Department of Primary Industries NSW trials

The Australian Soybean Breeding Program develops varieties for diverse production environments across a 3000 km range from the Atherton Tablelands in far north Queensland (Latitude 17.2661°S, Longitude 145.4859°E) to the Riverina in southern New South Wales (Latitude 29.7503°S, Longitude 120.5530°E).

The program focuses on strategies to broaden the range of adaptation of new cultivars (James & Lawn, 2011), and to complete the transition from traditional dark hilum types that supply lower-value crushing markets to clear hilum types with the grain qualities required for human consumption markets. Advances in yield, disease resistance and other agronomic traits are also targeted.

Primarily, a single seed descent method is used to advance populations to the F4 level of inbreeding. Varieties from the Australian Soybean Breeding Program are not genetically modified (non-GMO). Regional evaluation and selection for environmental adaptation and specific regional traits is carried out across a wide range of environments in the target production regions. Typically, new soybean lines progress through stages of small-scale replicated evaluations for 6–8 seasons, with processors conducting small-scale grain evaluations. Advanced lines then complete evaluation in replicated on-farm experiments before commercial licensing and release.

This paper summarises data from multi-season replicated evaluations and on-farm experiments of RichmondA, a new variety for production in northern New South Wales

To explore whether the nitrogen (N) benefits to subsequent cereals from the break crops, and savings from weed control, could offset the loss of income from break crops in the longer term. 

In this series of experiments, we have quantified the extent of yield loss displayed in a number of commonly grown winter cereal varieties in southern New South Wales across four years.
 

To examine whether integrating row placement, stubble management, chickpea row spacing and a ground engaging tool would affect Fp incidence and grain yield in wheat in a chickpea–wheat sequence grown under a zero-tillage system. 

To managing competition and lucerne persistence with sowing configuration.

The Australian Soybean Breeding Program develops varieties for diverse production environments across a 3000 km range from the Atherton Tablelands in far north Queensland (Latitude 17.2661°S, Longitude 145.4859°E) to the Riverina in southern New South Wales (Latitude 29.7503°S, Longitude 120.5530°E). T

he program focuses on strategies to broaden the range of adaptation of new cultivars (James & Lawn, 2011), and to complete the transition from traditional dark hilum types that supply lower-value crushing markets to clear hilum types with the grain qualities required for human consumption markets. Advances in yield, disease resistance and other agronomic traits are also targeted.

Primarily, a single seed descent method is used to advance populations to the F4 level of inbreeding. Varieties from the Australian Soybean Breeding Program are not genetically modified (non-GMO). Regional evaluation and selection for environmental adaptation and specific regional traits is carried out across a wide range of environments in the target production regions. Typically, new soybean lines progress through stages of small-scale replicated evaluations for 6–8 seasons, with processors conducting small-scale grain evaluations. Advanced lines then complete evaluation in replicated on-farm experiments before commercial licensing and release.

This paper summarises data from multi-season replicated evaluations and on-farm experiments of RichmondA, a new variety for production in northern New South Wales.

The objectives were to:

1. reduce nitrous oxide emissions from dryland grains cropping.

2. improve nitrogen use efficiency.

3. validate and develop process-based biogeochemistry models.

4. simulate net greenhouse gas emission under current and projected future climate scenarios. 

This project identified and demonstrated farm management practices that could increase soil organic carbon (C) in the Monaro region in southern New South Wales.

To report on trials conducted in 2012–13 using 15N applied at three N rates (40, 120 and 200 kg N/ha) were reported previously, but those results are repeated here for comparison with more recent trial results.

 The aim of these experiments is to examine how tillage intensity influences allocation and stabilisation (storage) of newly assimilated C in canola crop-soil and wheat crop-soil systems at Wagga Wagga and Condobolin.
 

A new project being conducted by the Irrigated Cropping Council, NSW DPI, Deakin University, Murray Local Land Service and Precision Agriculture, with financial support from GRDC, started in July 2014. The long-term objective is to ‘increase grain 
production and profitability from surface irrigated soils in the GRDC Southern Region by improving the understanding of the interaction between crops, soils, and irrigation and their effects on crop production’.

