this trial:

• No crop response to the addition of Manganese. Plant tests not in the deficient range.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• No change in crop performace with the addition of Manganese. As a foliar spray, sulphate was as effective as an EDTA chelate at increasing leaf manganese at Z30. Halving the recommended rate of sulphate decreased leaf manganese levels.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• No crop response to the addition of Manganese. Plant tests not in the deficient range.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• No crop response to the addition of Manganese. Plant tests not in the deficient range.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• No crop response to the addition of Manganese. Plant tests not in the deficient range.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• No crop response to the addition of Zinc. Soil and plant tests not in the deficient range.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• No crop response to the addition of Zinc. Soil and plant tests were in the deficient range. As a foliar spray, sulphate was as effective as two chelate sources for increasing leaf zinc at Z30.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• No crop response to the addition of zinc. Soil and plant tests not in the deficient range.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• No crop response to the addition of zinc. Soil and plant tests not in the deficient range.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• No crop response to the addition of Zinc. Soil and plant tests were not in the deficient range.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• Grain yield increased by 7% with the addition of zinc. Effectiveness of fertiliser strategies could not be assesed with such a small increase in yield. Soil and plant tests were in the deficient range. At Z14 zinc enriched fertilisers at sowing increased leaf zinc. At Z30 a sulphate as a foliar was as effective as an EDTA chelate. 

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• No crop response to the addition of Zinc. Soil and plant tests were in the deficient range. Zinc applied at seeding either as a granular fertiliser or as a fluid fertiliser increased leaf zinc Z14.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

• 40 kg N/ha applied upfront was the best yielding treatment for 2015, with the best protein results where the 40 Kg of N was applied as Urea.
• We found that 20 kg N/ha applied as a Zn enriched Urea product achieved a yield close to 40 kg N/ha as straight urea and we plan to test this treatment again in 2016.
• The timing and form of S application did not have any effect in 2015. 

• The highest yield in 2016 at Loxton could be achieved with either 40 kg N/ha as urea or 20 kg N/ha as Zn-coat urea or Zn-enriched MAP.
• Compared to applying 20 kg N/ha as normal urea, using Zn-coated urea (20 kg N/ha) or Zn-enriched MAP with urea (20 kg N /ha) increased yield by more than 20%.
• Nitrogen was a key driver of wheat productivity again, with 40 kg/ha N at sowing increasing yield by over 20% compared to 20 kg/ha N at sowing, but water use efficiency remained poor on this sandy soil.
• There was also no benefit in delaying N application at Ouyen, however very high rates (60-80 kg/N ha) using higher late application rates increased yield on the midslope.
• This is the second consecutive season that Zn coated Urea at sowing (20kg N/ha) has significantly increased yield compared to normal Urea (20 kg N /ha).
• Applying foliar Zn has not increased yield at this site in 2015 or 2016.
• In 2016 there was a large difference in yield between the midslope (2.90 t/ha) and the nearby sand dune (0.86 t/ha) at Ouyen which could not be closed through the addition of N,S and Zn to the sand.

• Maintaining ryegrass seedbanks at low levels is critical due to the weeds competitive nature and ability to rapidly evolve resistance

• Effective management strategies in a canola and wheat cropping rotation can provide long-term management of Group A resistant ryegrass

• This trial was conducted in Victoria; varieties and some technologies utilised in this trial are not registered for use in South Australia.

• This set of trials indicates that SACOA ‘Irrigator’ banded wetting agent can improve crop establishment and grain yield but that responses can be highly variable. The 27-32% yield increase seen in 3 of the trials is very encouraging. Based on these and other trials it can be suggested that banded wetting agents are most likely to be effective when:
• Soils are moderate to strongly repellent and there are few residual roots form the previous year’s crop; and points and tines are used for seeding.
• Banded wetter is applied in a consistent stream to the base of relatively stable furrows. Collapsing furrows, furrow infill and a disrupted band of wetting agent can reduce efficacy. Presswheels with a more rectangular cross section tend to rip up furrow walls and the disturbed soil buries and mixes banded wetting agent. ‘V’ section or round section presswheels with no deep flange reduce such problems.
• The banded wetting agent kit needs to be robust and reliable and needs to accurately apply the wetting agent in a continuous stream into the base of the furrow
• Crops sown early into dry or partially dry soil before opening rains derive more benefit from banded wetter. Banded wetting agents are typically less beneficial when used later in the sowing program when there has already been rain and the soil has started to wet up.
• Growers already using wetting agents are tending to modify their usage of banded wetter to better match the likelihood of significant benefits. Some growers only use banded wetter for the dry seeding or early part of the program and don’t use it later in the program after there has been more rain.  Other growers are planning to use higher rates of banded wetter early in the program but then aim to reduce the rates when sowing later in the season. Both of these strategies will reduce cost while maximising the opportunity for benefits to crop establishment and yield. Current research in the state is showing that different banded wetting agent products can have a wide range of effects of crop establishment and especially on yield. DAFWA is continuing to research a range of products to help growers evaluate which types of banded wetting agent are more suitable for their farming system.

