Canola trials

To measure the effect of retaining hybrid sowing seed on plant growth, blackleg resistance and grain yield compared to the original hybrid (i.e. as purchased from seed supplier; referred to as ‘commercial’ here after) for a range of herbicide tolerance options in a range of rainfall zones in southern Australia.

This was the first year of an intended long term trial investigating the effect of K nutrition on sandplain. Potassium was applied at rates between zero and 100 kg/ha IBS and banded in the forms of MOP and compound NPK product (Vigour).

To demonstrate how soil inversion using a mouldbaord plough could be used to incorporate lime into acidic subsoil, overcome soil water repellance and control weeds and to measure its in=mpact and growth.

To demonstrate the relative performances of the three canola options available to Western Australian growers

To assess the performance of newly released canola varieties in the West Midlands.

To assess the performance of newly released canola varieties in the West Midlands.

To determine whether crop establishment and grain yield gains from claying can be further improved by matching the clay rich subsoil application rate with the incorporation method.

1. Compare the efficacy of Aviator Xpro to commercial standards for sclerotinia control.

2. Compare yield and $return on investment/ha ($ROI/ha)

To compare crop emergence between treatments.

To compare programs of seed and foliar fungicides for BL control.

To compare yield and $ROI between Canola disease programs.

To assess whether the effects of grazing canola with sheep during the growing season: factors being assessed are yield and quality, dry matter production and grazing value.

To determine the impact that grazing of crops in winter had on subsequent grain yield and quality, production factors such as weeds, disease and nutrition, and livestock carrying capacity.

Demonstration to evaluate new forage options against commonly used graze and grain options.

To evaluate the performance and agronomic attributes of a range of Hybrid and OP canola varieties across different herbicide tolerant technologies over two time of sowing events.

To improve understanding of the range of tillage implements and techniques available to incorporate lime into acidic soils, their respective costs and benefits.

To evaluate banded wetting agent (SACOA ‘Irrigator’) for crop establishment and yield on non-wetting soils in the West Midlands.

To evaluate banded wetting agent (SACOA ‘Irrigator’) for crop establishment and yield on non-wetting soils in the West Midlands.

These trials were conducted to examine the likelihood of economic returns to VRT on sandplain soils.  

This paper aims to summarise the grain yield response and weed control achieved by a one-off soil inversion.

To determine the effect of canola plant density on nitrogen (N) response.

To determine the relative requirements for nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) in canola.

To determine the relative importance of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) in canola.

To compare and assess the effectiveness of one-off tillage treatments on soil water repellence, water infiltration, crop establishment and productivity on a water repellent gravel.

This report records the use of polyacrylamides (PAMs) and soil wetting agents in Badgingarra.

To demonstrate the crop safety and efficacy of Prosaro 420SC applied by grower machinery for the control of Blackleg in Canola.

To investigate and demonstrate means to ensure effective control of wild radish in Roundup Ready canola grown on non-wetting sand.

To demonstrate whether current seeder set ups within the region are capable of successfully sowing canola into heavy stubble.

To report on outcomes of the Upper North Water Use Efficiency Project.

The demonstrate issues key to the current GRDC funded Stubble Initiative Project.

GRDC has funded a programme to address this issue and one of the projects within this programme is developing an improved understanding and implementation of management practices for brassica and pulse crops, pastures and other options to reduce the risk of crop failure and improve whole farm profitability in low rainfall south-east Australia.

The purpose of the trial was to compare growth rates and dry matter production of alternative pastures with traditional medic pastures

To test whether disturbance seeding systems overcome water repellence in non-wetting gravels and other soil health issues over time.

To investigate deep ripping over several sites and seasons .

To compare three legume crops in farmer scale seeding strip trials at three locations in the Albany Port Zone. Demonstrations will compare several legume crops in different soil types in different micro-environments. The same trial sites will be monitored in 2019 to determine the effects (positive or negative) of the legume break crop on the subsequent barley/wheat crop and soil nitrogen status. The legume demonstration trials will provide growers with current agronomic information for pulses/legumes as a break crop in farming systems for the Albany Port Zone. Information from both the legume demonstration and effect on the subsequent crop will complement the Crop Sequence Calculator Workshops to be run concurrently by Farmanco.  

To determine if mobile phone technology can be used to map and study snails in the field.

To determine how best to ameliorate subsoil acidity.

The trial aimed to address the lack of long-term lime trials taking place in the Albany Port Zone. 

The aim was to evaluate five different lime sources from the southwest to determine were differences in their effect on soil pH and yields. 

The trial aims to explore management options for non-wetting soils in the Albany port zone.

Conventional methods of managing non-wetting soils involve mechanical disturbance to mix non-wetting particles with wettable particles. This trial explores the best options for placement of wetters, and wetter types for managing non-wetting soils.

Eleven treatments of differing placements and rates, as well as three seed placements were explored and analysed in this trial.

Two market available wetting agents were tested in this trial, SECOA’s SE14 and BASF Devine.

To evaluate species and pasture phase systems (including hard seeded annuals) for light sand-plain soils (with low pH and low available soil water) in crop-based rotations.

This project looked at the long-term effect of P rates on crop production in the APZ. 

The aim of this trial is to evaluate and analyse the effect of deep ripping with inclusion plates on moving surface-applied lime into acidic sub-soil of deep sandy duplex. Additionally, this trial tested farm-sourced lime against commercial grade lime. 

To evaluate the grain yield and economic benefit of soil amelioration and controlled traffic practices on a broader range of soil types across the grain growing region of WA.

This trial aims to increase the knowldege and adpotion of deep ripping techniques and controlled traffic to allieviate non-wetting soils, compaction and waterlogging. 

The trial aimed to look at the long term effects of ripping on crop yields by monitoring crop performance of the treated plots for three seasons post-ripping. 

The trial aims to raise awareness amoung growers around the decline in the effectivness of ripping over time, and the risk of re-compaction if controlled traffic is not properly implmented. 

100% of Albany and Esperance port zone growers who frequently experience waterlogging will know if ripping and/or summer/cover crops are viable tools to improve crop establishment, crop rooting depth, and yield in a waterlogging year on their property.

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 evaluate the effects of break crop species on the yield of subsequent wheat crop.

To evaluate the effects of break crop species on the yield of subsequent wheat crop.

To increase productivity of pulses in the LRZ through increasing podding height, plant height and harvestability. This work builds on previous successful trials in the SA Mallee

To report on the outcomes of the 2014 Rural Finance Crop Challenge.

To est alternative products to Mesurol that are commercially available both in Australia and overseas, to assess their effectiveness as bird deterrents.

To provide information for the growing farmer interest in subsoil manuring during the year with data and information on demonstration trials on subsoil manuring on heavy clay and duplex soils where the plant available water capacity at depth is restricted by low porosity, water extraction and root growth.