• Trials on Yellow Duplex Soils at 3 sites in the Southern Wimmera.
• At one site commercial chelated copper was foliar applied.
• Treatments were Nil; 75 or 150 g Cu/ha at late booting; 37.5 or 75 g Cu/ha at late tillering and; split applications of 75 g Cu/ha at late tillering plus either 75 g or 150 g Cu/ha at late booting.
• At two sites formulations of copper were compared, these treatments included Nil; copper oxychloride; copper sulphate and a commercial chelated copper. All were applied at 75 g Cu/ha at late tillering plus 150 g Cu/ha at booting. All plots were sown to wheat. Dry matter cuts were used at anthesis and maturity to estimate crop growth and yield components.
• Since copper is important in wheat for production of viable pollen the late booting treatments (applied after pollen set): resulted in only an 18% increase in grains/ear and grain yield.
• Whereas copper applied at late tillering increased grain yield by 1.55 t/ha or 93% (resulting from 60% more grains/ear and 20% more ears/m2 • Split applications did not result in higher yields.
• Both copper oxychloride and the chelated product resulted in grain yield increases between 0.94 and 1.26 t/ha but the chelated product is approximately seven times as expensive.

The program demonstrated that:
• At some sites where copper deficiency was historically assumed, no response to any form of copper application was observed. Copper response is likely to vary by site and season.
• Yield loss caused by copper deficiency can be devastating to wheat yield.
• Soil and tissue testing can be useful in helping to detect low levels, but are not always definitive. Copper response appears to be dependent on other complex interactions such as soil moisture, yield potential and other constraints (N fertility etc.) and thus soil/tissue tests alone are not a definitive guide to future responses.
• Foliar applications performed better than in-furrow liquids.
• Chelate and sulphate products performed equally well when applied as foliar applications.
• Timing did not appear to be critical, with a wide band of opportunity from mid-tiller to early head emergence providing similar results

Soil DTPA was 0.27 mg/kg soil.

Grain yield increase by 32 % for both granular and fluid applied Cu.  About 1.3 kg Cu /ha was required for maximum grain yield of 3.2 t/ha.

Foliar application reached 85% of the maximum yield when applied at flag leaf before flowering; earlier application at first node was effective but only reached about 75% of the maximum.  

At this site seed coating had a small effect on germination of seedlings and was insufficient Cu for wheat seedling to recover from Cu deficiency.

Flag leaf Cu concentrations were 1.3 mg Cu/kg and grain Cu concentration from nil Cu treatments were 1.3  mg/kg

Soil DTPA was 0.32 mg/kg soil.

Grain yield increased by 2 % for both granular and fluid applied Cu.  About 1.5 kg Cu /ha was required for maximum grain yield of 3.32 t/ha.

Foliar application reached 97% of the maximum grain yield when applied at flag leaf before flowering; earlier application at first node was effective but only reached about 95% of the maximum.  GY

At this site seed coating had no effect on germination of seedlings..

Flag leaf Cu concentrations were 1.5 mg Cu/kg and grain Cu concentration from nil Cu treatments were 1.4  mg/kg

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied Cu was applied in 1959.

• Barley responded to Cu; applied as Cu ore @ 35 kg/ha.

• ZnO at 3.3 kg/ha depressed yield without Cu for both levels of N, applied as ammonium sulphate

• Cu increased yield by about 30% with nil ammonium sulphate applied.

• Application of Ammonioum sulphate appeared to decrease the respponse to Cu.

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied Cu was applied in 1957.

• Oats responded to Cu

• Area very Cu deficient as responses in grain yield to Cu in oats are not frequently obtained

• Cu additions in aabsence of Zn induced more sebere Zn deficierncy in oats.

• However, yields showed no Cu x Zn interaction.

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied Cu was applied in 1953.

• !953 experiment a Cu & Zn experiment on oats.

• In 1959 Cu and Zn reapllied on half plots.

• Zn applied in 1953 had the same grain yield as  Cu & Zn applied in 1959

• Residual value of previous applied Cu & Zn were  good

• No further response  of oats to second addition of Cu and or Zn after 6 years.

