• Pasture legumes sown in 2018 were allowed to regenerate in 2019 and were grazed with ewe hoggets.
• Sheep live-weight increased on average by 13.8 kg (+26%, ~180 g/day) and was similar for all legume treatments, but differences between the sown legumes may have been masked by volunteer pasture species in the plots.
• Sown legume intake ranged from 401 kg/ha (Trigonella balansae) to 1461 kg/ha (Harbinger medic). Sheep showed some grazing preference for medic over trigonella. 
• The site will be sown with wheat in 2020. Crop growth, grain yield and quality will be measured. Stubbles will be grazed. It will return to pasture in 2021.

• This trial aims to investigate opportunities for symbiotic improvement.
• Inoculation will be critical to the establishment of new legume species, where they have not previously been grown. The extent to which inoculation can still improve medic nodulation is being investigated.
• There was no response to medic inoculation in the 2018 trial, even when the inoculation rate was doubled.
• Trigonella was better nodulated and produced greater root weights than the medics.
• These results cannot be fully interpreted until the N-fixation data becomes available.
• Medic breeding lines with improved N-fixation capacity are being developed as part of the Dryland Legume Pasture Systems project and will be tested in 2019.

• This is a component of a new five year Rural Research and Development for Profit funded project supported by GRDC, MLA and AWI; and involving Murdoch University, CSIRO, SARDI, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; Charles Sturt University and grower groups.
• This trial aims to assess a diverse range of annual pasture legumes in order to determine whether there are more productive and persistent options for the drier areas (<400 mm) of the mixed farming zone of southern Australia.
• Several new legume species established well under very difficult conditions, but in general were not as productive as the medics or vetch. 
• In the 2018 growing season, Caliph barrel medic was the best adapted pasture legume species to the conditions at Minnipa.
• Astragalus was the best adapted alternative legume species, although it was poorly nodulated.
• Zulu arrowleaf clover also performed well, however its peak dry matter production and flowering time may be too late for SA conditions.

• This is a component of a new five year Rural Research and Development for Profit funded project supported by GRDC, MLA and AWI; and involving Murdoch University, CSIRO, SARDI, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; Charles Sturt University and grower groups.
• This trial aims to assess a diverse range of annual pasture legumes in order to determine whether there are more productive and persistent options for the drier areas (<400 mm) of the mixed farming zone of southern Australia.
• Annual medics continue to be the best pasture option for neutral/alkaline soils on the upper Eyre Peninsula. Common vetch is an alternative option where a sown legume ley of one year duration is preferred.
• Building up a seed bank is critical to the longer term performance of the pasture. The aim in the pasture establishment year should be to maximise seed set.
• Levels of hard seed affect regeneration. Legumes with high hard seed levels should be cropped in the year following establishment.

• The nodulation of strand medic was below potential, but was not increased by inoculation.
• Trigonella formed more nodules than medic, but in the end PM-250 strand medic was more productive and fixed the most N.
• Legume inoculation (2018) increased wheat grain protein (2019). The increase could not be attributed to any measure of legume performance.

Grain protein, but not grain yield was significantly affected by the type of pasture legume previously grown.

The annual medics were the most persistent species after cropping. 

The findings will be used to prioritise further research and development of novel pasture species on sandy soils.

Volga vetch produced the most biomass in the establishment year at both sites. 

• Medic species appear to be well adapted to be able to produce pasture biomass and regenerate well after a year of cropping on the alkaline soils of the lower Eyre Peninsula {EP).

• Vetch species can produce high quantities of biomass in the year of planting and may be best suited to farming systems with more intensive cropping enterprises that have run down pasture seed reserves.

• The alternative species evaluated did not appear to be well adapted to the soil type/ environments/ farming systems that they were planted into.

• Pasture species must have a level of tolerance to broad leaf herbicides to allow for the removal of broadleaf weeds, which in some situations and soil types is seeing pasture production severely restricted with broadleaf weeds.

• Soil type differences did appear to reflect differences in pasture production, particularly getting pastures to establish on sandy soil types, but the work was unable to identify a superior pasture species beyond medic or vetch adapted to the lower EP's sandy soils.

• Novel legume species and genotypes have the potential to reduce feed gaps and provide other farming systems and livestock benefits in low to medium rainfall regions of southern Australia.
• The five-year large scale grazing systems trial established at Minnipa in 2018 is the main livestock field site for the national Dryland Legume Pasture Systems project. Five annual legume species are being tested.
• The priority for this trial in 2018 was to optimise seed set given the poor seasonal conditions, and therefore no grazing was undertaken in the establishment year, but instead will commence with sufficient pasture growth in 2019 to determine the best legume option for livestock production. 

This is a component of a five year Rural Research and Development for Profit funded project supported by GRDC, MLA and AWI;
and involving Murdoch University, CSIRO, SARDI, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; Charles Sturt University and grower groups.
• This trial aims to assess a diverse range of annual pasture legumes in order to determine whether there are more productive and
persistent options for the drier areas (<400 mm) of the mixed farming zone of southern Australia.
• The annual medics were the most productive pasture legume producing > 2 t/ha DM and setting > 500 kg/ha of seed. A new Tetraploid Barrel medic was the most productive.
• Astragalus was the most promising alternative legume and warrants further evaluation.

Because a crops ability to produce and finish is so tightly linked to how much water is available to it a simple yield forecast combined with how much water a crop still has left to access in the soil is surprisingly informative when it comes to reducing risks associated with forward selling decisions. At any point in the growing season it is surprisingly easy to use the data to see if the crop has access to enough water to finish, or if more rainfall is needed to reach a target yield. The graph below shows and compares the yield forecasts from each of the sites this year from when the soil probes were installed up until 20 Jan 2017.

• 2007 results showed two varieties experienced statistically significant yield penalty from mowing when medium maturing varieties were mowed at growth stage 30 (given appropriate crop management).
• Early sowing thought to be very critical to minimizing yield penalty from grazing - to be researched .
• Crop management will be different for both graze/grain versus pure grain crops - to be researched.
• Grazing crops gives pastures a chance to establish and grow at optimal growth rates during winter.
• Sheep can be used to selectively graze weeds - to be researched.

