• A survey of the incidents of black spot and downey mildew on field pea was conducted in South Australia.
• Analysis of manganese and zinc implants was conducted, along with a field trial with manganese and zinc addition.
• Effect of micronutrients on the diseases was not clear but manganese concentrations in plants was negatively correlated with blackspot.
• Deficiencies in zinc were measured but these were not correlated with blackspot or downy mildew.

• Trial sown at Lameroo on a zinc deficient soil, very dry season.
• Untreated crop was severely zinc deficient.
• Zinc seed dressings (Teprosyn and Broadacre products) were effective at alleviating zinc deficiency but not as effective as the dressings plus mid season foliar spray.
• The soil sprays were not very effective, even at double the recommended rate, perhaps because the soil was so dry.
• Although laboratory experiments had shown that MAP was more effective than DAP fertiliser in terms of zinc availability, no differences were observed in the field experiment.

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

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

• Early application of foliar zinc at the 2 leaf stage may assist with suppressing initial yellow leaf spot infection but unlikely to be enough to overcome any zinc deficiency in crop as leaf area limits capacity for uptake.
• Stubble management techniques that aid stubble breakdown or removal are effective measures to control incidence of yellow leaf spot in crops sown into stubble.

• In glasshouse trials, which grew normally and produced grain when soil dressings of copper sulphate replied to surface soil from the field sites.
• There is therefore no inherent characteristics of the soils which makes fertiliser copper unavailable for plant uptake.
• The pattern of rainfall at each field site was compared with the rate of development of the wheat. When symptoms of coffered deficiency appeared in negligible grain yields occurred despite fertiliser application no effective rain fell in the 20 days before the plants reach the boot stage of growth.
• When soil dressings improved grain yield effective rainfall occurred within 14 days prior to booting.
• It is postulated that wheat cannot absorb sufficient copper for normal growth and development from a dry fertiliser zone.
• When the zone is dry just before booting wheat suffers an acute deficiency of copper during a critical phase of pollen formation resulting in infertile pollen.

• Subsoil nutrition placed at 20cm has provided a residual yield benefit in the second year after application at Edillilie.
• Yield increases were greater where trace elements were also applied.

• Tested effect of rates, methods of application and residual effects of zinc oxide on hybrid maize XL45.
• Zinc was either broadcast or drilled at initial rates of 0, 5.6, 11.3 or 38 kg Zn/ha and 0 or 5.6 kg Zn/ha in subsequent seasons.
• In most seasons, treatment with zinc almost doubled grain yields.
• Broadcasting and working in was more effective than drilling zinc with the fertilizer.
• Residual effects of the initial 5.6, 11.2 and 38 kg Zn remained evident throughout the 6 years and the higher rates continued to produce highest yields.

• Residual subsoil zinc improved root growth and grain yield of wheat in a pot experiment.
• Canola genotypes did not differ in their effects on the following wheat.
• A greater proportion of wheat zinc was located in grain where subsoils had received zinc (but it should be noted that these pots had received 3 times the total zinc of the surface zinc pots).

• 10 chickpea genotypes were grown in the field with and without added zinc.
• Zinc sulphate was applied to the soil at sowing and later as a foliar spray at the start of flowering.
• Zinc fertilisation increase shoot dry matter by 13% at maturity.
• There were differences between cultivars in zinc efficiency.
• Gains in yield by improved to sink efficiency are possible in chickpeas.
•  The ranking of cultivars was consistent between sites and in pot studies in the glasshouse.
•  Significant responses to zinc fertiliser confirmed that zinc deficiency was a limitation to chickpea yield.

• The critical zinc concentration in shoots ranged from 22 to 29 mg /kilogram across the 5 durum varieties.
• There was no difference in shoot zinc concentration of the 5 varieties within any of the zinc treatments, ranging from 0.025 to 5 mg / kilogram of soil.
• There was some evidence that zinc sensitive genotypes were more likely to suffer from crown rot.

• Responses to Zn were measured in terms of seed yield, yield components and growth.
• Responses differed between varieties. In terms of yield response to Zn.
• Forrest is extremely responsive; Dare, Dodds and Bragg are moderately responsive; and Lee and Ruse are relatively tolerant of Zn deficiency.

• Wheat yields were improved by using a combination of N,P,K,Mg,S,Zn fertilisers.
• Canola yields were improved by using a combination of N,P,S and Zn fertilisers.
• Gross margins suggested balanced crop nutrition could improve farm profitability despite dry conditions and high fertiliser prices.

