SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre trials

To identify the severity of K deficiency in broad-acre crops in respect to the Colwell K level in the top 10 cm of soil.

The wheat and barley variety demonstrations were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureaus to compare current varieties to potential new varieties in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.

These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.

These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.

To investiage management of risk through tailoring inputs to the different production zones
potential by using variable rate technology.

At Wharminda the focus is on managing risk through variable rate technology (VRT) using different inputs over variable soil
types.

To manage risk through variable rate technology using different inputs over variable soil types and testing the use of Yield Prophet to match plant available water and nutrition with modelling of climatic conditions, knowing that we can have unpredictable finishes to seasons.

To look at the impact of break crops on Rhizoctonia inoculum in 2013 and of crop management on disease expression in the following cereal crop. 

To look at the impact of 2012 break crops on Rhizoctonia inoculum in 2013 and of crop management on disease expression in the 2013 cereal crop. 

To update the benefits of fluid delivery systems from previous research and assess the potential of fluid nutrients and disease control strategies in current farming systems.

To build on previous research by updating knowledge of the benefits, including disease control and nutrition, of fluid delivery systems. 

To build on previous research by updating knowledge of the benefits, including disease control and nutrition, of fluid delivery systems.

To improve the long term control of Rhizoctonia by increasing the understanding of the interactions between disease inoculum and natural soil suppressive activity and to improve the prediction and management of disease.

To determine if disease suppression against Rhizoctonia is achievable in an upper EP environment on a grey
highly calcareous soil using different rotations and cropping inputs.

To determine if disease suppression against rhizoctonia is achievable in an upper EP environment on a grey highly calcareous soil using different rotations and cropping inputs.

To determine if disease suppression against rhizoctonia is achievable in a grey highly calcareous soil using alternative rotational systems and crop inputs in an upper EP environment and if soil microbial populations can be influenced by rotation and fertiliser inputs.

This research was done to develop predictive formulas that can be used by growers to estimate in-season soil nutrients from soil samples taken at different depths and crop nutrient content from proximal sensing (PS) data.

The upper Eyre Peninsula (UEP) is a challenging environment for growers, due to the irregular rainfall patterns which are coupled with lower soil fertility. Additionally, calcareous soils with poor structure and low water holding capacity provide additional restrictions for plant growth, as growers currently use granular fertilisers which require good soil moisture conditions to enable the uptake of nutrients. Topsoils from calcareous soils may dry quickly after rain events, which may explain poor water use and nutrient extraction efficiency.

PS technologies have the potential to support grower’s nutrient management decisions by monitoring in-season soil and crop water and nutrient content (Allen et al. 2017, Arsego et al. 2017). PS uses a wide range of wavelengths to predict soil and crop nutritional status in a non-destructive, quick, and inexpensive way. PS technology is mostly limited to laboratory use. The development of small, portable PS devices may allow the use of this technology in farm paddocks in the near future. In this study, we combined different UEP trials to develop predictive models for PS for crop nitrogen, crop nutrient content and soil moisture.

To determine if disease suppression against rhizoctonia is achievable in an upper EP environment on a grey highly calcareous soil. It also assessed whether soil microbial populations can be influenced by rotation and fertiliser inputs in this environment.

To make full use of in-crop rainfall, stored soil moisture and nutrients, and prevent weed seed contamination, the control of weeds in a pulse break crop phase is essential. Currently, herbicides are the primary method of weed control in broadacre cropping systems. However, there are limited options for broadleaf weed control in pulse crops, as there are few effective broadleaf post emergent herbicides available for use in faba bean and lentil. Along with limited control options, the presence of possible herbicide residues, such as sulfonylureas (SU), from previous crops are major deterrents for including pulses in a cropping rotation where there is an increased risk of herbicide damage. In recent years, Group B herbicide tolerant (HT) lentil and faba bean varieties have been released to Australian growers and have proven very popular for giving more flexible weed control options, particularly for late emerging broadleaf weeds. The Group B herbicide tolerance traits not only provide growers with in-crop options for broadleaf weed control, but also allow these pulse crops to be grown on Group B (including SU) herbicide residues, which can persist from previous crop applications for up to 24 months or longer, depending on rainfall (minimum of 700 mm) and soil pH (as per DuPont^™ Glean^® and Tackle^® WG product labels).

The aim of these trials was to evaluate the levels of tolerance to simulated residues and post-emergent applications of Group B herbicides in lentil XT varieties, and a faba bean mutant derived line with Group B herbicide tolerance traits.

To identify the severity of K deficiency in broad-acre crops in respect to the Colwell K level in the top 10 cm of soil.

To completely review the standard approach to the sheep enterprise.

These variety trials were identified as priorities by local Agricultural Bureaux to compare current varieties to ones which are not commonly grown in their respective districts, and to compare varieties in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.

These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.

To assess the impact of soil nutrition, current herbicides, adjuvants and rhizobial inoculants on nitrogen (N) fixation by medics under field conditions typical of the upper Eyre Peninsula. 

To assess the impact of soil nutrition, current herbicides, adjuvants and rhizobial inoculants on N fixation by medics under field conditions typical of the upper Eyre Peninsula. 

