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.

• Growing conditions in 2016 were very wet and mild, with rainfall from May to September one of the wettest on record. Growing season rainfall was well above average with 491mm recorded at the site.
• The conditions in 2016 did not favour the expression of crown rot, with only minimal disease observed. As a result there were no significant interactions between any of the seed treatments in this trial.
• Durum wheat is more susceptible to crown rot than barley. The durum wheat variety Aurora was used in this trial and was out-performed by the barley variety LaTrobe, yielding significantly lower.
• At tillering, the NDVI of treatments not infected by crown rot were significantly higher than those infected by crown rot. At flowering there was no significant difference in NDVI between any treatment

• Durum breeders’ lines Td17/1 and WID902 showed promise of improved resistance/tolerance to crown rot.
• Hyperno and AGT Katana performed best of the recently released durum wheat and bread wheat cultivars, respectively.
• Gladius expressed significant crown rot symptoms (but not whiteheads) and may contribute to rapid build up of crown rot inoculum.

• Durum breeders’ lines Td17/1 and WID902 showed promise of improved resistance/tolerance to crown rot.
• Hyperno and AGT Katana performed best of the recently released durum wheat and bread wheat cultivars, respectively.
• Gladius expressed significant crown rot symptoms (but not whiteheads) and may contribute to rapid build up of crown rot inoculum.

• Durum breeders’ lines Td17/1 and WID902 showed promise of improved resistance/tolerance to crown rot.
• Hyperno and AGT Katana performed best of the recently released durum wheat and bread wheat cultivars, respectively.
• Gladius expressed significant crown rot symptoms (but not whiteheads) and may contribute to rapid build up of crown rot inoculum.

• Durum breeders’ lines Td17/1 and WID902 showed promise of improved resistance/tolerance to crown rot.
• Hyperno and AGT Katana performed best of the recently released durum wheat and bread wheat cultivars, respectively.
• Gladius expressed significant crown rot symptoms (but not whiteheads) and may contribute to rapid build up of crown rot inoculum.

• Durum breeders’ lines Td17/1 and WID902 showed promise of improved resistance/tolerance to crown rot.
• Hyperno and AGT Katana performed best of the recently released durum wheat and bread wheat cultivars, respectively.
• Gladius expressed significant crown rot symptoms (but not whiteheads) and may contribute to rapid build up of crown rot inoculum.

• Yield losses of up to 20% due to crown rot were observed in 2015.
• Losses ranged from 2%–11% in bread wheat and 1.5%–3% for barley.
• Crown rot has a significant effect on gross margins when comparing grain quality and yields between crown rot treated and untreated plots.
• Select the highest yielding varieties rather than those with enhanced crown rot tolerance to minimise losses.
• Reduce the risk of crown rot infection by using crop rotation as well as stubble management.

• Yield loss response curves are an additional tool to help growers in varietal selection decisions to maximise returns where disease is present.
• Variations occurred in the yield response of varieties to crown rot, along with their resistance to this disease.
• The variety Suntop, although displaying crown rot symptoms similar to that of a susceptible variety, demonstrated a greater ability to maintain yield where disease was present than other varieties that are considered tolerant.
• The selection of varieties based purely on current resistance categories may be overlooking genetics with improved tolerance, such as the variety Suntop.
   

Based on this trial it appears CG could be used as a substitute for DAP fertiliser in cereal production however blending with urea to ensure adequate N would be essential. 

• In the first year of trials (2012) a 75 kg/ha rate of Crystal Green significantly increased lentil yield by 18% compared to the nil (100%) and DAP treatments.
• In the second year of trials no carry-over effect of Crystal Green or DAP was observed on wheat grain yield.

Visually the germination in the control (not crushed) was significantly less than the crushed area, given the ability for the airseeder to create a seed bed and bury the seed. The return on investment from the rock crushing treatment applied shows that it would require approximately 3 years to provide a return on investment for this trial.

Effective control of summer weeds before cropping can increase both grain yield and quality. The key to increased yield potential lies in additional sub-soil moisture available to the crop during the subsequent growing season. Summer weeds also deplete mineralised N reserves. Provided there are no limitations preventing crop roots from accessing the subsoil, the additional soil moisture can be seen in higher grain yields and generally grain protein and test weight.

