Canola trials

This investment is designed help build growers’ confidence and address gaps in knowledge relating to the agronomic management of recently ameliorated soils in the upper South East of South Australia. The project will include a three-year series of trials, soil characterisations, pit demonstrations and associated extension activities to:

• improve the agronomic management of ameliorated soils to the newlyestablished yield potential;
• reduce risks related to crop establishment and wind erosion in theamelioration transition phase; and
• improve understanding of soil physical and chemical properties andcharacterisation of PAW, and identification nutrition and soil constraintlimitations in ameliorated soil and how soil settles over the transitionphase.

Six distinct phases of amelioration have been identified through the planning and implementation of soil amelioration as follows:

1. Identification and ranking of constraints phase (byseverity and depth). Also includes selection of constraint specificamelioration strategies;
2. Pre-amelioration site preparation phase;
3. Amelioration implementation phase (large logistical andtime input);
4. Transition phase 1 to 2-year post amelioration , oftencharacterised by soft soil, a large flush of nutrition, acute short-term wind erosion risk, crop seeding difficulties and high cropresponsiveness;
5. New stabilised yield potential where the site has settledand immediate tillage effects on nutrient release havedissipated.
6. Mature phase where yields subside and constraints redevelop.Consideration given to re-amelioration of residual orredeveloped constraints.

This investment is designed to address gaps in grower confidence and knowledge around phases four and five (transition and new stabilised yield potential).

To understand the impact of differing wheat stubble loads on the establishment of canola under a range of locally relevant sowing practices.

Understanding return on investment of sub-surface water management options for waterlogged areas in the Western Region.

This investment aims to assist growers in making informed decisions around construction of drainage to reduce the impacts of waterlogging on crop production and farm profitability. This will be achieved through grower participation in the planning, development, monitoring and maintenance of the drainage installation trial sites. Data (cost of implementation/ maintenance, water movement, establishment, biomass, yield etc.) from within the zone of influence of the drainage and outside this zone at each site will be collected 
over time to give growers a better understanding of the improvements in yield and time to return on investment at each site. 

This trial aims to assist growers in making informed decisions around the construction of sub-surface drainage to reduce the impacts of waterlogging on crop production and farm profitability. By 2024, 45% of growers whose properties are affected by waterlogging will have a good understanding of the yield benefits and time to return on investment of installation of on-farm sub-surface drainage and ability to implement on-farm.

To investigate whether yield can be maintained as seeding rate (plant density) of canola is reduced in the high rainfall zone.

To determine whether macronutrient supply (phosphorus, potassium, sulfur) becomes limiting as canola growers target high yields with high nitrogen rates in the high rainfall zone of WA.

To determine whether macronutrient supply (phosphorus, potassium, sulfur) becomes limiting as canola growers target high yields with high nitrogen rates in the high rainfall zone of WA.

This field trial at Roseworthy was undertaken to investigate factorial combinations of canola type (herbicide tolerance package), canola seed rate and herbicides on the management of annual ryegrass.

To determine if the risk to frost damage is similar across a range of break crops in a high risk zone. 

To determine if the risk to frost damage is similar across a range of break crops in a moderate risk zone. 

To investigate how nutrition can help mitigate waterlogging losses in wheat, canol and faba beans after a wet winter

To assess the ground cover and legacies of pulses in rotation

The aim of the focus paddock was to see if deep ripping could increase plant avaliable water by removing any compaction and allowing roots to access stored moisture deeper into the soil profile.

To investigate the extent that nitrogen rates impact canola yield and how this interacts with water use

The aim of this project was to work with growers to maximise harvester throughput capacity with acceptable losses in the Western region and compare data to that collected in 2022.

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the MRZ.

Multiple trials around the theme of improving and quantifying the benefit of pulses to subsequent crops. This will include comparisons of crop types in 2022, followed by cereal crops in 2023, and techniques to increase biomass (early sowing) and increase N fixation (rhizobia studies) 

To determine whether macronutrient supply (phosphorus, potassium, sulfur) becomes limiting as canola growers target high yields with high nitrogen rates in the high rainfall zone of WA.

To examine the nitrogen use efficiency of canola grown under overhead irrigation when increasing rates of nitrogen fertiliser applied (Prilled Urea 46%N)

To examine the nitrogen use efficiency of canola grown under overhead irrigation

To assess whether the optimum timing for applied N interacts with N rate

To assess whether the optimum timing for applied N interacts with N rate in canola

To compare identical plant population x cultivar trials under overhead and surface irrigation

Barley grass is becoming an increasingly problematic weed in Western Australia. A GRDC funded project sought to increase adoption of integrated weed management tactics for barley grass, by working with grower groups to develop regionally appropriate rotations for optimal control.