• Five representative sites with no history of copper application were selected on each of five main soil types in the district.
• Four treatments (replicated 4 times) were established; Nil and 75 g/ha of foliar copper applied at Zadox scale 23, 41 and 23 + 41.
• Anthesis and harvest dry matter production and grain yield were determined by quadrat cuts of 3mL/plot. Al, A2 and 81 horizon soil samples were taken for chemical analysis • Copper application resulted in a significant increase in grain yield on soil types 2 and 5, attributable to significant increases in grain weight on soil type 5, and grain number per head on soil type 2.
• These soils were geologically the oldest of the five tested and had the lowest average level of EDTA copper.
• Time of application was not important and a second application did not increase yield further.
• There were no early symptoms of Cu deficiency on any sites and foliar application of copper at tillering produced no change in either visual appearance or anthesis dry matter production.
• Deficiency symptoms only became apparent at stem elongation when two sites displayed minor wilting.
• In addition to identifying the two soil types with suboptimal copper supply to wheat, this experiment highlights the pitfalls of relying on visual detection of copper deficiency.
• Areas of subliminal but significant copper deficiency may go undetected by farmers who rely on this method.

• An omission experiment was conducted with manganese, copper and zinc applied to oats grown on a limestone soil.
• Plants receiving manganese were much healthier than those not receiving manganese.
• Manganese has given good results where there have been patchy crops on sandy soils.

• Nitric and perchloric or nitric, perchloric and sulphuric acid digestion of plant material was compared for routine analysis of plant copper, manganese, zinc and iron.
• International plant standard samples from an international comparison were used.
• Tri acid (nitric, perchloric and sulphuric) digestions are simple, fast and safe and should be used in preference to di-acid digestion.

• The sources of variation which contribute to errors associated with the assessment of soil zinc and copper were established.
• Variation between soil cores greatly exceeded variation between chemical determinations.
• Hence for a given investment of resources, errors can be more effectively reduced by increasing the number of cores per bulk sample than by increasing the analytical replication.

• Both higher seed manganese concentration or seed coating with MnSO4 were found to increase yield of barley on manganese deficient soil

• Low-zinc seed and high-zinc seed oilseed rape genotypes were sown in pots containing zinc-deficient siliceous sand fertilized with low or high zinc supply in a controlled environment.
• After six weeks, plants derived from the high-zinc seed had better seedling vigour, increased root and shoot growth, more leaf area and chlorophyll concentration in fresh leaf, and higher zinc uptake in shoot compared to those from low-zinc seed at low zinc supply .
• The influence of high-zinc seed was dissipated at high zinc supply.
• The results demonstrate that although oilseed rape has very small seeds compared with wheat, zinc reserves present in seed still have a strong impact on early vegetative growth and zinc uptake in zinc-deficient soils.
• The results suggest that sowing high-zinc seed coupled with growing zinc-efficient genotypes may help in sustaining the production of oilseed rape in zinc-deficient soils.

• A critical level of zinc is required in the soil before roots will either grow into it or function effectively.
•  It is likely that this requirement is frequently not met in deep sandy in fertile soils.
• This paper presents arguments for breeding cereal varieties with root system is better able to mobilise zink from soil sources of low availability.
• Significant genetic variation for this character is described for wheat, barley and oats.
• Linkage to other efficiency traits for example manganese, is poor suggesting independent mechanisms and genetic control not linked to gross root system geometry.
• Zinc efficiency traits for sandy and clay soils are appear be genetically different.
•  Zinc inefficient genotypes absorb more zinc from deficient soils.

• The first year of trials show that there is material with real potential to do well in low rainfall environments and develop lines which will be economic as break crops in future.
• In 2009, about 120 lines were trialled at Minnipa and Condobolin.
• At Minnipa with an exceptional season yields ranged from 1.7 to 2.9 t/ha, with an average over 2.4 t/ha.
• At Condobolin, under tough conditions, individual plots yielded up to 1 t/ha.

• Nutrient deficiencies and toxicities develop under acid soil conditions.
• At mild molybdenum deficiency nitrate can accumulate in plants because of decreased nitrate reduciton.
• Manganese toxicity might effect legumes, nodulation and microsymbionts all equally.
• There is wide variation between legume species and cultivars in tolerance for manganese toxicity.