• There was no statistically significatn difference between the control and the CFF treated plots.
• The dry conditions experienced in 2007 impacted on this demonstration which indicated a need for further reserach into the effectiveness of this product in a more favourable season.

There are no significant differences in yields between the control and the CFF plots on a wodjil soil type.

It is our plans to work with each of the system leaders and refine their programs to improve the performance of their systems.
 

• Have established at what level the bucket is full
• Have a better understanding of where it becomes empty
• Have increased our confidence in utilising these tools
• In-crop nitrogen sampling has been a vital tool in assessing the effectiveness of the modelling

Key findings:

• Nitrogen (N) decision making requires a good understanding of background soil and plant science, and soil test interpretation.
• Training for new agronomists needs to be a priority issue.
• Senior NSW agronomists identified crop yield expectation as guided by soil moisture at sowing (or at the time of N decision making) as the most important determinant of N fertiliser requirement.
• Further research is needed to increase the understanding of how management practices affect potentially large gaseous N losses. 
• Changing from legume pasture-crop sequences to continuous cropping in many central and southern areas of New South Wales is posing new questions for managing N supply. The absence of N-fixation by pasture legumes is seen as a substantial loss of N-buffering capacity.
• Despite most advisers choosing soil testing as a key approach for determining N fertiliser required, many of their clients had a lower confidence in soil testing, citing ‘high perceived variability in soil nitrate results in the lead up to sowing’.
• Conclusions and Recommendations Senior advisers highlighted the importance of quality training in N decision-making, understanding the background soil and plant science involved, and soil test interpretation for the next generation of agronomists, with training courses including representation from highly experienced local agronomists.
• The understanding of gaseous N losses requires further research, development and extension to the grains industry. Recent field research in the north was limited in scope and produced challenging outcomes that can potentially lead to large practice changes in when and how N fertiliser is applied. Further research and development work is warranted to answer more of the practical questions growers and advisers are asking in regards to losses associated with various alternative practices.

• The northern results on N loss pathways are less relevant to advisers in the central and southern regions where N application timing, soil type and climatic differences are generally quite different from the dominant medium-heavy clays of the north. New N loss research is recommended for the lighter textured soils in regards to the potential for N volatilization losses from surface N application of various products. Economic outcomes from the various strategies being practiced are also needed. Nitrogen loss research should focus less on expensive slow-release products and more on optimising results from urea, the cheapest N source.

• Research into better soil water measurement was seen as a priority area, especially given the importance all advisers place on knowing this when making expensive N-fertiliser decisions for a coming cropping season. Zonal management within paddocks is not possible with single site characterisations, so atypical areas of paddocks are over or under-fertilised.

• The very early application of N fertiliser ahead of a winter cropping season is well established, but what is not known is how well the subsoil N may be protected or at risk from denitrification in flooding events. Also, better knowledge on specific N use within the profile during the cropping season will help growers to know when late-applied N is likely to be inaccessible to crop use.

• Nitrogen mineralisation was highlighted by agronomists from all three regions as an area for greater understanding with regards to the differences caused by climatic conditions, especially rainfall. They also require better understanding of the N produced from both native organic matter and recent legume pasture residues.

• There are a number of good decision support tools available currently, with several advisers suggesting that combining the best points of each into one package, even one available as an app, would be highly useful, particularly one with good grower-friendly reports.

• Many farmers have low confidence in soil testing.  This may be related to a range of factors from poor sampling strategies, to poor sample handling, to poor service from laboratory analysts, to insufficient sample numbers or poor interpretation of the results. It is seen as an expensive option for many, with some advisers looking for quicker and cheaper means of estimating soil mineral N.

• Variety-specific N management packages were seen by some senior advisers as key areas for continued research funding, as results from some new varieties have been quite different in terms of N uptake and protein outcomes.