• This set of trials indicates that SACOA ‘Irrigator’ banded wetting agent can improve crop establishment and grain yield but that responses can be highly variable. The 27-32% yield increase seen in 3 of the trials is very encouraging. Based on these and other trials it can be suggested that banded wetting agents are most likely to be effective when:
• Soils are moderate to strongly repellent and there are few residual roots form the previous year’s crop; and points and tines are used for seeding.
• Banded wetter is applied in a consistent stream to the base of relatively stable furrows. Collapsing furrows, furrow infill and a disrupted band of wetting agent can reduce efficacy. Presswheels with a more rectangular cross section tend to rip up furrow walls and the disturbed soil buries and mixes banded wetting agent. ‘V’ section or round section presswheels with no deep flange reduce such problems.
• The banded wetting agent kit needs to be robust and reliable and needs to accurately apply the wetting agent in a continuous stream into the base of the furrow
• Crops sown early into dry or partially dry soil before opening rains derive more benefit from banded wetter. Banded wetting agents are typically less beneficial when used later in the sowing program when there has already been rain and the soil has started to wet up.
• Growers already using wetting agents are tending to modify their usage of banded wetter to better match the likelihood of significant benefits. Some growers only use banded wetter for the dry seeding or early part of the program and don’t use it later in the program after there has been more rain.  Other growers are planning to use higher rates of banded wetter early in the program but then aim to reduce the rates when sowing later in the season. Both of these strategies will reduce cost while maximising the opportunity for benefits to crop establishment and yield. Current research in the state is showing that different banded wetting agent products can have a wide range of effects of crop establishment and especially on yield. DAFWA is continuing to research a range of products to help growers evaluate which types of banded wetting agent are more suitable for their farming system.

• The addition of extra nutrients and stubble management (removed, incorporated or intact) did not affect grain yield or soil carbon stocks after three years of trial work.

• The addition of extra nutrients did not increase yield, therefore it is expected that more nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur remained in soil to breakdown stubble.
• Tillage practices (removed, worked or standing) also have no effect on grain yield or quality in both years of trials.

• The addition of extra nutrients did not increase yield, therefore it is expected that more nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur remained in soil to breakdown stubble.
• Tillage practices (removed, worked or standing) also have no effect on grain yield or quality in both years of trials.

• Sowing at the earliest opportunity (which requires rainfall) is an important component of reducing the risk of canola production in low rainfall environments.
• The amount of N available to the crop is critical to productivity in a canola crop that has established well.
• Applying adequate doses of fertiliser N at seeding or early in the crop’s development have produced the highest grain yields but this was less important in a wet spring like 2016.
• Legumes can provide N to a subsequent canola crop, but in many cases, canola growing on legume residue will still respond to fertiliser N inputs.
• Analysis of the profit-risk context for optimal N inputs for canola produced in low rainfall environments is underway.

Increasing plant density is a tool to improve a crop’s competitiveness against weeds. This strategy did not adversely affect the yield of the varieties at the Liebe Main Trial Site in 2012. 

Nitrogen treatments did not significantly influence crop yield however, did influence grain protein. The soil nitrogen levels and season are likely to have influenced this result. Soil testing and understanding the crops requirements as the season unfolds are useful strategies to manage crop performance economically.

The environment is likely to have had the bigger influence on the performance of the varieties than plant density or nitrogen. Growing season rainfall for 2012 was lower than average and disease patches (likely Rhizoctonia) were evident at the trial. The water use efficiency at the site was 13 kg/mm given growing season rainfall (April to October) was 133mm (plus 34mm in January) and grain yields of 1.98 t/ha across whole trial.

• Cobra and Mace were significantly higher yielding than Emu Rock at all seeding densities (P<0.05). There was a yield increase for Emu Rock and Cobra when plant density increased from 83 plants/m2 to 130 plants/m². Further  increases in plant density did not improve or reduced grain yield of these varieties. There was a yield increase for Mace from 130 plants/m2 162 plants/m2. Increasing plant density did not influence grain screenings which were less than 2% for all varieties.
• At Badgingarra, nitrogen application at seeding (14, 30, 60 and 90 kg/ha) did not affect grain yield at either seeding densities (data not provided).   The soil was a red sandy loam with nitrate levels in the top 20 cm of soil at 55mg/kg.   Protein levels in the grain were in excess of 12.5% for all treatments and varieties.  The higher split nitrogen application did significantly increase protein by 0.4% however without a yield increase the late N application was not economical.   This may be a strategy to consider for high yielding varieties such as Mace.  At the higher plant density, and higher yield, Mace had lower protein than Cobra and Emu Rock.  

• Current guideline of YEB values at tillering greater than 15mg Mn/kg indicative of adequate status still appear appropriate.
• No yield response recorded to application of Mn in different form or timing.

Early sowing (15 April) had the largest positive impact on canola yield when comparing a range of treatments trialled in 2014, similar to results observed in 2013. Sowing on 15 April improved yields up to 45%, depending on variety, compared to 13 May sowing date. Good seeding depth and the correct seed rate proved important in maximising canola yield at the sites trialled in 2014, but not to the same extent as time of sowing. Sowing at 4.5 kg/ha at a 2 cm depth gave a 13% yield improvement over sowing at 1.5 kg/ha at 1 cm depth. Achieving approximately 50 plants/m2 of triazine tolerant varieties and 40 plants/m2 of Clearfield tolerant varieties was needed to maximise canola yields in trials conducted at Minnipa Agricultural Centre in 2014. Using farmer retained open pollinated seed did not cause a yield penalty when compared to commercially purchased seed in trials conducted at Minnipa in 2014.

Early sowing (15 April) had the largest positive impact on canola yield when comparing a range of treatments trialled in 2014, similar to results observed in 2013. Sowing on 15 April improved yields up to 45%, depending on variety, compared to 13 May sowing date. Good seeding depth and the correct seed rate proved important in maximising canola yield at the sites trialled in 2014, but not to the same extent as time of sowing. Sowing at 4.5 kg/ha at a 2 cm depth gave a 13% yield improvement over sowing at 1.5 kg/ha at 1 cm depth. Achieving approximately 50 plants/m2 of triazine tolerant varieties and 40 plants/m2 of Clearfield tolerant varieties was needed to maximise canola yields in trials conducted at Minnipa Agricultural Centre in 2014. Using farmer retained open pollinated seed did not cause a yield penalty when compared to commercially purchased seed in trials conducted at Minnipa in 2014.