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied Cu was applied in 1957.

• Zn applied in 1957 reduced grain yield where Nil Cu.

• Zn oxide was not reduced until 4 kg/ha was applied

• Cu  applied in 1959  did not increased grain yield of wheat. 

• Residual value of previous applied Cu & Zn were  good

• Copper was applied as Cu ore equivalent to about 5 kg Cu sul/ha.

• No further response  addition of Cu and or Zn.

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied in 1955.

• Cu  applied in 1959  did not increased grain yield of wheat. 

• Copper was applied as Cu ore equivalent to about 5 kg Cu sul/ha.

• No further response ti addition of Cu and or Zn.

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied in 1955.

• Cu  applied in 1959  did not increased grain yield of wheat. 

• Copper was applied as Cu ore equivalent to about 5 kg Cu sul/ha.

• No further response ti addition of Cu and or Zn.

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied in 1952.

• Cu  applied in 1959 increased grain yield of wheat. 

• Copper was applied as Cu ore equivalent to about 5 kg Cu sul/ha.

• THe response of wheat  to Cu in 1959 was not annticipated .

• As there was very large responses to Cu in 1959, doubts arose as to whether Cu was originally applied. However, clover grew well in 1952 suggestion Cu had been applied, along with the plain supper Zinc 

• Conclusion a second application of Cu is required to the soil type.

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied in 1953 was adequate in 1959. 

• Copper was applied as Cu ore

• Further additions in combination or alone had no further effect on grain yileld 

• 6 years of clover ley; Addition N as ammonia sulphate (112 kg/ha) increased grain yield by 300 kg/ha; profitable application

• Nitrogen did not induce Cu & Zn deficiency.

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied in 1953.

• Cu  applied in 1959  did not increased grain yield of wheat. 

• Copper was applied as Cu ore equivalent to about 5 kg Cu sul/ha.

• No further response ti addition of Cu and or Zn.

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied Cu was applied in 1957.

• Cu ore, Cu sulfate and zinc chloride source used.

• In 1957 Zn chloride reduced yields. There were no reduction in yield in 1959

• Zn applied in 1957 reduced grain yield where Nil Cu.

• Cu  applied in 1959  did not increased grain yield of wheat. 

• Residual value of previous applied Cu & Zn were  good

• Copper was applied as Cu ore equivalent to about 5 kg Cu sul/ha. There was no difference between Cu ore and bluestone [Cu sulfate] compared at the same rate of Cu applioed.

• No further response  addition of Cu and or Zn.

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied in 1953 was adequate in 1959. 

• Copper was applied as Cu ore

• Further additions in combination or alone had no further effect on grain yileld 

• 6 years of clover ley; Addition N as ammonia sulphate (112 kg/ha) reduced seedling stands & reduced grain yield.

• Anticipated a response to Cu

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied Cu was applied in 1953.

• !953 experiment a Cu & Zn experiment on wheat.

• Zn reduced yield in 1953 when applied without Cu 

• Cu & Zn applied in 1953 had the same grain yield as  Cu & Zn applied in 1959

• Residual value of previous applied Cu & Zn were  good

• No further response  of wheat to second addition of Cu and or Zn after 6 years.

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied in 1956.

• Cu  applied in 1959  did not increased grain yield of wheat. 

• Copper was applied as Cu ore equivalent to about 5 kg Cu sul/ha.

• No further response ti addition of Cu and or Zn.

• The addition of copper and zinc fertiliser applied in 1954 was adequate in 1959. 

• Copper was applied as Cu ore

• Further additions in combination or alone had no further effect on grain yileld 

• 5 years of clover ley; Addition N as ammonia sulphate (112 kg/ha) no effect on  grain yield by 300 kg/ha; profitable application.

• Wheat, rye and triticale were grown in three Australian soils at low and high levels of trace elements.
•  All basal nutrients were supplied in copper and zinc added at 4 mg/pot.
• Addition of copper alone greatly increased pollen viability.
• Addition of zinc alone either decreased pollen viability or had no effect.
• The results confirm the tolerance of rye to extremes of soil pH and to both copper and zinc deficiency.
• In all environments adding zinc alone aggravated copper deficiency.
• Genotypic differences in copper zinc interaction showed up most strongly in soils of pH 7 and 9.