• Yield premium for Long season wheat varieties April sown vs May sown was 920 Kg/Ha
• SCF dual purpose/dual use long season HRZ wheat production package is being upgraded with each year’s research and case studies (2016-2019)
• Product testing for flour blend characteristics and feed qualities such as metabolisable energy in progress
• CBH trial offer for dual purpose/dual use long season wheat

• Project aimed to evaluate dual-purpose canola varieties, comparing two times of sowing and exploring grazing management options.
• Biomass production was greater at the earlier sowing date.
• Feed tests are important to determine feed quality.
• There were no yield differences between the two times of sowing.
   

Wheat grain yields following grazing were surprisingly high and it would appear grazing was not detrimental to grain yield. Reduced dry matter from grazing may have resulted in less water useage early in spring with more then being available during grain fill. Of the wheat varieties, the grain yield of the line 1SR594-34 was particularly high. Dry matter production (from the one cut taken) was significantly lower for the wheat varieties but given the current high grain price dual purpose wheat is an attractive option. 
 

Dual purpose cropping can have a role in an intensive grazing operation if crops can be sown on an early break – early growth is essential whilst conditions are still warm. The season will have to have a mild finish otherwise yield will be lost from the early grazing. More work needs to be done in the Wimmera and Mallee to see whether it is commercially viable to graze cereal crops early in the season, without suffering a yield penalty at the end of the season. It might only be a proposition in those areas which have a regular early start to the season and a longer wetter finish.

• Second year of a 3-year project funded by SAGIT and managed by SARDI.
• Project aims to evaluate dual-purpose canola varieties, comparing two times of sowing and exploring grazing management options.
• Trial site waterlogging resulted in variable results, interpret results with caution.
• Feed test results appear to vary between varieties and varieties at different times of sowing, indicating the importance of feed tests.
• Conventional canola varieties dry matter (DM) production was greater at time of sowing (TOS) 1 compared to TOS 2. Grain yield differences were not measured between varieties or TOS.
• There was a significant difference in DM production between the Triazine Tolerant varieties and TOS. Average grain yield was greater at TOS 2, than TOS 1.
• Greater DM was removed at TOS 1 compared to TOS 2 for Clearfield canola. Hyola 970 CL showed a significant difference in grain yield between TOS, with TOS 1 having a greater yield compared to TOS 2.

• Initial year of a new 3-year project funded by SAGIT and managed by SARDI.
• Project aims to evaluate dual-purpose canola varieties, comparing two times of sowing and exploring grazing management options.
• Trial site waterlogging resulted in high variability and confounding results, which should be interpreted with caution.
• Difference in feed test results were measured within a variety at different TOS and grazing dates, indicating the importance of getting feed quality tested.
• Dry matter production was low, maximum production recorded was Conventional 434 kg/ha, Triazine Tolerant 357 kg/ha and Clearfield 589 kg/ha.
• Conventional and Clearfield canola grain yields did not vary between TOS or varieties. • Triazine tolerant varieties had higher yields at TOS 1 and Hyola 750TT was the highest yielding TT variety.

The 1999 results highlight that Janz generally out yields Wollaroi. This is also supported by the findings of other trials.

• Varieties responded similarly in yield and many quality measurements to applied nitrogen, but showed large differences in grain screenings.
• Large amounts of early applied nitrogen predisposed WID803 with inherent small grain to quality downgrading due to high screenings, varieties with inherent larger grain (Tjilkuri and Caparoi) were not downgraded across N treatments.
• The strategic approach to nitrogen management was a more effective method to maintain grain size and achieve 13% protein rather than applying all nitroen at stem elongation.

• High yielding, water efficient DR1 durum was achieved in most of the 18 benchmarked fields.
• Grain protein, Hard Vitreous Kernels, Test weight, 1000 grain weight, falling numbers, semolina colour and semolina yield all fell within desirable limits.

• Hyperno (3.44 t/ha) and WID802 (3.50 t/ha) were the highest yielding durum varieties in this trial at Hart.
• Nitrogen application timing did not influence grain yield at Hart in 2009.
• Durum grain yield was reduced by 17% in the presence of ryegrass.
• Grazing in the absence of ryegrass increased durum grain yield.

• The presence of ryegrass reduced grain yields by 25%.
• Reduced sowing rates did not affect the grain yield or quality of new or standard durum varieties.
• A split application of nitrogen at GS31 and GS37 produced a significantly higher yield, 1.3t/ha.
• Growth regulants did not improve grain yield.

• Applying nitrogen to durum later in the season (GS47) was the most economically viable treatment maximising both yield and quality.
• A late tillering (GS30) application of N reduced grain plumpness in new varieties, WID803 and hyperno.
• A GS30 and split N application between GS30 and GS47 produced the lowest yields in all varieties. 
• WID803 and Saintly were highest yielding while Caparoi and Kalka produced teh best grain quality. 

The high soil nitrogen levels at this site and follow up topdressing applications produced protein levels high enough for durum quality, however, yields were approx 0.8t/ha lower than Mitre grown at the same site.

• Durum varieties (CaparoiA, DBA AuroraA, DBA LillaroiA and JandaroiA) displayed differential grain quality and yield responses to time of sowing (TOS) and nitrogen (N) management. Increased screenings (>5%) were the most common cause of quality downgrades.
• DBA AuroraA, due to increased risk of screenings (>5%) in part because of reduced grain size, would appear to offer less flexibility in terms of agronomic management, specifically delayed sowing and N management.
• The newly released Northern Durum breeding program variety DBA LillaroiA appears to offer excellent grain size and grain stability, achieving low screenings from a delayed sowing and high N rates.
• Results also highlight the need to sow varieties within recommended sowing windows. An earlier than recommended sowing date of May 19 for the Liverpool Plains resulted in yield losses of ~25% averaged across N treatments for earlier maturing varieties such as JandaroiA and DBA LillaroiA, with possible grain quality implications (e.g. increased screenings).

