• Cu increased with or without Zn added to superphosphate.  
• Zinc oxide increased yield of wheat with Cu (2.75 & 5.5  Kg Cu sulfate/ha).
• Combination of Cu sulfate (5.5 kg Cu sulfate) and 0.8 kg Zn oxide required.
• Plain superphosphate gave higher yield than aerophos+gypsum.
• .

• Summary of 2 experimental sites 
• Cu increased with or without Zn added to superphosphate.  
• Zinc oxide increased yield of wheat with Cu (2.75 & 5.5  Kg Cu sulfate/ha).
• Combination of Cu sulfate (5.5 kg Cu sulfate) and 0.8 kg Zn oxide required.
• Plainsuperphosphate gave higher yield than aerophos+gypsum.
• .

• Summary of 2 experimental sites 
• Small additions of Cu or Zn added to superphosphate increased grain yield.  
• Zinc oxide at 3.3 kg/ha did  reduced yield of wheat with Cu (0 & 2.75 Kg Cusulfate/ha).
• Cu application at 8.25 kg Cusulfate without Zn applied decreased grain yield.
• Combination of Cu sulfate (2.75 kg Cu sulfate) and 0.8 kg Zn oxide required.
• Plainsuperphosphate gave higher yield than aerophos+gypsum gave maximum yield.
• .

• Cu increased with Zn or without Zn added to superphosphate.  
• All Zn levels followed no consistent pattern some depressed yield other levels of ZnO application increased.
• Concludedd Zn application not real & Zn had no clear reffect on grain yield.
• Combination of Cu Sul at 2.75 kg/ha and nil ZnO was requyired for maximum yield.
• Plain superphosphate yield was the sane as Aerophos +gypsum suggested  Zn soil was adequate; hence no further Zn was recommended for Oats and Clover.

• Cu increased with Zn or without Zn added to superphosphate.  
• All Zn levels depressed yield with nil Cu 2.75 & 5.5 Cu levels, particularly 3.3 kg /ha of ZnO application.
• Combination of Cu Sul at 5.5 kg/ha and nil  kg/ha ZnO or 2.75 kg Cu/ha nil Zn was required for maximum yield.
• Plain superphosphate out yielded  Aerophos +gypsum suggested  Zn soil was inadequat for oats and or clover.

• Summary of 2 experiments
• Nil Cu and Nil Zn gave equal top yield.  
• Even without Zn, CuSulfate @2.75 kg/ha slight nonsignificant increase in the growing season.
• Zn addition decrease wheat yield with no added Cu.
• Cu  at 2.75 kg Cu sulfate gave maximum yield.
• Copper deficiency of wheat and barley have been recorded in trials and farmer paddocks.
• Aerophos and plain superphosphate treatments were not significantly different.

• Cu increased grain yield in the absence or presence of Zn.
• Cu application increased grain yield by 50-60%
• Zn depressed grain yield at nil Cu and in all Cu applications
• Combination of Cu sulfate (2.75 kg Cu sulfate) and nil KgZnO /ha  for maximum yield on gravel sites
• General conclusion similar results to yellowm-brown gravel  of the central wheatbelt of WA.

• Cu increased grain yield in the absence or presence of Zn.
• Cu application increased grain yield by 50-60%
• Zn depressed grain yield at nil Cu and in all Cu applications
• Combination of Cu sulfate (2.75 kg Cu sulfate) and nil KgZnO /ha  for maximum yield on gravel sites
• General conclusion similar results to yellowm-brown gravel  of the central wheatbelt of WA.

• Cu increased grain yield in the absence or presence of Zn.
• Cu application increased grain yield by 50-60%
• Zn depressed grain yield at nil Cu and in all Cu applications
• Combination of Cu sulfate (2.75 kg Cu sulfate) and nil KgZnO /ha  for maximum yield on gravel sites
• General conclusion similar results to yellowm-brown gravel  of the central wheatbelt of WA.

• Nil Cu and Nil Zn gave equal top yield.   Zinc addition reduced yield of wheat with Cu nil. 
• Combination of 2.75 kg Cu sulfate and 1.7 kg Zn oxide gave maximum yield. The increase with 2.75 kg/ha Cu sulfate was about the same magnitude  caused by Zn addition where nil Cu was applied. Zn did not depress yield where Cu was applied.
• There was no evidence that further additions of Cu and Zn was needed for wheat in subsequent years.

• Summary of 2 experiments
• Nil Cu and Nil Zn gave equal top yield.  
• Combination of 2.75 kg Cu sulfate and 0.8 kg Zn oxide gave maximum yield.
• Copper deficiency of wheat and barley have been recorded in trials and farmer paddocks.
• Similarly, Zn deficiency in oats have been recorded in trials grown on yellow sands.

• General location only as 13 experiments are summarised for 1967.
• Trials over 1965-1967 ; covers a range of locations for the central wheatbelt area
• Gravelly sites only slightly more affected by Cu deficiency than sandy sites.
• Summary of 13 experiments with 4 Cu and 4 Zn levels
• 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 more in the gravels than sands
• Combination of Cu sulfate (8.25 kg Cu sulfate) and 1.6 or 3.3 KgZnO /ha  for maximum yield on gravel sites
• Zn nil or ZnO0.8 kg/ha Cu Sul 2.75 or 5.5 kg/ha on sandy sites
• General conclusion 5.5 kg Cu sulfate and 0.8 kg/ha ZnO adequatefor sandy and gravelly surfaced yellow earths of the central wheatbelt of WA.

