Barley trials

To compare and showcase a range of strategic tillage options for amelioration of shallow sandy duplex soils (Sand over clay/gravel) and to assess their effectiveness at overcoming a range of soil constraints including topsoil water repellence and Compaction and increasing crop productivity over a period of 4-5 years.

The aim of this trial is to quantify the value of lime applications using different incorporation methods and compare the economic and agronomic returns of each. This trial also includes an application of a rapidly acidifying Elemental Sulphur to demonstrate how soils and crops will perform 10-years into the future if no action is taken to maintain pH levels. The trial also aims to analyse the interactions between each incorporation technique and its effects on ameliorating other crop constraints.

The objective is to give growers a greater understanding of different methods of lime incorporation and the most cost-effective practice locally and to extend on these findings with other research being conducted on varying soil types throughout the state, so that growers can make informed decisions for implementing their own liming strategy.

• How will the barley and wheat perform side by side after a serradella phase?
• How much N do we need to apply to each crop type after a serradella phase, and which is the most profitable?
• Will there be Imazethapyr residue from April 2017, and will it affect the non-CL® variety?

Evaluation of the ability of barley varieties to tolerate acid/aluminum soils.

To compare the returns of barley, canola, wheat and triticale.

• To measure the productivity and recovery of cereals under simulated grazing regimes.
• To determine the number of times cereals can be grazed without affecting yield.

To assess whether imidazolinone tolerant wheat or barley provides better weed control and which gives the best economic return.

To assess the yield and quality of a number of barley varieties in the medium rainfall zone.

Native budworm actively feeding on cereals has not been an issue for growers or industry in the past, and considering the recent detections, growers and western region industry networks have voiced that they would like support on this issue, especially regarding sampling techniques and spray thresholds. To achieve this, we investigated this new behavioural trend and the population numbers required to cause economic yield losses to determine if and when management is required in non-traditional cereal hosts.

Through pheromone-based moth trapping, crop inspections, glasshouse trials and a field cage trial, we investigated the behaviour of H. punctigera moths and larvae on, and potential economic damage to, wheat in the northern grainbelt of Western Australia. 

To evaluate the performance of Litmus (WABAR2625) barley in comparison to Hindmarsh and Wyalkatchem on an acidic soil.

A four-year study has investigated if lime applied in a low pH soil could enhance the efficacy of herbicides on weeds (ryegrass and barley grass) and improve crop performance in a wheat-wheat-lupin-barley rotation at the Wongan Hills Research Station, Western Australia.

A four-year study has investigated if lime applied in a low pH soil could enhance the efficacy of herbicides on wild radish and improve crop performance in a wheat-wheat-lupin-barley rotation at the Wongan Hills Research Station, Western Australia (WA).

To compare the efficacy and crop safety of different herbicide options for control of grasses in barley.

To evaluate the relative yield loss (tolerance) of commonly grown and newly released wheat and barley varieties to Fusarium crown rot.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

Compare changes in soil characteristics, including non-wetting and crop growth and performance in a mouldboard ploughed area versus untreated (control) area using an on-farm large scale demonstration site.

To assess the impact of (and interaction between) grazing and frost damage on the grain yield and quality of a range of winter and spring cereal varieties sown at two times of sowing.

To assess the impact of sheep grazing over summer on crop residues, soil quality and no-tillage crop establishment and yields.

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

Barley grass at high density reduces crop yield. However, GRDC project UA00156 (Seed bank ecology of emerging weeds) has highlighted that barley grass ecotypes in Western Australia are often short, and are likely to be highly sensitive to crop competition. Initial control with pre-emergent herbicides combined with high seeding rates in cereal crops may be sufficient to control this species.

This trial aimed to investigate pre-emergent herbicides and high-density crop seeding in barley crops. The trial was run in two separate fields in 2020 and 2021, on a single farm.

To compare EverGol Prime, Vibrance and Tripower to Baytan T for loose smut contol and to compare EverGol Prime to triazole seed treatments for Rhizoctonia suppression.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

Claying has been undertaken in many areas throughout the zone, and there is quite a bit of expertise on the risks and benefits associated with it within the zone. Cash flow of most farmers in general doesn’t allow the expense of the high rates of clay to occur. However, there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that low rates of clay (lower than rates used currently to improve soil structure) will improve the wettability of the soil. By including clay in the trial it is anticipated that the benefits of low rates of clay will show improved wettability. Other opportunities for the zone appear to be mitigation of non-wetting – including on-row seeding. This would include associated practical risks around seeding such as stubble handling issues and accurate seeding systems.

