2015 trials

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

To assess amelioration options for water repellent sandplain soils.

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

• To evaluate early foliar disease suppression of soil applied fungicides.
• To compare early soil disease control to a foliar only strategy.
• To compare efficacy of different foliar fungicides on yield at a ~Z31 and Z39 applications.
• To compare seed treatment and Aviator Xpro foliar for SFNB.

To assess amelioration of subsoil acidity using a range of tillage methods for incorporating surface applied lime into acidic subsoils and the impacts of tillage and lime on crop productivity.

To motivate growers to carry out direct problem diagnostics in their crops using:

• nutrient and deep cultivation strips in crops, to compare with standard management;
• follow-up work to find out why they have observable crop growth variations in a paddock

To develop a protocol for setting up strip tests and interpretation procedures for growers with different levels of commitment and time and to answer the 'why is it so?' quesitons.

To test modified one-way ploughs as a method of lime incorporation.

To evaluate the effectiveness of two bolt-on attachments to a deep ripping tine at lime incorporation.

To investigate the effect of a rotary spader and lime on the residual value of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer on a water repellent soil.

Assess potential efficacy and benefits from fungicides applied from seeding through to flowering in management of stubble borne diseases of wheat.

To demonstrate the available herbicide options for a range of annual legume pasture varieties.

To evaluate the performance and agronomic attributes of a range of Hybrid and OP canola varieties across different herbicide tolerant technologies over two time of sowing events.

To improve the adoption of liming practices in the medium to high rainfall zone of Western Australia by demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of lime application and incorporation.

To identify suitable options for managing soil water repellence on sandy gravels.

Detailed measurement of soil properties and plant productivity over time following amelioration with one-off deep tillage.

Exploring the potential of longer-season wheat to achieve higher yield in the high rainfall zone.

To determine the relative importance of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) in canola.

To compare and assess the effectiveness of one-off tillage treatments on soil water repellence, water infiltration, crop establishment and productivity on a water repellent gravel.

To assess the value of muriate and sulphate sources of potassium on growth and yield of wheat when applied by banding and topdressing at seeding time or topdressing after emergence.

To demonstrate that, in the right season, ripping affects nitrogen uptake efficiency and availability to crops.

To determine how serradella performs when introduced to a sub tropical pasture stand.

Demonstrate variable rate technology on farm and how it can be applied to manage fertiliser use and to minimise nutrient enrichment or depletion that leads to poor soil health.

Evaluate yield and quality response of long season wheat and barley to sowing time.

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.

To investigate deep ripping over several sites and seasons .

To determine how best to ameliorate subsoil acidity.

To evaluate species and pasture phase systems (including hard seeded annuals) for light sand-plain soils (with low pH and low available soil water) in crop-based rotations.

To demonstrate establishment, management and viability of legume phase options in cropping rotations with appropriate agronomic management packages.

To demonstrate establishment, management and viability of legume phase options in cropping rotations with appropriate agronomic management packages.

To demonstrate establishment, management and viability of legume phase options in cropping rotations with appropriate agronomic management packages.

To demonstrate establishment, management and viability of legume phase options in cropping rotations with appropriate agronomic management packages.

To demonstrate establishment, management and viability of legume phase options in cropping rotations with appropriate agronomic management packages.

• To compare the growth, development and yield of current commercial chickpea varieties and  promising advanced breeding lines at three sowing dates on a hard-setting, acidic, red-brown soil at Yenda in southern NSW.

• To compare growth, development and yield of current commercial faba bean varieties and promising advanced breeding lines at two sowing dates on a hard-setting, acidic, red-brown soil at Junee Reefs in southern NSW. This information will be used to confirm and update current agronomic recommendations for faba bean in this region.

• To compare growth, development and yield of current commercial faba bean varieties and promising advanced breeding lines at three sowing dates on a hard-setting, acidic, red-brown soil at Wagga Wagga in southern NSW. This information will be used to confirm and update current agronomic recommendations for faba bean in this region.

To improve the success of early sown field pea crops through identifying foliar fungicides with higher levels of efficacy than the current foliar fungicide of Mancozeb on Blackspot disease (using PBA Coogee).

To investigate the impact of fungicide use to control disease in a range of field pea breeding lines and varieties (focusing on blue peas).

To investigate the adaptability of a range of lentil varieties to varying plant densities and sowing dates.

1. To establish agronomic guidelines for lentil time of sowing and seeding rate for current commercial lentil varieties alongside promising advanced breeding lines on an acidic, red-brown earth at Wagga Wagga, NSW. This information will be used to confirm and update current agronomic recommendations for lentil in this region.
2. To determine if optimum plant density and sowing time remains constant across varieties in this environment.

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

To answer the question: choosing lime - what you need to know to make better decisions

To report on what you need to know to make better liming decisions.

To expand knowledge on pulses and increase the use of them in the southern region

To compare two nozzles, a 90 degree vs a 45 degree spary angle nozzle, in their efficacy in controlling ARG in canola. The 90 degree angled nozzle was tested at two droplet sizes, (i) medium and (ii) very coarse. 

To answer the question: how fast is lime moving and is it treating acidity at depth?

To look at the significance of the cultivar difference with regard to management strategy.

To take a step back and look at how important rainfall and variety choice are in grazing crops to maintain grain yield.

• To see if soil nutrient levels constrain production in the Victorian high rainfall zone.
• To formulate tools which predict the production, economic response and risk of applying inputs to wheat and canola crops within the south-eastern high rainfall zones.

To assess the effectiveness and applicability of cultural control practices in combination with pre-emergent herbicides for the management of herbicide resistant annual ryegrass in the high rainfall zone of Victoria.