• Differences in C input (dry matter production plus any additions) between the treatments were 24 t/ha at Minnipa, and 31 t/ha at
• Poochera over the last two seasons.
• Wheat at Minnipa produced between 0.5 t/ha of stubble in a poor season (2008) and 8.8 t/ha in a good season (2009).
• Doubling the seeding rate of wheat at Minnipa produced 1.4 t/ha extra stubble compared to the wheat control in 2009.
• Barley and vetch brown manures produced the lowest dry matter at both sites.

• Third and final year of trials for the GRDC funded project ‘Southern Irrigated Cereal and Canola Achieving Target yields’ (DAN00198).
• Wheat and canola dual purpose trials were established at Bool Lagoon under irrigation.
• Seasonal conditions dictated the use of the dual purpose crops.
• Due to inundation trial results must be interpreted with caution.
• Variety specific agronomy packages will be developed from data collected over the duration of this project.

• Winter canola had greater DM production compared to spring canola.
• Time of sowing significantly influenced canola grain yields.
• Grazing Manning did not result in a yield penalty, but grazing Trojan wheat did; need to be careful not to graze outside of the “safe” grazing window.

Irrigated durum wheat can meet DR1 specification

The nitrogen requirement is approximately 50 kg N/t 

Growing durum wheat on a pulse stubble has both disease and nitrogen management benefits

- In 2015, only varietal differences were observed
- There were no significant effects on yield of fungicide management or plant growth regulator treatments
- Adjusting nitrogen management didn’t have an impact on yield; this was a common observation across both trials and farmer paddocks in 2014.

• The results of this trial suggest that there is good promise for ongoing improvement in oil extraction levels from canola and hence their worth to biodiesel (and other oil) markets.
• This trial also shows that the KI environment is conducive to high oil levels in canola which improves their relative value as an oilseed crop.

• Although not statistically validated a trend of either higher or lower NDVI’s in the centre of the tram tracks was observed on 7 of the 14 farms investigated.
• The trend to wider header fronts makes the practicalities of redistributing residue evenly back across the width of the header all the more difficult and may accelerate any rate of change in crop performance.
• In the short term CTF producers should target even redistribution of crop residue across header widths
• Further work is needed and the author would welcome collaboration from others in helping to design a future experiment and statistical analysis.

Wimmera had the greatest yield loss in the presence of weeds and produced the highest weed yield. Hindmarsh also produced the same weed yield. Both of these varieties should not be sown into weedy paddocks unless there is a good management strategy. Scope, Buloke and Compass were identified as very competitive varieties, with the least amount of yield loss and weed seed production. Generally, the presence of weeds reduced barley yields by 1.4t/ha on a 5.4t/ha crop (mean of all varieties).

• Two lontrel resistant biotypes have been identified in overseas vetch populations.
• Risk of resistance in Australian farming systems is low, but management practices to avoid lontrel resistant vetch should be implemented.
• Be more wary of wild vetch populations as opposed to volunteer vetch.

Crop stubbles provide a valuable feed source for stock over the summer period. The results from this trial indicate that grazing stubbles does not reduce either the amount of soil water stored during the summer fallow period or subsequent crop yield. In low rainfall environments, it is rarely possible to grow sufficient stubble to improve summer fallow efficiency by reducing evaporation (>5t/ha): growers should make use of this valuable feed source. Growers should maintain at least 70 per cent stubble cover (about 2t/ha of cereal stubble) to minimise the risk of wind erosion.

KI NRM Board staff are preparing environmental audits for each property which summarise all the environmental
issues (including flora and fauna) and water resources relating to each property. Six training sessions were held on the topics related to the project. The differing skills, backgrounds and experience of participants made it difficult to develop course material that was suitable for all participants. This was overcome by one to one discussions that addressed the information in a way that was more relevant to each individuals' needs.

The use of a Speed tiller to incorporate stubble did not appear to have any negative impacts in the mixed farming systems in the medium rainfall zone in the South-East of South Australia in a very dry season. There was high paddock variability, due to moisture stress, which would have impacted the results.

There are very few quick and easy ways of obtaining reliable information in the field for use in the management of legume nitrogen. The development of tools for this purpose awaits further research and innovation.

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

• At both trial sites due to very dry spring conditions and high levels of moisture stress no disease occurred last year. Hence there were no significant interactions between treatments at either site apart from an overall time of sowing difference which was reported on in the time of sowing by seeding rate experiment.

• Dry and hot spring conditions suppressed lentil plant growth at both sites.
• No foliar diseases occurred at either site and hence there was no response to fungicide treatments.
• However, variety and sowing time treatments did have an effect on grain yield and quality at both sites.

