2015 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.

The Transitioning Family Farming Businesses project proposed to facilitate a discussion in the WA grains industry regarding its future industry development requirements around the establishment of farm advisory boards. It did this through the delivery of:

• Needs analysis of the Australian grains industry regarding the development of farm advisory boards using leading farmers and key industry stakeholders in;

o a series of in-depth interviews, and

o an industry forum.

• Develop an outline of a training programme that, once developed, will support grain businesses in their implementation of an advisory board of management.

• Develop fact sheets regarding the establishment of farm advisory boards.

• Provide an opportunity for members of the project team to participate with other leading businesses at a national level through;

o Participation in the National Farm Advisory Board Forum, and

o Participation in the Family Business Australia “Family Business Directors

• Delivery of information on the establishment of farm boards at identified industry conferences and field days.

To (i) ground truth through statistical analysis of small plot trials current practices of leading farmers in regards to the use of Variable Rate Technology (VRT), predictive yield modelling and nutrition modelling in improving water use efficiency and hence profitability; (ii) address the hypothesis that greater return on investment can be achieved through targeted nutrition applications according to variety, production zone, plant available water (PAW) and seasonal conditions; (iii) assist in the generation of data to extend the process of using soil moisture probe data in conjunction with Yield Prophet (YP) simulations to assist with production decisions for different soil zones (with differing PAWC), with particular focus on top-up nitrogen.

To assess the efficacy of foliar, on-seed and on-fertiliser commercially available fungicides on blackleg control in retained stubble systems. 

To investigate the merit of fodder crops in the crop rotation, with particular interest in weed control, nitrogen and gross margin.

To assess the yield response in barley, canola and lupins to deep ripping over a three year period (2015 – 2017) near Broomehill, WA.

Soil compaction affects soil aeration and gas diffusivity, and thus has a major impact on the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from fertilised soils. Controlled traffic farming (CTF) systems reduce the area of compacted soil by confining all field traffic to permanent traffic lanes, and a pilot trial at one long-term CTF site provided evidence of reduced soil emissions. We investigated the effect of CTF on soil emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) using replicate manual chamber measurements in 3 traffic treatments;namely:non-trafficked CTF beds, permanent CTF lanes,and a single traffic pass on CTF beds to simulate the random traffic tracks of non-controlled traffic farming. Emissions of N2O and CH 4 were monitored from these treatments in 15 crops over 3 years on 6 grain farms in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.

Thus, the major objective was to determine the emissions of N2O and CH4 from random trafficked and permanent traffic lane soil, relative to those from non-trafficked CTF beds. These emission ratios are referred to here as traffic impact factors.
 

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

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

To identify the most effective herbicide product and mixes to control hard-to-kill broadleaf weeds in the Wimmera.

To determine the impact of delaying harvest on yield and grain quality and to create management packages for varieties, as a guide for farmers.

To compare the yield performance of several slow-developing winter wheat cultivars (requiring vernalisation) with spring wheat cultivars (photoperiod sensitive) at different plant densities, in the presence or absence of weeds.

To determine how post-grazing nitrogen application rates and post flowering rainfall affect the recovery of Mace and Trojan grain wheat crops after grazing.

To identify the most effective herbicide brews to control elongating amsinckia.

To investigate the effectiveness of the use of different herbicides and spraying regimes prior to sowing in controlling annual ryegrass and to increase grower awareness of rotating the various knockdown options pre-sowing.

To evaluate the yield performance of milling oat varieties, and the grazing value, hay and grain yield of grazing-hay oat varieties in the southern Mallee.

To compare fallow and termination timing treatments of legumes on biomass and grain production (2014), and their impact on sowing-time, soil nitrogen and water, and subsequent yield and quality of cereal sown the following season (2015).

To determine whether sowing direction influences wheat and barley grain yields in the southern grains region.

To investigate the influence of stubble management and rate on the duration, severity and frost damage in frost prone parts of the landscape in the Mallee and Wimmera regions.

To ascertain the amount and availability of N under varying stubble management practices and soil environments.

To determine if sowing direction and row spacing can be used to influence grass weed populations and growth, and their impact on crop performance in the Mallee.

To compare the performance of new and existing wheat varieties in the Wimmera and Mallee and to investigate the influence of row spacing, variety maturity and plant density on crop performance (Berriwillock site only).

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 compare break crop productivity and profitability on major soil types in the northern South Australian Mallee.
 

To answer the question 'Does stubble height matter?'

To focus on maintaining profitable retained stubble systems rather than investigating agronomic and economic benefits of stubble retention.

To test the hypothesis that over time in controlled traffic farming systems the repeated uneven spreading of header residue back over the tram track width would result in changed soil conditions that would ultimately lead to different “management zones” along the tram track.

To understand the grazing behavior of livestock in paddocks to utilise technology such as portable fencing systems.

To compare no till farming techniques against conventional farming methods over 5 different cropping
rotations.

To report on the mouse monitoring program; part of a 3 year study funded by the GRDC to monitor mouse populations and forecast the liklihood of mouse outbreaks.

To provide a special report on Mouse Census Week - a part of the mouse monitoring program; part of a 3 year study funded by the GRDC to monitor mouse populations and forecast the liklihood of mouse outbreaks.

To identify strategies that minimise the risk of canola production in the low rainfall zone.

To investigate the impact of row direction and row spacing on grass weed competition and cereal performance over three years.

• 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 investigate the potential of non-chemical options for managing barley grass in a crop is increasing crop competition by reducing row spacing and increasing sowing rate.

To identify and retest historic pH monitoring sites from previous publically funded projects.

To identify and retest historic pH monitoring sites from previous publically funded projects.

To outline how farmers can maximise wheat yield on long fallow by sowing early with slow developing cultivars.

To investigate how differing summer farming practices influence stored water and how plant available water may influence grain yield potential and grain quality attributes in the low rainfall area in central NSW.

To determine if sowing direction and row spacing can be used to influence grass weed populations and growth,
and their impact on crop performance in the Mallee.

• 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 assess whether 

• constraints to productivity on sands could be managed by manipulating the nutrition package,
• early application of N is the most profitable option,
• Zn is a constraint to yield and if the source of Zn is important, and
• S is a constraint to yield and if the source of S is important

This project was undertaken to identify strategies that minimise the risk of canola production in the low rainfall zone.  This will improve the long term profitability of canola in low rainfall farming systems.
 

To investigate the effect of the sowing treatment on weed populations and crop performance on two contrasting soil types (a dune sand and a heavier clay loam swale).

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