Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (Western Australia) trials

To test the following hypotheses:
1. Low plant density will not reduce yield of early April sown wheat
2. Delayed nitrogen application will not affect grain yield
3. Agronomy can offset yield reductions from grazing wheat sown in early April

A key aim of this project is through three years of trials to deliver key elements of a demonstrated and communicated variety specific HRZ Noodle Wheat production package. This purpose of the HRZ package is to increase noodle wheat quantity and quality and reduce downgrade risk.

A second aim of the project is to provide greater diversity and options for crop rotations in the southern HRZ – the current dominant rotation of canola: barley is under threat with more disease and chemical resistance.

Growing noodle wheat in the HRZ, has traditionally been considered a risky, due to the risk of not making ANW1, this project aimed to quantify this risk, by comparing wheat varieties, and how the perform in the HRZ.

The aims of these experiments were to determine:

• the potential effect of natural enemies on insect pests

• any long-term effects from insecticide seed treatments on natural enemies

• any differences in natural enemies and pest distribution.
 

1. To investigate the effects of dry sowing on the nodulation and nitrogen fixation of chickpea in a low rainfall environment.

2. To investigate the residual effects on the growth of a subsequent wheat crop.

• To determine whether sheep graze on matricaria (palatability of the weed) in a mixed species pasture and if so at which growth stages is the weed palatable.
• Estimate the feed value of matricaria at various growth stages compared to other available feed.
• Evaluate the use of MCPA to increase matricaria palatability.
• Evaluate the efficacy of late flowering mowing or weed wiping to control matricaria compared to district practice of spray topping.

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 in the central-eastern wheatbelt, barley grass is mainly an issue in pasture. While barley grass also grows in crops, it is rarely the most prominent cropping weed. The KDG group aimed to investigate grass selective herbicides and late-season control in pasture, and pre-emergent herbicides in-crop, to find the best combination of practices that would control barley grass while also removing other grass weed species in a three-year rotation.

The trial aimed to investigate Group 1 herbicides and spray topping in 2019, pre-emergent herbicides and knockdowns in 2020 and Group 2 herbicides and spray topping in 2021.

Barley grass is one of the major weeds in the southern region. Many southern growers think their barley grass is resistant to grass selective herbicides and may have developed late germination to avoid pre-seeding herbicides. In this area, barley grass is a major problem in pastures, and often in break crops as well.

The trial aims to investigate pre-emergent herbicides in wheat in 2019, crop density and post-emergent herbicides in barley in 2020, and pre-emergent herbicides and grass selective herbicides in vetch in 2021.

To better understand the efficacy and crop safety of broadleaf herbicide options for faba bean crops grown on sandy soils in Western Australia, focusing on new varieties; PBA Amberley and PBA Bendoc.

To compare efficacy of new and old herbicides and herbicide mixtures for broadleaf weed control in chickpea.

To compare two chickpea varieties for their competitiveness against broadleaf weeds and evaluate efficacy of new and old herbicides and herbicide mixtures for broadleaf weed control in chickpea.

To compare efficacy of new and old herbicides and herbicide mixtures for broadleaf weed control in chickpea.

Investigate the effect of row spacing up to 66cm in two hybrid varieties at two different seeding rates to determine if row spacing or plant density can ameliorate the effect of sclerotinia stem rot, with or without fungicide application.

We aim to determine if faba beans in the high rainfall zone respond to high rates of phosphorus, in-crop nitrogen and/or a complete/intensive nutritional and disease management package.

We aim to determine if faba beans in higher rainfall zone respond to high rates of phosphorus, in-crop nitrogen and/or a complete/intensive nutritional and disease management package.

To demonstrate the effectiveness of newly registered fungicides on ascochyta in chickpeas.

To demonstrate the effectiveness of newly registered fungicides on ascochyta in chickpeas.

Demonstrate the effectiveness of different fungicide timing options on chocolate spot management and evaluate a new spray decision support tool.

We aim to compare the current recommended WA fungicide spray strategy with the more regular fungicide applications common in other states, and with a spray timing based on canopy humidity and temperature to determine if this could be a useful decision support tool by West Australian growers.

We aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of using clean seed and seed applied fungicide to minimise the amount of Ascochyta in a chickpea crop, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of early season foliar fungicides to keep disease levels at bay.

We aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of using clean seed and seed applied fungicide to minimise the amount of Ascochyta in a chickpea crop, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of early season foliar fungicides to keep disease levels at bay.

We aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of using clean seed and seed applied fungicide to minimise the amount of Ascochyta in a chickpea crop, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of early season foliar fungicides to keep disease levels at bay.

