To investigate the response of new faba bean varieties and genotypes to sowing dates.

To understand the effects of stubble, row spacing and row direction on plant growth, grain yield and pod drop of lentil varieties differeing in architecture and tolerance to pod drop.

To explore herbicide interactions across depths of sowing to investigate crop safety and ways of adjusting/changing IBS and EPE herbicides.

To assess efficacy of registered fungicides for Ascochyta control

Varied. Please see article. 

To understand the effects of row spacing and row direction on plant growth, grain yield and pod drop of lentil varieties differeing in architecture and tolerance to pod drop.

To understand the effects of stubble, row spacing and row direction on plant growth, grain yield and pod drop of lentil varieties differeing in architecture and tolerance to pod drop.

Development of best management practices to increase the production of high-quality grade peanut kernels

To investigate the effect of variety and sowing rate on grain yield in spring-sown chickpeas

To investigate the effect of variety and sowing rate on grain yield in spring-sown faba beans

To evaluate the phenology and grain yield responses of 3 albus lupin, 6 faba bean, 6 narrow-leaf lupin, 6 chickpea, 8 field pea and 12 lentil varieties.

To investigate establishment, crop phenology, days to flowering, flowering duration, and grain yield responses of commercially available pulse and legume varieties.

This trial was designed as a scoping study to investigate various aspects of long coleoptile wheat relative to WA farming systems for eventual grower integration. However, this report outlines both observations as well as extensive data that was collected and analysed, despite the original aim of the trail to be more investigatory than data-driven in nature.
The main area of research was investigating the novel Rht18 gene in wheat, which allows for an elongated coleoptile: a protective sheath around the emerging shoot from a seed. Mace/Scepter typically have 40-60 mm coleoptiles (depending on environmental factors). New varieties developed by CSIRO with the Rht18 gene can extend to 12-140 mm by comparison.

This 2-year project has assessed long coleoptile wheat applications to farming systems in WA across emergence, establishment, weed competition, rhizoctonia impacts, herbicide interactions and yield. Extension across sites has aided in discussions with growers and areas requiring further study for integration to grower systems. While investigatory in nature, 2022 trials outlined in this report aimed to be more data driven in nature than trials conducted in 2021.

The two-year scoping study aimed to achieve the following objectives for investigate various aspects of long coleoptile wheat relative to WA farming systems for eventual grower integration:
• Extend long coleoptile findings and discussions to growers across agricultural regions of Western Australia
• Quantify differences in emergence from deep and shallow sown varieties with varying coleoptile lengths.
• Investigate emergence through furrow fill from wind and rain events.
• Investigate emergence from uneven soil platforms, such as from deep-ripping
• Investigate emergence through both low and high soil temperatures.
• Explore biomass and vigour differences between varieties with and without the Rht18 gene.
• Quantify differences in annual ryegrass competition and wheat vigour interactions with grass weeds.
• Explore herbicide interactions across depths of sowing to investigate crop safety and ways of adjusting/changing IBS and EPE herbicides.
• Explore rhizoctonia wheat root infection between depths of sowing.
• Analyse grain yield of various varieties and coleoptile lengths, including Rht18 wheat.

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.

To evaluate alternative second knock options for grass weeds

To evaluate alternative second knock options for grass weeds

Failure to control annual weed species that persist through cropping phases facilitates replenishment/establishment of weed seedbanks. Consequently, this maintains weed interference in subsequent years of crop production. Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) has been widely adopted in Australia since its inception over three decades ago to prevent redistribution of weed seeds across cropping fields during commercial harvesting operations (Walsh et al. 2017). Implementation of HWSC obstructs fresh seedbank inputs by subjecting the weed seed bearing chaff fraction to a treatment, such as combustion (narrow windrow burning), mechanical pulverisation (impact mills), decomposition (chaff-lining) and removal (chaff cart). Chaff-lining has been readily adopted by growers because of the low cost of modifying a harvester to confine the chaff fraction into a narrow row between stubble, or onto dedicated wheel tracks in controlled traffic farming systems (chaff-tramlining). There is a paucity of literature examining seedbank decline of important Australian weed species in chaff-lines, however a common conjecture is that a mulching effect is created by a combination of physical and chemical influences (Walsh et al. 2018). Field observations suggest that in the absence of seed decay, control failures of annual weed species and volunteer crop plants may be exacerbated. Therefore, growers urgently need information that substantiates the implications of chaff-lining to weed seedbanks.