• Early sown lentils consistently out-yielding those sown later, as the heat wave event in early
  November compromised yield of late sown lentil crops by terminating seed fill prematurely.
• The 2009 data was inconclusive in determining whether foliar fungicides for BGM control
  can be delayed until after the canopy closure stage in situations where conditions are not
  conducive for disease development at canopy closure (ie less than 10oC at night and 18oC
  during the day).
• The rapid finish to the season favoured early maturing varieties PBAFlash and CIPAL610 at
  both sites, averaging 5-32% above site means across sowing dates.
• Canopy closure sprays with follow up sprays dependent upon disease observation were
  successful in reducing BGM in all varieties tested at Paskeville, even at the early sowing
  date.

• No disease was present in the trial this year, therefore no effects of fungicide management regime were seen.
• Trial was not harvested.

• No disease was present in the trial this year, therefore no effects of fungicide management regime were seen.
• Grain yields were less than 0.5 t/ha.

• The late break (11 June) and prevailing seasonal conditions were unfavourable for the spread of botrytis grey mould at both sites in 2005
• Traces of botrytis grey mould were found at both sites but had no impact on yield. A late season ascochyta blight outbreak did occur at Melton however control sprays may have been applied too late to induce a fungicide response.
• No significant difference was recorded between any of the different fungicide spray strategies between varieties or at different sowing times.

• A lack of foliar disease pressure, due to dry seasonal conditions, prevented the assessment of differing fungicide regimes on varieties in 2006.
• Previous agronomic trials and observations from evaluation trials suggest Nipper can be sown earlier than Nugget and Northfield without the need for high fungicide inputs due to its improved disease resistance.
• Further work on optimum sowing dates and fungicide strategies for maximising yield and quality of the large seeded green lentil type Boomer is still required.

• A drier than average growing season in 2012 meant that there was minimal disease in this trial, and grain yield was lower than in previous seasons.
• PBA Flash outyielded Nipper by 23% in this trial, demonstrating its better suitability in shorter seasons and more marginal growing areas compared to Nipper.

• The tolerance of Nipper and Boomer to commonly used herbicides in terms of grain yield was similar to Nugget.
• Herbicide treatments containing metribuzin applied PSPE, generally caused the greatest yield loss to all varieties.

• The take home message from the lentil production trial in a disease-free year is that lentils should to be sown prior to mid June, preferably in the late May to mid June period to achieve optimum yields.
• A difference of 1t/ha was achieved between sowing in late May compared to an early July sowing. However it must be remembered that with an early sowing if crops are reaching canopy closure in late winter/early spring then significant levels of disease could be expected under conditions conductive to disease.
• Fungicide applications made no improvements to yield regardless of fungicide type, application timing or the number of applications made.
• However, if the season had been wetter with a higher disease incidence, then crops may have benefited from one or more fungicide applications.

Lentil rolling is a relatively common practice in Wimmera/Mallee districts. Although several management techniques are advised when rolling lentils, after 2 years (2001 and 2003) of BCG trial work there seems to be no adverse affect on lentil growth or no yield reduction when rolling lentils at any stage of growth.

• Grain yields averaged approximately 25% higher in plots sown on 30 cm the row spacing system (standing stubble) compared with the 19.5 cm row spacing system.
• Varieties responded differently to changes in row spacing with yield improvements ranging from 15%-50%.

• Results from this experiment and previous research have proven that lentils can be successfully grown in southern NSW with sound agronomic planning and management.

• Across all varieties tested there was no significant difference between the 4 May and 20 May sowings, which validates the current sowing window recommendation from late April to mid May for the western region of southern NSW. Previous experiments have shown yield decline with a late May sowing.

• PBA Hurricane XTA, PBA Jumbo2 and PBA Bolt were the highest yielding commercial varieties, while PBA Ace was significantly lower yielding in this experiment, which is not consistent with previous research.

• There was a significant reduction in seed weight when sowing was delayed for all varieties except PBA Ace, which showed no significant effect.

• Earlier sowing generally resulted in highest yields. Similar to Minyip ,there were no major differences in yield with wider row spacings (30cm c.f. 19.5cm).
• However, an increase in pod height in the wider rows and standing stubble was only recorded at the second sowing date.

• Average grain yields across all varieties in retained stubble treatments (Slashed and Standing) were equal or greater than Removed stubble treatments in all years of testing.
• There was generally a greater yield response from the Standing treatment than the Slashed treatment.
•  The yield response from stubble retention was generally the greatest at the Late sowing date.

• PBA Ace and PBA Jumbo2 performed very well across a range of agronomic characteristics compared with the other varieties in this experiment. 
• Sowing time was a critical management factor in the 2015 season.
• Sow lentils in early to late May at 120 plants per square meter in the eastern cropping region of southern NSW to avoid yield penalties. 