Early sowing (15 April) had the largest positive impact on canola yield when comparing a range of treatments trialled in 2014, similar to results observed in 2013. Sowing on 15 April improved yields up to 45%, depending on variety, compared to 13 May sowing date. Good seeding depth and the correct seed rate proved important in maximising canola yield at the sites trialled in 2014, but not to the same extent as time of sowing. Sowing at 4.5 kg/ha at a 2 cm depth gave a 13% yield improvement over sowing at 1.5 kg/ha at 1 cm depth. Achieving approximately 50 plants/m2 of triazine tolerant varieties and 40 plants/m2 of Clearfield tolerant varieties was needed to maximise canola yields in trials conducted at Minnipa Agricultural Centre in 2014. Using farmer retained open pollinated seed did not cause a yield penalty when compared to commercially purchased seed in trials conducted at Minnipa in 2014.

Early sowing (15 April) had the largest positive impact on canola yield when comparing a range of treatments trialled in 2014, similar to results observed in 2013. Sowing on 15 April improved yields up to 45%, depending on variety, compared to 13 May sowing date. Good seeding depth and the correct seed rate proved important in maximising canola yield at the sites trialled in 2014, but not to the same extent as time of sowing. Sowing at 4.5 kg/ha at a 2 cm depth gave a 13% yield improvement over sowing at 1.5 kg/ha at 1 cm depth. Achieving approximately 50 plants/m2 of triazine tolerant varieties and 40 plants/m2 of Clearfield tolerant varieties was needed to maximise canola yields in trials conducted at Minnipa Agricultural Centre in 2014. Using farmer retained open pollinated seed did not cause a yield penalty when compared to commercially purchased seed in trials conducted at Minnipa in 2014.

• Ripping to 550mm increased yeild in the deep pale sand (Dune) and yellow loamy sand (swale).
• Topsoil slotting, with soil inclusion plates attached to the rear of deep ripper tines, can increase yeild from deep sandy soils more than by deeper ripping alone.
• Deeper ripping with topsoil slotting also helped lessen grain losses from dry and hot spring weather.
• If slotting maintains the de-compaction response longer it will provide very good returnson investment.   

• Significant water allocation cuts have forced irrigators to optimise production with the amount of water available.
• The project has an agronomy component and a hydrology component.
• Experiments are located in Whitton, Kerang and Finley.
   

The FAST systems economic analysis has provided farmer participants with some useful guidelines to help identify their business potential.

• The trial is showing clearly that the early years of no tillage come with a significant yield penalty in most treatments.
• This is most significant when coming out of a spray fallow as seen in both the ley/fallow/wheat treatment and the wheat/fallow/wheat treatment.

• Issues such as diseases and weeds are now starting to affect the profitability of the continuous wheat system.
• Minimum tillage needs ideal conditions at sowing to be successful on these soils.
• Seasonal variation has influenced cropping system comparisons, hence the need for the trial to continue into the future.

• Long term gross margin data shows conventional tillage to be more profitable than minimum tillage.
• Long term gross margin data also shows that continuous wheat and rotation l are the most profitable rotations.
• No-tillage into a long fallow situation is significantly less profitable than conventional tillage, by $147.oo/ha. This is not the case with no tillage into a stubble situation which is not significantly different to conventional tillage.
• A major factor determining the profitability of the no tillage treatment is effective weed control.
• The threat of root diseases, such as Rhizoctonia, is now at a high risk level in the continuous wheat rotation, particularly under no tillage, whereas the risk is minimal in other rotations. 

Continuous cropping has remained the most profitable rotation since the trial began, especially continuous wheat. This system however will not last, and will be less profitable in the next few years, as suggested by the GM variations in figures 6 and 7. For continuous cropping to be sustainable, a break crop is needed to keep the system working.

• Proper rotations (irrespective of tillage methods) incorporating no more than two cereal crops in sequence with the addition of either a break crop or a fallow once in every three years is ideal. This rotation allows a very productive and sustainable farming system in our environment.
• The most profitable system since 1999 has been two years of cereal followed by a break crop such as peas under no till.
• No till systems are now becoming more profitable in the trial than cultivated systems under every rotation.
• No till will work on our problem soils so long as effective weed control is achieved.
• Under a continuous cereal rotation, the impact of weeds, diseases, poor nutrition and subsequently lower yields has lowered profitability

• No-till has performed on average 5% higher in yield and increased profits over cultivated farming systems in continuous cropping rotations.
• Adding cultivation to the system has increased both yield and profit in the 18 month fallow rotations.
• Thirteen years of continuous wheat has produced the most grain per hectare, closely followed by a wheat–barley–field pea rotation.

On heavier soil types with higher levels of organic matter, using a speed tiller to incorporate a wheat stubble may assist in increasing canola yields. If incorporation occurs immediately post-harvest, then the addition of nitrogen may not be required if the soil nitrogen levels are adequate. If incorporation is delayed and occurs immediately prior to sowing, then the addition of nitrogen should be considered.

• District Practice beat the farmers for grain yield and profit!
• Researchers may blitz the field yet, just watch this space…
• Oh, and by the way, the farmers are still winning, just.