• Acid soils from southern New South Wales were analysed for manganese.
• Manganese was measured using ammonium acetate, ammonium acetate with hydroquinone or on a barium chloride leachate.
• There was no relationship between exchangeable and easily reducible manganese ( ammonium acetate plus hydroquinone extractable).
• As easily reducible manganese relates most closely to plant available it is suggested that manganese be measured on ammonium acetate plus hydroquinone extracts.

• The laboratory analysis indicated the site would be zinc responsive.
• Zinc sulphate was no applied and no zinc deficiency symptoms were observed.
• Extensive trials in the Forbes district have never shown a response to zinc fertiliser in wheat.

• Five representative commercial wheat farm sites with a history of no copper application were selected on each of five main soil types in the Hamilton district.
• Four treatments (replicated 4 times) were established; Nil and 75 q of foliar copper applied at Z (Zadox’s growth stage) 23 , 41 and 23 + 41.
• Composite Al and A2 horizon soil samples from each site were analysed for EDTA (0.75%,1:5 soil; extract, l hour) extractable copper. Youngest fully emerged leaf and Whole plant samples were taken at growth stages Z21, 23 and 41 and analysed for total copper.
• Yield response (pooled data) was significantly related to copper level in the Al and A2 horizon, however variance accounted for improved to 20% when mean A horizon copper was used.
• Three plant Cu measurements were significantly related to Yield Response.
• Variance accounted for improved for earlier YL samples and later WP samples.
• Low Variance accounted for % were possibly due to climatic and soil variation across sites.
• Soil variation influences extraction efficiency and climatic variation influences growth pattern and nutrient redistribution Z21 plant Cu levels were significantly related to Z23 and 41 levels. Z21 sampling could thus give farmers a timely indication of Cu levels during later, critical growth phases.
• This experiment has shown that while soil and plant copper levels are related to yield response, they alone give a limited indication of the presence of copper deficiency in wheat.
• Yield response is most closely related to whole Plant Z41 and mean copper level in the A horizon.
• Early sampling may give advanced warning of copper deficiency.

• Manganese deficiency was found to be less on compacted than uncompacted soils low in manganese.
• Compacted soils had more roots than uncompacted soils.
• It was postulated that a greater area of root surface increased the reduction and dissolution of manganous oxide and increased manganese availability.

• Chlorsulfuron (eg Glean) was found to reduce wheat yields at some sites.
• No zinc (Zn) responses were recorded at any of the sites.
• Phosphorus (P) response was closely correlated with soil P levels.
• Increasing Zn and P nutrition did not reduce the Chlorsulfuron effect.

• Manganese toxicity developed on acid red basaltic soils north coast of New South Wales following continued use of ammonium sulphate fertiliser French beans.
• This was likely due to acidification of the soil as when pH fell below 4.5 large amounts of available manganese were released.
• Line at 5 to 7 tons per hectare alleviated the problem.
• Difficulty in establishing pastures, especially lucerne, in the Albury district shown to be a result of manganese toxicity.
• Liming at 2 tons per hectare increased soil pH and lowered manganese concentrations in leaves and in soil but did not reduce soil manganese below toxic concentrations in waterlogged and heat exposed soils.

• Field experiment to test the relative effectiveness of a zinc spray to the soil surface compared to zinc-enriched fertilizers.
• These results suggest that zinc-enriched fertilizers which are of a heterogeneous nature will not be effective at correcting zinc deficiency in the year of application, or in the following year.
• Both soil sprays of zinc pre-sowing and zinc-enriched fertilizers drilled with the seed of a homogeneous nature are effective at correcting zinc deficiency.

• Glasshouse experiments indicate that phosphorus deficiency is likely.
• Zinc deficiency is not likely to be widespread but could be marginal on some soils.
•  Boron, molybdenum, copper and manganese deficiencies are unlikely on these soils.

• On black soil the average wheat yield increase due to zinc was of the order of 240 kg/ha between 1939 and 1949.

• The best yield response by wheat was to zinc. 
• Zinc induced early maturity and produced better root systems than without zinc.
• The increase in yield was mainly related to superior root development which in turn had some effect on the severity of eelworm and root rot.

• Trace elements applied to the soil (either shallow at seeding or deep prior to seeding) two years previously benefitted wheat at a clay spread site.
• Accross all sites and six years of measurements there were no measurable residual responses to deep placed nutrients.