• Sowing time is a critical management factor in this environment.
• Sow lentils in late April - 10 May in the south western cropping region of southern NSW.
• Target plant populations of 120 plants per square meter.
• Commercial lentil yields of 1,2-1,5 t/ha on acidic red brown earths of south western NSW are now realistic giving growers the confidence and economic viability to introdce the pulse into their cropping rotations.  

• Ascochyta blight- and botrytis grey mould-resistant red lentil variety, Nipper, available for higher rainfall areas.
• Green lentil, Boomer, available for farmers but must be harvested early to maximise yield and seed quality.
• Good lentil management is beneficial in most years, irrespective of rainfall.

Paddock selection, disease management, variety selection and marketing are important to maximising profitability from lentils.

Lentil yields were poor in 2004 due to dry conditions, mainly through October, combined with high temperatures and frost during the reproductive period. Trial data were unreliable for many sites and variety selection should be based on long term data. Disease was not a major issue in 2004 but seed from the Horsham trial site had high levels of infection by ascochyta blight and diligence must be maintained in disease management.

Note: CIPAL203 was resistant to botrytis grey mould and ascochyta blight and is suited to medium rainfall areas such as the Wimmera. CIPAL411 and CIPAL415 have improved salt tolerance. CIPAL402 is moderately resistant to botrytis grey mould and ascochyta blight and is a larger seed size than Matilda.

• Paddock selection, disease management, variety selection and marketing are important in maximising profitability from lentils.
• Nugget has excellent yield potential in the Wimmera. Nugget, Cassab, Digger and Cobber are the best varieties for the Mallee.
• Cassab, Digger and Nugget are the best varieties where botrytis grey mould is a serious threat and Northfield is the best variety where ascochyta blight cannot be controlled.

Ascochyta blight and botrytis grey mould resistant red lentil variety Nipper and the green lentil. Boomer are now available for farmers (AWB Seeds). Good lentil management is beneficial in most years, irrespective of rainfall.

• The AB isolate caused a moderately susceptible disease reaction in unprotected (Nil) plots on varieties which are currently rated as being MR (PBA Blitz) and MR/MS (Nipper, Nugget and PBA Greenfield) which indicates a change in virulence of the AB isolate resulting in a loss of foliar AB resistance in these varieties.
• Research conducted by SARDI Pathology group and reported elsewhere (Pulse Diseases 2017, GRDC Updates 2017 proceedings) has shown that the AB isolate tested in the current trial, caused susceptible reactions in PBA Hurricane XT and disease reactions in PBA Ace and PBA Bolt when tested under controlled environmental conditions. This results were however not confirmed under field conditions in the current trial.
• The current results suggest that there is a change of virulence in the AB pathogen which may be causing a loss in foliar resistance on varieties currently rated as being relatively resistant. The AB isolate tested was collected from the high intensity lentil producing area in the Yorke Peninsula region in SA.
• Protection of the plant foliage through application of fortnightly Chlorothalonil significantly increased yield in the most susceptible variety, PBA Flash (76 %) over unprotected (Nil) plots.
• Grain yields were also improved in varieties that had moderate disease reactions together with those varieties that showed no disease symptoms, indicating the importance of fungicide sprays in not only controlling disease but also enhancing plant growth.
• All commercial lentil varieties should be managed as having potential for risk from foliar AB especially under favourable conditions that promote disease. Varieties will need close monitoring for disease during the growing season and strategic fungicide sprays will be required in all varieties even in the absence of disease symptoms particularly in varieties rated as having foliar resistance to AB pathogen.

• PBA Ace and PBA Jumbo2 performed very well across a range of agronomic characters, compared to the other varieties tested in this experiment.
• Sowing time was a critical management factor in the 2015 season.
• Sow lentil early to late May in the eastern cropping region of southern NSW.
• Target establishment densities of 120 plants m2 in this environment.

Management practices influence microbial activity by altering carbon availability and conditions reflecting rapid changes in the biological function of the soil, although the reserach is still in the preliminary stages this has been highlighted where increased microbial biomass and nutrient availability was associated with plots receiving high amounts of organic matter.

• For the first time sheep grazing behaviour in a Mallee paddock was monitored and mapped using GPS tracking collars.
• Sheep grazed the entire stubble paddock as they sought out spilt grain during the summer fallow, but they preferred to graze on sandy soil types first.
• While grazing a vetch pasture in the same paddock, livestock spent 50% of the time grazing only 25% of the paddock and 25% of the paddock was not utilised. (iv) At least $4000 profit was foregone from the paddock through the under-utilisation of the vetch pasture.
• Within-paddock fencing technology in large Mallee paddocks has the potential to capture this potential profit by improving feed utilisation.

