The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) provides research and development services to the state government, commercial clients and research partners to help make South Australia’s primary industries and regions internationally competitive and ecologically sustainable.
SARDI’s programs are designed to increase the productivity, sustainability and adaptability of the state’s agriculture, food and wine, fisheries and aquaculture and bioscience enterprises, create opportunities for market growth, address barriers to growth and provide applied solutions.
The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) operates the Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC). MAC serves the cereal growing areas of the Eyre Peninsula, which produces on average 40 to 45% of South Australia's wheat. Research and development conducted at the Minnipa Agricultural Centre includes development of innovative, best practice farm management practices for low rainfall environments.
Aims:
Farmers and advisors list weeds as one of the major constraints to improving the productivity and sustainability of southern Australian farming systems. Narrow windrow burning has been rapidly adopted across southern Australia as a weed management tool. The technique has been found to be very effective for controlling annual ryegrass and wild ra… read more
Aims:
Barley grass continues to be a major grass weed in cereal cropping regions on upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). Swathing a cereal crop involves cutting the cereal crop and weeds into windrows at between 20 and 40% grain moisture and allowing it to dry after cutting. Having the weed seeds cut and in the windrow before the seed heads shatter and before t… read more
Aims:
Barley grass continues to be a major grass weed in cereal cropping regions on upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). Swathing a cereal crop involves cutting the cereal crop and weeds into windrows at between 20 and 40% grain moisture and allowing it to dry after cutting. Having the weed seeds cut and in the windrow before the seed heads shatter and before t… read more
Aims:
Barley grass continues to be a major grass weed in cereal cropping regions on upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). Swathing a cereal crop involves cutting the cereal crop and weeds into windrows at between 20 and 40% grain moisture and allowing it to dry after cutting. Having the weed seeds cut and in the windrow before the seed heads shatter and before t… read more
Aims:
Adoption of Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) in the low rainfall zone (LRZ) of the Southern Region is very low. The GRDC-funded project 'Application of controlled traffic on the low rainfall zone' is evaluating whether or not this is justified. To help LRZ growers answer the questions and uncertainities they face when thinking about CTF … read more
Aims:
SAGIT funded a project to assess the potential of fluid nutrient delivery systems and disease control strategies compared to current systems. Fluid systems have the potential to increase production through more effective delivery of micro and macro nutrients, use of lower cost trace element sources and improved control of cereal and canola root … read more
Aims:
The aim of this SAGIT-funded project was to build on previous research by updating knowledge of the benefits, including disease control and nutrition, of fluid delivery systems. Fluid systems have the potential to increase production through efficient delivery of micro and macro nutrients, reduced cost of trace element delivery and increased con… read more
Aims:
The broad aim of this 3 year SAGIT funded project was to investigate if current management tools for medic based pastures, such as herbicides, fertilisers and rhizobial inoculants, are affecting N fixation by medic pastures under field conditions typical of the upper Eyre Peninsula. These results should also be relevant to other low rainfall Mal… read more
Aims:
The broad aim of this 3 year SAGIT funded project was to investigate if current management tools for medic based pastures, such as herbicides, fertilisers and rhizobial inoculants, are affecting N fixation by medic pastures under field conditions typical of the upper Eyre Peninsula. These results should also be relevant to other low rainfall Mal… read more
Aims:
The broad aim of this 3 year SAGIT funded project was to investigate if current management tools for medic based pastures, such as herbicides, fertilisers and rhizobial inoculants, are affecting N fixation by medic pastures under field conditions typical of the upper Eyre Peninsula. These results should also be relevant to other low rainfall Mal… read more
Aims:
Barley grass continues to be a major grass weed in cereal cropping regions on upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). The use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology to identify and assess barley grass populations in paddocks and monitor potential resistant populations may be a useful tool for farmers. Barley grass weed density was monitored in three pad… read more
Aims:
Barley grass continues to be a major grass weed in cereal cropping regions on upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). The use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology to identify and assess barley grass populations in paddocks and monitor potential resistant populations may be a useful tool for farmers. Barley grass weed density was monitored in three pad… read more
Aims:
Within Eyre Peninsula, as in other Mediterranean environments, grain yields of cereal crops are variable, and in many cases, this is due to under-fertilization. Previous modelling and field experiments showed the need for higher rates of fertilization in south-eastern Australia. Research into interactions between water and N, with simulation mod… read more
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
The aim of this paddock demonstration was to compare grain yield and grain quality of a mid-late maturing variety (Trojan) and two early-mid season maturing varieties (Mace and Scepter).
Aims:
There has been increasing interest from growers and agronomists in low rainfall farming regions to evaluate alternative break crop options to field peas. Field peas are generally well suited to low rainfall farming systems and have historically been the main pulse option for the upper Eyre Peninsula region. However, relatively high prices, produ… read more
Aims:
The aim of this SAGIT-funded project was to build on previous research by updating knowledge of the benefits, including disease control and nutrition, of fluid delivery systems. Fluid systems have the potential to increase production through efficient delivery of micro and macro nutrients, reduced cost of trace element delivery and increased con… read more
Aims:
A SAGIT Fluid delivery project was funded to update the benefits of fluid delivery systems from previous research and assess the potential of fluid nutrient delivery systems and disease control strategies compared to current systems. The fluid systems have the potential to increase production through delivery of micro and macro nutrients, lower … read more
Aims:
Mixed livestock and cropping systems have an important role to play in the diversification, risk management and sustainability of farming in low rainfall areas. The majority of farms in these areas use livestock to provide enterprise diversity and risk management, however grazing also offers a range of other system benefits that are generally no… read more
Aims:
Adoption of Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) in the low rainfall zone (LRZ) of the Southern Region is very low. The GRDC-funded project ‘Application of controlled traffic in the low rainfall zone’ is evaluating whether or not this scepticism is justified. To help LRZ growers answer the questions and uncertainties they face when thinking abou… read more
Aims:
Many medic pasture phases are now being managed to produce vigorous medic dominant pastures using a range of herbicides and pesticides to control weeds and pests. However, it appears that some of these pastures are not producing high nitrogen (N) reserves for the following cereal crops. The broad aim of this SAGIT funded project is to assess the… read more
Aims:
Faba beans and lentils are two important pulse crops with growing interest from farmers in low rainfall areas of South Australia. Recent high prices of lentils together with their rotational benefits make these crops potential new options for some areas of the Eyre Peninsula, however frost and heat stress can compromise performance and crop yiel… read more
Aims:
A field trial has been established at Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC) to investigate legume pasture options for controlling group A (ACCase inhibitors) resistant barley grass (GRDC project UA00149).