Crop was sown as part of a rotational trial, examining the effects of Group B residues on the following maize crop.

• Zinc sulphate applied as a 1% spray 2-4 weeks after emergence, or drilled with the seed, alleviated the symptoms of zinc deficiency in field trials • Applications five weeks after emergence were not effective.
• The disorder can also be alleviated by double cropping.
• Although responses to residual zinc were apparent it is considered more economic to use sprays each year.

• In poorer seasons there is no positive economic reward for high nitrogen fertiliser inputs.
• Oats and vetch for either grazing or hay consistently provided positive gross margins.
• Wheat crops which followed a chemical fallow provided the best gross margin in both trials.
• Aim to maximise profits, not necessarily yields.

• Cover cropping did not improve cotton yields in this experiment.
• High stubble loads from spraying out the cover crop after the cereals reached growth stage Z39 negatively affected established cotton plant numbers and consequently lint yield.
• Cover crops terminated at growth stage Z39 had no yield penalty, but stored more soil water than the fallow treatment.

Hundreds of crops have been domesticated and cultivated by humankind during the history of agriculture, utilised for food, forage, fibre and medicine. However, only a small number provide the bulk of the raw material necessary for human survival. The limited diversity has increased the vulnerability of crops to adverse climatic conditions and fluctuating markets.

• Drought is exacerbating the already complex issues.
• Drought is heightening the uncertainty and risk many farming families are dealing with.
• Individuals, families and communities exhibit anxiety and resilience differently.
• Importance of the wider community for farming families.
• There is a positive feedback cycle that an emerge between issues as well as the rapid rises in optimism that can result from small improvements in conditions.

• 3 field experiments were conducted in the mallee district to calibrate a plant test for diagnosing copper deficiency in wheat  grown over 3 seasons.

 • The results of the experiments of Scaddan Mt Ridley area indicated a diagnostic critical level of 2,2-2. 4 mg Zn/kg  in whole shoots.

For the youngest fully emerged blades (YEB) a diagnostic critical level of 1.2 mg Cu/kg at mid-tillering indicated a critical level.

•The whole shoot appeared less reliable than the YEB over the growing season..

• 5 field experiments were conducted in the Lake Grace - Newdegate district to calibrate a plant test for diagnosing copper deficiency in wheat  grown over 3 seasons.

 • The results of the experiments  indicated a diagnostic critical level of 2.3 mg Cu/kg  in whole shoots while for the youngest fully emerged blades (YEB) a diagnostic critical level of 1.2 mg Zn/kg at mid-tillering indicated a critical level.

•The whole shoot appeared less reliable than the YEB particulalrly of the wheat growth stages.

• 5 field experiments were conducted in the mallee district to calibrate a plant test for diagnosing zinc deficiency in wheat  grown over 3 seasons.

 • The results of the experiments of Scaddan Mt Ridley area indicated a diagnostic critical level of 17-18 mg Zn/kg  in whole shoots.

For the youngest fully emerged blades (YEB) a diagnostic critical level of 12 mg Zn/kg at mid-tillering indicated a critical level.

•The whole shoot appeared less reliable than the YEB over the growing season..

• 9 field experiments were conducted in the Lake Grace - Newdegate district to calibrate a plant test for diagnosing zinc deficiency in wheat  grown over 3 seasons.

 • The results of the experiments  indicated a diagnostic critical level of 17 mg Zn/kg  in whole shoots while for the youngest fully emerged blades (YEB) a diagnostic critical level of 12 mg Zn/kg at mid-tillering indicated a critical level.

•The whole shoot appeared less reliable than the YEB.

A range of field experiments were conducted to calibrate a plant test for diagnosing Zn deficiency in wheat under field conditions • The combined results of 6 experiments conducted over 3 seasons indicated a diagnostic critical level of 11-12 mg Zn/kg in youngest fully emerged leaves. Whole shoot Zn concentration varied with growth stage.  Using whole shoots an growth stage was required to disgnosis the Zn 

A range of field experiments were conducted to calibrate a plant test for diagnosing Zn deficiency in wheat under field conditions • The combined results of 3 experiments conducted over 3 seasons indicated a diagnostic critical level of 12 mg Zn/kg (DW basis) in youngest fully emerged leaves.