• Durum varieties displayed differential grain quality and yield responses to time of sowing (TOS) and nitrogen (N) management.
• DBA AuroraA appears to offer good yield potential, but exhibits an increased risk of screenings with increasing rates of N application at sowing or when N is applied before stem elongation (GS31). It also appears to have an increased potential for lower grain protein concentrations (GPC) due to yield dilution under high yielding situations.
• A strategy involving a split application of N at sowing and either GS31 or GS39, could reduce the potential for screening issues in DBA AuroraA while maintaining adequate GPC.
• Findings from this experiment further highlight the need to sow appropriate variety maturity types within their recommended sowing windows.
   

• A good farming system will utilise two to three with varying maturities, to spread risk
• Sowing varieties inside their recommended window is essential and will maximise yield and reduce screenings. 
• Storing summer fallow moisture is the key to producing good yields in these short finishing seasons. 
• In the 2009 season, quick maturing varieties and earlier sowing dates produced the best yields across the region.

• All treatments with zinc sulphate or commercial fungicide Tilt reduced yellow leaf spot infection but only Tilt treatments had increased grain yield.
• Despite yield increase the Tilt treatment was not economic.
• Triadimefon and copper sulphate did not reduce yellow leaf spot infection.

• There was significant rain in early April.
• It was very wet at the time of seeding.
• Reduced emergency due to soil crusting and seeding depth.
• There was adequte rain overall but dry at emergence.

• Delayed sowing provided no advantage over early sowing in reducing ryegrass plant or head number.
• In two out of three seasons, later sown crops were lower yielding and did not provide as good crop competition allowing ryegrass head number to increase.
• Sowing time had no effect on the performance of pre-emergent herbicides for ryegrass control.

• The early break to the 2015 season meant soil moisture and rainfall conditions were similar between ToS 1 and 2 and there was little variation in annual ryegrass control among preemergent herbicides tested.
• Grain yield and quality were not affected by pre-emergent herbicide; however, there was a 0.7 t/ha yield penalty for the later ToS.
• Over two seasons of research ryegrass seed set was greater when sowing was delayed.

1. Preliminary results show better yields and slightly improved grain quality from the earliest sowing date (25 July).
2. There was a difference in plant phenology and physiology between the two early sowing dates (25 July and 16 August).

In-crop control of radish with a range of herbicides was highly effective in reducing the wild radish population.

• Forrest was the highest yielding variety for the 9 April sowing date (Table 6). Shorter season varieties were not able to capture the yield benefits of this time of sowing.  Plant densities of 60 and 120 plants/m2 did not influence the grain yield or quality of wheat when sown on the 9th and 23rd April.
• Magenta was the highest ranked variety when sown on 23 April, however other long-mid maturing varieties also compared favourably.
• Mace , the most widely grown variety in the state, maximised yield at the 12 May sowing time.  It out yielded all other varieties at this sowing date.
• There was no influence of sowing time and plant density on the screenings which were below 5% for all varieties at all sowing times.

Canola Grain Yield at Pindar

All varieties apart from Stingray were able to yield the same or higher from the 9th April sowing opportunity.

As expected the shorter seasoned varieties were not able to capitalise on the 9th April sowing as the longer season varieties.    Grain yield declined with delayed sowing for longer season canola varieties.

Growers may not see a flat yield response for early sowings as an issue.  Instead, the early sowing window allows them to get crop out of the ground and reduces the risk of dry spells leading to a lack of future sowing opportunities.   However pests (eg Diamondback moth) and diseases (such as Sclerotinia), depending on rainfall zone and soil type, need to be factored into decisions about very early sowing windows.

The success of very early sowing depends heavily on soil type, soil moisture and temperature. Growers need to assess the conditions they face in the lead into each season closely before embarking on very early sowing, especially when using hybrid seed with high seed costs.

• If sowing before 20 April, winter wheats (Wedgetail, Wylah, Whistler, Osprey) are at lower risk of stem frost damage than slow maturing spring wheats.
• Keep spring wheats within 507 days of their opitmal sowing date.
• Be prepared tgo back-up imidacloprid treated seed with foliar insecticides if aphids are persisting in autumn.

• Two trials with first wheat sown during mid-April 2014 showed no difference in grain yield or quality as a result of being grown on 22.5cm or 30cm row spacings.
• Crops grown on a 37.5cm row spacing were 5-6% lower yielding than crops on the 30cm spacing.
• Although these are single-year results, they indicate that yield advantages of a narrow spacing (22.5cm) over 30cm, measured with later-sown wheat crops, may not be apparent when wheat crops are sown early (during mid-April).
• Trends suggesting higher dry matter (DM) produciton with a narrow row spacing, which were observed with later-sown crops, were still apparent in these earlier-sown crops; however, this did not translate to higher grain yields.

• Four wheat trials sown during mid-April 2014 and 2015 showed no difference in grain yield or qualityas a result of being grown on 22.5cm, 30cm and 37.5cm row spacings, when averaged across four varieties (Bolac/Kiora, Lancer, Trojan and EGA Wedgetail).
• The 2016 trial sown during mid-April again showed no difference in yield between 22.5cm and 30cm row spacings, however yields were significantly less with the widest row spacing (37.5cm).
• Trial yields in 2016 were 1.5t/ha higher than 2014 and 2015 (3–4.25t/ha), with the higher yield potential likely to be a key factor in the poor performance of the widest row spacing (37.5cm).
• The Riverine Plains Water Use Efficiency (WUE) project (2009–13) showed that when crops weresown in the traditional sowing window, the 22.5cm spacing was more successful than the 30cm spacing, except in drier years with lower yield potential (2.5–3.0t/ha).
• In the three years (2014–16) of trialling row spacing on early-sown crops, crops grown on a 22.5cm row spacing produced more dry matter (DM) than crops grown on wider rows. However, the 2016 trial was the first to show a yield disadvantage to the widest
row spacing (37.5cm) when sown early.
• As a result of lower yields, the 37.5cm row spacing gave significantly poorer water use efficiency (WUE) than 30cm row spacing, with a greater proportion of calculated water losses (soil evaporation, drainage or unused water).
• A barley row spacing trial, sown at the same time alongside the wheat, provided some usefulcomparative observations during 2016, with La Trobe barley producing higher DM and yields thanwheat with a harvest index (HI) of approximately 50% compared with wheat at 40%.