• 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.

• Zinc reduced yield of wheat with Cu nil. Cu application gave a small yield increase without Zn applied.
• Cu & Zn apploication both required for maximum grain yield.
• Combination of 5.5 kg Cu sulfate and 1.7 kg Zn oxide grain maximum yield.
• ZnO and 1.7 kg/ha required for maximum pasture and Oat yield.
• There was no evidence that further additions of Cu and Zn was needed in subsequent years.

• Plants grown in small pots containing Mn deficient calcareous (pH 8.5, 80% CaCO3) sand collected from Wangary, S.A with 0-50 ppm added Mn in growth room at 15°C.
• Plants harvested at approx. 4 weeks (early tillering). Also 30 wheat cultivars were screened at Wangary using plant breeders' plots (4 rows x 5 m) with a split plot application of foliar MnSO (1 kg/ha ).
• Effects of seed soaking were evaluated for wheat and barley by soaking for 6 h with 1.5% MnSO4 prior to sowing.
• Without Mn, all cultivars showed no differences in growth and Mn uptake at 4 weeks (pots) but significant differences at 8 weeks in the field. With Mn supplied either in soil or on seed large cultivar differences were apparent at 4 weeks.
• Conclude that use of Mn efficient varieties coupled with a suitable seed Mn content will lessen the need for Mn fertilisers.

• Grain yield and quality was significantly reduced in all varieties when harvest was delayed. Oxford and La TrobeA suffered least yield penalty, while BassA, and FathomA had the greatest yield losses.

• Yield losses and quality downgrades ranged from $75–300/ha in lost revenue in 2016, despite overall low prices and distinction between malt and F1 grades.

• Despite seed boron concentrations being very high (>20 mg/kg) there was no detectable effect on seedling emergence or growth.
• The amount of boron in the shoots was similar irrespective of the amount of boron in the grain.
• It would appear that grain boron is not mobilised to the developing seedling.

• Just 50 kg DAP/ha knife point drilled with 70 kg/ha wheat seed is enough to reduce wheat plant  establishment.
• Wheat fertilised with DAP with seed yielded 0.5 t/ha (20%) less than wheat with DAP placed below seed in 2016.
• The addition of 35 kg urea/ha below the seed overcame the yield penalty in the DAP-with-seed plots, suggesting access to N was a driver.

• Just 50 kg DAP/ha knife point drilled with 70 kg/ha wheat seed is enough to reduce wheat plant establishment
• Wheat fertilised with DAP with seed yielded 0.5 t/ha (20%) less than wheat with DAP placed below seed in 2016. 
• The addition of 35 kg urea/ha below the seed overcame the yield penalty in the DAP-with-seed plots, suggesting access to N was a driver.

• Blackleg infection of flowers, pods, branches and upper stems can be collectively termed as upper canopy infection (UCI).

• Early flowering of canola increases the risk of UCI.

• Fungicide can reduce disease levels and increase grain yield, but does not provide full disease control.

• Matching sowing date and varietal phenology so that flowering occurs in late winter will reduce UCI.

Responses to cutting treatments in Mackellar wheat and Breakwell triticale were examined in an early sowing (March).  Frost damage was severe and both uncut treatments produced significantly lower grain yields being at mid flowering (Breakwell) and late ear emergence (Mackellar) at the time of the frosts.  Grain yields did not tend to correlate with the number of ears per m2 or grain weight.  However for both varieties the higher yields of cut treatments related to the number of grains per ear.

Very dry conditions during the growing season and the inherent variability with the trial site requires the results to be viewed with caution.  However these results show grazing Yerong barley during the vegetative stage of growth will have no impact on grain yield and is likely to be beneficial.  The grazing benefits to the whole farm system are considerable and the small reduction in stubble mass, although not huge is a positive outcome.

Intensive grazing at GS 30 – GS 31 (start of stem elongation) reduced grain yield compared to no grazing by an average of 37%. The greatest yield loss of 57% occurred with Monstress triticale and the lowest yield loss occurred with Amarok wheat (18%). Up to 2.1 t/ha of drymatter was available for grazing before stem elongation was reached. Yerong barley yielded the greatest drymatter pre grazing, with Brennan wheat the lowest drymatter yielding at 1.5 t/ha.

• A preliminary experiment in 2017 showed that extra heat can be applied to canola plots successfully using specially designed heat chambers.

• Heat stress of four days, applied seven days after flowering started, significantly reduced the grain yield of the flowers opening during that period.

• Four days of heat stress significantly reduced harvest index and thousand seed weight at the plot level, however, grain yield and biomass yield was not affected due to recovery during cooler nights.

• Further research is needed to extend the duration and intensity of heat stress to show differences, and for rigorous validation across different varieties.

