• The Hybrid CL, TT and RR canola varieties performed extremely well in this trial site in 2012.
• A combination of hybrid vigour, superior yields and superior oil content made the hybrid varieties the top performers in each of the herbicide systems tested, even in light of the higher seed costs.

The use of trifluralin as part of an integrated herbicide management program for the control of Group A resistant annual ryegrass populations has increased dramatically over the past decade. The requirement of incorporating Triflur 480 within 4 hours of application has imposed management issues during the busy sowing period, however, the advent of Crew (a slow release trifluralin formulation) offers greater management flexibility with an incorporation period of 24–48 hours.

Ungarra Site: No different in yields (grain or dry matter) between any of the treatments (ie seeder had no effect)

Overall the results returned from this trial were confounded by low growing season rainfall and high temperatures during spring. This was reflected in the poor seed yields and significant variation across the treatment replicates reducing the confidence with which results can be drawn from the data.

Note: This trial was an unreplicated demonstration with observations/assesments based on one plot per treatment only, and as such results may not be definitive.

• High sowing rates (120kg/ha) and narrow row spacing (17cm) had the highest yield in all wheat varieties tested.
• The results were repeatable over two dry seasons (1997 and 1998).

Increased use of grass selective herbicides in many farming systems has caused increased selection pressure for herbicide resistance in grass weed populations such as annual ryegrass and brome grass. Work conducted by Bill Roy (Agricultural Consulting & Research Services Pty Ltd, York) with GRDC support demonstrates that managing herbicide resistance requires a diversified approach using a number of different tools. Manipulating canopy through seeding rates and row spacing is one of the options being explored by the BCG.

Increased use of grass selective herbicides in many farming systems has caused increased selection pressure for herbicide resistance in grass weed populations such as annual ryegrass and brome grass. Work conducted by Bill Roy (Agricultural Consulting & Research Services Pty Ltd, York) with GRDC support demonstrates that managing herbicide resistance requires a diversified approach using a number of different tools. Manipulating canopy through seeding rates and row spacing is one of the options being explored by the BCG.

• The overall performance of Frame and Silverstar was much better than for Ouyen.
• In this very dry year, higher sowing rates at narrow row spacing gave the highest yields for Frame and Silverstar.
• Ouyen performed better at higher sowing rates at wider spacings.

Magenta yeilded higher than Mace in Both seeding systems.

• Single row yielded higher than twin row at Binnu, also looked much healthier (better) through-out the season. This has not been a consistent observation in other research trials. Likely cause is poor P nutrition due to fertiliser placemnt in twin row and low P site.
• Increasing seeding rates reduced the yield potential of Magenta. In contrast, plant desities of 150 plants/m2 were the most productive for Mace.

• The extremely late break to the season highlighted maturity differences very clearly.
• Yield varied from 2.2 -4.0t/ha.
• Protein varied from 13.9% (Mitika, Echidna) to 15.7% (Quoll). Highlighting the potential for oats in a feedlot ration. Mitika has low lignin content (hull) and Quoll has medium lignin (hull) content.
• Screenings varied from 18.0% (Quoll) to 32.1 % (Potoroo). High values were because of the short growing season.
• The test weight varied from 47.6kg/hl (Potoroo) to 54.9kg/hl (Mortlock). Relatively low seed weights confirmed the short season trend shown by high protein and high screenings values.

• Conserving summer rain is one of the most effective ways of improving crop yield.
• Summer weeds have the biggest impact on how much summer rain is stored and made available to crops.
• The presence of stubble has never been shown to have a large positive effect on the storage of summer rain in southern Australia, but it might lengthen the sowing window after the break and improve establishment.

• Weeds have the biggest impact on summer water storage.
• Over the last two summers, the method of weed control had little effect on moisture storage
• Even under adequate growing season rainfall, weed control is necessary because weeds tie up and/or prevent significant amounts of nitrogen mineralizing, which cost 0.5t/ha of the canola yield.

Controlling summer weeds conserved both water and nitrogen and doubled wheat yields in 2011 on both sand and clay soil types. Retaining or removing stubble has only minor effects on wheat yield. Complete control of summer weeds pays, and there is no excuse for weedy paddocks during summer in the Wimmera and Mallee!