The broad aim of this 3 year SAGIT funded project was to investigate if current management tools for medic based pastures, such as herbicides, fertilisers and rhizobial inoculants, are affecting N fixation by medic pastures under field conditions typical of the upper Eyre Peninsula.

To investigate the impact of grazing, soil nutrition and rhizobial inoculants on dry matter production, nodulation and N₂-fixation of a regenerating medic pasture under field conditions.

This article summarises the outcomes of several Mn trials conducted on upper Eyre Peninsula over the last two years.

To identify plant varieties or mixtures that can increase dry matter production of the pasture break phase on the highly alkaline soils of upper Eyre Peninsula. Current cropping and grazing systems are mostly based on monocultures and the potential feed base of the break phase could be broadened to be more productive for grazing and available for a longer time period in the season. Current oat varieties, mixed break crops and newer pasture species were trialled at Piednippie in 2018 to investigate whether a more productive and prolonged feed base is possible.

To identify the severity of K deficiency in broad-acre crops in respect to the Colwell K level in the top 10 cm of soil.

To determine the impact of different fertiliser products and placement relative to the seed on crop emergence, crop WUE and grain yield.

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 investigate water repellence mitigation options at seeding. The trial aims to identify the driving chemistries (surfactants vs humectants) and application techniques (furrow surface, vs seed zone) that are better able to lift crop responses under local sowing conditions. This article reports on the Year 1 data, with more work being planned for the 2019-20 seasons.

To build resilience into EP farms by understanding the interactions between soil potential, climate and management.

To test whether knowledge of soil potential, soil variation and in-season predictions of grain yield with Yield Prophet could be useful to improving management.

To focus on increasing water use efficiency.

To investiage management of risk through tailoring inputs to the different production zones potential
by using variable rate technology.

To manage risk through tailoring inputs to the different production zones potential by using variable rate technology.

To manage risk through variable rate technology using different inputs over variable soil types and testing the use of Yield Prophet to match plant available water and nutrition with modelling of climatic conditions, knowing that we can have unpredictable finishes to seasons.

To compare P efficiency of commonly grown varieties (plus a few new ones) on the upper EP to provide farmers with better knowledge of their current varieties, or select new varieties that may better utilise applied P in a grey calcareous soil.

To conduct a break crop trial at Mt Cooper.

These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.

To recommend options to improve;
• soil nutrients and groundcover, and 
• reduce disease levels and chemical use.

To test the efficacy of a range of experimental (unregistered) foliar fungicides against the above strategy in controlling blackspot in field pea in three major production areas of South Australia.

To identify the best break crop options for different climate, soil type and biotic stress situations within major cropping regions of the southern low rainfall zone.

Farming systems in the low rainfall zone of southern Australia are dominated by cereal production. There is increasing concern about grass weed and soil-borne disease pressure, diminishing soil fertility (particularly nitrogen), and water use efficiency, as a result of continuously cropping cereals. Break crops have a key role to play in addressing these issues, as well as diversifying crop production and economic risk, and maintaining long-term sustainability of the system. However, there remains a lack of information available to growers about choosing the break crop best suited to their situation, as break crop development to date has largely occurred in medium and high rainfall zones. The aim of this research is to identify the best break crop options for different climate, soil type and biotic stress situations within major cropping regions of the southern low rainfall zone.

To investigate the threshold temperatures to kill weed seeds, and the temperatures achieved when burning crop residues in various formats to faciliate weed seed control of problematic weeds in low rainfall cropping systems. 

To study the use of VRT through zoning the paddock based on pre-2008 yield monitor maps, and incorporating EM38 and elevation maps.

To focus on the impact of trafficking by heavy vehicles on crop production and soil condition, as well as monitoring how quickly LRZ soils will "self-repair" if heavy trafficking is stopped. Issues of implementing CTF and managing permanent wheel tracks are being addressed in other components of the project.

Barley grass possesses several biological traits that make it difficult for growers to manage it in the low rainfall zone, so it is not surprising that it is becoming more prevalent in field crops in SA and WA. A survey by Llewellyn et al. (2015) showed that barley grass has now made its way into the top 10 weeds of Australian cropping in terms of area infested, crop yield loss and revenue loss.

The biological traits that make barley grass difficult for growers to manage in low rainfall zones include:

• early onset of seed production, which reduces effectiveness of crop-topping or spray-topping in pastures,
• shedding seeds well before crop harvest, reducing harvest weed seed control effectiveness compared to weeds such as ryegrass which has a much higher seed retention,
• increased seed dormancy, reducing weed control from knockdown herbicides due to delayed emergence, and
• increasing herbicide resistance, especially to Group A herbicides, used to control grass weeds in pasture phase and legume crops.

Barley grass management is likely to be more challenging in the low rainfall zone because the growing seasons tend to be more variable in terms of rainfall, which can affect the performance of the pre-emergence herbicides. Furthermore, many growers in these areas tend to have lower budgets for management tactics, and break crops are generally perceived as more risky than cereals. Therefore, wheat and barley tend to be the dominant crops in the low rainfall zone. This project is undertaking coordinated research with farming systems groups across the Southern and Western cropping regions to demonstrate tactics that can be reliably used to improve the management of barley grass.