• Incorporating clay that has high calcium carbonate (lime) content has potential to cause extreme manganese deficiency although this can be addressed with addition of micronutrient fertiliser either shallow or deep.

• 67% of divalent manganese incubated on calcareous sands form Warooka was immobilised within 167 hours by chemical and biological processes.
• In field experiments over seven years manganese up to 16 kg/ha drilled with the barley crop did not prevent manganese deficiency in crops.
• However, manganese applicaiotn increased crop growth, delayed deficiency symptoms and increased grian yield by an average of 61%.
• The optimum applicaiotn at seeding was 6 kg/ha manganese (25 kg/ha nanganese sulphate).
• Three foliar sprays of manganese did not completely correct manganese deficiency.
•  The best results were obtained by applying 6 kg manganese at sowing followed by three foliar sprays.

• Critical concentration of manganese in wheat tissues for optimal growth was determined.
• In the youngest emerged blade the critical concentration was 11 µg per gram.
• The critical concentrations for whole tops were 12 µg per gram.
• The older blades were less sensitive determinants of the growth response and are not recommended for analysis.
• Diagnosis using whole tops was less sensitive than with youngest expanded blade but may give an integrated picture of man manganese deficiency where availability varies with time.
• The critical level of manganese was the same for 2 genotypes differing in their ability to tolerate manganese deficiency.

• Higher seed manganese content increase growth and yield of barley on manganese deficient soil.

• Grain and soil samples were collected from 13 field experiments where zinc deficiency had been identified as a problem.
• Zinc was applied in the field experiments at rates of 0-20 kg zinc/ha.
• Application of zinc (2.5 - 5 kg/ha) reduced grain cadmium concentraitons by up to half.

• Most of the endogenous zinc in the soil was associated with silicates while zinc added as fertiliser was associated with iron, aluminium and manganese oxides.
• Zinc recently added to soil in the EDTA extractable fraction decreased over time.
• Zinc recently added to soils was found to be mor reactive than zinc already in the soil.
• The transformaiton of reactive zinc to less reactive zinc was primrily attributed to diffucion of zinc cations into microporous solids.
• Dryindg and rewetting at high temperature may reduce the availability of zinc in soils.

• A series of field experiments was conducted on the Eyre Peninsula to examine the effects of herbicides on the nutrition of treated crops.
• Experiments investigating the effect of metsulfuron-methyl and chlorsulfuron on crop performance are reported here.
• The parameters measured were shoot growth, tissue nutrient concentration and grain yield.
• Application of metsulfuron-methyl to manganese-deficient barley and chlorsulfuron to zinc-deficient wheat crops caused yield penalties by intensifying the respective deficiencies.
• Yields were not affected when the herbicides were applied to plots which were trace element adequate.
• The consequences are that if adequate fertiliser regimes are not employed in the field, yield benefits due to weed control may be eroded by losses due to aggravated micronutrient deficiencies.

• Glasshouse solution culture experiments were used to examine root growth and nutrient uptake with chlorsulfuron application.
• The herbicide chlorsulfuron inhibits the growth of wheat roots and also directly interferes with the uptake of zinc, copper and phosphorus .
• Increased zinc supply alleviates or prevents deleterious effects of chlorsulfuron application to wheat in solution culture.

• There were no advantages gained by using seed treatments when sowing wheat with granular NP fertilisers.
• On grey calcareous soils all fluid fertilisers increased early plant vigour and grain yield, and on red soils fluids containing zinc and manganese increased grain yields.
• In this season there were no differences in dry matter or yield between crops grown from certified or local seed.

• Widespread manganese toxicity a function of soil acidity.
•  A few reports of manganese deficiency in rapeseed, field pea, sunflower and soybean in NSW.

• Significant responses in lucerne seed yield were achieved with foliar manganese applications on 2/5 irrigated lucerne sites at Keith.
• Plant tissue analysis prior to the application of manganese show the concentrations at both responsive sites were less than 14 mg per kilogram in the youngest open leaf and whole shoots.
• this contrasted with concentrations from 3 other sites we seeded did not respond to manganese, the mean concentration being greater than 18 mg per kilogram in youngest open leaves and 14 mg per kilogram manganese and whole shoots prior to treatment.

• Zinc efficient and inefficient wheat cultivars were grown in soil cores in the glasshouse.
•  The calcareous soil had low micronutrient levels and high pH and boron.
• Although cultivar Gatcher produced 47% more dry weight of tops and double the root length density of cultivar Excalibur at maturity, cultivar Excalibur was much more efficient in terms of zinc uptake by roots and sevenfold more efficient than cultivar Gatcher in partitioning zinc to grain.