• For the first time sheep grazing behaviour in a Mallee paddock was monitored and mapped using GPS tracking collars.
• Sheep grazed the entire stubble paddock as they sought out spilt grain during the summer fallow, but they preferred to graze on sandy soil types first.
• While grazing a vetch pasture in the same paddock, livestock spent 50% of the time grazing only 25% of the paddock and 25% of the paddock was not utilised.

• Lodging is becoming a significant problem in rice as growers push for maximum grain yields, but some varieties are more prone to lodging than others.

• Management practices such as drill sowing, reduced sowing rate, reduced pre-permanent water nitrogen rate and draining on time reduce the potential for lodging.
 

Five management strategies were compared: stubble fully retained (SFR); cut and baled (SCB); incorporated with Lemkin discs (Lemkin); Burnt; and stubble digester applied with stubble incorporated. Increased ground cover resulted in large delays in establishment.The different stubble treatments had no significant effect on grain yield.Some long term benefits from full retention of stubble are already evident with significant increases in earthworms and a trend towards decreased resistance to root penetration.

• No till treatments have been higher yielding and more profitable in continuous cropping rotations. Cultivation has increased yield and profit in 18 month fallow rotations.
• Two cereals followed by a break crop of either fieldpeas or canola no till has been the most profitable rotation. Interestingly 16 years continuous wheat has not been too far behind.
• Weed spectrum and numbers have changed dramatically within rotations and tillage methods. Interestingly no till treatments have hosted less weeds than cultivated treatments.
• One year of no pre emergent herbicide has taken the trial back 6 years and allowed large numbers of ryegrass to again become established and set seed.

This first year study has shown that the adoption of a strategic tillage practice (one-way plough) provided a significant improvement in terms of crop establishment and grain yields on a moderately repellent sandy gravel. The adoption of other agronomic options, such as paired-row sowing or wetters, in this instance did not provide any noticeable improvement in comparison to the control treatments. In fact, in one case (wetter 1), the cost of the treatment was not covered by the yield increase.

Without doubt, the tillage proved to be the most effective treatment for reducing SWR but at this stage it is not possible to evaluate the extent to which this improvement alone contributed to the significant increase in yields.

With this long term experiment, we expect the following seasons to give us more information to better understand what changes drive the yield increase and possibly the potential longevity of these improvements.

• Five stubble management strategies were compared: fully retained, cut and baled, burnt and incorporated with Lemkin or offset discs. 
• Grain yield from the burnt plots was significantly higher compared with stubble retained (fully retained and cut and baled) and both incorporation treatments were significantly higher yielding than where stubble was fully retained. It is likely that this effect is a result of increased stubble from retained treatments leading to poorer plant establishment.
• Fully retained stubble resulted in significant soil improvements i.e. increased soil moisture (particularly early in the season), higher invertebrate and microbial populations and improved soil physical characteristics.
• Rain at the end of the season may have masked potential yield benefits from improved soil moisture with retained stubble treatments.   

• Five stubble managmenet strategies were compared: fully retained; fully retained with higher sowing rate; cut and baled; burnt and incorporated with Lemken discs.
• Fully retained stubble resulted in some soil improvements such as increased worm populations.
• Grain yield from plots where stubble was retained (fully retained ad cut and baled) tended to produce higher yields compared with plots where stubble was burnt. The wet season and irrigation may have masked any greater potential yield benefits from plots with retained stubble.

In the first growing season, the one-off tillage treatments showed to reduced significantly the water repellency of the soil. Significantly better plant establishment and grain yield were obtained in all the tillage treatments. In terms of grain yield, better results were achieved with the tillage treatments that mixed the soil more efficiently, such as the “Deep ripping + Spading” and the “Mouldboard plough” treatments. The “Deep ripping” treatment, which effectively targeted only subsoil compaction, provided the lowest improvements in terms SWR and the lowest grain yield.

The greatest profit in the first growing year was achieved using the “Modified one-way plough” thanks to its low capital cost which reduces its operating cost. Nonetheless, further growing season will be necessary to establish its long term profitability in comparison to the “Deep ripping + Spading” and the “Mouldboard plough” treatments.

Changes in the soil pH profile were also observed after the tillage treatments, with increased acidity in the topsoil. That was particularly the case with the “Mouldboard plough” treatment and the management of soil pH with addition of lime after the tillage needs to be considered.

We expect the next four growing seasons to give us more information to better understand the long term effects of these soil modifications on soil productivity.

 

• Crop water use and soil analysis values were very similar between the sites comparing long term reduced tillage and stubble retention.
• Reduced tillage and stubble retention has significantly contributed to increasing organic carbon levels at these sites.
• The grain yields of wheat were greatest at the sites with higher water use efficiency for each location.

• Crop water use and soil analysis values were very similar between the sites comparing long term reduced tillage and stubble retention.
• Reduced tillage and stubble retention has significantly contributed to increasing organic carbon levels at these sites.
• The grain yields of wheat were greatest at the sites with higher water use efficiency for each location.