A range of field experiments were conducted to calibrate a plant test for diagnosing Zn deficiency in wheat under field conditions • The combined results of 5 experiments conducted over 3 seasons indicated a diagnostic critical level of 12 mg Zn/kg (DW basis) in YEBs (youngest fully emerged blades) of wheat at mid-tillering to boot stage.

• Grain yields were increased 20-30% by the soil or foliar application of zinc, provided that phosphorus was also supplied.
• Critical zinc concentrations determined in the glasshouse and field were the same, being 19-24 mg/kg throughout the life of the crop and 13-15 mg/kg zinc in grain.

• Initial barley growth was increased 40-50% and final yield by 10% when using seed with greater nutrients, even on soils not associated with manganese deficiency.
• Crops can drop into manganese deficiency late in the season with symptoms being pale, floppy leaves.
• Sufficient concentraiotns are Copper 2-3 ppm in grain and 5ppm in leaf, and for zinc 15ppm in grain and 23-25 ppm in leaf.
• Zinc is so cheap thatbit is worthwhile treating than taking any risk, at Wudinna this year a headland area not receiving zinc died while the remainder of the crop which received zinc survived the water stress.
• Trace element deficiencies seem to beexacerbated in dry years.

• This was a large scale demonstration using Impact applied to the sowing fertilizer at the two label rates of 400m/ha and 200mL/ha. The two other areas were sown with no Impact on the fertilizer but one was sprayed with Impact at 250mL/ha at stem elongation. 
• There were no obvious signs of leaf diseases or other symptoms in the plots but the two Impact in furrow' treatments delivered economic yield benefits. The previous two crops grown in the area were wheat, which may mean Take-all was a factor. 

• Wheat on wheat following canola is an alternative that will enable more cereal crop to be grown in a rotation.
• Raising inputs on cereals to increase yield returns well in $/ha.
• Alternative crops such as canola and lupins are not high income earners compared to cereals with optimum (higher than average) inputs.

• Wheat on wheat following canola is an alternative that will enable more cereal crop to be grown in a rotation.
• Under dry conditions there was no response to additional nitrogen or fungicide treatments.  
• Alternative crops such as canola and lupins yield very poorly in drought seasons.

• Wheat on wheat following canola is an alternative that will enable more cereal crop to be grown in a rotation.
• Barley yields best under dry conditions.
• There were responses to additional nitrogen (N) or fungicide treatments in all cereal crops.
• Alternative crops such as canola and lupins yield very poorly in drought seasons.

• Wheat on wheat following canola is an alternative that will enable moer cereal crop to be grown in a rotation.
• Wheat or cereal after wheat has given a better return than more canola for the trial period 2004 - 2008.
• Barley yields and returns better profits than wheat or triticale under dry conditions.
• There were ersponsees to fungicide treatments and added nitrogen in barley during 2008 and in all cereals during the long term.

• Decreasing row spacing and increasing plant density improved chickpea and faba bean competitive abilities.

• The improved competitive abilities improved yields and reduced sowthistle biomass and seed production, which will improve weed control in subsequent crops.
 

• Crop establishment was not improved by on-row seeding or by increasing seeding rate in 2016.
• Higher seeding rate increased early dry matter but this effect declined during the growing season.
• In 2016 row placement or seeding rate did not affect grain yield or grain quality.
• Sowing on-row may be an advantage on non-wetting soils with low moisture at seeding.

Neither crop establishment, grain yield nor quality were changed by on-row seeding or by increased seeding rate in 2017, similar to results in 2016.

Crop establishment in the non-wetting soil was poor in 2017.

In 2015, with low moisture at seeding, improved crop establishment from on-row seeding in the non-wetting soil increased crop competition and lowered brome grass weed seed set.