• Making nitrogen (N) management decisions requires an understanding of soil and plant science, and soil test interpretation.
• Training new agronomists is a priority.
• Senior NSW agronomists identified crop yield expectation as guided by soil moisture at sowing (or at the time of N decision making) as the most important determinant of N fertiliser requirement.
• Further research will increase the understanding of how management practices affect potentially large gaseous N losses.
• Changing from legume pasture-crop sequences to continuous cropping in many central and southern areas of New South Wales is posing new questions for managing N supply. Less frequent pasture legume phases with their N-fixation benefits to the soil is seen as a substantial loss of N-buffering capacity.
• Despite most advisers choosing soil testing as a key approach for determining N fertiliser required, many of their clients had a lower confidence in soil testing, citing ‘high perceived variability in soil nitrate results in the lead up to sowing’.

• Deep phosphorus (P) placement at a depth of 20 cm resulted in root proliferation in desi chickpeas at Terry Hie Hie.
• Deep P applied in the plant line produced more vegetative biomass compared with deep P placed between alternate plant lines (66 cm spacing) four weeks after sowing.

 

• Soil pH results after liming and tillage treatments were applied was found to be quite variable and more sampling needs to be done before pH results can be quoted. Soil loosening indicates that only the deep tillage techniques were likely to incorporate lime into the deeper 20-30 cm acidic layer.
• This trial highlights the importance of measuring subsoil pH levels and applying sufficient rates of lime to prevent and correct subsoil acidification. Where tillage treatments are used to incorporate lime it is important to understand to what depth lime will be incorporated and which subsoil layers need correction. It is intended to monitor this trial for the next few years to further assess the benefits of correcting subsoil acidification. Yield response to lime incorporation can increase over time as the untreated soil continues to acidify further and as lime has more opportunity to react and neutralize the acidity that is present.

• The trial area was seeded in June 2015 to wheat by Peter Negus, while he was seeding the surrounding paddock.  Unfortunately, the seeder ran out of seed as the trial was being sown.  The result was that there were large unseeded strips running through the trial. 
• Rainfall at the site was very poor in September and October 2015; approximately 70% below average for that period.  As a result, cereal crops on soils with low water holding capacity were badly affected, with yields well below average.
• Analysis of the harvest results (excluding plots affected at seeding) showed no significant differences, leading us to conclude that either (a) the tillage and lime treatment effects have ‘worn out’ at the site, or that (b) poor rainfall in September and October severely reduced yields, obscuring any other effects.  We believe that (b) is more likely.
• This trial will be sown to lupins in 2016.

The pH results from this trial show some interesting trends. 

The treatments with greater disturbance at depth (spade, deep rip + spade, mouldboard) tend to decrease surface pH.  This is of concern if the ‘new’ topsoil pH is acidic enough to inhibit root development. 

The treatments with greater disturbance at depth (spade, deep rip + spade, mouldboard) tend to increase midsoil pH most rapidly.  This is the effect hoped for.  The differences between treatments are generally not significant, but more intensive sampling may tease out differences.

The treatments with greater disturbance at depth (spade, deep rip + spade, mouldboard) tend to increase subsoil pH most rapidly.  This is the effect hoped for.  The differences between treatments are generally not significant, but more intensive sampling may tease out differences.

• In year one of this trial, there was no yield differences observed with the application of chicken manure, artificial nutrients or no nutrients
• Cultivation with the mouldboard plough resulted in better yields compared to no cultivation or deep ripping in the first year regardless of nutrients
• Grain protein was significantly higher in the chicken manure treatments
• Large amounts of dry matter was produced under the manured treatments however it didn’t make any difference to yield

• Deep placed lime can improve yields on acidic soils in a very dry season but significatn yield increases were only achieved when lime was place directly into the subsoil to depths of 31 or 51cm.
• Generally, responses from deep placed lime have been recorded in either the year of application or 1-2 years after application.

• Investigated infertile soils over clay in SA and Victoria.
• Earlier work showed that a "shotgun" mix of N, P, zinc, copper and manganese placed at 40cm regularly doubled cereal yields.
• Have shown that such applications have onging residual benefits.
• Need at least 25cm of sand or haying off can occur in dry years.
• Deep ripping tyne type and spacing appear to be less important than depth of application at 40cm.
• Apply nutrients at a rate which would double current yields.
• Management of erosion after ripping is the primary challenge.
• Addition of deep nutrient during ripping would appear to be a good option with reliable benefits.