Winter wheat cultivars Wedgetail and Rosella sown on 1 April were higher yielding than LRPB Scout sown on 6 May.

Reducing plant density to 50 plants/ m² did not reduce the ability of winter wheats to compete with a simulated weed population (tame oats) when sown on 1 April

Winter wheat sown early produced more dry matter for grazing than spring wheats sown in May.

• Highest yields in 2015 came from early sown (9 April) spring cultivars (with 8mm of irrigation for emergence).
• Winter wheats Wedgetail and RAC2341, sown 9 April, yielded more than Scout sown in the normal sowing window (8 May).
• Reducing plant density in early sown slow-developing wheats did not influence yield in either the presence or absence of weeds but did result in greater weed growth.

• New winter genotypes had different phenology responses compared with current commercial genotypes.

• Frost significantly affected phenology and grain yield responses in 2017.

• The highest grain yields were achieved through various sowing date × variety combinations.

• Best management practice is matching varietal phenology with sowing date, however, pre-flowering phases had a significant influence on grain yield responses.
 

• Despite the significant effect of seasonal conditions in 2019, grain yields of >5.5 t/ha were achieved, highlighting the opportunity for early sown winter wheats in grain-only systems. • Differences in phenology and yield responses across sowing dates suggest cultivar
performance can be manipulated by sowing time and can vary across environments. • New winter and long season spring types with consistent yield performance provide alternative early sowing options for growers in southern NSW.

• Disease pressure Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV), and Zymoseptoria triticii is going to restrict sowing of susceptible varieties earlier than mid-May in the South East High Rainfall Zone.
• Growers who wish to sow early (dual purpose crops) should select BYDV resistant varieties (eg.Manning), and use resistant cultivars, fungicides and grazing to manage Zymoseptoria triticii.
• The photoperiod (daylength) requirements of Trojan increase its suitability to earlier time of sowing compared with other spring cultivars

• The highest yielding spring wheat was Scepter sown on the 4th of May and 16th of March at 1.98 t/ha and 1.82 t/ha, respectively.
• The winter wheat varieties yielded between 0.82 – 1.33 t/ha, with no variety consistently outperforming another.
• 2017 conditions at Booleroo were unfavourable for winter wheats, further data across seasons and locations will be continued in 2018 and 2019.

• An early sown cereal crop provides a green paddock of feed when regenerating or sown legume pastures are establishing, and avoids the cost and labour of handfeeding.
• In low to medium rainfall areas, barley and oat crops best tolerate grazing. They have better forage value and their ability to recover lessens production penalties. Grazed wheat varieties are likely to suffer grain yield and quality penalties. Dual purpose winter varieties are generally not suitable.
• In low rainfall areas, it is best to graze well before stem elongation for better crop recovery.

• Harvest dates for the ryegrass trials were 22 September and 3 November 2011, while the harvest date for the legume trial was 2-3 November. Harvest date in 2012 was 2 October.
• Little growth occurred after this due to dry conditions.

• Harvest dates for the ryegrass trials were 22 September and 3 November 2011, while the harvest date for the legume trial was 2-3 November. Harvest date in 2012 was 2 October.
• Little growth occurred after this due to dry conditions.

Generally, 6-8kgN/ha applied at an earlier than milky dough growth stage is required to raise grain protein 1%. Therefore, this crop required 18-24kg to raise protein from 10.5 to 11.5%.

• The use of variable-rate technology for nitrogen (VRT-nitrogen) application had mixed gross margin results given measured wheat yields, protein levels, calculated income and nitrogen costs in the nitrogen-rate trials undertaken at Yarrawonga and Dookie during 2017.
• Based on initial results at Yarrawonga and Dookie (using 19 and 13 years of wheat and canola yield responses to growing season rainfalls, respectively), the costs of conducting variable rate applications of nitrogen would require crop yields to increase by about 1%, or applied nitrogen costs to be reduced by at least 70%, before the approach breaks even over time.
• High overhead cost structures increase the risk of negative farm income. As VRT increases overhead costs, reviewing overall cost structures before adopting the technology is advisable.

1. Differences of $204-670/year were found between systems across sites.
2. Cropping intensity is the major factor driving good/poor economic performance.
3. A system water use efficiency of $2.50 of crop income/mm of rainfall over the cropping sequence is achievable and could be used to benchmark current farming systems.

Growers view should financially compare the economic impact of both establishment systems over the whole farm, across several years. Account for the differences in grain production and also consider:
• The elite farm that has 100% of pastures successfully established with lucerne;
Versus;
• The farm using cover-cropping methods usually has only 20% of pastures with lucerne and the other 80% of the farm’s pastoral area is composed is mostly annual crop weeds because the lucerne failed to establish.

Pasture improvement in the western wheatbelt has the potential to be very profitable practice. The level of
financial success from pasture improvement is strongly correlated to a farmer’s agronomic and livestock
husbandry skills. It is advisable to take the time to develop:
• A physical plan, to improve pastures and livestock, with the assistance of your District Agronomist and
Livestock Officer;
• Gross margin budgets for sowing the pasture and the livestock enterprise, with the assistance of your
District Agronomist and Livestock Officer;
• An incisive whole farm budget, to produce an economic picture that extends over a 5 year period, with the assistance of your accountant.

• Summary of 2 seasons esperiments

• Soil extractable B was 0.4 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on September Dry matter (DM) (3.1 t/ha); Seed yield (1.1 t/ha) or N % in DM (3% N) or N in the seed (3.55%).

• B had no effect on %oil (42.8) or on oil yield .

  Notwithstanding the marginal B levels on acid sands of the SWA region, care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola and lupin; with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary 1994 experiments

• Soil extractable B was 0.3 mg/kg.

• B concentration in dry matter (DM) 20 mg/kg

• B fertiliser had no effect on September Dry matter (DM) (2.9 t/ha); Seed yield (1.2 t/ha) or N % in DM (3% N) or N in the seed (3.50%).

• B had no effect on %oil (43.1) or on oil yield (515 kg/ha) .