• Yield responses were achieved when Hombre seed treatment was used at Frances and Conmurra sites in 2012.
• Crop rotation effects had a much greater impact on grain protein than whether a seed treatment was used or not.
• Reducing aphid activity reduces the risk of developing BYDV.
• Most occurrences of BYDV occur from aphid activity early in the season, so early protection is best 

• Yield responses were achieved when Hombre seed treatment was used at Frances and Conmurra sites in 2012.
• Crop rotation effects had a much greater impact on grain protein than whether a seed treatment was used or not.
• Reducing aphid activity reduces the risk of developing BYDV.
• Most occurrences of BYDV occur from aphid activity early in the season, so early protection is best 

• Yield responses were achieved when Hombre seed treatment was used at Frances and Conmurra sites in 2012
• Crop rotation effects had a much greater impact on grain protein than whether a seed treatment was used or not
• Reducing aphid activity reduces the risk of developing BYDV
• Most occurrences of BYDV occur from aphid activity early in the season, so early protection is best

Three years after application of lime, soil pH (CaCl2) increased by 0.68–1.45 units at 0–10 cm depth, 0.20–0.47 units at 10–20 cm and 0.08–0.18 at 20–30 cm depth. • Lime reduced density of ryegrass by 42% and barley grass density by 67%, improved barley crop vigour by up to 13%, and increased barley grain yield by up to 7% in 2013. • Boxer Gold in 2013 season together with Sakura and simazine in previous seasons reduced annual ryegrass density by 96% and barley grass density by 99%, improved barley crop vigour by up to 15%, and increased barley grain yield by up to 16%. • Lime effect on efficacy of herbicides in controlling weeds was not evident.

Three years after application of lime, soil pH increased by about 1 unit at the top soil and 0.08-0.26 units at the sub-soil layers. • The effect of liming improved crop vigour in 2013 by up to 16% and this effect reduced wild radish density by 50%. This reduction was however not significant, most likely due to low radish densities and a high level of variability. • Velocity together with simazine in previous seasons reduced wild radish density by 98% in 2013 season and improved crop vigour by up to 16%. • Lime increased barley grain yield by up to 6% and Velocity by up to 8%. • Lime effect on herbicide efficacy to control radish in barley crop was not evident.

• Our results suggest shifting investment from nutrients to lime and cultivation and maintaining profit in the first year for the 2 sites we ran is a feasible proposition.  However, this is dependent on the soil constraints and existing soil fertility.  In this trial, it appears that the cultivation response was driven by an increase in the mineralisation rate of organic matter. The incorporation of lime did not provide any yield benefit; while the rotary spader provided adequate mixing of the lime this had no impact on growth because soil pH was already above target levels.  The yield benefit from cultivation was enough to offset the cost of the cultivation and most of the lime application, and the net margin in the year of application could be improved by reducing fertiliser rates.
•  

Our results so far suggest that there is an important interaction between year (timing and distribution of rainfall) and soil and nutrient management. There were no significant treatment effects on grain yield in 2013 and 2015, but there were in 2014 and this may be related to autumn rainfall. At the end of March, 75 and 57 mm had fallen in 2013 and 2015 respectively (Figure 3), however, only 16 mm had fallen at this time in 2014. In 2014, soil water repellence as measured in a laboratory test was significantly higher in the no-till control treatments compared to the rotary spader treatments. Seedling density in 2014 was highest in treatments that had the highest soil water repellence, however, this effect did not carry through to grain yield which was lowest in the no-till control. This trial will continue for at least one more year.

 

• Summary of  2 experiments

• Soil extractable Cu was 0.23 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by Cu or N fertiliser (29-36 plants/m of row2)

• Plant B concentrations 26 -30 mg/kg.

• Cu 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

• Averaged across sowing densities Djakal, N005A-80 and P176-2 yielded the highest with 3.7 t/ha, 3.8 t/ha and 3.9 t/ha respectively, while SnowyA achieved a significantly lower grain yield of 3.2 t/ha.
• Grain yield of Djakal and N005A-80 did not vary significantly between target sowing densities. Both varieties maintained high yields even at the lowest target sowing density (15 plants/m2).
• Lodging was exacerbated at higher sowing densities for all varieties except P176-2, which was consistently low across all sowing densities.
• The length of time to maturity did not vary significantly between target sowing densities for SnowyA, N005A-80 or P176-2. However, Djakal’s maturity length was extended by 4 days at the 60 plants/m2 sowing density when compared with the three lower target plant densities.

The effects of plant density (50, 125, 200 plants/m2) on growth and grain yield of early sown (March) wheat were evaluated. Early in the growing season the low density plots looked very sparse but by September had largely caught up. The trial was severely frosted at ear emergence and during flowering and average yields were only 0.5 t/ha. Yields tended to increase from 50 through to 200 plants/m2 with the highest density producing significantly greater yields than for 50 plants/m2 density. There were no differences in number of grains per ear or grain weight but there were significantly higher ears per m2 at the 200 plants/m2 density. July sown plots avoided some of the frost damage and grain yields were significantly higher.

• Soil moisture: Surface soil moisture contents were measured using a soil moisture probe on 19 May 2011- after all treatments had been applied. There had been 14mm of rain at this site in the week prior to measurement. Results ranged from 10.5-12% however there was no significant difference between treatments. The texture of the top soil (loamy sand) indicates that field capacity is typically around 14%.
• Emergence, crop vigour and biomass: Table 2 lists the in-season measurements taken at the ‘Wathingarra’ yellow sand site on the plots sown with the DBS bar. No assessment of any treatment indicated a response to Lure application. Assessments were also taken of the plots sown with the Morris bar and the rolled DBS plots however there was no significant difference for any of the seeding systems.
• Yield and grain quality: There was no significant difference in yield between the treatments in either the DBS, DBS + Rolled or the ribbon seeded plots.