• Deeper sowing at 3-4 cm achieved better early dry matter and increased grain yield in a later sowing.
• Frost damage may have lowered yield with early sowing, but inter-row placement at TOS1 had the highest yield.
• TOS 3 placement in row achieved better early plant growth and higher grain yield.
• Later sowing reduced brome grass numbers, and the size of the panicles, so it substantially lowered returns to the seed bank.

• Crop establishment increased with on row sowing. Stubble from the previous season helps soil moisture infiltrate into non-wetting sands and into a position closer to the seed.
• Initial germination of brome grass weeds was higher with inter row sowing.
• Late brome grass weed numbers was also greatest with inter row sowing. Sowing on row may also increase crop and weed competition as will a higher seeding rate.

• Commercial viability has been difficult to demonstrate.
• Field trials demonstrated that the H Senor was able to accurately classify annual ryegrass in several broadleaf crops, including canola, faba bean, lentil and field pea.
• Other grass weeds such as brome grass and wild oats were also correctly identified as grasses in these crops.
• Broad leaf weeds were accurately classified in cereal crops, however this was more difficult due to the overlapping nature of the cereal crops at the time when the broadleaf weeds had emerged.
• Classification accuracy was lower for detection of grass weeds in cereal crops and broadleaf weeds in broadleaf crops, and these scenarios were not pursued for that reason.  

• High rates of applied N increased plant height and leaf area. Multispectral imaging using an unmanned aerial vehicle clearly showed thermal, infrared and NVDI differences between N treatments.
• Grain yield of barley following perennial ryegrass increased with applied N, most likely as N was tied up in stubbles at the start of the season and unavailable for plant growth.
• WUE estimated by computer modelling was high (approx. 20 kg/ha.mm) and similar to the potential for wheat grown in Tasmania. However, grain yield and WUE of barley following forage rape was unresponsive to applied N.

• The Tottenham area seemed to have the best season in the central west.
• The huge seasonal variation across the central west in 2003 overshadowed any other effects in the data.

Overall, the information shown in this report is only a very small portion of what is available from the crop monitoring program. 

Harvest results for this trial show a yield and quality improvement for areas where the TM21 was applied. One of the replications was adversely impacted by mechanical damage incurred during either spraying or fertilizer application in the later stages of crop development.

Paying close attention to this year's program will save on inputs, whilst maintaining the best chances for a good return.

2005 was not an easy year – it started off brilliantly with very good summer rains (1 in 30 year event) in the southern and central Mallee. The Wimmera did get some rain but nothing like the Mallee. Then it stopped raining until the second week in June - there were dire predictions in the media about the season, some learned scientists were even arguing that cropping in our area was not sustainable! Many people took heed from the negative predictions regarding the season and did not sow much crop dry. Sowing started in earnest in the middle of June and by mid July most of the planned cropping area was sown.

Over 3 years of crop production (2009-2011) applying replacement phosphorus (P) rates have been the most economic.

• A replacement P strategy produced similar yields to 10 and 20 kg/ha P rates in 2010.
• The trial indicated an economic benefit in increasing P rates up to 20 kg/ha on a deep sandy loam in 2010.

• The rotation involving peas out-yielded all other rotations.  The continuous barley was not surprisingly the lowest yielding plot. In replicated small plot trials at Riccarton yields from continuous barley have only been 50% of annual clover/barley plots. 
• For further conclusions please see the attached trial report.

• All 4 rotations produced good gross margins for 2014.
• KI rotation plus broad beans’ best gross margin based on 2 year average.
• Need to compare data over 3 years of crop rotation.

• Trifluralin use resulted in significant crop damage at this site.
• Crusader can cause early crop damage, and the label does warn about crop yellowing, but in general the crop with 'grow out' of this damage in a matter of weeks.

Crop selection in 2003 is complicated by the conditions in 2002. The main issues that can affect your crops this year are:

Cereal Root Disease levels in 2002 were very low and disease levels from 2001 will be carried over - 2002 was NOT a disease break year. The last time we saw CCN in the southern Mallee was after the 1994 dry year when eelworm did not hatch but was carried over from 1993 and affected wheat crops in 1995.

Foliar Disease levels were low in 2002 and stubbles from 2001 will be the main source of inoculum outbreak for diseases in 2003.