• Conserving summer rain is one of the most effective ways of improving crop yield.
• Summer weeds have the biggest impact on how much summer rain is stored and made available to crops.
• The presence of stubble has never been shown to have a large positive effect on the storage of summer rain in southern Australia, but it might lengthen the sowing window after the break and improve establishment.

• Conserving summer rain is one of the most effective ways of improving crop yield.
• Summer weeds have the biggest impact on how much summer rain is stored and made available to crops.
• The presence of stubble has never been shown to have a large positive effect on the storage of summer rain in southern Australia, but it might lengthen the sowing window after the break and improve establishment.

• Conserving summer rain is one of the most effective ways of improving crop yield.
• Summer weeds have the biggest impact on how much summer rain is stored and made available to crops.
• The presence of stubble has never been shown to have a large positive effect on the storage of summer rain in southern Australia, but it might lengthen the sowing window after the break and improve establishment.

• Conserving summer rain is one of the most effective ways of improving crop yield.
• Summer weeds have the biggest impact on how much summer rain is stored and made available to crops.
• The presence of stubble has never been shown to have a large positive effect on the storage of summer rain in southern Australia, but it might lengthen the sowing window after the break and improve establishment.

• Conserving summer rain is one of the most effective ways of improving crop yield.
• Summer weeds have the biggest impact on how much summer rain is stored and made available to crops.
• The presence of stubble has never been shown to have a large positive effect on the storage of summer rain in southern Australia, but it might lengthen the sowing window after the break and improve establishment.

• Overall imposing a fallow allowed for a small amount of extra water to be stored in the soil and a small amount of extra nitrogen. As a result there was a small yield gain of 0.2 t/ha in 2012. 
• In this trial the fallow treatment was planted then sprayed out in August to replicate what is known as an ‘opportunistic’ fallow compared to a ‘strategic’ fallow where no crop is planted for 18 months. 18 month fallows would have different results to the ones reported here.
• Other benefits of fallow that were not recorded in this trial but could have contributed to the yield gain are improved weed control, disease breaks and opportunity for early sowing. 

• This is the second season in which this trial has been run and the fallow has yielded higher than continuous cropping in both 2011 (0.4 t/ha) and 2012 (0.2 t/ha). Other research indicates that fallows produce yield benefits in dry seasons which are not the case in the crop in 2011, which received 231mm for the growing season. The yield difference in 2011 was therefore more likely to have been the result of extra nitrogen in the soil, or weed or disease control rather than soil water benefits, however, these were not measured.
• Farm economics need to be carefully considered before implementing a fallow, the opportunity cost of not producing a crop needs to be weighed up, and benefits of yield, extra N, weed control and disease breaks carefully factored into the decision. 
• In 2012 the yield benefit from fallow was 0.2 t/ha and likely to be due to extra nitrogen and water being present in the soil. However, this is an unreplicated demonstration and thus it is hard to tell whether yield differences are the result of fallow or random variation in the paddock. 

• Many views exist as to whether continous cropping is sustainable.
• Results from a long term tillage trial at Condobolin indicate direct drilled crops are outperforming crops using tillage.
• Stubble retention compared to burning gives mixed results for yield, although more weed build up is evident with retained stubble.
• Wheat yields are higher when grown after peas than after wheat in succession.

• Soil and solution culture studies were conducted to examine the relative contribution of different mechanisms of zinc efficiency at the whole plant level in bread and durum wheat during early vegetative stage.
• While there are a number of mechanisms of zinc efficiency, zinc uptake appears to be the most important mechanism • Seed zinc remobilisation and root to shoot translocation do not appear to be important to zinc efficiency.
• Visual scores of zinc deficiency were significantly correlated with zinc efficiency, and they provide a useful criterion for an initial screen of zinc efficiency.
• This study was based on vegetative growth and the conclusions need to be verified under field conditions.
• The percentage deviation technique provided a straight forward means of comparing the relative effects of different components of zinc efficiency and the method could be extended to studies that use grain yield as the measure of zinc efficiency.

• Sunflower grain yield averaged 1.07 t/ha at this site with the highest yields obtained from the control and the treatments where only the bottom one third (1/3) of leaves were removed.
• The total leaf removal treatments had the largest effect on yield, at worst yielding only 0.16 t/ha.
• Removing all leaves at budding or at the start of the flowering growth stages had the largest effect on plant structures.
• Total leaf removal at the end of flowering had the largest effect on 1000 grain weight and test weight.