 

• 2 soil types compared seaparately yellow brown earths and gravels.
• % -9 experiments included in the comparisons
• Seasonal responses of 1965 & 1966 were compared
• THe Cu and Zn recommendation for 2 soil types showeed difference in combination required over the 2 seasons.
• Cu application increased grain yield by 45% in 1965 & 50% in 1966 [6 experiments in the summary]
•  
• Seasonal responses of 1966 & 1967 were compared.
• Cu increased yield by 51% in 1966 compared to 52% in 1967.
•  
• Seasonal variation in Cu requirement is not revealed
• Combination in both Cu & Zn for maximum grain yield remarkably similar across compared season and for the 2 soil types..

• Demonstrated a strong dependence of wheat seedlings linseed manganese supply.
• Real manganese uptake can only be calculated if the initial seed manganese content is known.
• Seed soaking in manganese sulphate prior to selling greatly increase the seed manganese content although less than 20% of this manganese was recovered in the seedlings after 26 days.

• Sowing wheat 75mm deep compared to 40mm deep reduced crop establishment by up to 62% and wheat yield by up to 24%.
• Within the same variety small seed was much more sensitive to deep sowing than large seed.
• Corack and Mace were the least sensitive varieties to deep sowing in terms of yield.
• Growers should endeavour to use seed larger than 35 g/thousand seeds, especially if sowing into stressful conditions.

• Yield responses to seeding density and nitrogen rate varied between the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

• BannisterA achieved the highest grain yields and had consistent grain quality in both years compared with other varieties.

• In 2017 the new milling variety KowariA had a yield advantage over benchmark variety MitikaA, and had a more stable grain quality at higher seeding and nitrogen rates.
 

• New pre-emergence herbicides provided effective control of annual ryegrass under both knife point and disc systems.
• Good crop safety was observed with preemergence herbicides under knife-points; however, herbicide damage was evident under discs and was due to shallow seeding depth.

• There was no significant interaction between sowing time and phosphorus (P) in response in 2014 and 2015.
• Both sites and years responded positively to P fertiliser with 10kg P/ha achieving a relative yield of 88% and 97% in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
• Further research is required to determine if winter canola requires less applied P than slow spring phenology types (due to teh longer vegetative phase to accumulate biomass by flowering. 

• Increased nitrogen application rates equated to increased grain yield.
• Eary sowing had a grain yield advantage of 0.74t/ha averaged accross all varieties and nitrogen application rates.
• Corack was the highest yielding variety in this trial.
• Splittimg nitrogen application in the second time of sowing increased grain yield. 
• Grain protein concentration increased as nitrogen application rates increased.
• The highest protiens occured at the maximum nitrogen rate of 160kg/ha in Lancer, EGA_Gregory and SPitfire from the 12th May sowing. 

• Grain yeild was maximised by matching variety phenology with the correct sowing time to target the optimal flowring period.
• Early maturing spring types sown on 16 April suffered frost damage and reduced grain yeild as a result of higher moistuer and heat stress conditions at flowering. 
• The highest yielding variety was Sunvale (6.3t/ha) sown on 16 April.
• Beckon sown on 7 May yielded 6.2t/ha and Condo swn on 28 May yielded 4.9t/ha

• The variety Beckom sown on 5 May yielded highest (5.67 t/ha).
• Grain yield reductions up to 4t/ha occured when varieties were not sown at the correct time (due to flowering throughout August - September frost events).
• Greatest yield losses occured when quick maturing varieties were sown early rather than longer season varieties sown late.
• Winter wheats and very long springs spring wheats performed better in 2015 than 2014, presumably due to less aphid pressure (BYDV) in 2015. 
• Grain yield was maximised when winter wheats were sown early (mid-April) or mid to mid-fast varieties were sown in teh first week of May. If spring conditions had been favourable, the winter whaets may have outperformed the mid to mid-fast varities when sown in late May.
• Screening increased as sowing was delayed. 

• The highest grain yields were attained from mid May sowing accross all barley varieties.
• Longer-season varieties were high yielding in the 2016.
• Oxford acheived the highest grain yield for both sowing dates.
• Lodging was prevalent in 2016, significantly reducing grain yield oil susceptible varieties in the first sowing.

• For all varieties, the middle sowing date (4 December) resulted in higher grain yields than the early (11 November) or late (23 December) sowing dates.
• Varieties, N005A-80 and BidgeeA consistently achieved the highest seed protein concentrations.
• Varieties, SnowyA and BidgeeA achieved consistent seed protein concentrations across the three sowing dates, while later sowing dates reduced the seed protein of Djakal, N005A-80 and P176-2 varieties.

• The later sown canola resulted in greatly reduced yields and lower oil contents.
• Aphid pressure was moderate from flowering to podding but no spray was applied.