Residual Herbicides used in 2001 and 2002 can have a large impact on susceptible crops in 2003.

• Legume crops consistently increased pre-sowing soil nitrogen in the year following the break.
• Two-year break phases that included a brown manure vetch phase have generally resulted in the highest pre sowing soil nitrogen levels in the subsequent wheat crops.
• One and two-year break phases reduce Rhizoctonia soil inoculum, however levels increase significantly following the first cereal crop.
• Two-year break treatments generally reduced brome grass populations in the cereal phase, however all rotations relied on Clearfield herbicides for brome grass control by the second wheat crop following the break.
• The benefits from extra soil water following some break phases in this trial have been variable and small.

When sub-soil water is present, growing high value canola and legume break crops can be profitable in the Mallee.

Where brome grass seed bank populations are high, break crop sequences of longer than two years are necessary to decrease numbers, and keep them down.

The application of CLF herbicide chemistry is effective in reducing brome grass populations, but herbicide resistance will develop quickly if they are used repeatedly in the same paddock.

• The choice of legume species and management were found to influence the amount of nitrogen fixed by both crop and pasture legumes byaffecting either legume reliance upon N2 fixation for growth or changes in dry matter accumulation.
• Medium to high soil mineral N concentrations at sowing appeared to suppress N2 fixation by field pea more than lupins or faba beans.
• Pulse legumes grown for grain generally result in lower net inputs of fixed N.
• Available soil N following either legume crops or pastures can represent an additional 40 to 90kg N/ha in the 1st year.
• The increased N uptake by the 1st wheat crop grown after legumes was equivalent to 27-40% of N in the previous year's legum residues.

• Wheat sown after break crops produced up to 1 t/ha more than wheat after wheat
• The greatest benefit of the break crop was produced at the earliest sowing
• Safflower produced the break crop effect but produced low wheat yields, small grain but high protein due to drying out the soil profile.

• The single cropping phase of cotton achieved the highest returns for both $/ha and $/ML.
• The double cropping treatment of canola and maize achieved the highest returns for $/ha.
• All double cropping treatments achieved similar returns for $/ML.

More reliable management strategies for the production of broad leaved phases.

Identification of more reliable break phase options.

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

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

• Break crops can be just as profitable as wheat crops.
• Antas sub-clover (for hay production) as the break crop was the most profitable option.
• Beans were the most effective at fixing nitrogen, averaging 13 kgN/tDM produced.

• Break crops can be just as profitable as wheat crops
• Antas sub-clover (for hay production) as the break crop was the most profitable option
• Beans were the most effective at fixing nitrogen, averaging 13 kgN/tDM produced

• Time of Sowing; get it right after the break crop.
• Effects of the break crops are often realised for at least 2 seasons after being planted.
• Beans consistently fixed the most nitrogen over the 3 year period; averaging 15Kg N/ha per tonne of dry matter produced (above the ground).
• Financial benefit of a break crop needs to be worked out over life of rotation.

There were no clear significant detrimental effects found of the herbicides on any of the wheat varieties tested. However, Barunga and Beulah yielded significantly better than Meering and Ouyen.

• Glyphosate at either 1.0 or 1.5L/ha applied at the flowering stage of ryegrass was very effective in reducing the viability of seed set.
• Herbicides applied to barley at the soft or firm dough stage of grain fill did not reduce individual grain weight, grain viability or early plant vigour.

• Glyphosate and glufosinate applied to flowering annual ryegrass give better control compared to later applications. While paraquat and diquat can be applied later.
• Paraquat 0.8L/ha or glyphosate 2.0L/ha applied to flowering ryegrass gave over 90% control of viable seed set per head.
• Glyphosate at 1.0L/ha or glufosinate above 2.0L/ha gave more than 65% control of ryegrass seed heads.
• Herbicides applied to barley at the soft or firm dough stage of grain fill did not reduce grain number, weight or viability.