• Crop water use and soil analysis values were very similar between the sites comparing long term reduced tillage and stubble retention.
• Reduced tillage and stubble retention has significantly contributed to increasing organic carbon levels at these sites.
• The grain yields of wheat were greatest at the sites with higher water use efficiency for each location.

• Autumn removal of lucerne significantly decreased subsequent winter crop yields compared to spring removal of lucerne.
• Crops sown after spring removal of lucerne yielded the same as the crops grown in a continuous crop rotation.
• The crop yield penalty from autumn removal only lasts for one year.
• Apart from Grazon, all other herbicide treatments gave unacceptable lucerne control.
• Cultivation in combination with other herbicides will increase lucerne control by  20 to 30%. 
   

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

NVT is a national program of comparative crop variety testing with standardised trial management, data generation, collection and dissemination. The program is supported by the Australian Government and growers through the Grains Research Development Corporation and is managed by the Australian Crop Accreditation System Limited.

• This trial demonstrates that the varieties trialed have the potential to react differently to sowing time and row spacing in the higher rainfall environment and in the favourable growing season of 2010.
• The development of specifically tailored management packages designed to maximise yield of each variety will be developed with the continuation of this trial over the coming years.

Using a combine harvester to manage stubble at harvest was expensive and exposed crops to greater risk of weather damage.  Harvesting tall and inter-row sowing was the cheapest form of stubble management and also gave good establishment.  Burning is cheap and effective at removing stubble, and allowed excellent establishment and greater early vigor for competition with weeds, but may not suit all paddock types.

• In 2017, don’t let stubble compromise the big things (weeds, disease, timeliness).

• The Seeder Demonstration enabled a large number of farmers to see and compare a wide range of seeding equipment in the one paddock on the same day.
• Machine depth and accuracy of seed placement affected plant establishment.
• A germination test is a simple process and can result in significantly better plant establishment.
• An incorrectly calibrated or set-up precision seeder will result in poor germination rates and potentially reduced yield.
• A well calibrated and set-up conventional seeder or knife point and press wheel seeder will result in good plant establishment rates and good yields.
• Cultivation had a negative effect on plant establishment.
• Prickle Chaining had a negative effect on plant establishment.
• Precision Seeders showed better plant establishment due to better seed placement, however this did not uniformly translate into a yield benefit.

• Allowing weeds to grow during summer reduced subsequent wheat yield by more than 50 percent
• Provided summer weeds were controlled, other surface treatments (slashed stubble, standing stubble, cultivation, bare earth) had little effect on crop yield
• Controlling summer weeds is one of the most cost-effective input investments available to growers in the Mallee, returning $5 for every $1 invested in this demonstration.

The benefits of controlling traffic for yield in the Mallee are uncertain, but could potentially be determined quite easily. However, the benefits for management and input costs should be similar to those experienced by southern Queensland and northern New South Wales controlled traffic farmers.

In years with high summer rainfall, growing break crops is low risk and is an effective management strategy for reducing weeds, while growing profitability. Two year breaks are better than one at achieving favourable returns and reducing brome grass populations. The best brome grass control and gross margins were achieved by two year rotations of Clearfield canola/vetch and continuous Clearfield wheat followed by wheat.

• Increasing row spacing reduced plant establishment and shoot densities but this was notreflected in reductionsin grain yield at widerrow spacing treatmentsin droughtstressed trial environments: there were no statistically significant differences in grain yield between any of the row spacing treatments.
• Key management decisions for optimising production were variety choice (at all sites) and nitrogen management (Curyo).
• At Curyo, barley varieties responded differently to row spacing, nitrogen timing and combinations of row spacing and nitrogen.
• Varying pre-emergent herbicide did not effect yield at Manangatang or Jil Jil.
• Variety yield performance was consistent with long-term National Variety Trial data (Hindmarsh, Buloke performing well, Commander and SloopVic performing poorly in dry environments).

Variety choice was the management decision with the highest impact on grain yield and gross income compared to other management considerations.

•  Glyphosate was unable to control glyphosate resistant annual ryegrass on fencelines.
• Addition of other herbicides to glyphosate products improved control, but was still not effective.
• Two applications of Spray.Seed, Spray.Seed plus diuron or Alliance were the best registered treatments. 
   

Later grazing may have benefits in severely frost prone areas, but in the event that there is no frost, yield will be compromised. Grazing has successfully delayed flowering date and for the early grazing it would appear that there is roughly a 1 day delay in flowering for 2 days grazing.

Later grazing may have benefits in severely frost prone areas, but in the event that there is no frost, yield will be compromised. Grazing has successfully delayed flowering date and for the early grazing it would appear that there is roughly a 1 day delay in flowering for 2 days grazing.