• Cooler spring temperatures and excellent plant available soil moisture, favoured the yield potential of longer season and mid maturing wheat varieties in 2016.
• The mid–late and mid-season bread wheat varieties SuntimeA, LRPB FlankerA, SuntopA, BeckomA, MitchA and EGA GregoryA all performed well from an April 27 sowing date (SD1) with yields >6.5 t/ha. The new long-season spring type SunmaxA, likewise achieved ~6.5 t/ha.
• The longer season bread wheat varieties LRPB KittyhawkA and SunlambA also demonstrated their yield potential, achieving yields >6 t/ha for SD1.
• Varieties that performed well across the three sowing dates included EGA GregoryA, MitchA, LRPB FlankerA, SuntopA and BeckomA.
• The new mid-fast season variety LRPB ReliantA yielded well from a main season and delayed sowing date.
• Warm autumn temperatures resulted in many spring wheat entries, particularly the more temperature responsive cultivars, reaching anthesis faster (days from effective SD to anthesis) for SD1 compared with SD2. LRPB LancerA for example was ~9 days faster to reach anthesis for SD1 vs SD2.
• The advanced durum line AGT D043 performed well, achieving yields comparable to the best performing durum DBA AuroraA and bread wheats from a main season sowing date.

• Grain yield was highest from the early sowing date (17 April) .
• Pioneer 44Y89 (CL) was the higest yielding variety.
• The early sowing treatments grew more total biomass and had a higher harvest index than the two later sowing dates.
• Pioneer 44Y89 (CL) had a better harvest index than all other varities in this experiment.

• It is critical to match sowing time with yield varietal phenology to optimise yield potential
• Longer-season varieties were high yielding in 2016 due to the extended grain filling period due to adequate soil moisture and mild spring temperatures
• There is a range of newer varieties with varied phenology with high yield potential 

• Sowing canola early highlights the inherent differences in phenology.

• Slow-developing varieties maintained consistent yield across all sowing dates (late March to late April), whereas fast-developing varieties achieved their highest yield from late April sowing.

• Early flowering (from sowing fast-developing varieties early) reduced yield potential and exposed those treatments to greater disease pressure.

• Early sowing exacerbated phenological differences between the varieties.
• The spread of days to reach 50% flowering within each time of sowing (TOS) varied by 35, 26 and 14 days in TOS 1, TOS 2 and TOS 3 respectively.
• The highest yield was acheived by Nuseed GT-50 (3.9 t/ha) sown on 1 May.
• Hyola 600RR was the highest yielding variety when averaged across all sowing dates.
• The sowing time had a neglible impact on grain yield. 
• The biomass at 50% flowering was greatest in TOS 2 (9.92 t/ha) followed by TOS 1 (7.93 t/ha) and TOS 3 (9.23 t/ha).
• There was strong correlation between biomass at maturity and grain yield, i.e. a higher biomass produced a higher yield.  

• Frost and terminal drought were key determining factors on barley grain yield and development at Condobolin in 2017.
• Selecting sowing date and varietal phenology maximised grain yield by timing flowering for the first week of September at Condobolin.
• Grain plumpness, as indicated by screenings and retention, can be adversely affected by late sowing dates in the absence of spring rainfall.

• Slower maturing varieties had the highest yields in 2016, uncharacteristic of long-term yield trends in central west NSW, where weather conditions typically favour shorter-season varieties.
• While anthesis date is a important contributor to yield, high rainfall and a long grain filling period diluted this association and was confounded by lodging, secondary tillering and waterlogging events.
• Highest yields were attained from the second sowing date (mid May), while late sowing dates suffered yield penalties due to poor plant establishment from waterlogging.  

Key findings:

• Sowing time had a huge effect on yield.
• Delaying sowing time reduced grain yield in all varieties across all nitrogen treatments. 
• Given profitability and return on investment 40 kg N/ha at sowing was the ideal rate of nitrogen.

• The combination of extra stored water (20mm) and early sowing (17 April) resulted in the highest grain yield in this experiment.
• Early sowing without extra stored water gave a higher yield than late sowing (4 May), regardless of teh irrigation treatment at the later sowing date.
• The extra grain yield from early sowing and irrigation was due to increased biomass accumulation and imprved harvest index.
• Oil concentration was low overall, but was higher from the early sowing (33.6%) than th elater sowing (30.5%).

• LBP10 - 0018 was the highest yielding variety sown on the 30th April (2.09 t/ha)
• Emu Rock was the highest yeilding variety sown on 22 May (1.72 t/ha) and 11 June (0.89 t/ha)
• Emu rock was the highest yielding variety (1.49 t/ha) when averaged accross all sowing times.
• Dry conditions during September and October contributed to the lower average yields in the 22 May  and 11 June sowing times

• Stubble height would appear to have a statistically significant effect on early lupin plant height.
• This effect, although trending towards a higher lower pod height on those plants, is not statistically significant in this trial.
• This trial had insufficient measurements taken to determine the mechanism that caused the plants growing in the tall residue to grow taller and have a higher first pod, and whether that led to an increase in yield.

• Sclerotinia stem rot levels were reduced with a single foliar fungicide applied at 10% and 30%, and multiple applications at the 30% and 50% bloom stages.
• Multiple applications at the 30% and 50% bloom stages had the most significant effect in reducing disease.
• Significant yield benefits were measured when multiple fungicide applications were applied during the growing season.

• There was very little activity from the soil active herbicides due to conditions at the site.
• The idea that higher rates of soil active herbicide might be able to be used with the wide row system was not available to be tested due to the overall lack of response to the herbicide treatments.

• Wheat following wheaten hay produced the highest grain yield, averaging 3.22 t/ha.
• The highest gross margin for the 4 years was from the standard rotation, which included field peas and canola.
• The greatest limitation to rotation productivity was from brome and barley grass, especially in the continuous cereal rotation.