• A comparison of 2001 and 2010 soil analysis suggests that organic carbon levels may have declined over the 9 year competition, irrespective of the rotation utilised and production achieved.
• However to suggest that there is a continuing long term decline in soil health in the face of improved “sustainable” farming techniques is premature.
• The competition ceased in its current form in 2010 with all paddocks sown to an oilseed (canola or juncea).

• Depending on seasonal influence, stored soil moisture, soil nutrition, stocking rate management and correct timing (early tillering at growth stage (GS) 18-22, rather than later tillering at GS 24-28), grazing can be done with no detriment to crop yield.
• However, preceding paddock history had a significant impact on subsequent crop success and needs to be considered when planning future rotations.

The moisture probe network has been a great tool to teach growers in the region how to read moisture graphs and use this data to make informed managements decisions.  Growers can see how various urea application rates and stubble cover effect soil moisture.

Allowing ewes access to some of the dual-purpose wheat sown on a mixed farm can increase gross margins
from the sheep operation by increasing stocking rates and the amount of lamb and wool produced and reducing supplementary feeding requirements.

• Grazing vetch and lucerne can be used as a management strategy to improve lamb dry matter intake and growth rates during the late spring and early winter feed gaps.
• The Grazfeed decision support tool has predicted that while both legume forages (vetch and lucerne) will increase methane output (gCH4/day), there is a reduction in methane output per unit of animal product (gCH4/day/100gADWG).
• Moisture limitations can affect herbage production of lucerne, which in turn reduces the chances of growing lambs to achieve the full potential dry matter intake in low rainfall mixed farming systems.

• The difference in soil organic carbon (SOC) changes between nine sites across eastern Australia was largely characterised by mean temperature and rainfall.
• High temperature strongly interacted with management practices (stocking rate, nitrogen application and residue incorporation) to reduce carbon sequestration despite favourable rainfall.
   

Slow pasture growth rates during winter limit the potential gross margins from autumn and early winter
lambing in southern New South Wales (NSW) by limiting stocking rates and/or increasing supplementary feed
requirements. Dual-purpose crops can reduce the winter feed gap in mixed-farming systems by increasing
the available feed in winter. The simulation software AusFarm was used to model a mixed-farming system
at Wagga Wagga with Merino ewes joined to terminal sires and grazing lucerne-subterranean clover pasture
over a 41-year period. A paddock of dualpurpose wheat was then added to the system, and ewes were
allowed to graze the wheat crop when feed on offer reached 850 kg DM/ha and before GS31.

• In 2018 and 2019 Sothis increased soil levels of the root lesion nematode P.neglectus when compared to chemical fallow trial strips.
• During the 2020 season Rhizoctonia levels increased from zero to high risk levels in oats with Sothis germinating underneath.
• Monitoring of soilborne diseases through different rotations and seasons helps increase understanding of the impact on our farming systems

• At both Yarrawonga and Dooke, Victoria, there was no yield response to nitrogen application, with yields of 4.34 and 3.88t/ha respectively.
• Although there was no yield response, there was a significantly higher dry matter (DM) production and greater nitrogen offtake as a result of applying nitrogen at both sites.
• The maximum nitrogen offtake in the unfertilised crops at both sites equated (approximately) to the level of available nitrogen at the start of the season during April (assessed 0-60cm).
• The normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) response assessed at first node stage (GS31) and the subsequent divergence of NDVI suggested that both sites would benefit from additonal nitrogen; however, late moisture stress and high temperatures compromised any potential yield response.
• The NDVI canopy scores taken at Dookie during October 2015 from the 120kg N/ha plots clearly show are more rapid senescence than unfertilised crops (control) or those crops fertilised with 60 kg N/ha.

• The harvest results proved that the fallow treatments did out-yield the continuous wheat treatment with the full / residual herbicide fallow yielding 1.82T/ha the highest of any of the treatments.
• The continuous wheat treatment yielded 1.02T/ha and also had the lowest protein of all the treatments.

• The trial at Morawa compared a canola-wheat sequence to a wheat-on-wheat sequence with either high or low input levels. Low input had lower fertiliser, lower seed density and cheaper herbicide options. We also incorporated a comparison of a very early wheat cultivar (Zippy) to a medium maturity cultivar (Wyalkatchem).
• Water use by the crop was estimated from the sum of the in-season rainfall and the change in soil water between sowing and harvest. By estimating the amount of soil evaporation as one third of in-season rainfall, we determined the amount of water used by the plant as transpiration. The ratio of crop yield to transpiration is the transpiration efficiency of the crop which has a potential of around 20-22 mm/kg/ha.
• The yield of Zippy was more stable than that of Wyalkatchem, but the earlier maturity resulted in a substantial yield penalty. Zippy yielded around 2 t/ha each year whereas Wyalkatchem responded more in better years. The yield penalty associated with the earlier maturing variety was not offset by the higher input level. Higher input actually increased the variability in annual gross margins.
• So far Wyalkatchem has a substantially greater cumulative gross margin than Zippy and there is little difference between the high and low input strategies.

• The trial at Morawa compared a canola-wheat sequence to a wheat-on-wheat sequence with either high or low input levels. Low input had lower fertiliser, lower seed density and cheaper herbicide options. We also incorporated a comparison of a very early wheat cultivar (Zippy) to a medium maturity cultivar (Wyalkatchem).
• Water use by the crop was estimated from the sum of the in-season rainfall and the change in soil water between sowing and harvest. By estimating the amount of soil evaporation as one third of in-season rainfall, we determined the amount of water used by the plant as transpiration. The ratio of crop yield to transpiration is the transpiration efficiency of the crop which has a potential of around 20-22 mm/kg/ha.
• The yield of Zippy was more stable than that of Wyalkatchem, but the earlier maturity resulted in a substantial yield penalty. Zippy yielded around 2 t/ha each year whereas Wyalkatchem responded more in better years. The yield penalty associated with the earlier maturing variety was not offset by the higher input level. Higher input actually increased the variability in annual gross margins.
• So far Wyalkatchem has a substantially greater cumulative gross margin than Zippy and there is little difference between the high and low input strategies.