• Removal of soil compaction via deep ripping to 30cm resulted in  44% yield increase which equated to a gross margin of $38/ha more than the untreated control
• Addition of lime did not significantly improve yield in 2006, however, it is possible that a response will be gained in future years as subsurface acidity is present in the soil profile.

• Removal of soil compaction via deep ripping to 30cm resulted in  44% yield increase which equated to a gross margin of $38/ha more than the untreated control
• Addition of lime did not significantly improve yield in 2006, however, it is possible that a response will be gained in future years as subsurface acidity is present in the soil profile.

• Removal of soil compaction via deep ripping to 30cm resulted in  44% yield increase which equated to a gross margin of $38/ha more than the untreated control
• Addition of lime did not significantly improve yield in 2006, however, it is possible that a response will be gained in future years as subsurface acidity is present in the soil profile.

Deep cultivation strips on growers’ properties did not show much in the way of early responses and so did not excite much grower interest as a direct diagnostic of the hardpan conditions in their paddocks. However, at responsive sites, there was a lot of grower interest to the level where it might be worth funding another year of this direct diagnostic approach in the hope that early season conditions are conducive to major nitrogen growth responses.

• Deep ripping dry sand was more effective with two passes (or shallow leading tines); less cloddy.
• Yield benefits of 410 kg/ha (18%) from deep ripping were mainly due to better head fill. Better head fill was probably due to better cooling of the crop in hot weather due to better supply of moisture.
• Extra moisture seemed to be from rain which infiltrated deeper in the ripped soil to avoid more evaporative loss than the unripped soil.
• A controlled traffic system will better protect the investment in deep ripping and extend the benefits. Deep ripping costs will also be reduced when the permanent tramlines are left unripped; seeding can also be easier with better flotation on permanent tramlines.

 

• Deep ripping enabled the crop to access about an extra 40kg of soil N/ha.
• The crop was as responsive to Flexi-N after deep ripping.
• There was no yield penalty from delaying Flexi-N application until the end of tillering. Deep ripping and Flexi-N were very profitable at this site.  

The penetrometer measurements show that the nil treatment at both sites had a harder soil profile in the upper 20 cm at Hannafords (clay loam) and down to 35 cm at Jacobs. The reason the Nil treatment at the site of Hannafords shows lower resistance at depth is because this zone was waterlogged (water perched on the clay layer), showing that the ripping and spading have relieved some of the waterlogging. 

Ripping has done a very little to increase grain yields at the Frances site. The application of gypsum has generally increased grain yield by 15-20% over the untreated control treatment.  

Sub-soil compaction, caused primarily by the unmanaged movement of heavy machinery, is having a negative effect on grain yield and quality across the Geraldton Port Zone (as well other port zones in WA).  Compaction limits plant root growth, reduces plant available water capacity (PAWC) and in turn limits yield potential.

The profitability of a crop is dependent on the crop maximising the use of rainfall received and the PAWC of the soil is critical to this. This applies to all rainfall zones. Climate change however, has influenced the number of dry periods occurring during the growing season, so it’s more important than ever for crop roots to be able to explore the soil profile to the fullest possible extent.

Growers report that some soils on their property continue to underperform despite their fertiliser and system management strategy matching their soil type. The introduction of deeper deep-rippers to the region (550 – 700mm) has shown encouraging results, prompting growers to question current strategies and investigate the rippers as options for soil improvement.

In 2016 four growers within a 100km of each other currently employing deeper ripping strategies were asked to compare the performance of ‘deeper’ deep ripping (550-700mm) to standard deep ripping (250 – 350mm) and no ripping.  A full soil, plant tissue and grain yield analysis was performed at each site to gather information on the base site parameters and breakdown of how each soil responded to the treatments.

There was an increasing response to deeper ripping associated with a decline in rainfall at the sites (about 100mm variance across sites). To achieve the best return on investment growers are recommended to identify the sub soil constraints in their paddock before choosing the right tillage machine to alleviate them.

• Ripping below the hard pan (greater than 500mm) in pale sands, yellow sands and yellow loams in wheat or canola increases yield.
• Soil moisture probes show ripping deeper (below 500mm) allows more plant roots to access moisture deeper in the profile for longer in the season. Water infiltration also increase with depth of ripping.
• Leaving a firm even seed bed after deeper ripping is important to reduce seeding establishment issues.
• A negative yield response to deeper ripping in lupins on yellow sand was measured at Binnu in 2016.
• Crop yield response to ripping does vary depending on seasonal conditions and crop type therefore the economics of ripping must be considered over multiple seasons and timing of ripping in the rotation.