• Zinc-efficient (Excalibur) and inefficient (Gatcher) wheat cultivars grown in calcareous subsoil with low micronutrient levels, high pH and B.
• Treatments were +/- basal nutrients (exc Zn) and +/-Zn.
• Gatcher produced 47% more DM tops and double the root length density of Excalibur by maturity Excalibur was far more efficient in Zn uptake and seven times more efficient than Gatcher in partitioning zinc to grain.

• Poor growth of flax observed on "Bay of Biscay" (black clays) in Auburn area of South Australia.
• But soil type patchy through paddocks.
• Agricultural zinc sulphate was cheaper and as effective as calcined zinc in correcting the problem.

• Across three years addition of trace elements and fluid fungicide in-furrow did not provide increases in emergence, tillering or final yield - although this contradicts what other farmers have reported.
• Liquid N at sowing can improve crop emergence and early vigour, especially under dry conditions .
• Full liquid systems did not provide a profit benefit (due to higher input costs) even where they did provide increased yield which was not in all years.
• Recommendation most likely to provide higher returns for this area will be an in-furrow fertiliser system that incorporates some elements of liquid nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser ,trace elements, fungicides and granular phosphorus and nitrogen fertiliser.

• One hundred barley lines from a world collection were grown in plant breeders' plots (4 rows x 5 m) on a severely manganese-deficient soil.
• Only 10% of the lines showed good tolerance of manganese-deficient conditions, which were severe enough to kill many of the entries in the tillering stage.
• Extreme sensitivity to manganese deficiency was shown by all progeny of CI3576, an introduction from Egypt, which has conferred considerable yield advantage and disease resistance on its progeny under more highly fertile conditions.
• In all, there were 20 lines from CI3576, including Corvette, and Galleon, a newly released high-yielding feed barley.
• At present, Galleon is not recommended for calcareous sands, pending further agronomic work on its manganese fertilizer requirements.
• The established variety Clipper and its relatives, and Forrest, were also sensitive to manganese deficiency. The tolerant lines fell into three genetically related groups, all of which had pedigrees going back to traditional English land races or their derivatives.

• Wheat, barley, triticale, canary seed, sorghum, sunflowers, millet and panicum were grown in a copper deficient clay soil in pots in the glasshouse.
• For rates of copper from 0 to 6 mg per pot for winter crops, and the same plus 60 mg per pot applied to the summer crops.
• A rate of 6 mg per pot was not sufficient to maximise yield from the winter crops but some are crops produced maximum yields when 60 mg per pot was applied.
• Significant differences intolerance to copper deficiency were apparent between varieties within crops.
• Only the summer crops in triticale produce grain when nearly all the lowest rates of copper were applied.

• A series of glasshouse experiments were conducted with a range of different soils planted to triticale, wheat or rye.
• In one experiment at pH 5 and pH 8.4, triticale was tolerant of flow copper at pH 5 like rye but sensitive to low copper at pH 8.4 like wheat.
• Copper concentration in shoots decreased as pH increased the effect was greatest in wheat and lowest in rye.
• In a similar experiment with zinc these relativities were maintained, that is rye was most tolerant of zinc deficiency and wheat least tolerant.
• In a third experiment in soils deficient in both copper and zinc, these relationships were maintained but adding zinc alone aggravated copper deficiency and decreased pollen viability and yield, while adding copper alone generally increased pollen viability and yield.

• Barley crops showing foliar symptoms of a disorder recognised as boron toxicity were analysed for boron and other nutrients.
• Samples were obtained from sites throughout the cropping districts of South Australia.
• In plants with characteristic foliar symptoms, the concentration of boron alone was sufficient to account for the crop disorder.
• The mean concentration in affected plants was 151 mg/kg and in control plants 23 mg/kg.
• Slight accumulations of sodium and chloride were associated with the disorder, along with slightly lower calcium concentrations.
• The nutrient balance was consistent with association of the toxicity with sodic and saline soils.
• Severe boron toxicity is widespread in barley crops in South Australia.

• Deep placed trace elements can be more effective than the same amount placed just below the seed.
• Foliar application of trace elements was just as effective as deep placement at increasing crop yields.
• Deep placement increased grain uptake of all nutrients compared to other methods of trace element application.

• Copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc were analysed in 45 soil samples from the lower south-east of South Australia, an area well-known for trace element deficiencies
• Absolute levels of all trace elements except molybdenum were very low for most soils of this region compared to average values for other parts of the world
• For soils similar in respect to profile features, parent materials and drainage conditions, each trace element maintains some consistency in its total content in the soil.
• This was shown particularly in relation to the terra rossas and rendzinas.
• Terra rosses on dune limestone is distinguished by higher manganese and molybdenum from the groundwater rendzinas on marls, which have higher cobalt, copper, zinc and iron.
• Several trace elements, especially cobalt, copper and zinc, are significantly higher on the small area of soils developed on volcanic rocks.

• A potted history and review of research into trace element deficiencies in South Australia (PDF available).

• Laboratory analysis of 14 red brown earth soil profiles from South Australia.
• Molybdenum, copper and cobalt concentrations were all strongly correlated with clay content but manganese was not.
• Manganese concentration was correlated with the silt content.
• The relative mobility of the elements in soil was directly related to their position in the periodic table (excepting for cobalt) Co>Cu>Mo>Mn.
• Molybdenum concentration should change with surface clay content but not that for copper and cobalt.

• The document provides summary data for nine experiments examining a range of trace elements in the productivity of pastures over time, and some livestock deficiencies.

• Fluid trace elements banded under the seed row is an effective system for delivering these nutrients to cereal crops.
• Rates of trace element application as banded fluids may be lower than for other seeding strategies and cheap sulphates can be used
• Mixes of trace elements as banded fluids are effective.
• Trial was not trace element deficient.

• No further yield benefit was measured from applying other nutrients (S, K, Mg) and trace elements (Zn, Mn, Cu) over and above that from applying nitrogen and phosphorus alone.

• The concentrations of cobalt, zirconium, nickel, copper, vanadium, molybdenum, and manganese were determined in soils.
• The soils from the lower South East of the state contain lower concentrations of all of these elements than do those near Adelaide, particularly for cobalt, copper and zinc.
• This difference is reflected in the concentrations of calcareous material in the soil.

• Copper deficiencies have been reported but are usually corrected with fertiliser addition, however diagnosis can be a problem.
• Some evidence for boron deficiency on sandy dune soils in the Murray Mallee, upper south east and Eyre Peninsula, only a narrow range in soil B between deficient and toxic. Alkaline calcareous soils are known to contain toxic concentrations of boron.
• Molybdenum deficiency occurs on acid soils in the Mt Lofty Ranges, Fleurieau Peninsula, Clare Hills, Kangaroo Island, south-east and lower Eyre Peninsula. It has been recorded for legumes but not cereals.

• Treated seed treatment had a marginally higher yield (3.24t/ha versus 3.15), lower screenings, lower protein and higher income by $9/ha.
• Seed from control plots (untreated seed sown) had higher nutrient (Mn, Cu, Zn, P and S) concentrations.
• Coating seed does no harm but farmers need to judge what is ' best bang for their buck'.

• Triticale tolerance of low manganese was much greater than for wheat or barley, but not as good as rye.
• Higher seen Mn in triticale varieties was correlated with greater yield.
• There was significant variation in manganese efficiency between triticale genotypes.

• When considering the time of flowering it is apparent that a warmer, low rainfall location like Minnipa (flowering in September) may have less risk of heat events than a medium rainfall region like Roseworthy (flowering later in October).
• A purpose built chamber was able to function well in the field and heat the enclosed air to 35oC.
• More work is needed to quantify the impact of hot days on wheat yields.

• 14 vertisols were sampled and analysed in the laboratory, and were sown to wheat in the glasshouse.
• DTPA-extractable zinc, zinc desorption and diffusion rates, and buffer power were measured.
• DTPA-extractable zinc and zinc desorption rate accounted for 80% of the variation in relative dry matter yield of wheat at anthesis.
• Inclusion of buffer power increased this to 92% of the variance in relative dry matter yield.
• These measure provide a better indicaiotn of the likely responsiveness of soils than the traditional single DTPA-extractable zinc.

• The relative sensitivity to manganese deficiency is broadly : bread wheat (least), barley, durum wheat (most).
• The relative sensitivity to zinc deficiency is broadly: barley (least) bread wheat, durum wheat (most).
• With a very inefficient variety adding a micronutrient fertiliser may not be sufficient to overcome the deficiency.
• Special attention needs to be given to the micronutrient requirements of durum wheat especially where high rates of N and P fertilisers are used.