This experiment is beginning to characterise the reaction of Australian barley varieties at the seedling stage to scald isolates collected from southern NSW. It complements the adult plant screening process. 

To report the biomass, grain production, and gross margin results from sorghum grown in 2014−15 on plots where nitrogen (N) fertiliser was applied in 2013−14 and no additional N was applied to the current crop. 

To compare the effect of delayed harvest on pod splitting, grain weathering and yield for a range of commercial chickpea varieties. 

 To compare the incidence of seed markings (tiger stripe/blotch) for a range of commercial chickpea varieties and advanced breeding lines sown on two sowing dates on the central western and north-western slopes of NSW.

This soybean experiment, conducted at the NSW DPI Leeton Field Station, tested the response of 26 advanced-stage lines and four commercial varieties at two sowing times

To benchmark yield potential across a range of growing environments in the NGR of NSW, over two consecutive seasons, and to quantify the impact of genotype, management and environment on yield.

To determine the agronomic response of sorghum to N management, to help develop more robust soil test/crop response guidelines. 

This app was developed for weather-based irrigation scheduling using a crop coefficient (Kc) estimated from satellite observations and reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo) estimated from scientific information for landowners (SILO) grids (Jeffery et al. 2001).

The project aims to overcome some of the difficulties with double cropping systems (growing a winter and summer crop following one another) and to provide the opportunity for growers to capitalise on their investment in irrigated agriculture. This project considers the issues of herbicide residues; irrigation layouts and management; stubble management; and quantifying achievable crop yield and profitability. 

To test the hypothesis that less fertiliser P is required to acheive maximum grain yield if a mid-maturing variety (Hyola 559TT) is sown earlier than the traditional date of 25 April.

To compare the growth, development and yield of current commercial faba bean varieties and promising advanced breeding lines at three sowing dates on a hard-setting, acidic, red brown soil at Wagga Wagga.

This experiment evaluated the two new imidazolinone (IMI) herbicide-tolerant lentil varieties PBA Herald XT and PBA Hurricane XT alongside other commercial varieties and breeding lines for adaptation and production in southern NSW

To determine the optimal plant density for lentil in southern NSW cropping systems, and if the optimum plant density remains consistent accross varieties. 

 To compare grain yield and quality responses to variations in row configurations, plant population and hybrid selection. 

To compare grain yield responses with variations in three maize hybrids and six nitrogen rates under raised-bed flood irrigation at Breeza on the Liverpool Plains.

To compare plant characteristics and grain yield responses of three maize hybrids with varying rates of N applied at sowing or in-crop under dryland conditions at Gurley, south-east of Moree. 

To determine the maximum attainable grain yield for a given location and year, and to quantify the contributions.

This experiment compared the different Rhizobia innoculation formulations on nodulation, growth and yield of field pea, lupin, faba bean, lentil and chickpea under varying rain-fed and soil moisture conditions on an acidic, sandy loam at Yenda in the south western cropping zone of southern NSW.

This experiment compared different rhizobia inoculant formulations on nodulation, growth and yield of field pea, lupin, faba bean, lentil and chickpea under varying rain-fed and soil moisture conditions on an acidic, red-brown earth at Wagga Wagga in the south-eastern cropping zone of southern NSW

To test some of the commercial practices used in irrigated cotton growing. In the 2014–15 summer cropping season, three experiments were conducted at commercial farms located near Emerald (Qld), Moree (NSW), and Gunnedah (NSW).

The purpose of the experiment was to test the response of one new breeding line and two commercial varieties of soybeans at three row spacings and two plant densities to examine the effect of these treatments on dry matter production, harvest index, grain yield and grain protein. 

This experiment was conducted at the NSW DPI Leeton Field Station to test the grain yield and lodging response of three commercial varieties and an unreleased line (N005A-80) to four targeted sowing densities. 

To examine the impact of crown rot on yield and grain quality in 22 barley, six durum and 34 bread wheat entries across two sowing times at Tamworth in northern NSW in 2014. 