  Notwithstanding the marginal B levels on acid sands of the SWA region, care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola and lupin; with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary 1994 experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.7 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser decreased seedling density (71 to 48).

• B concentration in dry matter (DM) 24 mg/kg B nil; 31 mg B kg for highest B application

• B fertiliser decreased the  September Dry matter (DM) by 0.62 t/ha; decreased Seed yield by 0.32 t/ha  &  increased N % in DM (by 0.46%) and  N in the seed (0.33% increase).

• B had decreased %oil (1.2% decrease in Oil%) & decreased oil yield by 142 kg/ha .

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola and lupin; with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required for the site with 0.7 soil extractable B.

• Summary 1994 experiment

• Soil extractable B was 1..1 mg/kg.

• B concentration in dry matter (DM) 30 mg/kg B nil; 36 mg B kg for highest B application

• B fertiliser decreased the  September Dry matter (DM) by 0.35 t/ha; decreased Seed yield by .27 t/ha  &  increased N % in DM (by 0.26%) and  N in the seed (0.33% increase).

• B had decreased %oil (1.63% decrease in Oil%) & decreased oil yield by 128 kg/ha .

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola and lupin; with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required for the site

• Summary 1994 experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0..4 mg/kg.

• B decreased seedling density (53 to 38).

• B concentration in dry matter (DM) 15 mg/kg B nil; 19 mg B kg for highest B application

• B fertiliser decreased the  September Dry matter (DM) by 0.48 t/ha; decreased Seed yield by 0.32 t/ha  &  increased N % in DM (by 0.3%) and  N in the seed (0.12% increase).

• B had decreased %oil (0.59% decrease in Oil%) & decreased oil yield by 144 kg/ha .

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola and lupin; with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required for the site with 0.40 soil extractable B.

• Summary 1995 experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0..4 mg/kg.

• B decreased seedling per sq. metre (50 to 39).

• B concentration in dry matter (DM) 17 mg/kg B nil; 22 mg B kg for highest B application

• B fertiliser decreased the  September Dry matter (DM) by 0.40 t/ha; decreased Seed yield by 0.2 t/ha  &  had no effect 0n N % in DM  and  N in the seed.

• B had decreased %oil (1.4 % decrease in Oil%) & decreased oil yield by 100 kg/ha .

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola and lupin; with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required for the site with 0.40 soil extractable B.

• Summary 1996 : summary of 2  experiment 

• Soil extractable B was 0.6 & 0.7 mg/kg.

• B application decreased seedling per square metre (63 to 48).

• B concentration in dry matter (DM) 27 mg/kg B nil; 36 mg B kg for highest B application

• B fertiliser decreased the  September Dry matter (DM) by 0.21 t/ha; decreased Seed yield by 0.137 t/ha  &  had no effect 0n N % in DM  and  N in the seed.

• B had decreased %oil (0.58 % decrease in Oil%) & decreased oil yield by 70 kg/ha .

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola and lupin; with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required for the site with 0.40 soil extractable B.

• Summary 1994 experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.7 mg/kg.

• B application (Borax) decrease seedling emergence (57 to 42)

• B concentration in dry matter (DM) 22 mg/kg B nil; 27 mg B kg for highest B application

• B fertiliser decreased the  September Dry matter (DM) by 0.37 t/ha; decreased Seed yield by 0.17 t/ha  &  had no effect 0n N % in DM  and  N in the seed.

• B had decreased %oil (0.29 % decrease in Oil%) & decreased oil yield by 90 kg/ha .

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola and lupin; with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required for the site with 0.40 soil extractable B.

• Summary 1994 experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.37 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser decreased seedling density (67 to 41).

• B concentration in dry matter (DM) 28 mg/kg B nil; 36 mg B kg for highest B application

• B fertiliser decreased the  September Dry matter (DM) by 0.62 t/ha; decreased Seed yield by 0.29 t/ha  &  increased N % in DM (by 0.43%) and  N in the seed (0.11% increase).

• B had decreased %oil (0.5% decrease in Oil%) & decreased oil yield by 124 kg/ha .

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola and lupin; with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required for the site with 0.37 soil extractable B.

• Summary 1996 : summary of 2  experiment 

• Soil extractable B was 0.6 & 0.7 mg/kg.

• B concentration in dry matter (DM) 27 mg/kg B nil; 36 mg B kg for highest B application

• B fertiliser decreased the  September Dry matter (DM) by 0.7 t/ha; decreased Seed yield by 0.217 t/ha  &  had no effect 0n N % in DM  and  N in the seed.

• B had decreased %oil (0.8 % decrease in Oil%) & decreased oil yield by 100 kg/ha .

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola and lupin; with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required for the site with 0.40 soil extractable B.

• Summary of   experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.6 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (55-56 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 19 -23 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (3.43 t/ha); Seed yield (1.23 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.0 % N) or N in the seed (3.45 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (42.52) or on oil yield (535 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.6 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of   experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.3 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (55-56 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 15 -19 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (3.8 t/ha); Seed yield (1.23 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.4 % N) or N in the seed (3.65 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (42.52) or on oil yield (485 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.3 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of  experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.5 mg/kg.

• Planr density were not effected by B fertiliser (55 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 21 -25 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (3.84 t/ha); Seed yield (1.2 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.2 % N) or N in the seed (3.54%).

• B had no effect on %oil (43.8) or on oil yield (510 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.5 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of  experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.5 mg/kg.

• Planr density were not effected by B fertiliser (55 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 21 -25 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (3.84 t/ha); Seed yield (1.2 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.2 % N) or N in the seed (3.54%).

• B had no effect on %oil (43.8) or on oil yield (510 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.5 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of 2 seasons experiments

• Soil extractable B was 0.94 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (5.5 t/ha); Seed yield (1.71 t/ha) or N % in DM (3% N) or N in the seed (4%).

• B had no effect on %oil (40.8) or on oil yield (680 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of o.9 was adequate

  Notwithstanding the marginal B levels on acid sands of the SWA region, care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of 2 seasons experiments

• Soil extractable B was 0.4 mg/kg.