• Deep ripping to 500-600mm in coarse textured sandy soils increased yield by 21-66% compared to 6-24% with ripping to 300mm in wheat and canola in 2016 and 2017 in the Geraldton port zone.
• There was only a small yield response to ripping the red loam in 2016 and no difference in 2017.
• Soil moisture measurements and visual observations of plant root growth indicated deeper ripping allowed the plant roots to access more water from deeper down the soil profile. This is particularly beneficial in sandy soils that have a low plant available water capacity(PAWC) per 10cm down the profile therefore roots need access deeper into the soil profile to gain the same amount of water as heavier textured soils that have a higher PAWC per 10cm.
• Economic analysis found the higher cost of deeper ripping gave a positive return on investment up to $5/ha for every dollar invested at 3 sandy sites but not on the red loam where the return on investment was negative with a return of $0.63/Ha for every dollar invested. On the sand at Ogilvie there was a yield penalty in lupins in 2016, resulting in a negative return on investment which could not be recouped in the following dry season of 2017.
• If ripping below 400mm, consideration must be given to crop selection in year one (lupins are higher risk); leaving an even seed bed post ripping to reduce bogging and plant establishment issues; and managing weeds as due to poor competition and better access to water and nutrients can increase the weed burden as these factors can have a negative impact on yield reducing the return on investment.

Soils in the Wharminda and Stokes area of Eyre Peninsula were mapped and areas of micronutrient deficiency established by applying micronutrients (copper, zinc, manganese, iron, boron and molybdenum) in 24 factorial field experiments.

Fertiliser applications were made at the 1-2 leaf , tillering and booting stages.

• Grain yields were increased by copper application at 11 of the 24 sites.
• Zinc application increased yield at one site, manganese at one, iron at two and molybdenum at two sites, no increased due to boron application were recorded.
• Copper deficiency occurred in deep siliceous sands, calcareous sands, solodized solonetz and solodic soils with light brown sand at Wharminda.
• Zinc and manganese deficiencies were mostly confined to soils with a high carbonate content near the surface.
• Copper in the grain was a better indicator of deficiency than copper in the soil.
• Grain yield responses to copper application were indicated by grain copper of <2.5 ppm.

June 13th sown Gairdner produced yields in the range of 4.86 – 5.69 t/ha following canola stubble. With high soil nitrogen reserves (203 kg/ha N, 0‐90cm) recorded at sowing, there was a small but significant response to applied nitrogen (0.21 t/ha at 50 kg/ha N & 0.23 t/ha at 100 kg/ha N). There was a significant advantage to nitrogen timed during stem elongation (GS31‐33) over nitrogen applied in the seedbed.

Late sown Mitre (July 4) produced yields in the range of 0.6 – 2.16 t/ha following Canola stubble. With soil nitrogen reserves of approximately 30kg/ha N (0-10cm) recorded pre sowing, applied nitrogen was detrimental in this trial, with 50 kg/ha N reducing yield by 0.09t/ha and 100kg/ha N reducing yield by 0.23 t/ha. These figures disguise more detrimental yield reductions with seedbed nitrogen applications and no effect from stem elongation timings applied at GS31-39.

Late sown Mitre (July 4) produced yields in the range of 0.6 – 2.16 t/ha following Canola stubble. With soil nitrogen reserves of approximately 30kg/ha N (0-10cm) recorded pre sowing, applied nitrogen was detrimental in this trial, with 50 kg/ha N reducing yield by 0.09t/ha and 100kg/ha N reducing yield by 0.23 t/ha. These figures disguise more detrimental yield reductions with seedbed nitrogen applications and no effect from stem elongation timings applied at GS31-39.

• Compass and La Trobe have the greatest likelihood of severe lodging as yield environment increases; Fathom, GrangeR and Commander are least likely.
• The taller the crop, the more likely yield loss will occur with increasing rainfall; taller varieties (Schooner, Compass, Flagship and Scope CL) are the most susceptible to head loss.
• Grain quality and the viability of the seed (low falling numbers) is severely reduced in barley with greater exposure to wet weather.
• In lower yielding environments, choose a variety based on its yield performance, rather than its resistance to the effects of delayed harvest.