• Wheat following wheaten hay produced the highest grain yield, averaging 3.22 t/ha.
• The highest gross margin for the 4 years was from the standard rotation, which included field peas and canola.
• The greatest limitation to rotation productivity was from brome and barley grass, especially in the continuous cereal rotation.

• Wheat following wheaten hay produced the highest grain yield, averaging 3.22 t/ha.
• The highest gross margin for the 4 years was from the standard rotation, which included field peas and canola.
• The greatest limitation to rotation productivity was from brome and barley grass, especially in the continuous cereal rotation.

• Wheat following wheaten hay produced the highest grain yield, averaging 3.22 t/ha.
• The highest gross margin for the 4 years was from the standard rotation, which included field peas and canola.
• The greatest limitation to rotation productivity was from brome and barley grass, especially in the continuous cereal rotation.

• Three field trials assessed the relative effectiveness of a range of products for correcting zinc deficiency in wheat.
• These trials were conducted during the 1996 growing season and were located in representative areas of the Lower Eyre Peninsula and Lower North regions of SA and the Wimmera of Vic.
• They were predicted to be Zn deficient but moderate responses to Zn fertilisers were recorded at only the two SA sites.
• Responses to Zn in grain yield at these two sites were too small to assess any relative differences between fertiliser sources but assessments of dry matter production and Zn uptake during the season allowed some relative comparisons to be made.
• The technique of spraying a zinc sulphate solution onto the soil surface and incorporating prior to seeding was the most effective technique at supplying Zn to the wheat crop under the conditions of these trials.
• Under the conditions of the trials reported here there was no clear evidence that DAP sources of Zn enriched fertilisers were less effective than MAP sources.
• However, the behaviour of these two different product types was not tested under severe Zn deficiency conditions.

Note Predecimal. However, all data are converted to for application kg/ha &

grain yield kg/ha.

Atleast 8 kg of bluestone (Cu sulfate) required for first year.

Application of 1 to 1.5 kg Zn oxide to red sandy earths, yellow earthy sands and leached grey sands is a "safe" policy.

 

• Several sites where the main soil is grey sand over a yellow gravelly sandy loam {Altas of Australian Soils sheet 5; CSIRO Division of Soils).
• Neither Cu nor Zn applied alone gave increase grain yield.
• Increased grain yield resulted where Cu & Zn were applied together
• Application of greater than 2.75 - 5.5 kg bluestone (Cu sulfate] and about 1.5 -2.0 kg Zinc oxide drilled with a cereal crop gave maximum yields
• Aerophos treatements with low Zn content showed extrememly low grain yield compared to super; illustrating the value of Zn in plain super.

• Reduced yield experienced on cultivation treatment with the drying out effect at seeding.
• More root biomass in the early part of the season with cultivation.
• With no sub soil moisture cultivation did not have the desired effects on yield.

 

• Evidence from this trial indicates that further investigation of fluid fungicides banded at sowing for crown rot management is warranted.
• Many treatments decreased crown rot incidence early in the season and in these treatments, the plants had increased vegetative bulk later in the season.
• Fungicide application reduced levels of crown rot DNA in the crop at maturity.
• Expression of crown rot symptoms in durum wheat and bread wheat were different, depending on the treatment applied

• The soil treatments investigated at these sites are considered to be ineffective for broad acre farming.
• Changes to nematode composition and microbial biomass were small and did not result in plant biomass production.
• Inprovements in the effectiveness of the soil treatments may occur when applied as seed dressings.

Applying gypsum can reduce soil pH and lower the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (C) to 30 cm depth within a year. Soils with pH > 9 will benefit most from gypsum. The solubilisation of soil organic C increased markedly at pH above 8.5. The availability of aluminium (Al) in soil increases at pH above 9. There was no significant effect of gypsum on the biomass or yields of crops within 2 years.

Applying gypsum can reduce soil pH and lower the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (C) to 30 cm depth within a year. Soils with pH > 9 will benefit most from gypsum. The solubilisation of soil organic C increased markedly at pH above 8.5. The availability of aluminium (Al) in soil increases at pH above 9. There was no significant effect of gypsum on the biomass or yields of crops within 2 years.

At Hart, higher N-fertiliser rate (180 and 240 kg N/ha) produced lower grain yields compared to lower N rates (0, 60 and 120 kg N/ha).

• The early growth of the sub-tropical grasses (panic grass, Rhodes grass) was slow and they appeared to have cold stress.  The seedlings were cold stress with all three TOS and they took a while to recover.
• An interesting observation was that the surrounding paddock was sown to a sub-tropical grass mix (Gatton panic and Rhodes grass) just before the 3rd time of sowing, however the early growth of the perennial seedlings in the paddock was superior to the small plot trials.  Gatton panic is apomictic (i.e. all plants are essentially clones), so any difference must be due to the environment.  In this case, the markedly stronger early growth and less cold damage maybe due to the improved nutrition from the fertilizer applied at seeding. 
• To evaluate whether there was a nutrient deficiency an application of fertilizer - 150 kg/ha of DAP plus 100 kg/ha of MOP was applied to half of each rep in mid-December in a split plot design.  Subsequently there has been little rainfall, so no opportunity to measure a response.
• By mid-February there was not a substantial difference between the three times of sowing for Rhodes grass and Gatton panic which makes sense as in effect the sub-tropical grasses all emerged in early to mid-September for all three TOS.  The only species to emerge in any numbers before the third TOS was perennial veldt grass. However, by mid-February about 35-40% of the veldt grass plants had died and many more plants were highly stressed and may die over summer –autumn.  Sowing veldt grass in late winter – early spring with the sub-tropical grasses may not work in that persistence over summer may be poor.  Perennial veldt grass is a C3 so does not have the same soil temperature requirements as the sub-tropical grasses (C4).  An autumn sowing may be more successful for veldt grass.
• The results from the TOS at Eneabba in 2012 suggest little or no advantage in early sowing of sub-tropical grasses in early August.  The optimum sowing window appears to be late August with more flexibility with Rhodes grass than Gatton panic for early sowing. 