• At present, group A herbicide resistance in barley grass is relatively low at a district level on the EP. However, growers need to act now to integrate multiple control tactics to prolong the effectiveness of these cheap and effective herbicides.
• In the absence of group A herbicides, it is still possible to achieve large reductions in barley grass seed bank in a legume pasture phase.
• When using moderate efficacy-low cost herbicides (Treflan + Logran) for barley grass control in wheat, effective control of the weed in previous pasture phase was critical.

• Increasing incidence of barley grass in cropping paddocks in southern Australia is likely to be associated with selection of more dormant biotypes by weed management practices used by growers.
• In some districts, barley grass management is now being complicated by the evolution of group A resistance. However, there appear to be several effective potential herbicide alternatives for barley grass control in broadleaf crops.
• Integrated weed management strategies are critical to delay onset of herbicide resistant barley grass.

• Rhizoctonia sererity was low in 1993.
• Cultivation of dry soil did not reduce the impact of rhizoctonia.
• Shallow sowing (2.5cm) may predispose plant roots to rhizoctonia.

At Kinnabulla, the best reduced tillage system to control rhizoctonia and increase yield was to cultivate, 5 to 10 cm below seed depth, in the week before sowing.

• The key to long term Rhizoctonia disease control is to keep inoculum in the soil low in the crop and pasture phases and increase the ability of crops to tolerate the infection (create environments where plant infection is reduced and plant tolerance to infection improved).
• The success of available disease control strategies, e.g. soil disturbance, fertilizer addition or fungicides is greatest at low to medium inoculum levels and their effectiveness declines as inoculum levels increase or where disease suppressive activity is low.
• Overall, effective control of rhizoctonia disease in cereal crops requires both the reduction of the pathogen inoculum in the soil prior to seeding and control of the infection process in the crop itself. This has to be achieved through management practices spread over more than one cropping season and through an integrated management strategy.

• If crown rot is a concern, conduct a DNA test before sowing a susceptible cereal in 2007.
• Break crops and grass free fallows are still the best practice for reducing crown rot inoculum levels.
• If inoculum levels are high, it will take at least two years free from grass and volunteers, to reduce levels significantly.

• Crown rot has become an important disease to manage in Victorian wheat crops.
• A soil test can be used to identify paddocks most at risk of crown rot.
• In the presence of medium crown rot levels crop losses can be reduced by chosing tolerant crops.

• The nitrogen application strategy that maximised grain yield was not always the same strategy to minimise nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions.
• While nitrogen applied at GS31 maximised wheat yield following field pea it produced 10 times higher emissions compared to the same application at seeding.
• The pattern and concentration of N2O emissions were similar for wheat following field pea or canola.

(i) Managing slug populations is unlikely to be successful unless both cultural and chemical control strategies are used. (ii) Research has found burning, light cultivation and rolling improves slug control. (iii) Control measures must be carried out before slug damage is observed. (iv) Paddocks with a previous history of slug damage are always a good place to start monitoring in a susceptible crop like canola. (v) Slug bait should be applied at a rate to provide sufficient bait points per m2 relative to slug populations in the paddock. (vi) Check the accuracy of your bait spreader to make sure there is an even distribution of bait across the spreading width. This width may not be the same as the width you spread urea. (vii) Identify slug species present in a paddock for the most effective control. Different species demonstrate different behaviours.

• Snail management is a three phase operation, occurring post harvest, during the growing season and at harvest.
• Knowing how many snails of each type and size are present is critical if appropriate management is to be applied.
• Snail density - above 30/m2 bait should be applied.

• Incorrect identification could be costly as with Take all and Crown rot require different management.
• Check the bases of plants for symptoms, don’t rely on whiteheads (which need not even be disease related).
• Even where whiteheads are not present, significant yield losses can occur.
• Know the risk of yield loss in your paddocks before sowing. For 2012 crops, this will mean sending summer/autumn soil samples to the Predicta B testing service for analysis.
• The most effective management tool for both diseases is host-free breaks.
• Where old cereal rows have medium to high inoculum levels, sowing between those old rows can reduce yield losses from these diseases, but only if the inter-row has low levels of inoculum.
• When Take-all inoculum levels are medium to high, the best option is a 12 month break from hosts. If susceptible cereals must be sown, keep the paddock(s) weed free and sow the atrisk paddock(s) last in the cereal cropping program.
• When crown rot inoculum levels are medium to high, the best option is a break from hosts (2-3 years may be needed). If cereals must be sown then barley is least likely to show yield loss, followed by oats and bread wheat. Do not apply excessive nitrogen early in the season.

