2015 trials

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

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

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. 

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.

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.

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

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

• To assess the efficacy of Sumisclex and Bravo fungicide when sprayed at different stages of Albus lupin crop growth.
• To assess the afficacy of Aviator, Custodia, 1404, Switch and Amistar Top at preventing disease on Albus lupins at 100% flowering stages.

To investigate amelioration options for sands that have low water holding capacity, low organic matter, low nutrient availability, compaction, non wetting and high risk for wind erosion.

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.

To assess amelioration options for water repellent sandplain soils.

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 see whether green manure a viable management option (in terms of maintenance of ground cover and other agronomic benefits) as we know that terminating cover crops will result in 100% seed set control providing that the crop is effectively killed at an appropriate time.

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 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 determine the amount and availability of N from wheat stubble under varying stubble management practices over three cropping seasons.

To determine the effectiveness of plant growth regulators and fungicides on barley yields.

The GRDC ‘Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble - upper Eyre Peninsula’ project aims to improve farm profitability while retaining stubble in farming systems on upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). Weed control in stubble retained systems can be compromised where herbicide efficacy is limited due to higher stubble loads, especially for preemergent herbicides. Current farming practices have also changed weed  behavior with later germinating barley grass genotypes now present in many paddocks on the Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC) (B Fleet, EPFS Summary 2011). Several MAC farm demonstrations  were undertaken in 2014 to address barley grass weed issues including later germinating types and barley grass resistance to Group A herbicides. An integrated approach to weed management aimed at lowering the weed seed bank can make use of diverse techniques such as cultivation, stubble burning, in-crop competition using higher sowing rates and possibly row orientation. The weed seed bank can be reduced within the break phase by hay making, or green or brown manuring. Other techniques used effectively in WA on ryegrass and wild  radish have been narrow windrows and chaff carts. However there is limited information on the effectiveness of these tactics on barley grass in part because it is believed that most seed is shed well before harvest, limiting control. In 2015 the monitoring of farm paddock demonstrations in low rainfall farming systems to  assess control methods for grass weeds, mainly targeting barley grass, were undertaken by;
• Monitoring of narrow windrows in MAC paddocks N1 and N6W, and Bruce Heddle’s paddock CE42 (windrows and chaff dumps).
• Spray topping after oat and vetch hay (MAC paddock S4) using both crop competition (high seeding rate) followed by spray topping after the hay cut.

To evaluate the practicality of swathing barley in a favourable growing season.

To compare and confirm if Litmus barley is a good choice for Gowrie farm against Hindmarsh and Scope, across varying sands.

To compare the performance of new and existing barley varieties in the Wimmera and Mallee.

To show differences in performance of varieties across South West Victoria.

To evaluate barley varieties under irrigated conditions.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To explore bean varieties.

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).

• Investigate the best practice foliar fungicide management for barley on barley rotations and STNB control in barley cv. Scope.
• Better understand the interactions of STNB, stubble and fungicides on the impact of disease, yield and profitability of barley on barley rotations.
• Investigate if higher levels of STNB are associated with head loss pre-harvest.

To explore broad bean canopy management

To evaluate a range of herbicide combinations for controlling brome grass in lentils.

To investigate selection of the right rotation and herbicide strategy for brome grass management.

To investigate whether agronomy can overcome the yield penalty of retained (F2) TT hybrid canola compared with purchased (F1) hybrid seed by using;

• seed mixes.
• increased density or,
• grading to increase seed size.

To determine whether soil organic carbon be increased in a continuous cropping system in the low to medium rainfall zone.

To determine which ameliorant practice is the most effective and economic in remediating subsoil acidity at depth.

To determine which ameliorant practice is the most effective and economic in remediating subsoil acidity at depth.

To conduct a canola (Clearfield) variety trial.

To conduct a canola (Clearfield) variety trial.

To conduct a canola (Roundup Ready) variety trial.

To conduct a canola (Roundup Ready) variety trial.

To conduct a canola (Roundup Ready) variety trial.

To conduct a canola (Triazine Tolerant) variety trial.

To conduct a canola (Triazine Tolerant) variety trial.

To conduct a canola (Triazine Tolerant) variety trial.