Sandy loam trials

This experiment is one in a series of nitrogen experiments aimed at establishing variety responses to different nitrogen application rates and timings.

Varieties can differ in their ability to yield at various sowing dates. The same goes for their response to various rates of nitrogen and how they turn that nitrogen into yield and protein. This trial was designed to measure the influence of sowing date and nitrogen rate across six common wheat varieties.

To determine the performance of commercial canola varieties in the Wimmera and Mallee.

To compare the performance of new and current barley varieties at two different harvest times and to determine if delaying harvest compromises yield and grain quality.

To raise awareness about the increasing occurrence of herbicide resistant wild radish populations in the Wimmera and Mallee and to determine the best management practices for farmers to combat it and reduce its spread.

To evaluate a vigorous hybrid canola variety in a low rainfall Mallee environment for its grazing value at different growth stages, and its ability to recover from grazing.

To determine the performance of new and current barley varieties in the Wimmera and Mallee

To evaluate the performance of new and current barley varieties in the Mallee and Wimmera.

• To compare the competitiveness of new and existing barley varieties in the presence and absence of weeds.
• To increase the competitiveness of a non-competitive variety through sowing time and nitrogen applications in the presence of weeds.

To determine whether maintaining stubble cover in low rainfall environments increases summer moisture conservation, and, to establish the minimum stubble quantity or threshold necessary to ensure maximum moisture conservation over the summer.

To determine the best nitrogen and sulphur strategy for wheat grown on sandy soils in the Mallee with a full profile of moisture and a forecast El Nino.

To compare the sprouting susceptibility of new and existing wheat and barley varieties.

To compare crop safety of Sakura on two barley varieties (Hindmarsh and Scope) sown at different depths.

To assess the impact of small and large seed size sown to target plant density and kg/ha with different P rates on barley yield and quality.

To evaluate the performance of new and current wheat varieties in the Mallee and Wimmera.

To compare the efficacy of broadleaf selective herbicides to control radish in wheat.

To determine the effectiveness of controlling brome grass seed set with crop-topping short- season cereals sown at different times.

• To investigate the impact of different stubble treatments imposed towards the end of the fallow have on nitrogen response (applied as urea) in wheat yield and quality.
• To evaluate any interaction between pre-sowing stubble treatment and topdressing timing.

To investigate the impact of different stubble treatments (burning, cultivation or standing stubble) imposed towards the end of the fallow have on the yield of wheat and barley, and evaluate any cultivar responses within crop species to the impact of the different stubble treatments.

To evaluate the response of canola to low fertiliser inputs

To investigate the nitrogen rate and time of application response of canola varieties to yield and oil content of TT and RR hybrids in comparison with open-pollinated types to: 1. Provide growers in lower rainfall environments with guidelines on optimal nitrogen rates and times of application to maximise grain and oil yields. 2. Determine if the management of hybrid canola nutrition is different to that of open pollinated varieties due to different responses to N rates and timing.

To investigate the plant density response to yield and oil content of TT and RR hybrid canola in comparison with open-pollinated canola

To determine if retaining canola seed leads to reduced yield, oil and financial return.

Aim; To investigate the response to changing the nitrogen rate and changing the time of application.  Canola yield and oil will be measured and RR hybrids will be compared with open-pollinated TT types (OP TT).

Previous trial results suggest that as long as nitrogen is applied within 8 weeks of sowing, there is no yield penalty. 

How canola responds to nitrogen applied later than 8 weeks has not been widely researched.  Similarly how new generation canola such as RoundupReady (RR) hybrids respond to nitrogen has not been widely tested, particularly in low and medium rainfall areas.  This trial is one of a series of 13 timing of nitrogen experiments DAFWA conducted in 2013.

To investigate the response to changing the nitrogen rate and changing the time of application.  Canola yield and oil will be measured and RR hybrids will be compared with open-pollinated TT types (OP TT).