• Vetch is a versatile crop that can be used for grain, pasture, hay/silage or green manure.
• Common vetches can be successfully grown in lower to mid rainfall areas of southern Australia where no other legume crops perform consistently well.
• It offers disease and weed breaks in rotation and also returns significant amounts of nitrogen to the soil.
• New vetch species are showing potential in very low rainfall areas, with trials to be conducted on Eyre Peninsula in 2012.

• Spores travel long distances so reducing stubble will only reduce white grain levels if adjacent paddocks are managed in the same way.
• Spraying fungicides is unlikely to be the answer to white grain problems.
• All the common wheat varieties grown on Eyre Peninsula can be susceptible to white grain.
• If growers observe white grain they may be able to reduce contamination by blowing away lighter grain during harvesting.
• Trials and monitoring will be ongoing on EP during 2012.

• Scout and Mace continue to out-yield the rest of the pack at Witera.
• Oxford and Fathom (WI4483) break 3 t/ha under severe leaf rust pressure at Witera.
• Espada and Scout top Elliston yields in 2011.

• Snapshot of some aspects of a large project on diagnosis of the deficiency, yield responses to zinc, residual value of zinc, protein increases and improvement of quality, and genotypic effects in relation to zinc.
• Zinc (as zinc sulphate hepta hydrate) was applied at rates up to 40 kg/ha. Nitrogen was applied at 30 kg/ha. Wheat cv. Hartog was sown at 30 kg/ha. In some experiments Cu was applied at 5kg/ha.
• Yield and protein in the grain increased with application of zinc.
• Zinc deficiency symptoms seen in crops without Zn applied throughout tillering and leaf samples confirmed the deficiency.
• The reduction in yield was largely due to plant mortality and fewer productive tillers per plant.
• Bread making quality as measured by a mixograph showed that the dough strength of zinc deficient grain was very poor.
• However, the dough itself mixed very quickly.
• Residual value of the initial application of zinc is at least 2 years: yield responses have occurred in successive seasons.
• In yield response experiments, responses to zinc have been recorded up 10 kg/ha; at 40 kg/ha, toxicity has been recorded at early tillering but the crop has recovered totally by maturity.

• Zinc in shoots at tillering was much higher in plants supplied with fluid phosphorus than with granular phosphorus.
• Given that in both sets of treatments zinc was supplied as zinc chelate at quite a low rate (0.75 kg zinc/ha) in a fluid below the seed row (except in fluid treatments it was mixed with TGMAP) these results suggest that mixes of trace elements with NP fluid fertilisers may be a more effective technique for supplying trace elements to broad acre crops.
• Conditions in both trials were not zinc deficient for wheat production so the absence of zinc in fertilisers at seeding had no impact on the productivity of either wheat at either site, or on their response to phosphorus fertilisers.

• Wheat grain Zn concentration decreased with P fertiliser addition.
• Wheat grain Zn concentration was lower after canola than after either linola or clover pasture.
• Wheat receiving P fertiliser had lower mycorrhizal colonisation than that with no P added.
• Wheat after canola had lower mycorrhizal colonisation than that wheat after linola or clover pasture.
• It was hypothesised that Zn uptake was reduced where mycorrhizal infection was lower.

• Zinc deficiency was confirmed on the soils of the region.
• Navy beans are demonstrated to be a good indicator species for zinc deficiency.
• Interactions between phosphorus availability and zinc may confound critical soil values.

• Glasshouse experiments examine the residual effects of zinc applied in field trials.
• Growth response to zinc was detected on only one soil even under well watered glasshouse conditions.
• Plant zinc showed no decline in availability of applied zinc 4 years after its application.
• Availability of zinc appeared to be improved by incorporation in the topsoil.
• In other glasshouse studies on economically high applications of phosphorus and zinc were needed to offset the impact of low VAM infection for maize and linseed.
• Extractable zinc in Queensland inverter solves appears to be related to organic carbon percent.

• Correction of zinc deficiency in a barley crop increased grian yield and reduced Rhizoctonia bare patch.
• In glasshouse experiments, increasing wheat shoot zinc to 20 mg/kg dry matter strongly suppressed damage to roots by the Rhizoctonia fungus.
• Experiments also showed that the zinc was ot toxic to the fungus but instead improved root growth.