• All herbicide treatments reduced grain yield by 13% in TOS 1 and at least 8% in TOS 2.
• Glyphosate (540 g/L) at 3.0L/ha was the only treatment to significantly reduce germination, down to 7% at TOS 1 and 88% at TOS 2.
• For each application timing glyphosate (540 g/L), glufosinate (200g/L) and paraquat (250g/L) significantly reduced the germination percentage of ryegrass.

• Crop topping provides an excellent strategy to control escapee or resistant weeds in field pea
  crops.
• Yield can be severely penalised if crop topping occurs too early.
• Correct variety choice and careful timing of crop topping is essential
• Varieties should be selected to achieve maximum yield simultaneously with maximum weed
  control.
• Ontime spraying achieved excellent weed control as annual ryegrass and wild oats were at
  the flowering stage.

• Crop topping at the recommended time of application (ryegrass milky dough) resulted in no yield loss for any genotype.

• Results generally showed that earlier maturing lines displayed less yield loss in
  crop-topping treatments than later maturing types.

• No significant response to crop topping treatments was observed.

• No significant response to crop topping treatments was observed.

• No significant response to crop topping treatments was observed.

• Due to extreme weather events during harvest it is difficult to determine any significant trends from this data. This trial will be repeated in 2011.

• The new blue lines showed yield 30% to 75% higher than Excell, with some lines having better or similar quality characteristics to Excell.

• The new blue line OZB1309 displayed yields equivalent to PBA Pearl, which is generally the highest yielding pea in many NVT and breeding trials in Victoria.

• Crop-topping wheat with glyphosate can result in yield loss and grain size reduction if done too early.
• Later crop-topping timings can produce grain quality and yield similar to untreated grain.

• The dry and hot November in 2009 led to early senescence of pulse varieties and reduced
  grain yields in later maturing varieties. Many responses to the crop-topping treatments may
  have been masked by this rapid senescence eg Almaz and GenesisTM114 chickpeas.
• Some surprising results were observed in 2009, which may be due to either genetic
  responses or responses to rapid finish to the season eg forage pea grain weights.
• Field peas and Faba beans generally showed no yield loss at the recommended timing for
  crop-topping of ryegrass in 2009. Lentils and chickpeas showed significantly higher yield
  losses from crop-topping, averaging 15 and 21% yield losses respectively at this timing.
• The large biomass, mid-late maturing lentil Boomer also showed a yield loss when croptopped later than recommended for ryegrass control. These results indicate poor suitability of some lines to this agronomic practice.
• Early maturing lentil and chickpea lines showed yield losses from this practice at the
  recommended timing. This demonstrates the difficulty in employing this weed control
  technique in these crop types.
• The early crop topping treatment reduced grain yields of most pulse varieties. Field peas
  OZP0602 and Yarrum at Turretfield, and the Faba bean AFO3001 showed no difference in
  grain yield at the early cop-top timing and the nil, indicating good suitability to this practice.

• Dry and hot spring conditions reduced grain yields and led to early senescence of pulse
  varieties in 2008 particularly in late flowering and/or maturing types. Many of the grain
  yield reductions expected at the mid and late crop topping timings were ‘masked’ due to
  premature senescence in many varieties brought on by these dry spring conditions.
• The early crop topping treatment reduced grain yields of field peas, lentils and chickpeas
  compared with the nil treatment, however there were field pea and lentil lines identified
  which did not incur a yield loss at this timing, indicating suitability to this agronomic
  practice.
• Some lines in all crops were found to incur yield loss and grain weight reductions at the
  appropriate timing for crop topping indicating poor suitability to this agronomic practice.
  jb66 Page 75 30/04/2009
• Not all early flowering and maturing lines were able to be safely crop topped in the 2008
  experiments nor did all late lines always incur a yield loss. Further evaluation is required to
  confirm findings in a year where varieties are not prematurely senesced by drought
  conditions.
• Detailed grain quality measurements (seed size distribution, colour, hydration percentage)
  are currently occurring on some treatments and varieties to assess the effects of crop topping and desiccation on seed quality.

• Early maturing desi chickpea varieties incurred the least yield loss at the recommended timing for crop-topping. Later varieties and kabuli types showed significant yield loss at the recommended timing and three later kabuli varieties showed yield loss at the late timing.