We plan to demonstrate a range both peat and granular inoculant options for chickpeas, placement of these products with seed vs. with fertiliser, and the interactions of these products with seed applied fungicide.

We plan to demonstrate a range both peat and granular inoculant options for chickpeas, placement of these products with seed vs. with fertiliser, and the interactions of these products with seed applied fungicide.

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.

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.

To measure the effect of deep ripping on depth to free water (waterlogging) and the associated yield response of canola (2018) and wheat (2019) after deep ripping on this soil type.

To determine how long the ripping effect lasts for in a controlled traffic farming (CTF) system and when to repeat the deep ripping on deep sands

To demonstrate various long and short-term management options to mitigate water repellent soils in the Corrigin area in 2017

1. To survey growers in the Geraldton port zone to understand why and how they are cross working.
2. To assess the effect of cross seeding and cross ripping on crop production compared to normal working at two demonstration sites.

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. 

Demonstrate the effectiveness of different fungicide timing options on chocolate spot management and evaluate a new spray decision support tool.
This trial was a collaboration of the Crop Protection and Grain Science groups within DPIRD.

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

To investigate the economic return of spraying fungicide for spot type net blotch in barley in the eastern wheatbelt.

1. Gain a better understanding of the impact of crop competition on rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) and brome grass (Bromus spp.) quantities and seed set after deep ripping to raise awareness and improve management.
2. Monitor for differences in Pratylenchus neglectus levels between ripped and un-ripped plots throughout the season.

Investigate the effect of delayed baiting on snail mortality immediately post baiting and the longer-term impact on presence of smaller snails during the harvest period. 

• To determine if a profitable canola crop can be grown from a March seeding.
• To compare the relative yield and profitability of different seeding times.
• To determine if it is best to use a long season variety for very early seeding opportunities.

For newly released faba bean varieties: demonstrate production packages, including herbicide, fertiliser

and rhizobia options that are the ‘best bet’ to maximise yield.

A case study to demonstrate that faba beans can serve as a much needed break crop in the dominant canola-barley rotation on the South Coast sandplain

• 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?

To identify herbicide sensitivities of new or potential new chickpea varieties with the view to reduce their yield losses due to herbicide damage.

To identify herbicide sensitivities of new or potential new chickpea varieties with the view to reduce their yield losses due to herbicide damage.

To identify herbicide sensitivities of new lentil varieties with the view to reduce their yield losses due to herbicide damage.

To identify herbicide sensitivities of new lentil varieties with the view to reduce their yield losses due to herbicide damage.

To identify herbicide sensitivities of new lupin varieties with the view to reduce their yield losses due to herbicide damage. Mandelup was included as a standard variety for comparison in the trial.

Blue lupins are problematic in narrow leave lupin production, especially in the Northern Agriculture Region of WA Wheatbelt and no herbicide is registered for their control in this crop. There were earlier reports that blue lupins could be controlled/suppressed with triclopyr (e.g. Garlon®) safely applied at pod setting on main stem of narrow leave lupins (Quinlan and Fleay, 2016). Two timing of application of Garlon® at 30 mL/ha were included in the trial to determine their safety on new narrow leafed lupin varieties.

To identify herbicide sensitivities of new lupin varieties with the view to reduce their yield losses due to herbicide damage. Mandelup was included as a standard variety for comparison in the trial.

Blue lupins are problematic in narrow leave lupin production, especially in the Northern Agriculture Region of WA Wheatbelt and no herbicide is registered for their control in this crop. There were earlier reports that blue lupins could be controlled/suppressed with triclopyr (e.g. Garlon®) safely applied at pod setting on main stem of narrow leave lupins (Quinlan and Fleay, 2016). Two timing of application of Garlon® at 30 mL/ha were included in the trial to determine their safety on new narrow leafed lupin varieties.

To investigate the fit of high value pulse crops (faba bean, lentil, and chickpea) in the sowing program and their rotational (agronomic and economic) benefits to the following cereal crop.

To investigate the effect of seeding rate and nitrogen program (application rate and timing) on grain yield and quality to reduce the yield gap in the high-rainfall zone where there is high yield potential.

To annually monitor long-term focus paddocks in the Geraldton port zone for effectiveness of integrated weed management strategies in controlling herbicde resistant weeds

• To monitor how wild radish populations change under a range of integrated weed management (IWM) methods
• To investigate the economic advantages to spraying versus hand weeding.

• To better define the sowing and flowering window of lentil and chickpea in WA.
• To evaluate the response of released and near-release lentil lines to a wide range of sowing times.
• To determine if chickpea lines being developed have improved cold tolerance.