To determine what is the best way to apply nutrients on non-wetting soils after amelioration in the
Geraldton port zone (GRDC RCSN project).

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

To:

• determine if physical intervention and soil mixing improved grain yield on a sandy soil on eastern EP,
• compare deep ripping with inclusion plates to spading,
• determine if deeper ripping improved results, and
• identify if the addition of fertilisers or organic material (OM) provide additional benefits.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield over a two year period in the To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield over a two year period in the eastern wheatbelt

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 crop yield across varying sites on a farm near Nyabing, WA.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield in different soil types and production zones near Beverley, WA.

To produce an Endnote-generated txt file database of research on trace elements in cropping systems of south eastern Australia.

The objective of the project was to work with landholders in the region to increase their capacity and knowledge to productively and sustainably manage their soil by developing a snapshot of the extent of acidity on their properties.

The aim of this trial was to to compare commercial faba bean rhizobia inoculant with new acid tolerant strains from SARDI and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), WA.

The project seeks to:

• investigate, demonstrate and extend cultural practices that will assist growers to adopt no-till stubble retention (NTSR) in medium and higher-rainfall environments;
• build on findings from the previous Riverine Plains Inc. Water Use Efficiency (WUE) project; and
• extend the frontier of agronomic knowledge for crops grown in NTSR systems.

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.

To evaluate the phenology and grain yield responses of various albus lupin, faba bean, vetch, lentil and chickpea varieties. 

A three year deep ripping experiment was conducted on a highly acidic soil to test how effective a range of inorganic soil amendments were to ameliorate subsoil acidity and improve crop growth and yield. A novel product, MgSi (a blend of 70% Doonba dunite and 30% F70 superfine lime), was tested in the field for the first time.

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.
 

To assess the impact of deep ripping and spading on crop yield across three different soil types near Quairading, WA.

To report on a case study of lessons learned about growing perennial pastures.

To report on a three year strategy to manage clethodim resistant ryegrass without oaten hay.

The project seeks to:

• investigate, demonstrate and extend cultural practices that will assist growers to adopt no-till stubble retention (NTSR) in medium and higher-rainfall environments;
• build on findings from the previous Riverine Plains Inc. Water Use Efficiency (WUE) project; and
• extend the frontier of agronomic knowledge for crops grown in NTSR systems.

• Trials were implemented to compare break crop productivity and profitability on major soil types in the northern South Australian Mallee. This information will help farmers in the region to select the most appropriate break crop for their farming system.

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 determine if the addition of lime and its method of incorporation (mouldboard ploughing or deep ripping) has an effect on the soil pH profile, topsoil water repellence and crop productivity.

To consolidate information and provide guidelines for best bet management of canola sown at or before mid-April.

To inform members about airborne imagery: the taking of photographs of the ground and crops from a direct-down position. Platforms for airborne imagery for agriculture include satellites, fixed-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or “drones”).

To evaluate the response of canola to low fertiliser inputs

To investigate a range of rates and timings of foliar fungicide to try to reduce the impact of aerial blackleg.

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

Some districts in NSW and Victoria are known to frequently develop Sclerotinia stem rot. The purpose of conducting the petal survey was to identify if there are significant differences in the level of petal infestation between districts where the disease develops frequently, compared with those districts where the disease develops once every few years. This information will indicate what influences disease development, background inoculum levels or environmental conditions, or both.