• Sunflower yields were greatly affected by the various defoliation treatments, ranging from 0.12 t/ha to 0.97 t/ha.
• Reductions in yield, of between 55% and 82% compared with the control resulted from total leaf removal at all three of the targeted growth stages (budding, start of flowering and flowering completion) as well as removing two-thirds of the leaves at budding.
• There was no negative effect on grain yield from removing the bottom third of leaves at budding or the start of flowering. Removing the bottom third of leaves at the start of flowering actually provided a slight yield advantage over the control treatment. The largest effect on plant height, head diameter and head arc length were caused by removing all leaves at the budding stage.

• All pre-emergent herbicides provided excellent early control of ryegrass (≥86%) & good crop safety under the knife-point press wheel system.
• Combination of trifluralin & Avadex Xtra followed by PSPE Boxer Gold provided greatest residual control, controlling more than 98% of ryegrass 12 weeks after sowing.
• Boxer Gold applied PSPE has been shown to provide some additional in-row controlof ryegrass.

• Boxer Gold alone or in combination with trifluralin and / or Avadex Xtra provided consistent pre-emergence control of ryegrass, as did trifluralin & Avadex Xtra.
• Although ryegrass control with new pre-emergent herbicide Sakura was lower than in previous years, its tank mixture with Avadex Xtra provided excellent control (86%).
• Boxer Gold & Dual Gold applied PSPE appeared to provide some additional in-row control of ryegrass.

Early application of selective herbicide (Group 1, A) gave excellent control of barley grass. While fewer barley grass plants meant less pasture biomass, it’s important to remember that the seeds on the mature barley grass would injure livestock. Further, these barley grass plants could host cereal crop disease.

Spray topping prevented viable seed set of barley grass while leaving the greatest pasture biomass.

Good barley grass control in the 2019 pasture was still evident in the 2020 and 2021 crops.

Late sowing of barley in 2020 (delayed 4 weeks) was relatively ineffective in controlling barley grass and crop yield was slightly reduced.

Late sowing of oats in 2021 (delayed 7 weeks) gave excellent weed control, but the crop yield was severely reduced.

Three years of control reduced barley grass density from over 1000 plants/m2 to 2-14 plants/m2 across the whole site.

The diverse rotation, including pasture and canola break crops, allowed a range of herbicides from different mode of actions and control of late emerging barley grass cohorts.

Two years of seed set prevention was not sufficient to remove the barley grass. Barley grass has a seedbank that lasts at least 3-4 years.

• Affinity mixtures consistently gave the best control of bifora.
• Treatments containing diuron or Buctril MA consistently produced reliable control.
• Precept was also one of the more effective treatments.

The trial establishment was variable early due to some non-wetting soil and the crop was sown too deeply due to furrow fill from significant rain after sowing. Early crop vigour as a result was low with blackleg further reducing plant establishment; this coupled with high levels of Vegetable beetle damage also reduced the evenness of the plots.

According to the DAFWA sporacle model spore maturity occurred on approximately the 22nd May which meant this trial was at very high risk of significant disease risk as emergence coincided with high spore levels being released from last year’s stubble.

• Excellent annual ryegrass control (>85%) with propyzamide either as split application (IBS followed by PSPE) or as a mixture with tri-allate.
• Atrazine also gave effective control this season with rainfall assisting activity (>79%).
• Early crop vigour was suppressed with Outlook & the higher split rate (1 kg/ha IBS followed by 1 kg/ha PSPE) of propyzamide.
• UAN at 20 kg/ha caused some leaf burning, however the crop recovered.

• Measurements in August showed clethodim to give 82% control and pre-emergent treatments to give 85% control of annual ryegrass.
• Averaged across the trial the ryegrass still set 15 heads per square metre.

• A Predicta B sample taken from the site indicated a medium risk of rhizoctonia although patches did not express during the season.
• Early establishment across the site was severely impacted by non-wetting affected all plots across the trial with the worst of it commencing around plot 215 and increasing in severity throughout replicate 3.  Early dry conditions further staggered the crop emergence.
• Good rains through late July and into early August ensured the crop was growing well albeit patchy across the trial with high levels of disease present at both the Z31 and Z39 applications. Only 48.9 mm of rain fell from the second Z39 application to the end of October reducing the benefits to yield of the different fungicide treatments.
•  Increasing variability in the trial due to the sub-soil issues from plot 215 into replicate 3 was a significant factor. Yield data should be treated with caution due to the variability of the site with disease control is the most accurate assessment of treatment efficacy.