• Summer weed control is proven to increase yield, but is becoming a major cost and some summer weeds are difficult to control.
• Cost savings of 20-90% were achieved across 20 paddocks using the WEEDit™.
• A major benefit of the Spot Spray Technology was the ability to use high rates of chemical to spot spray hard-to-kill weeds such as fleabane and stinkweed.

• The high level of grain yield response to soil inversion is very exciting.  However, some sites have had little or no yield response while others have achieved an excellent yield response.  The key to the future success of this technique is to improve our ability to pick responsive soil types to maximise the return on investment in this technology.
• The very high level of weed control, which in some cases has been maintained for two to three years, is also very exciting.  There is no doubt that a mouldboard plough has enormous potential to decimate a weed seed bank.  However, it is imperative that the plough is set up correctly to achieve good weed seed burial.  The Smart CV site is a good example of how it can go wrong.  This site was ploughed in a rush during seeding in 2010 with a tractor that was not ideally suited to the plough (ie. not enough horsepower).  Consequently, full soil inversion did not occur and many wild radish weed seeds were left in the topsoil.  The grower knew this at the time but persisted with the trial to test the potential of the plough.  This soil is extremely non-wetting and a very big yield response was achieved. 
• The Brennan site was established in 2009 at West Moora by Dave Gartner (AgLime) using the DAFWA three furrow plough to assess the potential for lime burial with a mouldboard plough.  The site is deep yellow sand with moderate to high water repellence (water droplet penetration time 180 seconds).  Treatment with the mouldboard plough corrected the water repellence (water droplet penetration time 0 seconds).  The site was sown to wheat in 2009 and canola in 2010.  Large yield responses were measured in both years.  As yet there has been no response to lime.
• In summary, all of the growers that have purchased mouldboard ploughs have been very happy with the performance of ploughed paddocks in 2010.  Using a plough to invert the soil of a sandy, poor performing paddock every 10 to 15 years appears to be a fast, effective and economical way of renovating a paddock back to a point of high production.  Of course this machinery will have its limitations and is not a universal panacea.  However, our early studies are very encouraging.  Research into this area is ongoing and will eventually answer some of the long term questions that continue to arise.
•  
• Some of the practicalities
• Most of the growers so far have accessed machinery directly from Europe and then shipped it to Australia in sea containers.  Some growers have purchased second hand ploughs for $30,000 to $50,000. These machines have been completely dissembled and cleaned to meet quarantine standards so there are many hours of assembly work involved.  Some growers have accessed new machines for $90,000 to $130,000 for 9 to 14 furrow machines.  The cheaper machines have sheer bolt break out while the more expensive machines have hydraulic break out.  Sheer bolt machines have their limitations when it comes to rocks and stumps but have performed well nonetheless.  All ploughs imported so far are reversible and so are suited to up and back ploughing.
• A fourteen furrow machine can be set to cut 5.5 to 7 metres.  They work to a depth of 30 to 35 cm at 8 to 10 kph.  So the large machines can plough 4.5 to 7 hectares per hour at a cost of $70 to $100 / hectare (these are figures from growers).  The power requirement is 30 to 35 hp per furrow depending on soil conditions and working depth.  In good conditions a 450 hp 4WD wheel tractor can pull a 14 furrow plough but it will struggle in low soil moisture conditions.  4WD tractors often have the problem of the wide dual wheels running over the furrow which affects the depth and form of the first furrow.  Track tractors are preferred for pulling large ploughs.
• The large ploughs (12 to 14 furrow) have mainly been set up with a tool carrier that allows them to be connected to a large tractor without three point linkage.  This allows the tractor to run on level ground.  The smaller ploughs (8 to 11 furrow) are typically pulled by front wheel assist tractors in the 300 to 350 hp range with three point linkage.  In this situation, one wheel of the tractor runs in the furrow.
• There is clearly a large wind erosion risk immediately after ploughing.  Paddocks should be sown to wheat for cover immediately after ploughing (preferably the same day).  Wheat is more acid tolerant than barley and in many cases a profitable crop can be grown in the year of ploughing.  Cereals are more tolerant to sand blasting than broadleaf crops and so are the obvious choice as a cover crop.  Pay careful attention to seeding depth as it is easy to sow deep into soft soil.  Rolling of the paddock is essential after ploughing unless your hobby is towing tractors out of bogs.  Some growers are spreading seed / fertiliser and then rolling with coil packers to establish the wheat cover crop.  Relatively light rolling (eg. coil packers) is all that is necessary to firm the top 5 to 10cm of soil after ploughing.

• The TT OP canola system presented the most profit and least expense option in this dry season.
• Deciding to use hybrid technology should be aimed at early starts and higher rainfall years to improve return on in-vestment for the farmer.
•  Both RR and TT systems provided excellent weed control.
• TT hybrids exhibit handy tolerance of warm dry conditions at the finish of the season.

• ATR Stringray was the highest yielding variety, even though it showed the least crop canopy and vigour of all varieties tested. This trait suggests it puts more resources into grain production than into crop biomass and leaf area.
• The TT hybrid varieties exhibited the greatest leaf biomass and canopy closure by 21st July. However, due to a higher than ideal plant density, this heavier crop canopy did not translate into higher grain production.
• The 2 new varieties from Nuseed – Stingray and Snapper, were the most profitable varieties in this trial and may re-place areas of Cobbler plantings in the future.