• Compared some of the physiological differences in two bread wheat genotypes (Stylet (Zn-efficient) and VM506 (Zn-inefficient).
• Results indicate that higher zinc efficiency may be achieved through greater distribution to younger parts and lower internal requirement.
• Selection for such attributes can be considered in breeding programs aiming to develop zinc efficient genotypes for cropping zinc deficient soils.

• Twenty five genotypes of oilseed rape (canola and mustard) were tested under varied supply of zinc in pot experiments in soil culture to determine the genotypic variation in tolerance to the zinc-deficient condition.
• On the basis of the pot experiments, ten genotypes were tested in 1995 under varied supply of zinc on a zinc-deficient field in South Australia.
• Zinc efficiency in pot Experiment 1 varied from 35% for 92-13 to 74% for Siren. Narendra, Dunkeld, Barossa, Oscar and Xinza 2 performed well under low zinc conditions zinc efficiency in Experiment 2 varied from 32% for Wuyou 1 to 62% for Pusa Bold.
• Root dry matter accumulation was significantly higher in zinc-efficient genotypes.
• With few exceptions, the ranking of genotypes in pot and field experiments indicates similarity in their response to zinc deficiency.
• Zinc-efficient genotypes had lower zinc concentration in roots and higher zinc concentration in youngest fully opened leaf blades, indicating a better transport of zinc.
• This, together with a higher zinc uptake, appears to be the basis of expression of zinc efficiency.

• Five year trial examining strategies for application of zinc to field pea.
• Zinc applied to soil, to seed or as foliar spray.
• Zinc application did not increase grain yield of field pea.
• Seed zinc concentration was 20% higher when foliar zinc applied to field pea.

• Spectacular increases in yield in response to early application of foliar zinc in navy bean.
•  Zinc sulphate heptahydrate application during early crop growth should be standard practise until better varieties become available.
• Soil applied zinc has given inconsistent results.

• Yields may be limited by zinc even where deficiency symptoms are not apparent.
• Responses to zinc are common on clays in the Wimmera and sands in the Mallee.
• Phosphorus is required to make zinc fertiliser effective.
• Grain protein is not increased by zinc application.
• Applications of zinc are recommended every second or third crop as zinc has some residual value in the soil.
• Zinc is typically applied in a mixture with phosphorus fertiliser.
• 2 - 2.5 kg /ha zinc should be sufficient for 4-6 years.

• Soil solutions were obtained by a centrifugation method from 14 unfertilised and fertilised Vertisols.
• The soil solutions were analysed for all major cations and anions and organic carbon zinc in the soil solution exists mainly as free zinc2+ ions in these soils.
• Complexation of total soluble zinc by organic and inorganic ligands constituted 40% and 5096, respectively, of total soluble zinc in fertilised and unfertilised soil solutions.
• The organo-zinc complexes constituted.

• Zinc treatments (1-5 kg/ha) did not increase grain yield or protein .
• Neither timing nor application type (on seed, in soil or foliar) nor rate had any effect on grain yield or protein at this site.

• Over a five year period incorporating either foliar or seed coated zinc increased wheat grain zinc concentration above soil applied zinc fertiliser.
• Neither timing or application type (on seed, in soil or foliar) or rate had any effect on grain yield, protein or screenings at this site.
• Copper was applied every two years in some treatments but it had no apparent effect on grain yields or grain or tissue copper concentrations.

• Comprehensive fertiliser trial at >20 sites across the Wimmera and elsewhere in Victoria in 1938 .
• Results showed that Wimmera soils were responsive to zinc but not other areas of the State.
• Under low rainfall conditions 5-10 lbs/acre were as effective as higher application rates of zinc sulphate.
• Increased yields are to be expected when superphosphate and zinc are applied together on most black soils in the Wimmera.
• Effects on oats, clover and peas were greater than for wheat.
• Red and loamy soils responded variably the zinc application

• Two pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of wheat to 3 rates of zinc sulphate on 3 contrasting black earths.
• On all 3 soils zinc concentration plant tops increased with application of zinc but declined as the application of phosphorus increased due to dilution from increased plant growth.
• The results of these experiments suggest that response to zinc fertiliser only occurred on the alkaline soils where the available zinc was less than 1 ppm.
• No evidence was obtained that phosphorus supply had any effect on the availability of zinc for plant uptake but other experiments indicated that zinc absorption was reduced by increasing phosphate concentrations in solution.