To investigate the response to changing the nitrogen rate and changing the time of application.  Canola yield and oil will be measured and RR hybrids will be compared with open-pollinated TT types (OP TT).

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

Annual ryegrass at high density reduces crop yield. However, this weed is 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.

The trial aims to investigate pre-emergent herbicides and high density crop seeding in a wheat crop.

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

Caring for Our Country funding was obtained to demonstrate the impact of new fungicides for Rhizoctonia suppression by monitoring farmer implement broad acre strips in their current farming systems in 2014.

Onion weed (Asphodelus fistulosusis) is a significant pest of crops and pastures on many soil types on upper EP. Onion weed that germinates in the pasture phase often results in thick stands of large plants that require repeated herbicide application and/or cultivation to control prior to a crop phase. Cultivation prior to sowing is a widespread practice to control the weed and reduce the residues to manageable levels. However, cultivation can expose the soil to erosion.

Onion weed in pastures regularly sets seed prior to the end of the growing season, ensuring the seed bank is replenished and the weed persists in every phase of the rotation. A key strategy to reduce the impact of onion weed, and the need for cultivation, is to reduce growth and seed set in the pasture phase of the rotation. Non-selective herbicides can control actively growing onion weed plants, but pasture growth is also affected.

Previous trials by the UNFS group, MDB NRM, and PIRSA have shown the following herbicides can provide adequate control of onion weed in non-selective situations:

                    Paraquat and double knocks of paraquat

                    Glyphosate plus metsulfuron methyl mixtures (+/- paraquat second knock)

                    Glyphosate plus LVE ester 2,4- D plus metsulfuron methyl,( +/- paraquat second knock)

                    Chlorsulfuron

                    Spray Seed

                    Alliance

This trial was established to investigate herbicide control of autumn/winter germinating onion weed in the pasture phase, while maintaining the productivity of the medic pasture. This trial evaluated the herbicide control of young actively growing onion weed in a vigorous medic pasture. The herbicides, with the exception of paraquat, were chosen to minimise the impact on the medic biomass production.

To investigate the impacts of degree and timing of grazing on crop yield.

To investigate the effect of phosphorus application rates and strategies over a number of years on the growth and yield of wheat.

The aim of this work was to identify new wheat varieties for maximising grain yield in dry and drying seedbeds in the scenario of possible frost risks during the growing season at Wickepin.

To quantify the impact of stubble on the extent, severity and duration of frost and determine its effect on canopy temperature and grain yield.

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

Evaluation of new and existing Angustifolius lupin varieties.

To evaluate whether Apron XL improves yield in field pea crops.

In this project we aim to compare the water use efficiency (WUE) and profitability of high versus low input cropping systems

• To evaluate wheat yield and quality when growing wheat with conventional granular fertilisers or Western Mineral’s granular mineral fertiliser.
• To compare the effects of different methods of “extra” nitrogen application.

To evaluate the response of eighteen barley lines for grain yield, grain quality and malting quality to changes in soil pH (due to liming).

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

To evaluate Buloke and Hindmarsh to industry standards.

To determine if inclusion of Bentonite clay improves crop yields on sandy soils.

The experience from trial work with TM21 in Canada and Vietnam has been that farmers have been able to reduce some of their inputs as well as maintain or increase their yield. BEST Australia set up a long-term trial at the Liebe Group Long Term Trial Site (LTRS) comparing fertiliser rates at three different input levels. This trial will continue over the next few years. During that time, BEST will be evaluating the trial at LTRS to show that fertiliser efficiency increases by using TM21 in Austr

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

• To test if the ‘window’ is broadened due to seed coating.
• To test the effect on yield due to timing of ‘haircut’.

To compare the plant density response of yield and oil content between hybrid and open-pollinated (OP) canola in Triazine tolerant (TT) and Roundup Ready (RR) herbicide tolerance groups.

To evaluate new and existing canola varieties, sown using farmer equipment.