Sowing into moist soil improved crop emergence compared to dry soil, but did not increase yield.

Under low and variable ryegrass pressure, herbicides did not reduce overall ryegrass density, but did reduce inter-row ryegrass density.

There was no difference in efficacy between the 1.5L/ha and 3.0L/ha of TriflurX®.

• Fungicides with different active ingredients had similar efficacy.
• Timing application was the most important factor in reducing sclerotinia stem rot development.
• Disease levels were reduced across all treatments, in particular at 30% bloom and the multiple applications at both 30% and 50% bloom stages.
• Yield increases were observed across all treatments, regardless of the fungicide’s active ingredients.

• Nitrous oxide losses following rainfall from a wheat crop sown into vetch stubble that was terminated in various ways in the previous year were low: ~ 1.5 g N/ha/day or less.

Although the N2O emissions did not seem to correlate with the rate of N fertilizer applied the demonstration did clearly show that despite extremely wet conditions at and soon after application N2O emissions are still relatively low (less than 10%) compared to irrigation sites. These emissions are likely to be well above average in this soil and rainfall indicating the emissions from N2O in these cropping systems is relatively insignificant. The demonstration will be conducted again in 2014 using several rates of Non a single soil type to get a clearerpicture of the variation in emissions.

• The levels of resistance reported are from targeted problem ryegrass paddocks and are not a true indication of the area's overall resistance status.
• There is a high level of ryegrass resistance to 'fop' chemicals in these tests.

• High operational speed reduced sowing depth of both disc and tyne openers.
• Counts of unsprayed (nil) annual ryegrass were greater for the tyne machine than the disc seeder at 8km/h and 14km/h.
• Within the applied herbicide treatments herbicide efficacy was fairly high. 
• all standing stubble and poor seed placement at 8km/h and 10km/h by the tyne machine severely affected crop establishment.
• At 14km/h the discs ability to penetrate the soil was greatly reduced, impacting sowing depth.
• Barley yields were higher for the disc sown treatments than the tyne sown treatments.

• Trial work with Southern Farming Systems over the past four years has demonstrated significant improvements in nitrogen efficiency from applying ENTEC treated urea to wheat crops, compared to untreated urea.
• The experiment this year showed no response to nitrogen, but did highlight some important tools for predicting the liklihood of nitrogen response.

• The trial showed up to a five-fold increase in dry matter at DC41 when 20 kg/ha of phosphorus was applied. This translated into a doubling of yield, despite waterlogging and stripe rust at the site.
• A low rate of P (5 kg/ha) did not provide a statistically significant yield response while higher rates (10 and 20 kg/ha) did.
• Soils continue to be highly responsirve to phosphorus even at higher Colwell P levels.
• There is some evidence of adequate phosphorus nutrition improving grain quality (screenings) through earlier maturity.

• Phosphorus rates of 10 and 20 kg/ha applied in various straight, compound, coated and liquid fertiliser forms were not found to result in any significant responses in grain yield or quality.
• Results were impacted by the failure to control a population of herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass at this trial site using both pre- and post-em herbicide options, resulting in a high variability between plot measurement.

Five different stubble additives were applied to standing stubble: commercial digestor with and without microbes, a Uni of Tas experimental brew with and without a sticker and ammonium thiosulphate. While there was a significant increase in fungal colonisation for some of the treatments there was no significant difference in the amount of stubble dry matter after 6 months i.e. the rate of stubble breakdown was comparable between all treatments. Differences in digestibility and fibre will be further evaluated.

A fertiliser additive was applied to standing stubble and compared with untreated stubble. The fertiliser additive was applied with and without a sticker or molasses. There was no significant difference in the amount of stubble dry matter remaining after 6 months i.e. the rate of stubble breakdown was comparable between all treatments. Similarly there were no consistent effects on feed and chemical
characteristics. Addition of nutrients and molasses did not improve intake by grazing sheep.

• Trials of potential new fodder shrub species at Minnipa and Piednippie have shown generally strong establishment and early growth.

• Best response with eNtrench was seen when applied early and IBS
• Highest yielding treatment was with 100L UAN applied at GS16
• No significant difference was found in protein results
• This is a difficult product to demonstrate using small plots as the benefit of nitrogen stabilisers is often shown improving the average result over a complete paddock.

A combination of fertiliser inputs and irrigation can rapidly breakdownincorporated cereal stubble and allow sowing 4 weeks later. Getting the balance of fertiliser, in particular N rates, to ensure rapid breakdown, but creating neither N deficiency or excessive N remains elusive.