• Plant B concentration 20 -23 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (5.5 t/ha); Seed yield (1.71 t/ha) or N % in DM (3% N) or N in the seed (4%).

• B had no effect on %oil (40.8) or on oil yield (680 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of o.9 was adequate

  Notwithstanding the marginal B levels on acid sands of the SWA region, care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of  experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.6 mg/kg.

• Planr density were not effected by B fertiliser (53 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 21 -24  mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (3.3 t/ha); Seed yield (1.0 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.0 % N) or N in the seed (4.30%).

• B had no effect on %oil (38.8) or on oil yield (350 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.5 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of  2 experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.3 mg/kg.

• Planr density were not effected by B fertiliser (53 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 18 -21   mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (5.9 t/ha); Seed yield (2.23 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.0 % N) or N in the seed (3.60 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (42.8) or on oil yield (950 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.3 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of   experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.7 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (64 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 22 -27 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (5.1 t/ha); Seed yield (1.73 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.0 % N) or N in the seed (3.5 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (44.2) or on oil yield (750 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.7 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of   experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.7 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (71-66 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 29 -33 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (3.63 t/ha); Seed yield (1.2 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.4 % N) or N in the seed (3.55 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (42.5) or on oil yield (500 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.7 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of   experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.6 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (55 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 23 -27 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (3.4 t/ha); Seed yield (1.43 t/ha) or N % in DM (2.9 % N) or N in the seed (4.0 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (40.0) or on oil yield (540 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.6 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of 2 experiments

• Soil extractable B was 0.4 mg/kg.

• Plant B concentrations 20 -23 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (4.76 t/ha); Seed yield (1.23 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.2 % N) or N in the seed (4%).

• B had no effect on %oil (44.8) or on oil yield (580 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.4 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of   experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.4 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (56 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 15 -18 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (5.1 t/ha); Seed yield (1.73 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.4 % N) or N in the seed (3.45 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (44.52) or on oil yield (775 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.7 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of  2 experiments

• Soil extractable B was 0.8 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (70-65 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 31 -36 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (3.0 t/ha); Seed yield (1.02 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.3 % N) or N in the seed (3.6 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (41.9) or on oil yield (420 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.8 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of  2 experiments

• Soil extractable B was 0.7 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (59-56 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 26 -30 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (2.0 t/ha); Seed yield (1.55 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.43 % N) or N in the seed (3.6 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (41.9) or on oil yield (650 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.7 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of 3 seasons esperiments mainly located in the Yuna & Badgingarra region

• Boron (B) deficiency frequently occurs on soils that are low in organic carbon (C) (<1.0% organic C), pH (soil pHCa <5.0), and clay content (<5% clay). Acid sands with these soil properties are common in south-western Australia (SWA). Moreover, hot calcium chloride (CaCl2) extractable B levels are commonly marginal in the acid sands of SWA. This study examined the effects of soluble and slow release soil-applied B fertilizer and foliar B sprays on crops most likely to respond to B fertilizer on these soils, canola (oil-seed rape, Brassica napus L.) and lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.).

  At 25 sites over three years, canola was grown with (0.34 kg ha-1) or without B applied as borax [sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Na2B4O7·10H2O) 11% B], and this was followed by nine experiments with B rates [0, 0.55, 1.1 kg ha−1, applied as borax or calcium borate (ulexite, NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5(H2O), 13% B] and foliar sprays (0.1% solution of solubor, 23% B) in 2000–2001. A further five sites of B rates and sources experiments were carried out with lupin in 2000–2001. Finally, foliar B sprays (5% B w/v as a phenolic complex) at flowering were tested on seven sites in farmers’ canola crops for seed yield increases. No seed yield increases to soil-applied B were found while foliar B application at flowering increased canola seed yield in only one season across seven locations. By contrast, borax fertilizer drilled with the seed at sowing decreased canola seed yield in nine of 34-farm sites, and decreased lupin yield in two of five trials. Toxicity from drilled boron fertilizer decreased yield could be explained by decreases in plant density (by 22–40%) to values lower than required for optimum seed yield. Seedling emergence was decreased by borax applied at sowing but less so by calcium borate. Foliar B spray application never reduced seed yield due to toxicity effects.

   

  Boron fertilizer drilled with the seed increased the B concentration in plant dry matter at early to mid-flowering. Boron application decreased the oil concentration of grain of canola at four sites. The oil yield of canola was significantly decreased at seven sites.

  Notwithstanding the marginal B levels on acid sands of the SWA region, care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola and lupin; with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Under extreme disease pressure, Ascochyta blight can be successfully and economically managed on susceptible varieties such as KyabraA.
• However, Ascochyta blight management is easier and more cost effective on varieties with improved resistance such as PBA HatTrickA and PBA BoundaryA.
• The 2015 Ascochyta trial, confirmed the next variety planned for release (CICA0912) has an improved level of resistance to Ascochyta blight.
   