A survey indicated that in growers in the northern wheatbelt felt that barley grass was most likely to be a major problem in pasture, and a common response is use of Group A herbicide to remove grass in pasture. However, given how easy it is to develop Group A resistance, the group wanted to investigate other chemical and non-chemical options in pasture, as well as the impact of late seeding and pre-emergent herbicide for barley grass control in crop.

This three year trial aimed to investigate slashing and spray topping in pasture in 2019, and then time of sowing and pre-emergent herbicides in wheat in 2020 and canola in 2021.

Why do the trial? 
Barley grass possesses several biological traits that make it difficult for growers to manage it in the low rainfall zone, so it is not surprising that it is becoming more prevalent in field crops in SA and WA. A survey by Llewellyn et al. (2015) showed that barley grass has now made its way into the top 1 O weeds of Australian cropping in terms of area infested, crop yield loss and revenue loss. 
The biological traits that make barley grass difficult for growers to manage in low rainfall zones include: 

- early onset of seed production, which reduces effectiveness of crop-topping or spray-topping in pastures,
shedding seeds well before crop harvest, reducing harvest weed seed control effectiveness compared to weeds such as ryegrass which has a much higher seed retention,•    increased seed dormancy, reducing weed control from knockdown herbicides due to delayed emergence, and
•    increasing herbicide resistance, especially to Group A herbicides, used to control grass weeds in pasture phase and legume crops. 

Barley grass management is likely to be more challenging in the low rainfall zone because the growing seasons tend to be more variable in terms of rainfall, which can affect the performance of the pre-emergence herbicides. Furthermore, many growers in these areas tend to have lower budgets for management tactics, and break crops are generally perceived as more risky than cereals. Therefore, wheat and barley tend to be the dominant crops in the low rainfall zone. This project is undertaking coordinated research with farming systems groups across the Southern and Western cropping regions to demonstrate tactics that can be reliably used to improve the management of barley grass. 

Determine the effect of fungicide management strategies on disease control (especially crown canker blackleg, upper canopy blackleg and sclerotinia stem rot) and grain yield in HyTTec Trifecta (Resistant, Blackleg Group ABD) and 45Y28 RR (Moderately Resistant, Blackleg Group BC).

To determine optimum foliar fungicide management for hyper-yielding spring canola. Determine the effect of fungicide management strategies on disease control (upper canopy blackleg and sclerotinia), grain yield and profitability.

Determine the effect of fungicide management strategies on disease control (primarily blackleg and sclerotinia), grain yield and profitability in 45Y28 RR (moderately resistant, blackleg group BC) and HyTTec Trifecta (Resistant, blackleg group ABD).

To determine optimum fungicide management for hyper yielding winter canola.

To determine optimum fungicide management for hyper-yielding winter canola.

This field trial was undertaken at Roseworthy in SA, a medium rainfall environment, to investigate factorial combinations of sowing time, cultivar (hybrid Vs open-pollinated), seed rate and herbicides on the management of annual ryegrass in triazine tolerant canola.

To assess the ground cover and legacies of pulses in rotation

To examine the suitability of elite commercial and unreleased spring cultivars for hyper yielding regions.

To examine the suitability of elite commercial and unreleased spring cultivars for hyper yielding regions

To examine the suitability of elite commercial and unreleased spring cultivars for hyper yielding regions

To determine the response to increased crop inputs (fungicide and nitrogen) of a range of spring canola variety types.

To determine the response to increased crop inputs (fungicide and nitrogen) of a range of spring canola variety types.

To determine the response to increased crop inputs (fungicide and nitrogen) of a range of spring canola variety types.

To examine the suitability of elite commercial and unreleased winter canola cultivars for hyper yielding regions.

To examine the suitability of elite commercial and unreleased winter canola cultivars for hyper yielding regions.

To determine the response to increased crop inputs (fungicide and nitrogen) on two commercial winter canola cultivars.

To determine the response to increased crop inputs (fungicide and nitrogen) of a range of winter canola variety types.

To determine the response to increased crop inputs (fungicide and nitrogen) of a range of winter canola variety types.

To evaluate the impact of harvest stubble height on fallow efficiency.

Improving canola harvest management decisions with remote sensing

To determine the effectiveness of fungicide strategies for a susceptible canola cultivar grown under overhead irrigation

To examine whether experimental PGR (not commercially approved) application has any yield benefit in irrigated canola at different plant populations

Influence of Soil Amelioration and Soil Amendments on Canola Yield and Profitability

Growers in this environment have been hesitant to graze canola due to the long season traditional grazing varieties and the risk of heat stress in late spring/ early summer. The hope was that a series 5 spring variety would mature earlier and require one less irrigation in spring. The growers were accepting that a yield decrease would occur however it would save them an irrigation.

In 2021, members of the GRDC Riverine Plains Irrigation Discussion Group tested the practical and financial implications of grazing irrigated wheat and canola.