In 2012 the University of Adelaide (UA) conducted a GRDC-funded random resistance survey on barley grass from across EP and Upper North … read more
Aims:
There has been concern raised across the grains industry that:
Aims:
Ascochyta blight (AB) commonly known as blackspot is an important disease in field peas, and a concern in low rainfall zones where, in high disease forecast situations, the risk is managed by delaying sowing which often leads to yield loss. To enable earlier sowings, foliar fungicides for the control of AB are an important component of disease m… read more
Aims:
Controlling barley grass in upper EP farming systems is becoming a major issue for growers, due to the development of herbicide resistance and delayed weed emergence. Management options other than herbicides need to be considered to address the issue for long-term sustainability. One of the best bets for cultural control of barley grass in-crop … read more
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The aim of this project (SAGIT S914) was to;
Aims:
The aim of this project (SAGIT S914) was to;
Aims:
The aim of this project (SAGIT S914) was to;
Aims:
Aims:
Blackspot or ascochyta blight, remains one of the most economically important diseases in field peas often resulting in significant yield losses either directly through infection or indirectly through delaying sowing time to minimise infection. The use of fungicides to control blackspot disease can be an important component of disease management… read more
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
There has been increasing interest from growers and agronomists in low rainfall farming regions to evaluate alternative break crop options to field peas. Field peas are generally well suited to low rainfall farming systems and have historically been the main pulse option for the upper Eyre Peninsula region. However, record high prices and new va… read more
Aims:
A SAGIT Fluid delivery project was funded to update the benefits of fluid delivery systems from previous research and assess the potential of fluid nutrients and disease control strategies in current farming systems. The fluid systems (fertilisers or nutrients) have the potential to increase production through delivery of micro and macro nutrien… read more
Aims:
A SAGIT Fluid delivery project was funded to update the benefits of fluid delivery systems from previous research and assess the potential of fluid nutrient delivery systems and disease control strategies compared to current systems. The fluid systems have the potential to increase production through delivery of micro and macro nutrients, lower … read more
Aims:
The majority of farms in low rainfall areas use sheep to provide enterprise diversity, however grazing also offers a range of other system benefits that are generally not accounted for in mixed farming enterprises. Studies have shown that grazing offers a useful tool for managing weeds and pests, improving crop nutrition and yields and providing… read more
Aims:
Cumin is a herb in the parsley and carrot family which is grown in northern India and the Middle East. The seed is used as a traditional spice ingredient of kormas, masalas, and soups, and forms the basis of many other spice blends. Global production is estimated at around 600,000 tonnes. Elite cumin varieties are being evaluated across a range … read more
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Annual medics (Medicago spp.) are self-regenerating pasture species that are well suited to crop rotations on neutral to alkaline soils. In southern Australia's semi-arid agricultural zones, medics provide feed for livestock, improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation and act as a disease break for many cereal root pa… read more
Aims:
The trials described in this article are part of a South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT) funded project. It aims to maximise canola productivity through creating soil specific management strategies that improve canola yields, profitability and establishment in field trials on Eyre Peninsula.
In 2015, seven separat… read more
Aims:
To evaluate the effect of two triazine tolerant varieties, sown at three different seeding rates and three different depths has on emergence and yield at Minnipa Agricultural Centre and at Piednippie.
Aims:
To evaluate the effect of two triazine tolerant varieties, sown at three different seeding rates and three different depths has on emergence and yield at Minnipa Agricultural Centre and at Piednippie.
Aims:
Wheat varieties respond differently to stresses due to genetic and phenological variances. This can impact their production, including plant recovery after grazing. Grazing cereals to growth stage 30, then removing livestock and taking the crop through to yield, is a common practice in low rainfall mixed farming systems. However, with shorter an… read more
Aims:
Canola varieties have advanced in the last 5-10 years in terms of maturity and adaptability, allowing canola to be successfully grown in lower rainfall areas. The aim of this trial was to push the nitrogen inputs at Minnipa Agricultural Centre to achieve a target yield of 2 t/ha.
Aims:
Canola can be an expensive crop to grow. Seed costs, high requirements for nitrogen and controlling insects can all add to expenses not seen in other break crop options. This is particularly the case for low rainfall areas and can add a high level of risk to growing canola in these areas.
To begin to address the issues of … read more
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To investigate the impact of row direction and row spacing on grass weed competition and ceral performance over three years.
Aims:
Controlling barley grass in upper EP low rainfall farming systems is becoming a major issue for growers, due to the development of herbicide resistance and changing ecology of the weeds such as delayed emergence of barley grass populations.
There are effective but sometimes costly chemical options for grass weed control using pre-emerg… read more
