Canola trials

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. 

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 an agronomic solution to waterlogging through the use of Agpipe.

• To investigate the use of slotted drainpipe (Agpipe) for removal of water from waterlogged crops.

• To test the performance of a range of subsoil amendments.

• To evaluate the benefit of yield and pod development from the introduction of bees and the management of the pollination process.

To investigate the potential of using a modified delving operation, which rips the clay and allows topsoil/gravel to fall back into the clay slot, to create a subsurface drainage line through the clay and reduce waterlogging.

To assess the efficacy of foliar, on-seed and on-fertiliser commercially available fungicides on blackleg control in retained stubble systems. 

To test 8 TT varieties of hybrid and open pollinated canola.

To investigate the merit of fodder crops in the crop rotation, with particular interest in weed control, nitrogen and gross margin.

• To demonstrate and refine the technique to suit the many mixed farmers on Kangaroo Island.

To investigate the impacts burying at depth organic matter (using a Neutrog product Bounce Back) and gypsum using the Sub Soiler machine.

• To demonstrate to the biodiesel industry the potential of Kangaroo Island canola as a promising feedstock. 
• To test the potential of genetics to improve canola production and the canola agronomy trial tested the potential of management to improve production.

To test eight commonly grown TT canola varieties.

To report on Simon Veitch's liming program.

To give an indication of performance at different parts of the island.

To report on the Stanton's “current strategy to set up a rotation of liming approximately one fifth of the total land base or about 300ha per year to assist in budgeting".

• To test the ability of a range of drainage treatments to improve crop yields in soil prone to waterlogging.

• To test the ability of a range of drainage treatments to improve crop yields in soil prone to waterlogging.

To identify key ingredients of agronomic packages that deliver high yielding canola crops with high oil contents in the Parndana environment.

This was the second year of a three-year trial, funded by the South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT), to evaluate the nitrogen fixation capabilities of various legume species commonly grown on Kangaroo Island.

In this second year, the trial was set up to answer the following questions:

• Which of the four legume species had fixed the most nitrogen (N) in the 2016 season?
• How much N did these legume crops fix?
• How much of the N fixed by the legume was utilised by the following crop? Concurrently, how much N was lost through leaching or denitrification?

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

To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield in a gravelly loam soil type near Muradup, WA.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on barley and canola yield on sand over gravel and deep sand soil types in the South Stirling area of WA.

To assess the yield response in barley, canola and lupins to deep ripping over a three year period (2015 – 2017) near Broomehill, WA.

To assess the yield response in barley, canola and lupins to deep ripping over a three year period (2015 – 2017) near Broomehill, WA.

To assess the yield response to deep ripping depth on a productive sand plain near Kojaneerup, WA.

To investigate the effectiveness of BTH (benzothiadiazole) to increase a crops resilience to disease.

To discuss adjuvant choice for atrizine for best control of radish in TT canola.

To present the main messages from the agronomy trial work undertaken in 2005.

The aim of this trial was to investigate alternative chemicals for the control of ryegrass in wheat; and in broadleaf crops, canola, lentil and field pea.

To investigate the effect of a number of biological seed dressings, organic and inorganic fertilisers on canola yield.

Trials were conducted by the BCG to evaluate a range of these alternative oilseed options.

To investigate the effect of deep ripping and gypsum on root and plant growth of wheat, canola and lentils.

To demonstrate whether Atrazine (alone or in combination with Select) can assist in the control of ryegrass.

To compare different fungicides for control of blackleg.

To investigate the bio-fumigation effects of canola dn mustard varieties on root disease and a number of crop varieties.

To determine the ways in which different crop types influence available soil P and the P requirements of subsequently sown cereals

To identify low-risk, profitable break crops for the mallee regions and quantify their benefits to subsequent wheat crops.

To identify low risk, profitable break crops and end-uses for the Mallee region and quantify their benefits to subsequent wheat crops.

To identify low risk, profitable break crops for the Mallee region, and quantify their benefits to subsequent wheat crops.

To identify low risk, profitable break crops and end-uses for the Mallee region, and quantify their benefits to subsequent wheat crops.

To study the effect of a 1994 canola stubble on a subsequent wheat cop, and was compared against a 1994 chickpea stubble.

To comment on nine new varieties of canola that will be marketed for 2009 sowings.

To demonstrate the ideal depth for optimum canola establishment in local conditions.

To compare windrowing an direct harvesting of canola.