Barley can be successfully grown on retained wheat stubble, but it is advisable to burn wheat stubble when growing wheat on wheat. If stubble is retained then Yellow Leaf Spot can be a devastating disease in a wet winter. The most important management practices when growing a cereal on cereal are as follows:

• Select paddocks with low numbers of grass weeds.
• Retain wheat stubble for barley, burn the stubble for wheat.
• Control summer weeds to ensure summer rainfall can be used by the crop.
• Use varieties with good disease resistance such as Silverstar or Krichauff.
• Disease - select paddocks with low disease pressure (monitor the previous crop) and DNA test the paddock prior to sowing.
•  Apply sufficient nitrogen for a good crop (soil test to know how much to apply).
• Barley on barley can lead to serious problems with leaf diseases such as net blotch.

• There was no effect on barley yield from applying lime in this experiment, despite the low soil pHCa of 4.5, potentially due to the low levels of exchangeable aluminium in the soil.
• The highest yield came from planting either Compass or La Trobe on 8 May, applying 80 kg/ha of nitrogen (N) at sowing. Applying N did not increase grain yield in the 28 May sowing treatments.
• The acid tolerant barley variety Litmus yielded less than Compass or La Trobe from the 8 May sowing. Delayed sowing reduced the grain yield of Compass and La Trobe, but not of Litmus.
• Applying phosphorus (P) (20 P kg/ha) did not increase grain yield at either sowing time.

• Trial work funded by GRDC via the Southern Pulse Agronomy Program.
• Early sowing of beans in 2016 at Bool Lagoon did not increase grain yields.
• Agronomic treatments applied at Conmurra in 2016 did not alter plant canopy size or plant architecture.
• Trial planning for 2017 is underway.

Canola can be successfully grown on cereal stubble if the stubble is removed and nutritoin (especially N) is adequte.

• The decline in ryegrass has been greater after field peas.
• The high intensity herbicide strategy was the most effective option in both rotations.

Whilst most of the herbicide strategies in field peas and canola were effective against ryegrass, resistant-survivors still were present late in the season. The seed set contribution of these individuals to the seedbank will not be fully realised until seedbank sampling is again undertaken in April of this year.

Whilst most of the herbicide strategies in field peas and canola were effective against ryegrass, resistant-survivors still were present late in the season. The seed set contribution of these individuals to the seedbank will not be fully realised until seedbank sampling is again undertaken in April of this year.

• Results from this study, clearly demonstrated that sowing timing is important. For example, delayed sowing (30 June vs 9 May) reduced the grain yield potential for EGA GregoryA by 1.75 t/ha or ~24%.
• Agronomic management factors that affected yield potential from the early sowing time (9 May) included response to nitrogen (N) input (~9% variation), with genotype and crown rot disease pressure both individually accounting for ~8% variations in grain yield.
• When the time of sowing was delayed to 30 June, agronomic factors had a larger impact/variation on grain yield potential. With both genotype (variety selection) and crown rot disease pressure responsible for a 13% variation/decline in grain yield.
• Delayed sowing also affected yield response to N with no increase in grain yield potential due to N input, whilst targeted plant population affected grain yield, with the low population treatment accounting for ~9%
   

• Early sown (10th April) SQP Revenue was significantly more responsive than Manning to a programme of agrichemicals for foliar disease and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus control (BYDV)
• Ungrazed SQP Revenue gave a significant 0.66 t/ha response to a two spray fungicide programme and a further 0.28 t/ha response to an additional insecticide programme for BYDV control, compared to a maximum response of 0.39 t/ha for both fungicide and insecticide for Manning
• Simulated grazing did not significantly reduce yield with either cultivar and gave an average dry matter benefit of 1.89 t/ha with laxed grazing at GS16 & GS30 and 2.39 t/ha with laxed grazed followed by a hard grazing at the GS30
• Leaf rust Puccinia triticina which was the principal disease in the trial was at significantly higher levels in SQP Revenue than Manning and required two foliar fungicides to give control
• In SQP Revenue grazing was not an effective control measure for leaf rust control compared to an early GS31 fungicide when assessed at flag leaf
• At the Westmere site, simulated grazing reduced grain yield by 0.2-0.5 t/ha compared to 1.7 t/ha dry matter removed by grazing
• Low levels of disease at this site did not allow the hypothesis that grazing reduces disease pressure to be tested. 

Apart from the groups continuing to roll out the results of this project there will be further development in two main areas:

• THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SIMPLE TOOL FOR FARMERS AND CONSULTANTS TO USE WITH THEIR OWN FIGURES TO ASSESS VARIOUS DECISIONS,.AND
• THE FURTHER APPLICATION, WITH CSIRO TO USE THE TOOL TO ASSESS RESEARCH RESULTS IN TERMS OF THEIR IMPACT ON PROFIT AND RISK ON FARM”.