Measuring soil organic carbon following incorporation is giving mixed results as to the ability to increase soil OC via incorporation with fertiliser

Burning the stubble gave greater yield and oil content

• In 2017 the removal of a high barley stubble load resulted in better medic plant numbers late in the season (September), and increased (but still very low) dry matter production.
• Heavy barley stubbles from harvesting either high or low resulted in similar medic regeneration.
• Treating heavy barley stubbles with either rolling, a light tickle or left standing did not change medic establishment or dry matter production in 2017.

There were no differences in medic regeneration in wheat stubbles either harvested at two heights, left standing or rolled.

• What are host farmers thoughts?

- The trial gave the Sparkman’s the knowledge that this method of regenerating salt land pastures was not effective and that clay seed ball dispersal by air would not be feasibly.
- How are farmers going to plant in these areas in the future?
- With less salt affected sites the clay seed ball method could work. The clay seed ball seeds germinated under Greenhouse conditions so that there is a possibility of germination in more favourable conditions.

• What is the prospect of clay ball seeding in the future?

- Clay ball seeding has been effectively used in the MurrayDarling river system pre the 2000 drought (ABC Landline story) and near Geraldton to grow Tagasaste on non wetting soils (personal communication - RH Logue).
- However the clay seed ball method may work with less salt affected sites.
This trial showed that regenerating salt land pastures by this method was not effective on the harsh sites at the Sparkman property.

The following report provides a handy technique for estimating pasture legume seed reserves in paddocks. The method involves simulating the season's break by watering an area of ground and counting the subsequent germinating of medic or sub clover plants.

• There was no significant difference in wheat yields following different pulse crops in 2004.
• The short season limited the potential differences being expressed.

• The highest yielding pulse in 2003 at Euabalong was field peas, followed by lupins and then vetch.
• All pulse crop gross margins were negative, reflecting the cost of seed, the cost of herbicides and the effect of drought on grain production.

• Field peas have proven to be the most reliable pulse option on the upper Eyre Peninsula with yields remaining the most stable across seasons.
• Under favourable conditions there is potential for alternative pulse crops to be successful.
• Paddock selection, soil type, time of sowing, pulse agronomy, marketing and storage options all need careful consideration when looking at growing alternative pulse crops.
• New varietal options offer earlier maturity as well as improvements in harvestability, disease resistance and herbicide tolerance over older commercial standards, aiding production and profitability.
• Higher value alternatives, such as lentils, may be a high risk option and pulse crops better suited to the region could still prove to be the most profitable option in the long term.

• Production of alternative pulse options to field pea in low rainfall regions has potential to be successful under favourable seasonal conditions providing essential production criteria are met.
• Some new varietal options offer earlier maturity as well as improvements in harvestability, disease resistance and herbicide tolerance over older commercial standards, aiding production and profitability.
• Field peas have proven to be a reliable option on the upper Eyre Peninsula and are likely to be a lower risk and more profitable option in seasonal conditions that are less favourable for alternative pulse options.
• Chickpeas are generally less suited to many cropping regions of South Australia, and with a change in the ascochyta blight pathogen growers need to carefully consider their risk to AB infection and ability to effectively control the disease, including in low rainfall regions.

• This and other research demonstrates that it is possible to improve crop establishment and productivity on water repellent soils using modified furrow sowing techniques.
• Banded wetting agents are helpful with early dry or partially dry sowing before opening rains but show less benefit later in the sowing program when there has already been rain and the soil has started to wet up more (see Banded wetting agent paper WMG 2012 research annual). In very erodible conditions with high wind erosion risk the use of this strategy may be safer than the options with winged points or boots due to less soil disturbance and release of root anchorage for existing plant cover. Optimal wetting agents for WMG areas still need identification.
• Winged points and winged-paired row systems perform better than knife points under certain soil conditions but the benefits are variable and in some sowing conditions may provide little benefit. Further research is required. Winged points look most attractive when shallow moist soil can be ‘delved’ to the seed zone to provide early establishment (as in the winged knife point on the gravelly sand with shallow moisture).
• Simple approaches like sowing next to or at a shallow angle across the previous year’s crop row and broadcast spreading a portion of the seed in front of the seeding tynes are relatively simple approaches that can provide establishment benefits.
•  

Good establishment and weed control is more important than varietal selection for productivity and persistence of lucerne • There was no significant difference in establishment or biomass production between lucerne varieties in 2007 and 2008 • This trial will continue in 2009 to further evaluate persistence and productivity

The aim of the trial was to investigate the use of variable rate liquid & urea applications and their impacts on yield & grain protein. The liquid N application of 120l/ha achieved 2.8T/ha yield and increased protein to 13% which was $199/ha higher return than the 120kg/ha of Urea treatment. The 120kg/ha Urea treatment yielded 2.6t/ha and was graded as H2 because of a protein level of 12.6%. In this case it was economic to use the liquid N rate of 120l/ha. There were no other economic impacts from this trial work.

We focussed on measuring paddock variability rather than implementing an actual variable rate trial. Soil pH mapping proved to be a valuable step towards variable rate lime with significant variability found, pH(CaCl2) varying from 4.0 to 7.1 across a 50ha paddock. A variable rate management approach to pH on this paddock would deliver a 75% saving of lime.