• Similarly to previous (2013) trials, there was no interaction between crop-top timing and variety. This means that the varieties evaluated in these trials had the same grain yield response at the different crop-top timings; therefore no variety was better suited to crop-topping than another. This finding has been consistent in faba beans over time but different to all other crops (lentil, field pea, chickpea).

• The wet season end in 2010 meant that all varieties showed reduced yield and grain weight
  from the early crop-top timing, regardless of maturity.
• At the recommended crop-top timing yield of the later maturing lines Parafield, Yarrum and
  Glenroy was significantly affected, while some later maturing lines were not. This may have been a result of a moderate powdery mildew infection at this site, which sped up maturity of
  sensitive lines. Yarrum, which has mid maturity and is powdery mildew resistant, would not
  otherwise have been expected to show this yield penalty at this timing as shown by 2009
  results.
•  Further work is required to validate these results.

• Yield losses from Early crop-topping generally followed cultivar maturity, with latest maturities
  showing highest losses. Parafield and Alma were the only varieties to show yield loss at the
  Recommended timing, supporting previous findings that these later maturing varieties are not as well suited to crop-topping as recent releases PBA Twilight, PBA Gunyah and PBA Oura. Kaspa and Yarrum continue to show a variable result across seasons at this timing.

• The wet season finish in 2010 favoured chickpea production, however this made timely
  weed control through crop-topping very destructive.
• There was little varietal response from crop-topping in 2010.
• All varieties showed reduced yield when crop-topped at or before the recommended timing
  for optimum ryegrass control (milky dough stage).
• Crop-topping 2 weeks after the recommended timing was the only timing considered “safe”
  for chickpeas in 2010, with only one variety showing reduced grain yield and one variety
  having reduced grain weight.
• These results emphasise the difficulty in employing this weed control method in chickpea.

• The wet and late finish to the 2010 season meant that early crop-topping was very detrimental to yield of all lentil varieties
• Later maturing lentil varieties also showed a yield penalty from crop-topping at the recommended timing (ryegrass milky dough stage).
• CIPAL0501 was the most sensitive variety to crop-topping, showing a reduction in yield from crop-topping at all three timings. This variety also has the latest maturity in this trial.
• The early crop topping treatment reduced grain yields of most pulse varieties, while the late
  crop-top timing had no effect on grain weight.

• There was limited varietal response from crop-topping in 2011. This may be due to below  average rainfall during late October and early November, the rapid finish on a shallow soil and the relatively late sowing date, suppressing some yield potential of untreated plots.

• Chickpea are generally considered to be unsuited to crop-topping due to their high yield losses, and are the least suited of the four pulse crops commonly grown in South Australia.

• The no-till sowing system had significantly higher grain yields at Hart in 2011.
• Higher fertiliser nutrition significantly increased protein, but not grain yield.
• The strategic treatment produced the most dry matter and shoot nitrogen.
• Mice damage significantly reduced crop emergence in the disc treatment.

• Dry and hot spring conditions led to poor pod set and early senescence of faba bean varieties in 2007. Grain yields of earlier maturing varieties were higher than those of later maturing types.
• There was no significant interaction between crop topping timing treatment and variety
  performance for grain yield as late varieties were lower yielding in all treatments, including
  the nil treatment due to the dry seasonal conditions.
• Generally earlier maturing varieties incurred lower levels of grain yield loss than later
  maturing varieties when crop topped at the appropriate stage for effective ryegrass control.
  However this difference was not significant in the 2007 trial.
• The concept trial methodology for evaluating relative yield loss due to various crop timings
  was found to be sound and will be repeated in 2008, although trial layout changes will be
  made to improve spraying logistics. A very early timing treatment will be added to assess
  the extremes of yield loss potential in all varieties and detailed flowering and maturity
  scores will be taken. Field pea, lentil and chickpea varieties will also be evaluated.

• Durum breeders’ lines screened in 2008 and 2009 do not show consistently improved resistance or tolerance to crown rot.
• Hyperno performed somewhat better than Kalka or Tamaroi.
• Data from at least two seasons is needed to make sound decisions about the response of entries to crown rot.