• The season was characterized by above average rainfall conditions which provided good growing conditions for crops and also ideal conditions for weed establishment, particularly medic which was difficult to control at the site and may have masked variety differences from crop topping application timings in the trial.
• Crop topping lentils 10 days prior to the recommended ARG milky dough stage led to a significant (>50 %) yield loss when compared to the respective Nil treatments across all lentil varieties. This indicates that correct timing of this practice in critical in this crop and may be difficult to achieve in long favorable growing seasons like 2016.
• Grain yield of lentil varieties was affected similarly across the crop top timings in 2016. This conflicted with previous findings, which had shown that varieties like PBA Blitz were better suited to this practice, and highlights the large effect seasonal conditions have on this agronomic practice in lentil. Further varietal development work is required in lentil before the industry has a robust variety which is well suited to effective crop topping of ARG across environments and seasons.
• All varieties of field peas showed a high level of adaption to the agronomic practice of crop topping in the long and favorable season of 2016 which is consistent with previous findings in this crop (Southern Pulse Agronomy Results Summary, 2015)
• A significant grain yield loss was observed from crop topping chickpeas 10 days earlier and at the recommended ARG milky dough stage highlighting the poor relative suitability of this crop to the agronomic practice of crop topping. PBA has developed early maturing chickpea varieties which may be better suited to crop topping in some environments and seasons. Further evaluation is required with these lines as the ability to reduce ARG seed set in this highly uncompetitive crop is essential for its continued uptake in southern farming systems.

• The 2016 season saw higher yields than the previous two seasons in field pea, lentil and faba bean. Chickpeas however performed better at Minnipa in 2014 due to adequate rainfall during the growing season and warmer temperatures during critical flower and pod fill stages. A virulence change in the ascochyta blight (AB) pathogen in southern Australia now means that all current chickpea varieties are rated as either susceptible or moderately susceptible. Although often relatively lower yielding in low rainfall regions, moderately susceptible varieties GenesisTM090 and PBA Slasher will have a reduced production risk and require fewer fungicides than the higher yielding susceptible varieties such as PBA Striker. Chickpeas are generally less suited than other pulse options in many cropping regions in SA due to their relatively late maturity and increased sensitivity to cold temperatures during the flowering and pod filling phase.

The theoretical N contribution from faba stubbles is 20 kg N/tonne of stubble. However this assumes all residue is mineralised. 

Stubble retained on the soil surface is broken down more slowly than residues present in the soil.

A 6 t/ha bean crop resulted in approximately 140 kg N/ha being released for the following season. 

• There was a strong response to P but no response to N
• Plant tests showed that the crop was unlikely to respond to N
• 0N 24P was nearly $300/ha more profitable than 80N 16P!
• Profitability is driven by getting the N and P balance AND application rates right.

Only medic based systems from 2008 and 2009 resulted in higher wheat yields in 2011.

• Round-up ready yeilded better that the other two herbicide groups, the varieties tested were all hybrids.
• TT canola yielded lower than the other two herbcide groups the varieties tested at both narrow and wide rows were OP's Narrow row out yeilded wide rows 1.641 to 1.450 t/ha.

Native grass pastures can be successfully established to provide grazing potential for stock.

• Native pastures can provide valuable forage for stock.
• Barley can be sown into native pasture and taken through to harvest.
• Native pasture cropping can be managed as a viable mixed farming system in the Wimmera and Mallee.

• Richmond produced an average yield 7% higher than Soya 791 in advanced variety evaluations at early sowing dates (first week in December) over six seasons.
• Richmond produced an average yield 7.7% higher than Asgrow A6785 in advanced variety evaluations at late sowing dates (mid January) over eight seasons.
• In on-farm experiments, Richmond yielded 16% higher than Soya 791 in a wide-row system on the northern slopes, and 7% higher than Asgrow A6785 in a narrow-row coastal system.
• In addition to higher yield potential, Richmond is tolerant to lodging and pre-harvest weather damage, has clean leaf drop, large seed size and high protein, and is resistant to powdery mildew. This combination of traits provides greater crop security and a full range of market options for growers, and high quality grain for buyers and processors.

Conclusions:

The Australian soybean variety RichmondA produces large grain (22 g/100 seed) with a clear hilum and high levels of protein (42% dry matter), which is suitable for all markets including human consumption and export. The traditional variety, Asgrow A6785, has small grain (<16 g/100 seed) with a brown hilum and protein levels less than 40%, which limits the range of markets to which it is suited. The traditional variety, Soya 791, has average sized grain Agronomy(19 g/100 seed) with a light brown hilum and high levels of protein (42%). Both A6785 and Soya 791 are prone to excessive vegetative growth, especially at an early sowing date. However, this is not necessarily converted into grain yield as demonstrated in the on-farm experiment at Harwood.

RichmondA is superior to A6785 and Soya 791 in terms of grain yield, tolerance to lodging, tolerance to pre-harvest weathering and clean leaf drop. RichmondA offers a summer legume option with high yield and high grain quality for early, mid or late sowing windows in northern New South Wales. The variety’s performance was not adversely affected by the range of soil types and farming systems reported in this paper; it was superior to A6785 and Soya 791 in all situations. RichmondA is resistant to powdery mildew. This package of traits represents a significant advance in soybean varieties for the North Coast, Tablelands, Northern Slopes and Liverpool Plains production regions of northern New South Wales.