A field trial was undertaken at Kinnabulla (VIC) in 2019 to investigate combinations of sowing time, seed rate and herbicide treatments to control brome grass in barley. Spartacus CL barley was used in this trial to enable the use of Intervix® for post-emergence control of brome grass. In 2019, the trial site received 181 mm rainfall during the growing season (April-October), which was 23% lower than the long-term average for the site. However in December 2018, the site received a heavy downpour of 199 mm, which created good growing conditions for barley crop grown in 2019. In this trial, barley seeding rate did not have a significant effect on either yield (P=0.213), brome panicles/m2 at maturity (P=0.889) or brome seed set/m2 (P=0.409). This lack of effect of crop seed rate on the number of brome panicles and seed set could be related to the high plant available water during the crop and weed life-cycle or due to Spartacus being a less competitive barley cultivar due to its erect architecture. Time of sowing had a significant effect on brome panicles/m2 at maturity and brome seed set/m2. TOS 2 had a lower brome panicle density at maturity than TOS 1 across all herbicide strategies, which was most likely due to low pre-sowing weed kill in TOS 1 as brome grass had not yet germinated. However, brome population that had germinated after the opening rains was killed by glyphosate application prior to seeding barley in TOS 2. As the numbers of panicles were lower in TOS 2, brome seed set was also reduced in TOS2 relative to TOS 1. Herbicide strategy had a significant effect on barley grain yield. As the herbicides reduced the impact of brome on barley, its yield increased from 3.24 t/ha in the knockdown treatment (NIL), to 3.72 t/ha in the pre-emergent herbicides only and to 3.96 t/ha when the pre-emergent herbicides were followed by post-emergent Intervix. Somewhat surprisingly, TOS 2 produced higher yields than TOS 1 across all the treatments, with the greatest difference being 0.46 t/ha in the Nil herbicide treatments. However, the yield difference between the two times of sowing decreased when more effective herbicides were used (0.08t/ha difference between TOS 1 and 2 in pre-emergent only and 0.04t/ha difference when pre-emergent herbicides followed by Intervix). Higher barley grain yield in the later sown crop is most likely due to a significantly greater weed density in barley in TOS 1 than in TOS 2, as large numbers of early germinating brome plants were controlled with glyphosate knockdown in TOS 2. TOS 1 also experienced a mild frost during flowering, resulting in patchy frost damage. Furthermore, May 23 (TOS 2) sowing date still falls within the optimum sowing window for Spartacus, which is an early maturity variety, and TOS 1 on April 29 was earlier than optimum for this variety.

A field trial was undertaken in 2019 to investigate combinations of faba bean sowing time, seed rate and herbicide treatments to control annual ryegrass. ARG plant density was significantly influenced by the time of sowing (P<0.001), herbicide treatment (P<0.001) and the interaction between the time of sowing and herbicide (P=0.012). The 3 week delay in seeding faba beans had no impact on ARG plant density, as shown by the similar ARG density in the simazine + trifluralin treatment. However, POST clethodim and butroxydim had much greater efficacy in the 2nd time of sowing (TOS 2) than in the TOS 1. The same trend was evident in ARG seed set when crop seeding was delayed. In the Simazine + Trifluralin (IBS) treatment there was only an 8% reduction in ARG seed production when seeding was delayed. However, Simazine + Trifluralin (IBS) fb Clethodim had a 62% reduction in ARG seed production in TOS 2 than in TOS 1. ARG seed production was also strongly influenced by faba bean seed rate (P<0.001). The high faba bean seed rate had 43% less ARG seed set compared to the low faba bean seed rate. This result indicates that faba beans can be highly competitive with ARG at the high seed rate. Faba bean grain yield was significantly influenced by crop seed rate (P<0.001), with the high seed rate yielding 14% and 30% higher than the medium and low seed rates, respectively. Herbicide treatment had a significant effect on faba bean grain yield. When POST clethodim was applied after the Simazine + Trifluralin IBS (1.55 t/ha), faba bean grain yield improved by 43% to 2.211 t/ha. Crop yield responses to herbicides treatments were consistent with their efficacy on ARG, which highlights the sensitivity of faba bean grain yield to weed competition. This study has shown that at high plant density, faba beans can provide a significant suppression of ARG. However, faba beans were very intolerant to weeds as shown by the large yield losses. Higher seed rates, are important to both increase competitiveness of faba beans in suppressing ARG, and to also maintain grain yield. However, fungal disease management would need to be monitored and managed effectively.

A field trial was undertaken at Washpool in 2019 to investigate combinations of wheat sowing time, seed rate and herbicide treatments to control annual ryegrass. The average seedbank of annual ryegrass (ARG) at the site was 2249 ± 284 seeds/m2. There was no evidence at this site of any reduction in ryegrass infestation in wheat by delaying sowing by three weeks between TOS 1 (77plants/m2) and TOS (74plants/m2). This result suggests the Washpool ARG population likely has a high level of seed dormancy, reducing the rate of ryegrass germination after the opening rainfall events. Herbicide treatment had a significant influence on ARG plant density (P<0.001). Boxer gold and Sakura + Avadex reduced ARG plant density by 45% and 73% from the untreated control (125 ARG plants/m2). Wheat was much more competitive against ARG when it was sown early. This was made evident by the large increase in ARG seed production when seeding was delayed. When averaged across all other treatments TOS 1 produced 1634 ARG seeds/m2, which was 73% lower than 5974 ARG seeds/m2 produced in TOS 2 (P=0.013). Wheat seed rate had a significant influence on ARG seed production (P=0.005), with the high wheat seed rate supressing ARG seed production by 37% when compared to the lowest wheat seed rate (100 seeds/m2). Wheat grain yield at this site was significantly influenced by the time of sowing (P=0.001), seed rate (P=0.001), herbicide treatments (P=0.001), and the interaction between the time of sowing and herbicides (P=0.011). Wheat was much more tolerant to ryegrass competition when sown early (TOS 1) as shown by the small increase in grain yield in herbicide treated plots. In contrast, there was a significant increase in wheat grain yield in herbicide treatments in TOS 2. The results of this study clearly show that delayed sowing of wheat allows for greater seed set by ryegrass and is also associated with a large yield penalty.

• Summary of 1 year.
• Cu fertiliser previously drilled with wheat appeared more availalble  than current drilled.
• CuSulfate @ 5.5  kg/ha gave maximum dry matter yield.
• Zn & Mo basalled for clover growth.
• Cu  at 5.5 kg Cu sulfate gave maximum yield of barley in year 2..
• Copper deficiency of wheat, barley and poor clover growth has been recorded by many farmers.
•  

• Cu & Zn either separately or in combination increased grain yield.
• Combination of 11 Kg Cu sulfate and 3.3 kg ZnO recommended
• Follow with a combination of 5.5  Kg Cu sulfate and 1.6 kg ZnO recommended in following crops.
• No information on Zn depressing yield with nil or low rates of Cu.

• Neither Cu or Zn added to superphosphate increased grain yield.  Nil Cu & Nil Zn gave maximum grain yield.
• Zinc oxide at 3.3 kg/ha did not reduced yield of wheat with Cu.
• Cu application gave  no yield increase or decrease without Zn applied.
• No combination of Cu sulfate and kg Zn oxide required.
• Plainsuperphosphate gave higher yield than aerophos+gypsum gave maximum yield.
• .