Crown rot, caused predominantly by the fungus Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fp), is a major constraint to winter cereal (wheat, barley and durum) production in the northern grains region. Yield loss is related to the expression of whiteheads which are induced by moisture and/or temperature stress during flowering and grain-filling. Previous NSW DPI research has demonstrated that earlier sowing can reduce the expression of crown rot by bringing grain-fill forward a week or two when temperatures are generally lower. Earlier sowing potentially also facilitates increased root growth early in the season which may result in deeper root exploration and access to soil moisture throughout the season. However, sowing time needs to be balanced against the risk of excessive early vegetative growth depleting soil moisture reserves prior to grain-fill and the risk of frost versus terminal heat stress during flowering and grain development. The impact of crown rot on yield and grain quality was examined in 22 barley, 6 durum and 34 bread wheat entries across two sowing times at Tamworth in northern NSW in 2014.

To compare grain yield and quality responses with variations in row direction (north–south [NS] versus east–west [EW]) across a range of row configurations (to simulate various light interception orientations) and sorghum hybrids. 

To compare grain yield and quality responses with variations in row direction (north–south versus east–west) across a range of row configurations (to simulate various light interception orientations) and sorghum hybrids. 

This study serves to identify the crown rot risk to the industry and link with research on rotation impacts and grower practice at a whole-paddock scale.

To investe options for reducing nitrous oxide emissions from dryland summer grain cropping in northern NSW. 

To report on the nitrous oxide (N2O) emission results from the 2014–15 grain sorghum trials, which aimed to optimise both nitrogen (N) rate and fertiliser N release to benefit crop production and reduce N2O emissions.

To quantify the contribution of sunflower leaves to yield and oil quality by applying nine leaf defoliation treatments. 

 To compare grain yield and oil responses with variations in row configurations, plant population and hybrid selection. 

To determine the role of stubble management on frost severity and its effects on the grain yield of wheat 

These experiments were conducted to evaluate whether thrips controls applied at the thrips threshold led to higher or lower yields when compared with treatments at a lower threshold (one thrips per plant) and a non-spray treatment. The local cotton industry supported commercialscale experiments over small plot experiments. 

This soybean experiment was conducted at the NSW DPI Leeton Field Station to test the response of three commercial varieties and five unreleased lines to three sowing times. 

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. 

The aim of this research was to benchmark yield potential across a range of growing environments in the NGR over two consecutive seasons, and to quantify the effect genotype (G), management (M) and environment (E) had on yield.

This work estimates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from grain production systems for different regions of NSW. Data used for analysis was based on DPI gross margins and validated at grower forums in Wagga Wagga and Harden in the southern region. 

To evaluate a range of varieties and advanced PBA breeding lines.

Phytophthora medicaginis, the cause of phytophthora root rot (PRR) of chickpea is endemic and widespread in southern QLD and northern NSW, where it carries over from season to season on infected chickpea volunteers, lucerne, native medics and as resistant structures (oospores) in the soil.  Although registered for use on chickpeas, metalaxyl seed treatment is expensive, does not provide season-long protection and is not recommended.  There are no in-crop control measures for PRR and reducing losses from the disease are based on avoiding risky paddocks and choosing the right variety.

Detailed information on control of PRR in chickpea is available at:

http://www.pulseaus.com.au/growing-pulses/bmp/chickpea/phytophthora-root-rot

Current commercial varieties differ in their resistance to P. medicaginis (Pm), with Yorker and PBA HatTrick having the best resistance and are rated MR (historically Yorker has been slightly better than PBA HatTrick), while Jimbour is MS - MR, Flipper and Kyabra are MS and PBA Boundary has the lowest resistance (S).

From 2007 to 2015 PRR yield loss trials at the DAF Qld Hermitage research Facility, Warwick QLD have evaluated a range of varieties and advanced PBA breeding lines. 

To determine the efficacy of a range of herbicide treatments or double knock strategies on the post-emergence control of common sowthistle.

To determine the efficacy of a range of herbicide treatments or double knock strategies on the post-emergence control of flaxleaf fleabane.