• Compass, Commander, Scope CL and Fathom were the varieties most affected by lodging when harvest was delayed in a very high yielding environment.
• Spartacus CL and Oxford had better head retention than Fathom and Westminster which were the poorest.
• Delaying harvest by three and a half weeks incurred a 2t/ha yield loss. In an 8t/ha crop this equates to one per cent of yield per day lost on average (based on 2016 data).

• The wild radish population was consistent and of high density (303 /m2) across the site. Spray coverage was affected due to the high weed density and with 65% of the wild radish 4 leaf or larger across the site at application shading was also an influence.
• This trial was applied immediately after rainfall so soil moisture was good but the weeds had just endured a fortnight of frosts with very dry conditions and were still highly stressed.
• Coverage issues and the seasonal conditions prior to application coupled with ongoing dry and stressed conditions following application have contributed to lower than expected wild radish control from all treatments in this trial.

 

At Minnipa in 2013 there were cereal yield responses to fungicide treatments in both wheat (up to 14% better than no fungicide) and barley (up to 12 % better than no fungicide but not all strategies were effective). However there were still visual Rhizoctonia patches present. In-furrow fungicide applications were more effective than seed treatments. Tillage, starter nitrogen and zinc produced similar yields to many of the fungicide treatments. A three week delay in seeding reduced yield by nearly one third. Fungicide treatments did not prevent an increase in Rhizoctonia inoculum levels during a cereal phase.

The PA Concept Farm gave growers the opportunity to see first hand the difficulties and successes of implementing new and innovative cropping techniques involving PA (Precision Agriculture) and CTF (Controlled Traffic Farming). Although final yields were not of importance due to the nature of the site, various observations throughout the year demonstrated to visitors some of the things to watch for when adopting these tools and practices. The fact that yields were not altered indicate the importance of maintaining dedicated wheel marks all season, and the implications of adding machinery such as that used to bale hay. The site also demonstrated that without amelioration, soil improvement due to reduced compaction can take a number of years to manifest into greater yields. 

Weed burdens at the site highlighted the importance of ensuring control in wheel marks, whilst indicating that wider row‐spacing does not necessarily mean increased weeds. The difficulties of keeping seeding equipment tracking straight when precision sowing were also encountered, making for a good discussion with site visitors about the various techniques that can be used to overcome this problem.

Costs of guidance were compared for the site, with $3/ha for line marking using a contractor with autosteer, $190/ha for a contractor to set up a whole paddock with beds and between $20,000 and $50,000 to get one machine setup with Real Time Kinematic (RTK) autosteer including your own basestation.

• In 2019 the IMI system had the lowest barley grass plant numbers.
• The Cultural Control strategy did not achieve the desired outcome of having a more even seed spread and increased competition in the inter row for barley grass weed control.
• The medic pasture produced low dry matter compared to the cereal systems, had the highest barley grass population and the lowest competitive ability with the barley grass.
• The loss of Group A herbicides to control barley grass within local pasture systems has the potential to change rotations and decrease farm profitability.

• In 2019 the IMI system had the lowest barley grass plant numbers.
• The Cultural Control strategy did not achieve the desired outcome of having a more even seed spread and increased competition in interrow row for barley grass weed control.
• The medic pasture produced low dry matter compared to the cereal systems, had the highest barley grass population, and the lowest competitive ability with the barley grass. 
• The loss of Group A herbicides to control barley grass within local pasture systems has the potential to change rotations and decrease farm profitability.

 

A demonstration to showcase options for managing water repellent soils was established in 2017. Mace wheat was sown into sand over gravel (below 20cm) on 24 May following 209mm summer rain, with no rain in April and 14mm in May.

• One-way plough reduced subsoil compaction to 30cm depth and improved soil wettability, crop establishment and yield.
• Deep ripping reduced compaction to 30 cm depth, improved crop establishment and yield, but not soil wettability.
• Knife point sowing established and yielded better than the splitter boot when sowing on deep ripped and one-way ploughed plots.