To look at the potential of black urea in terms of lifting yields through better nitrogen efficiency.

To determine the impact of stubble burning on snail populations in a canola paddock

To answer the quesitons:

• Does in-furrow application of fungicide using liquid banding improve control of Rhizoctonia solani compared to the untreated control or seed treatment?
• Does in-furrow application of fungicide using liquid banding improve control of Rhizoctonia solani compared to coating of granular fertiliser?
• Does an integrated approach incorporating cultivation, seed treatment and in-furrow fungicide application improve control of Rhizoctonia solani compared to the untreated control and all other individual treatments?

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

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

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.

This project sought to maximise the profitability of barley in the northern Geraldton Port Zone by providing information to growers to allow them to make informed decisions around barley variety choice, sowing time, in season management and management of their rotations in order to maximise barley productivity and improve the overall profitability of their farming business.

The project sort to answer specific questions of -

Do barley’s have specific adaptation which can be exploited.

Can varieties attain malt quality in the Geraldton Port zone.

Do variety maturity and planting times influence yield and grain quality, particularly with early sowing opportunities.

Does barley out yield wheat, sown early, or sown late.

Was barley profitable compared to wheat.

Can early sowing of short season varieties provide a maturity window and low risk option to avoid late season hot/dry finishes and produce a profitable yield.

To gather data on barley performance when late sowing on ameliorated soils. Can barley provide a more profitable option than wheat for late sowing on ameliorated soils?

Gain a better understanding of nitrogen management with different rotations or soil types (including soil amelioration) for barley yield with feed quality and for malt production.

Did barleys differ in their response to nitrogen.

Can early sowing and fertilising for high yield feed deliveries be more profitable than wheat.

Did project sample an adequate range of seasons.

Barley grass is becoming an increasingly problematic weed in Western Australia. A GRDC funded project sought to increase the 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 growers in the southern lakes region of Western Australia often had pasture as the main rotation choice after cereal. In contrast to other areas of the wheat belt, some growers in this region considered barley grass a valuable (early) feed in pasture as well as a weed in crops. However, growers found that barley grass could have a large impact on crop yield. Growers were interested in either controlling barley grass or suppressing barley grass in crops while allowing it to survive in pasture.

Most group members felt their barley grass was resistant to herbicides (especially low-level resistance to Group A, Targa^®). However, growers were unwilling to stop using Targa^®, even if efficiency was reduced against barley grass, as it effectively controlled other grass weeds. Growers wanted to pair Targa^® with other products in the pasture to kill barley grass, and then control surviving barley grass in crop with best practice pre-seeding herbicides.

The trial aimed to investigate pasture barley grass control in 2019, pre-emergent herbicides in barley in 2020 and oats in 2021.

The objective of the four small plot trials is to provide statistically sound data that will inform farmer and consultant decision making in years of early waterlogging, where they are considering late sown cereals as an option. The trials will be professionally implemented and managed by industry best practice standards to ensure the data is reliable. The implementation of four trial sites also ensures the data generated is locally relevant to farmers right along the South Coast of WA.  

GRDC Project Outcome:

By March 2024, All Western Region growers and advisers will have access to trial information on late winter to early spring sown cereals (wheat and barley) on the south coast of WA to assist in making educated decisions to sow at this time when waterlogging presents and cereal crops cannot be sown at the traditional time or for other reasons that may present for a later sowing opportunity such as weed issues or poor crop establishment.

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 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.

By 2023, growers will have increased the value of the cropping phase in the HRZ farming system by 10% by addressing both crop yield potential and the gap between potential and realised yields.

This trial aims to explore ways to optimise crop production in the HRZ. 
This trial looks at verity types, deep ripping and sowing times as ways to maximise yields in the HRZ. 

This trial aims to assess different treatments and there effectiveness in maximising water limited yield potentials.  

By 2023, growers will have increased the value of the cropping phase in the HRZ farming system by 10% by addressing both crop yield potential and the gap between potential and realised yields.

To provide the UAV rhizo summary.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

• Assess the influence of soil renovation treatments on soil borne diseases.

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 compare EverGol Prime, Vibrance and Tripower to Baytan T for loose smut control.
• To compare EverGol Prime compared to triazole seed treatments for rhizoctonia suppression.