trials

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.

• To define the expression of Adult Plant Resistance (APR) in a range of wheat cultivars in relation to environmental conditions and growth stage. 
• To develop improved strategies for intervention with fungicides in the control of stripe rust and yellow leaf spot in susceptible and resistant wheat, and the communication of the strategies to industry stakeholders.
• To develop a model to support growers on the relative merits of applying fungicide for disease control, which takes account of climate, expected yield, economic outlook and genetic inputs including Adult Plant Resistance (APR).

To evaluate whether Apron XL improves crop establishment, root development and yields in field pea crops by protecting seedlings against the early effects of root diseases.

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

To compare different blackleg control measures in canola.

To evaluate different foliar disease management strategies on a highly susceptible wheat variety (Chara) to both stripe rust and leaf rust.

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 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 timing of insecticide treatments on deterring aphids from feeding on newly sown wheat and how this impacts on final wheat yield and to evaluate the use of an insecticide seed dressing to give early aphid control.

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

To evaluate a number of seed dressings in canola.

• To test a range of canola varieties (TT and non TI) for yield
• To assess the impact of seed treatment (Maxim ® and Jockey @) on yield

• To evaluate different canola varieties for yield and grain quality.
• To assess the value of using Jockey® as a seed treatment.

• To investigate the effects of a range of fungicidal seed treatments on the emergence and yield of wheat and oats.
• To assess the efficiency of foliar disease suppression of those treatments registered for this purpose.

To observe the early growth and establishment of wheat as well as final yield when seed was treated with Rancona C compared to other products or the untreated.
 

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 develop variety specific management packages for ascochyta blight of chickpea.

To evaluate the effects of fungicide strategies and inoculants on the nodulation, root disease score and grain yield.

To evaluate effectiveness of commercially available inoculant products to increase nodulation in chickpea. 

To compare a range of inoculant products on chickpea root nodulation, yield and nitrogen (N) fixing ability. 

To evaluate effectiveness of commercially available inoculant products to increase nodulation in chickpea. 

To promote early vigour to improve biomass and yield partitioning in chickpea.

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.

To evaluate new Lupin inoculation initiatives in high background populations of naturalised Rhizobium strains in medium–low rainfall cereal/lupin rotation

To better understand and quantify potential production losses incurred from foliar, crown and root diseases by developing response curves.

To conduct comparisons

• crop safety and yield of EverGol Prime compared to Dividend for the contro lof rhizoctonia in wheat,
• efficacy of EverGol Prime compared to Dividend for rhizoctonia control, and
• barley covered smut control of EverGol Prime to current standards.

Crop safety and yield of barley grown from seed treated with EverGol Prime compared to Dividend and Vibrance for the control of rhizoctonia. The trial was conducted to

• To compare efficacy of EverGol Prime compared to Dividend and Vibrance for rhizoctonia control.
• To compare barley covered smut control of EverGol Prime to current standards.

To investigate the effectiveness of fungicides regimes for controlling net blotch and powdery mildew of barley.

To examine the integration of the principles of disease management and canopy management in cereal crops.

Legume pastures have been pivotal to sustainable agricultural development in southern Australia. They provide highly nutritious feed for livestock, act as a disease break for many cereal root pathogens, and improve soil fertility through nitrogen (N) fixation. Despite these benefits, pasture renovation rates remain low and there are opportunities to improve the pasture base on many low to medium rainfall mixed farms across southern Australia. There are also reports of poor protein levels in wheat following medic pastures and many reports of poor medic nodulation. Previous work has shown that substantial responses to inoculation are possible in the Victorian Mallee, which is possibly linked to the poor N fixation capacity of some populations of soil rhizobia. The extent to which inoculation can still improve medic nodulation on Eyre Peninsula requires clarification.

The Dryland Legume Pasture Systems (DLPS) project aims to develop recently discovered pasture legumes together with innovative management techniques that benefit animal and crop production and promote their adoption on mixed farms in the low and medium rainfall areas of WA, SA, Vic and southern NSW.  One objective within this work program is to increase the amount of fixed N provided by the pasture.

This is a component of a new five year Rural Research and Development for Profit funded project supported by GRDC, MLA and AWI; and involving Murdoch University, CSIRO, SARDI, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; Charles Sturt University and grower groups.

There are reports of low grain protein levels in wheat following medic pastures and many observations of poor medic nodulation. Previous work has shown that rhizobial inoculation can improve the nodulation of medics in the SA and Victorian Mallee, and that more generally about 50% of the populations of medic rhizobia in soils are suboptimal in their nitrogen (N) fixation
capacity. This trial aimed to:
• Determine if inoculation can improve medic nodulation at Minnipa,
• Quantify the amount of N fixed by different legumes, and
• Assess impacts on the following wheat crop.

To determine yield losses from Ascochyta blight in current chickpea varieties and advanced breeding lines.

To investigate the effect of the seed treatment Hombre on reducing barley yellow drawf virus in different wheat varieties.

To investigate the effect of the seed treatment Hombre® on reducing barley yellow dwarf virus in different wheat varieties

To investigate the potential of inoculation technologies to improve the nitrogen fixation and/or production of field pea

To evaluate fungicide efficacy on Leaf Rust and Powdery Mildew in Baudin Barley.

To predict the risk of PRR disease and potential yield losses in chickpea, and detect P. med inoculum in soil from commercial paddocks. 

• To assess the effect of various inoculum and liming techniques on the yield of faba bean in a district characterised by acidic red soil types and traditionally not considered suited to faba bean production.

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

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

To compare the effect of rhizobia strains and application rate on the nodulation, biomass, grain yield and grain quality of faba beans grown in suboptimal (acidic and high salinity) soil conditions.

To evaluate the efficacy of acid-tolerant rhizobia to increase faba bean performance compared to a commercial strain of rhizobia or nitrogen fertiliser on an acidic soil.

To promote early vigour to improve biomass and yield partitioning in faba bean.

To evaluate effectiveness of commercially available inoculant products to increase nodulation in field pea. 

• To study the incidence of septoria and other fungal diseases on Kellalac wheat.
• To determine the effectiveness of different fungicides against these diseases. 
   

To evaluate the yield response, efficacy and crop safety of various seed treatments in the control of root pathogens affecting wheat.

Our aim was to test different manufacturers’ products to see how granules preform against the traditional peat product in different soil types and climatic zones, and to find an optimal rate of product application for effective nodulation.

To evaluate a range of herbicides for their efficacy of brome grass control in lentils

Since these inoculants have not had widespread use, the aim in this study was to test these new delivery systems and their effect on nodulating grain legumes in a range of Australian soils.

Since these inoculants have not had widespread use, the aim in this study was to test these new delivery systems and their effect on nodulation grain legumes in a range of Australian soils.