• Cu increased with or without Zn added to superphosphate.  
• Zn depressed yield when Cu was 5.5 or below (0 & 2.75)
• Higher the Zn rate the greater the depression..
• Combination of Cu sulfate (5.5 kg Cu sulfate) and nil kg Zn oxide required.
• Or Cu 2.75 kg Cu sulfate & nil Zn gave maximum yields.
• Highest ZnO (3.3 kg/ha), particularlym at 0 & lowest Cu level (2.75 kg Cu sulfate/ha)
• Plain superphosphate gave same yield as aerophos+gypsum.
• .

• Cu increased with or without Zn added to superphosphate.  
• Zn depressed yield when Cu was 5.5 or below (0 & 2.75)
• Higher the Zn rate the greater the depression..
• Combination of Cu sulfate (5.5 kg Cu sulfate) and nil kg Zn oxide required.
• Or Cu 2.75 kg Cu sulfate & nil Zn gave maximum yields.
• Highest ZnO (3.3 kg/ha), particularlym at 0 & lowest Cu level (2.75 kg Cu sulfate/ha)
• Plain superphosphate gave same yield as aerophos+gypsum.
• .

• 2 experiments in region on the same soil type.
• Cu increased with or without Zn added to superphosphate.  
• Zn markedly depressed yield when nil Cu. Depression smaller for 2.75 & 5.5 kg Cu sulfate /ha.
• Highest the Zn rate (3.3 Kg ZnO/ha) the greater the depresion
• Combination of Cu sulfate (2.75 kg & 5.5 Cu sulfate) and nil kg Zn oxide required for maximum grain yield.
• Plain superphosphate (PS) gave higher grain yield than aerophos+gypsum (AG)
• AS PS >AG indicates Zn wouls be required for oats or Clover.
•  
• .

• Cu & Zn either separately or in combination increased grain yield.
• Zn deficiencies seen in wheat.
• Combination of 11 Kg Cu sulfate and 3.3 kg ZnO recommended
• Follow with a combination of 5.5  Kg Cu sulfate and 1.6 kg ZnO recommended in following crops
•  

• Cu increased with Zn or without Zn added to superphosphate.  
• All Zn depressed yield when no  Cu.
• Combination of Cu sulfate (.2.75 kg Cu sulfate) and nil  KgZno /ha required for maximum yields.
• .Best combination of the soil type for both 1967 & 1967 Cu Sulfate at 2.75  and nil  ZnO/ha

• Trend to higher grain yield with increasing Cu & Zn levels
•  Zn O at 0.8 kg/ha supplied enough Zn for maximum grain yield.
• Combination of Cu sulfate with  KgZnO /ha required for maximum yields. Howver, Cu level required could not be determined.
• .Best combination of the soil type for both 1966 & 1967 suggest  that Cu Sulfate at 5.5 -8.25 kgCusulfate   and 0.8  ZnO/ha would be best for the soil type.

• Cu increased grain yield in the absence or presence of Zn.
• Zn application depressed grain yield at lower rates of Cu (nil & 2.75 kg Cu sul/ha).
• Zn increased grain yield with 5.5 & 8.25 kg Cusul/ha
• Combination of Cu sulfate (5.5 &m 8.25 kg Cu sulfate) and 1.6 KgZnO /ha  gave for maximum yield.
• Plain superphosphate yield same as  Aerophos +gypsum.
•  

• Cu increased grain yield in the absence or presence of Zn.
• Zn application depressed grain yield at lower rates of Cu (nil & 2.75 kg Cu sul/ha).
• Zn increased grain yield with 5.5 & 8.25 kg Cusul/ha
• Combination of Cu sulfate (5.5 &m 8.25 kg Cu sulfate) and 1.6 KgZnO /ha  gave for maximum yield.
• Plain superphosphate yield same as  Aerophos +gypsum.
•  

• Cu increased grain yield with & without Zn
• Combination of 5 Cu levels and 4 ZnO [ incomplete factorial].
• Cu application increased grain yield by 50 -100%.
• Zn depressed yield at nil Cu
• Combination of Cu sulfate (2.75kg Cu sulfate) and nil Zn
• 0.6 - 1.0 Kg ZnO /ha for  maximum yield of oats, clover & linseed.

• General location only as 3 experiments are summarised for 1960's.
• Combination of 4 Cu levels and 3 ZnO.
• Cu application increased grain yield by 50%
• Zn depressed grain yield at nil Cu
• Combination of Cu sulfate 8.25 kg Cu sulfate) and 2.75 Kg ZnO /ha  gave for the same maximum yield.
• Suggested a further application of 5.5 kg Cu sulfate & 1.6 kg ZnO may be benficial.

• General location only as 8 experiments are summarised for 1967.
• Trials over 1965-1967 
• Combination of 4 Cu levels and 3 Zn [0.8 kg ZnO ommitted].
• Summary of  8 experiments with 4 Cu and 3 Zn levels sandy and gravelly laterite derived soils
• Cu increased grain yield in the absence or presence of Zn.
• Cu application increased grain yield by 35 - 50%
• Zn depressed grain yield at nil Cu and 2.75 kg Cu Sulfate/ha
• Combination of Cu sulfate (2.75kg Cu sulfate) and nil KgZnO /ha  gave for the same maximum yield.as 5.5 kg Cu Sulfate & 0.8 kg ZnO/ha
•  

• Cu increased with Zn or without Zn added to superphosphate.  
• All Zn depressed yield when no  Cu, 2.75 & 5.5 Kg/ha had been applied.
• With Zn nil and 0.8 kg Zn O Cu at 5.5 kgCu sul/ha gave maximum yield grain yield.Sulfate gave higher yield.
• For wheat, combination of Cu sulfate (5.5 kg Cu sulfate) and nil  KgZno /ha required for maximum yields.
• Zn deficiency symptoms seen extensive in wheat grown on Aerophos + gypsm  
• Plain superphosphate yield higher than Aerophos +gypsum suggested  Zn soil is marginal and Zn addition (0.8 kg/ha) recommended for Oats and Clover.