Wheat trials

The objectives of this project are to quantify the size and efficiency of response to mid-row banded nitrogen in irrigation systems within the southern Riverina of Australia. This will include the assessment of the effect of mid-row banded N on growth, yield and apparent nitrogen recovery efficiency (ANRE), of wheat as compared to the current best-practice method of topdressing at GS31 and the control.

Another key objective of this project is to assess the loss of banded nitrogen during waterlogging events to determine if denitrification losses are reduced in banded nitrogen and compared to topdressed nitrogen and the control.

This trial aimed to test mid-row banding of nitrogen in wheat after rice, in the presence and absence of waterlogging.

A winter wheat trial was established to assess the whole-season nitrogen (N) availability against different nitrogen placement strategies when subject to waterlogging.

To quantify the main factors limiting grain yield in a water-repellent sandy gravel soil.

To compare the effect of delayed seeding and seeding rates on the yield and quality performance of wheat varieties.

To assess amelioration options for water repellent sandplain soils.

This trial seeks to test the Yield Prophet tool to determine its relevance and usefulness to growers of the West Midlands region in determining most efficient and effective nitrogen strategy.

To assess the interaction between clay rate and incorporation methods to overcome soil water repellence and improve crop establishment and productivity.

To assess the growth and yield of barley and wheat growing in a range of different established perennial pasture species.

To assess the impact of various levels of soil disturbance (cultivation methods) on water repellence and productivity and the interaction of these cultivation methods with soil amendments, lime and clay.

To assess what clay rich subsoil application rates are required for overcoming soil water repellence and how this interacts with method of incorporation.

The demonstration undertaken at four on-farm sites seeks to test the Yield Prophet tool to determine its relevance and usefulness to growers of the West Midlands region in determining the most efficient and effective nitrogen strategy.

To test the Yield Prophet tool to determine its relevance and usefulness to growers of the West Midlands region in determining the most efficient and effective nitrogen strategy.

Compare varying rates of N on wheat after applying BEST TM21 against a control area of no post nitrogen application.

To determine the long term effects of 1980 P treatments on soil fertility.

The trial purpose was to compare seed dressing and foliar application of Bioprime using granular and liquid fertilisers. 

To determine which ameliorant practice is the most effective and economic in remediating subsoil acidity at depth.

To determine which ameliorant practice is the most effective and economic in remediating subsoil acidity at depth.

To demonstrate what clay rate is required for claying to be successful and to look at how this is affected by the degree of clay incorporation.

To compare different clay spreading and tillage methods for the amelioration of water repellent gravel soils.

To assess the impact of the rate of application of clay-rich subsoil to water repellent sand on grain yield and the interaction with incorporation method.

• To compare the efficacy of commercial pre-emergent herbicides and mixtures for ARG control across multiple soil types using grower machinery for seeding and ongoing management consistent with the grower’s practice.
• To determine yield and $ return on investment to the grower from current standard pre-emergent herbicides Sakura, trifluralin, Avadex Xtra and Boxer Gold with new options such as standalone prosulfocarb, the main component of Boxer Gold. Prosulfocarb (e.g. Arcade) must be incorporated within 7 days of application.

To assess amelioration of subsoil acidity using a range of tillage methods for incorporating surface applied lime into acidic subsoils and the impacts of tillage and lime on crop productivity.

To motivate growers to carry out direct problem diagnostics in their crops using:

• nutrient and deep cultivation strips in crops, to compare with standard management;
• follow-up work to find out why they have observable crop growth variations in a paddock

To develop a protocol for setting up strip tests and interpretation procedures for growers with different levels of commitment and time and to answer the 'why is it so?' quesitons.

• To evaluate the effect of water rate using a medium spray quality on bromoxynil based herbicides under conditions where coverage is not optimal.
• To evaluate the effect of coarse droplets.
• To evaluate the effect on wild radish control at different water rates with MCPA in tank mixtures with Velocity.

To characterize the effect of various depths of ripping on crop performance.

To test modified one-way ploughs as a method of lime incorporation.

To evaluate the effectiveness of two bolt-on attachments to a deep ripping tine at lime incorporation.

To determine whether a profit can be achieved from incorporating lime in the year it is applied.

To investigate the effect of a rotary spader and lime on the residual value of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer on a water repellent soil.

To investigate the influence of rate, application timing and soil type of the activity of Lure H20 as a pre-sow soil wetting agent in the cropping phase.

To evaluate a range of seeding modifications or additions with the aim of improving crop establishment and yield on water repellent sandplain soil.

Assess the value of several traits that aim to improve the acid-soil tolerance of wheat under field conditions.

To investigate the efficacy of seed dressing and fertiliser applied fungicides on the time of onset, rate of development and yield impact of wheat powdery mildew.

Assess potential efficacy and benefits from fungicides applied from seeding through to flowering in management of stubble borne diseases of wheat.

To further investigate rotary spading and other soil amelioration techniques on the yellow sand-plain soils west of Moora.

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

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

This Demonstration forms part of the Grain & Graze II project looking at the relative merits of grazing canola and cereal crops. This demonstration looks to assess whether the effects of grazing wheat with sheep during the growing season. Factors being assessed are Yield & 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.

To compare Fortune, Wyalkatchem, Wedgetail wheat and Baudin barley as grazing crops.

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

To measure the impact on crop productivity of combinations of lime and mouldboard ploughing on acidic deep yellow sand.

To investigate rotary spading and other soil amelioration techniques on yellow sandplain soils west of Moora.

To determine how mouldboard ploughing (soil inversion), rotary spading and banded wetting agent affect the availability of soil nutrients.

To assess the impact of different seeding systems on crop establishment in water repellent soil.

To improve the adoption of liming practices in the medium to high rainfall zone of Western Australia by demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of lime application and incorporation.

To support growers with agronomic decisions such as sowing time and variety selection to enhance industry profitability through improved wheat yields and grain quality

In Western Australia, break crop options are currently limited and there is a high proportion of wheat and barley grown in rotation. Cereal crops account for 60-70% of paddocks sown in any one year, with the remaining area sown to a range of crop and pasture types including canola, lupin, clover, volunteer pasture, or left as fallow. In addition, there is an interest in chickpea and lentil to add a high value legume to the crop rotation. The application of these break crops is dependent on the grain price per tonne and on the level of severity of biological constraints present that lead to a reduction in grain yield and which varies from paddock to paddock. The use of a single break crop in rotation has been shown to be an effective tool in managing both weed and diseases that affect wheat production to remove biological constraints to crop production and allow the sustained production of cereal crops. However, with a change in resistance status of many common weeds and diseases, and a change in soilborne pathogens, a single break crop applied to a cropping system that is largely based on cereals has limited effect in reducing the biological constraints, with the longevity of the break crop benefit being reduced. Recent studies into the break crop benefits for highly herbicide resistant weed populations has found that a break of at least two years was needed to prevent grass seed set and substantially reduce grass seedbank numbers. 

Considering the high percentage of cereal crops grown in Western Australia, there is the need to evaluate the use of double break crop sequences to improve wheat grain yield and profitability. In particular, the Eastern Wheatbelt region has very limited break crop options, and there is the need to investigate the better use of tools such as fallow periods to improve break crop outcomes.