• Control of net form net blotch using effective fungicides resulted in yield increases of up to 1.0 t/ha compared to nil treatments.
• Two strategic fungicide applications during early-mid growth stages (before end of August) – suppressed disease development and provided control comparable to four applications made every 2-4 weeks from early August.
• Tilt, Amistar Xtra, Opera and Prosaro were effective for control of net form of net blotch.

• Control of net form net blotch using effective fungicides resulted in yield increases of up to 1.0 t/ha compared to nil treatments.
• Two strategic fungicide applications during early-mid growth stages (before end of August) – suppressed disease development and provided control comparable to four applications made every 2-4 weeks from early August.
• Tilt, Amistar Xtra, Opera and Prosaro were effective for control of net form of net blotch.

• Powdery mildew infection was observed during the 2015–16 season, although less severe than in previous seasons.
• Powdery mildew infection was found on all soybean varieties except Djakal, demonstrating its known resistance.
• Fungicide applications had no effect on the grain yield of Djakal, N005A-80 or P176-2 varieties, however, the SnowyA variety had a significant increase in grain yield when treated with tebuconazole in a split application regime.

• Boxer Gold IBS + PSPE or Trifluralin IBS + Avadex Xtra IBS + Dual Gold PSPE gave the best pre-emergent annual ryegrass control in 2009.
• Boxer Gold or Dual Gold applied PSPE significantly improved ryegrass control in the crop row.

• There was no significant change in wheat or ryegrass establishment due to sowing systems or position.
• BAY-191 produced the greatest control of ryegrass, 79%.

• A single application of Uragan (bromacil) plus paraquat in May gave complete control of all weeds at all sites over both rates. However, the additional expense, soil erosion risk and irsk to remnant vegetation need to be considered.

• A two spray or double knock strategy (including cultivation or another non-herbicide treatment) is often required for complete control in fencelines with the first application early in the season followed by another one later in the season (after the seeding and post-harvest operations are over).
• Tank mixes of residual herbicides plus a knockdown give the best control for the first application.
• A single application of a mixture of Uragan® (bromacil) and paraquat early in the season gives excellent weed control on fencelines.
• The addition of Alliance® (mixture of amitrole and paraquat) as the knockdown gives good broadleaf control.
• Glyphosate can still be used but intensive monitoring and complete seed set control is required to prevent resistance from developing.

 

• In the 2001 season there was no benefit from the application of an alphacypermethrin insecticide application to barley and lentil crops.
• The dry summer of 2000/2001 resulted in very few host plants for aphids and virus diseases and threshold levels for disease carry over potential were not reached.
• In wet summers with many host plants surviving it is possible that preventative spraying with alphacypermethrin could be worthwhile.

In the 2001 season there was no benefit from the application of an alphacypermethrin insecticide application to barley and lentil crops. The dry summer of 2000/2001 resulted in very few host plants for aphids and virus diseases and threshold levels for disease carry over potential were not reached. In wet summers with many host plants surviving it is possible that preventative spraying with alphacypermethrin could be worthwhile.

In the 2001 season there was no benefit from the application of an alphacypermethrin insecticide application to barley and lentil crops. The dry summer of 2000/2001 resulted in very few host plants for aphids and virus diseases and threshold levels for disease carry over potential were not reached. In wet summers with many host plants surviving it is possible that preventative spraying with alphacypermethrin could be worthwhile.

Seed-applied fungicide had no significant effect on plant establishment, yield or grain quality (Refer Table 2). Visual differences in disease levels were not present between the fungicide treatments. Spot Form of Net Blotch was present at low levels in the trial and Leaf Scald was present at very low levels.

• Roundup alone will not control Flaxleaf fleabane. 
• Addition of Surpass and Ally to Roundup provided the most effective control.
• To avoid the need to use more expensive chemicals and spray more than twice, control fleabane before it begins to elongate (>40cm in height).

• Metribuzin added to Precept® gave good control of all weeds.
• Affinity Force® did not perform to the standard expected.

Summer rain over the past 3 months has been substantial in some areas; therefore summer weed growth has been vigorous. Rosinweed is a particularly strong summer weed which is very difficult to control. This trial showed that Group B (IMI) herbicides had good control of rosinweed, while Ally® having less control, offered good suppression.