The results of the on-farm experiment of RichmondA versus Soya 791 in a wide spacing, single row system at Oakwood demonstrates the variety’s ability to compensate for wide rows and the associated lower plant populations in dryland systems. Row spacing and plant population interactions of new soybean and mungbean varieties are being investigated in the current NSW DPI–GRDC project DAN00171

Key messages: 

• Richmond produced an average yield 7% higher than Soya 791 in advanced variety evaluations at early sowing dates (first week in December) over six seasons.
• Richmond produced an average yield 7.7% higher than Asgrow A6785 in advanced variety evaluations at late sowing dates (mid January) over eight seasons.
• In on-farm experiments, Richmond yielded 16% higher than Soya 791 in a wide-row system on the northern slopes, and 7% higher than Asgrow A6785 in a narrow-row coastal system.
• In addition to higher yield potential, Richmond is tolerant to lodging and pre-harvest weather damage, has clean leaf drop, large seed size and high protein, and is resistant to powdery mildew. This combination of traits provides greater crop security and a full range of market options for growers, and high quality grain for buyers and processors.

Conclusions:

The Australian soybean variety RichmondA produces large grain (22 g/100 seed) with a clear hilum and high levels of protein (42% dry matter), which is suitable for all markets including human consumption and export. The traditional variety, Asgrow A6785, has small grain (<16 g/100 seed) with a brown hilum and protein levels less than 40%, which limits the range of markets to which it is suited. The traditional variety, Soya 791, has average sized grain Agronomy (19 g/100 seed) with a light brown hilum and high levels of protein (42%). Both A6785 and Soya 791 are prone to excessive vegetative growth, especially at an early sowing date. However, this is not necessarily converted into grain yield as demonstrated in the on-farm experiment at Harwood.

RichmondA is superior to A6785 and Soya 791 in terms of grain yield, tolerance to lodging, tolerance to pre-harvest weathering and clean leaf drop. RichmondA offers a summer legume option with high yield and high grain quality for early, mid or late sowing windows in northern New South Wales. The variety’s performance was not adversely affected by the range of soil types and farming systems reported in this paper; it was superior to A6785 and Soya 791 in all situations. RichmondA is resistant to powdery mildew. This package of traits represents a significant advance in soybean varieties for the North Coast, Tablelands, Northern Slopes and Liverpool Plains production regions of northern New South Wales.

The results of the on-farm experiment of RichmondA versus Soya 791 in a wide spacing, single row system at Oakwood demonstrates the variety’s ability to compensate for wide rows and the associated lower plant populations in dryland systems. Row spacing and plant population interactions of new soybean and mungbean varieties are being investigated in the current NSW DPI–GRDC project DAN00171

 

KEY MESSAGES:

• Richmond produced an average yield 7% higher than Soya 791 in advanced variety evaluations at early sowing dates (first week in December) over six seasons.
• Richmond produced an average yield 7.7% higher than Asgrow A6785 in advanced variety evaluations at late sowing dates (mid January) over eight seasons.
• In on-farm experiments, Richmond yielded 16% higher than Soya 791 in a wide-row system on the northern slopes, and 7% higher than Asgrow A6785 in a narrow-row coastal system.
• In addition to higher yield potential, Richmond is tolerant to lodging and pre-harvest weather damage, has clean leaf drop, large seed size and high protein, and is resistant to powdery mildew. This combination of traits provides greater crop security and a full range of market options for growers, and high quality grain for buyers and processors.

CONCLUSIONS; 

The Australian soybean variety RichmondA produces large grain (22 g/100 seed) with a clear hilum and high levels of protein (42% dry matter), which is suitable for all markets including human consumption and export. The traditional variety, Asgrow A6785, has small grain (<16 g/100 seed) with a brown hilum and protein levels less than 40%, which limits the range of markets to which it is suited. The traditional variety, Soya 791, has average sized grain Agronomy NORTHERN NSW RESEARCH RESULTS 2017 | 53 (19 g/100 seed) with a light brown hilum and high levels of protein (42%). Both A6785 and Soya 791 are prone to excessive vegetative growth, especially at an early sowing date. However, this is not necessarily converted into grain yield as demonstrated in the on-farm experiment at Harwood. RichmondA is superior to A6785 and Soya 791 in terms of grain yield, tolerance to lodging, tolerance to pre-harvest weathering and clean leaf drop. RichmondA offers a summer legume option with high yield and high grain quality for early, mid or late sowing windows in northern New South Wales. The variety’s performance was not adversely affected by the range of soil types and farming systems reported in this paper; it was superior to A6785 and Soya 791 in all situations. RichmondA is resistant to powdery mildew. This package of traits represents a significant advance in soybean varieties for the North Coast, Tablelands, Northern Slopes and Liverpool Plains production regions of northern New South Wales. The results of the on-farm experiment of RichmondA versus Soya 791 in a wide spacing, single row system at Oakwood demonstrates the variety’s ability to compensate for wide rows and the associated lower plant populations in dryland systems. Row spacing and plant population interactions of new soybean and mungbean varieties are being investigated in the current NSW DPI–GRDC project DAN00171

• In 2013, all barley varieties had a similar yield response to nitrogen (N). Commander, La Trobe and Hindmarsh were the highest yielding and subsequently the most profitable varieties.
• 120kg N/ha (260kg/ha urea) was the best rate to achieve the greatest profitability at a very N responsive site at Nhill.

The objective of this GRDC / SPAA funded project is to increase the level of adoption of PA 'beyond guidance' by broadacre farmers. The project specifically aims to increase the level of adoption of variable rate (VR) by growers in the project to 30% by 2013.This goal will be achieved by demonstrating how to use PA tools to growers at a regional level and by increasing the skills of growers and industry in PA to a level where they can then use PA tools in their farming systems to achieve economic, environmental and social benefits.