The occurrence of frost and subsequent frost damage to grain crops is a complex phenomenon. The factors affecting frost damage in wheat crop include seasonal conditions (temperature, humidity, and wind), soils characteristics (topography, soil type), variety (maturity and flowering window) and agronomic management (sowing date, row spacing, and seed and fertiliser inputs). In 2012, frost had significantly damaged and reduced the grain yield for all varieties at two different sowing dates at Wickepin. On average the later sowings (8 June) yielded 1 t/ha greater than the earlier sowings (18 May). Comparatively longer season varieties such as Magenta and Calingiri flowered late, avoided some of frost damage and yielded the highest at both sowings. Preliminary results indicate varieties differed in their relative performance and resilience (i.e. ability to yield) in response to stresses of radiant frosts in both time of sowings. More comprehensive results on variety performance and frost damage will be available after measuring grain quality and sterility estimates.

• Cropping frequency and ryegrass resistant to Group A herbicides have mutually increased in HRZ
• Long-term management of Group A-resistant ryegrass can be achieved where appropriate crop phases and herbicide strategies are utilised; the first year is crucial when weed density is highest
• Seasonal influences can impact management, ryegrass is a prolific seed producer and failure to provide effective control in wetter years (i.e. 2016) can lead to large rebound in weed infestation; consider tactics like crop-topping and windrow burning that offer an opportunity to reduce seed set

Hostile subsoils can significantly constrain crop growth and water use in the Mallee and Wimmera. Although the subsoil constraints are effectively fixed, the impact they have on grain yields can vary markedly with crop type and seasonal conditions (particularly the pattern of rainfall). Electromagnetic survey (EM) techniques offer the potential to assess the distribution and extent of subsoil constraints within a paddock. Management options however are currently limited and the most financially viable strategy may be to ‘live with the problem’ where inputs such as N fertiliser are limited and crop selection restricted to more tolerant types and varieties.

Hostile subsoils can significantly constrain crop growth and water use in the Mallee and Wimmera. Although the subsoil constraints are effectively fixed, the impact they have on grain yields can vary markedly with crop type and seasonal conditions (particularly the pattern of rainfall). Electromagnetic survey (EM) techniques offer the potential to assess the distribution and extent of subsoil constraints within a paddock. Management options however are currently limited and the most financially viable strategy may be to ‘live with the problem’ where inputs such as N fertiliser are limited and crop selection restricted to more tolerant types and varieties.

This trial was sown early in May, however despite this relatively early sowing date the longer maturing varieties did not perform significantly better than mid maturing varieties. 

For further information please see attached trial report.

From this trial:

• Soil applications from 2015 were poorly effective at improving grain yield. Foliar applications of sulphate increased yield by about 1t/ha. Best yield increases of more than 2t/ha were achieved with a combination of soil and foliar applications. 

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• The site was severely deficient in Cu for wheat. 
• Under these severely deficient conditions, soil applications of Cu were poorly effective compared to foliar sprays but fluid applications performed better than Cu enriched granular fertilisers.  However, soil applications of Cu can persist for decades.
• There was no evidence that a chelated source of Cu as a foliar spray was more effective than a sulphate source and less Cu seemed to end up in the grain with the chelated source.
• A single foliar spray of Cu prior to flowering is often sufficient to protect a cereal crop from Cu deficiency but under the severe deficiency encountered in 2015, two foliar sprays were necessary to overcome the problem completely (one at first node, the second prior to flowering).
• Cu deficiency can make a crop more sensitive to adverse conditions.  In this trial, the hot drying conditions of the early October weekend, severely scorched all plots with no or poorly effective Cu management strategies.
• The soil and leaf tests taken during this trial support that the current guidelines for Cu deficiency are still relevant to modern farming systems and varieties.  A DTPA Cu level in soil of less than 0.3 ppm in the top 10 cm is considered deficient, and 1.3 ppm Cu in YEBS is considered very deficient for wheat.

From the whole project:

Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.

Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.

No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.

Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.

Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial: 

• No crop response to the addition of copper. Soil and plant tests not in the deficient range.

From the whole project: 

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.
•  

From this trial:

• No crop response to the addition of Manganese. Plant tests not in the deficient range.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.

From this trial:

• No change in crop performace with the addition of Manganese. As a foliar spray, sulphate was as effective as an EDTA chelate at increasing leaf manganese at Z30. Halving the recommended rate of sulphate decreased leaf manganese levels.

From the whole project:

• Current guidelines are still relevant and effective for TE management.
• Some current interpretations of soil tests are causing issues - the suggested levels to avoid deficiencies are much higher in some lab reports than is our experience from field trials. These are creating false impressions of the extent and severity of Zn and Cu deficiencies.
• No evidence of a major increase in the incidence or severity of TE deficiencies in the cropping zones.
• Fluid delivery of TEs at seeding is a valid management strategy but rates of the target TE need to be the same as used with compounded fertilisers.
• Generally, all sources of foliar TE were equally effective.