• Glyphosate alone at high rates produced poor control of annual ryegrass along the fenceline.
• Spray.seed + Diuron, Round up Power Max + Diuron and Alliance all gave good control of the glyphosate resistant annual ryegrass.

• The best control of ryegrass was from Roundup Powermax at 1.5L/ha, giving 70% control.
• High rates of glyphosate can be effective, but nevertheless lead to increased resistance. Different modes of action should be used where possible.

• Group D resistance will develop if trifluralin is consistently used without other control practices.
• Trifluralin used in combination with other herbicides such as Avadex Xtra (Group E) and Dual Gold (Group K), may enhance ryegrass control and could prolong the onset of Group D resistant ryegrass populations.
• BoxerGold was very effective on both sites with added crop safety. This herbicide is expected to be released in 2008 and likely to be expensive but should be included in the crop rotation to reduce the likelihood of developing resistance.

• Group D resistance will develop if trifluralin is consistently used without other control practices.
• Trifluralin used in combination with other herbicides such as Avadex Xtra (Group E) and Dual Gold (Group K), may enhance ryegrass control and could prolong the onset of Group D resistant ryegrass populations.
• BoxerGold was very effective on both sites with added crop safety. This herbicide is expected to be released in 2008 and likely to be expensive but should be included in the crop rotation to reduce the likelihood of developing resistance.

• Trifluralin was more effective at reducing ryegrass numbers in the cereal phase than in break crops.
• There are more benefits from good rotation than improved weed control alone, but benefits (in this case additional nitrogen) may not be apparent until several years after the non-cereal break crop or pasture phase.

This trial looked at protecting the crop from excessive sun and wind during the spring when crops are flowering and setting seed by covering it in shade cloth in early September. It was expected that this would improve yield and grain size but in fact it had the opposite effect with reduced yields and poor grain quality.

• Two years of full wild oat control did not exhaust the seedbank to a manageable level.
• A selective post emergent herbicide or an early hay cut were the most effective strategies for reducing the wild oat seedbank.

• One year of full wild oat control reduced the wild oat seedbank to 8 seeds per square metre in 2010.
• A selective post emergent herbicide or an early hay cut were the most effective strategies for reducing the wild oat seedbank.

The trial determined that Tigrex, Paragon, Glean, Affinity + MCPA500, Eclipse + MCPA LVE , and Jaguar + MCPA LVE provide good early post emergent control of radish in wheat. To ensure that no radish sets seed it is still important to follow up with a phenoxy herbicide later in the season. In this trial Jaguar + MCPA LVE had the highest wheat yield.

Soil DTPA was 0.27 mg/kg soil.

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

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

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

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

Soil DTPA was 0.32 mg/kg soil.

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

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

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

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

• Zinc applied as a 0.5% zinc sulphate spray completely corrected symptoms of zinc deficiency in field trials.
• Copper, boron, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus applied as foliar sprays did not correct deficiency symptoms.
• Increasing the concentration of zinc sulphate (0.5, 1 and 1.5%) or applying twice did not affect plant response.
• Some evidence that spraying seven weeks after emergence is too late, the optimum appears to be about five weeks after emergence.
• Responses were of the order of 24-76% above the control.

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

• This year was unusual in that red legged earth mite pressure at sowing was very low and no damage was done to the control plot.
• Wireworm damage had been observed previously in the paddock but in 2000 there was no evidence of wireworm damage.
• Cosmos seed dressing showed good tolerance in canola.
• There was also some spray drift on to the site, which may have affect yield.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Ryegrass numbers were lowest in a minimum tillage and direct drill situation.
• Pre-sowing herbicide application with trifluralin and Avadex type products all reduced ryegrass number compared to the control, however, none of the treatment were commercially acceptable.
• Herbicide options based on trifluralin or Avadex are an additional tool in the battle with resistance ryegrass.

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

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

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

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

The pH results from this trial show some interesting trends. 

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

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

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

• Removal of soil compaction and subsurface acidity via deep banding lime to 30cm resulted in 18% yield increase over the untreated control.
• Despite the gross margin of the deep banded lime treatment being $35/ha less than the control in 2005, the benefits of deep ripping and lime application will still be realised in future years.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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