• The 2014 wheat crop at Karoonda had a harvest index of 0.4 and fertilizer N recovery was 35%.
• Wheat stubble from the 2014 crop contained 16 kg N/ha and had a C:N ratio of 95 which is common for cereal crop residues in these environments .
• Mineralization during summer resulted in the accumulation of 18-33 kg/ha of mineral N to 50cm depth across all the treatments at sowing in 2015.
• Incorporation of 2014 cereal stubble increased microbial biomass and N supply potential at sowing in the surface soil when compared with standing stubble.
• The management of cereal stubble affects the microbial activity that influences the cycling and supply of nutrients (nitrogen (N) and phosphorus) to growing crops.
• There was no significant effect of management of 2014 stubble on subsequent wheat grain yield in 2015.

• Nitrogen contributions by pastures in Ley Farming Systems are a renewable resource for Central West farmers.

There wass no significant difference in the way varieties respond to various amounts of nitrogen (N). Results indicate that for all varieties, as N increases, yield increases incrementally. the most profitable N rate for Commander, Buloke and Hindmarsh is 80kg N/ha, whilst Gairdner was still more profitable at 120kg N/ha

• Products with low cost per unit N were the most profitable in 2013.
• Very high N treatment increased quality but reduced yield.
• Some products that claim to increase N efficiency require further investigation.

• The influence of nitrogen on grain yield and protein depends on the amount of fertilizer applied, the timing and the growing season.
• Fertilising to increase grain protein is profitable if farmers are being paid a premiums for protein above 10.5 -11%.
• Multiple wheat varieties responded to nitrogen when applied at GS31, particularly at the high rate of 100 kg/ha.
• A 7.2% yield increase was observed by treating SQP-Revenue with fungicide 

• The influence of nitrogen on grain yield and protein depends on the amount of fertilizer applied, the timing and the growing season
• Fertilising to increase grain protein is profitable if farmers are being paid a premiums for protein above 10.5 -11%.
• Multiple wheat varieties responded to nitrogen when applied at GS31, particularly at the high rate of 100 kg/ha.
• A 7.2% yield increase was observed by treating SQP-Revenue with fungicide

For further information see Payne, RA and Ladd, JN (1993) Soil organic matter and nitrogen management in dryland cropping systems, Part II: Nitrogen requirements for dryland cereal crops. Dept Primary Industries of SA. Technical Report No. 212 (Agdex 536).

The objective of this GRDC / SPAA funded project is to increase the level of adoption of PA 'beyond guidance' by broadacre farmers. The project specifically aims to increase the level of adoption of variable rate (VR) by growers in the project to 30% by 2013.This goal will be achieved by demonstrating how to use PA tools to growers at a regional level and by increasing the skills of growers and industry in PA to a level where they can then use PA tools in their farming systems to achieve economic, environmental and social benefits. The grower mentioned the usefulness of the Greenseeker map to provide a visual overview of how the crop was growing and where nitrogen was being used. This has helped with understanding how different soil types perform and allow extraction of nitrogen during a growing season.

• Later applications of nitrogen (GS30 & GS37) were the most profitable with the highest yield and quality, for malt barley in 2010.
• There was no significant differences in yield of varieties between early and later sowings.
• Crop sensors provide a good measure of nitrogen response and can improve nitrogen use efficiency.

Variable rate fertiliser application has a real and profitable place in the Mallee when combined with good paddock science. The precision technology gives the ability to examine the yield data for many effects including other possible influencing factors such as elevation, slope aspect or orientation to the sun, and probably many others. Grain yield was recorded continuously during harvest and logged against GPS position. From the resultant yield map it was possible to isolate treatment strips and EM38 zones within these strips and determine the yield for individual strips and therefore treatments, and also where these treatments intersect with the paddock zones. Trial was statistically analysed and Table 1 above shows there was no significant difference between treatments.

• Work conducted in low and medium rainfall environments indicate that N2O emissions are low from an overall national perspective. • Results showed that there was no clear response of N2O emissions to nitrogen applied at sowing and post sowing. • High pre-seeding soil mineral nitrogen raises the possibility of higher N2O losses over the fallow period following significant rainfall.

• Work conducted in low and medium rainfall environments indicate that N2O emissions are low from an overall national perspective. • Results showed that there was no clear response of N2O emissions to nitrogen applied at sowing and post sowing. • High pre-seeding soil mineral nitrogen raises the possibility of higher N2O losses over the fallow period following significant rainfall.

Preliminary results showed the level of nitrous oxide emissions did not increase over the 2013 winter as a result of near capacity soil water contents coupled with increased nitrate nitrogen levels resulting from seeding and in-crop nitrogen applications on the canola compared with a pulse crop and legume pasture.

Preliminary results showed the level of nitrous oxide emissions did not increase over the 2013 winter as a result of near capacity soil water contents coupled with increased nitrate nitrogen levels resulting from seeding and in-crop nitrogen applications on the canola compared with a pulse crop and legume pasture.

• N2O losses appear to be minimal from dryland low to medium rainfall farming systems; peak emissions of only 4.0 gN2O-N/ha/day were measured following rainfall.
• N2O emissions from legume stubble over summer and with synthetic fertiliser applied in-crop were low.
• An increase in soil water was the major driver of N2O emissions.

• N2O losses appear to be minimal from dryland low to medium rainfall farming systems; peak emissions of only 4.0 gN2O-N/ha/day were measured following rainfall.
• N2O emissions from legume stubble over summer and with synthetic fertiliser applied in-crop were low.
• An increase in soil water was the major driver of N2O emissions.