2016 trials

To develop variety specific management packages for ascochyta blight of chickpea.

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

To determine if spacing canola plants more uniformly within the row can improve yield in the WA Northern Region.

1. To obtain data on late March and early April sowing of canola varieties.
2. To determine if changing variety to better match season length improves yield.

There appears to be renewed interest from growers and the agricultural community in legume break crops to complement canola and cereals in the rotation. For example in the Esperance region a number of farmers bulked up lentil seed in 2016 in anticipation of sowing larger areas in 2017. This paper summarises some of the experiments conducted in 2016 by DAFWA in partnership with the GRDC via the Tactical Break Crop Agronomy Project DAW00227 which supports the growing interest in legume crops.

To conduct a canola (Roundup Ready) variety trial.

To conduct a canola (Triazine) variety trial.

To conduct a long season wheat variety trial.

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

To conduct a wheat variety trial.

Compare changes in soil characteristics, including non-wetting and crop growth and performance in a mouldboard ploughed area versus untreated (control) area using an on-farm large scale demonstration site.

To determine if the addition of lime and its method of incorporation (mouldboard ploughing or deep ripping) has an effect on the soil pH profile, topsoil water repellence and crop productivity.

Determine thresholds of stubble loads (0, 1, 2 & 4t/ha) which increase severity and duration of frosts, and associated frost risks.

To provide farmers in the Facey Group grower region with new options for sustainable grazing and summer pasture species. Growers have identified the need for drought tolerant summer grazing options rather than traditional options more suited to higher rainfall zones. This trial aims to compare tedera to the more commonly used annual pasture species – annual ryegrass, serradella and subterranean clover to fill the summer and autumn feed gap.

To determine if there is any quality variation against different seeding rates for oats.

To determine yield against various seeding rates for oats.

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

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a wheat variety trial.

To determine the impact of stubble burning on snail populations in a canola paddock

To determine the impact of stubble burning on snail populations in a canola paddock

To compare potassium (K) strategies over 3 years.

To determine how best to ameliorate subsoil acidity.

1. To refine canola establishment methods for early sowing.
2. To see if it is possible to chase moisture at depth with canola.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on barley and canola yield on sand over gravel and deep sand soil types in the South Stirling area of WA.

To provide the UAV rhizo summary.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a canola (Roundup Ready) vareity trial.

To conduct a wheat variety trial.

To conduct a canola (Ravensthorpe) variety trial.

To conduct an oat variety trial.

• To compare the efficacy of commercial pre-emergent herbicides and mixtures for ARG control across multiple soil types using grower machinery for seeding and ongoing management consistent with the grower’s practice.
• To determine yield and $ return on investment to the grower from current standard pre-emergent herbicides Sakura, trifluralin, Avadex Xtra and Boxer Gold with new options such as standalone prosulfocarb, the main component of Boxer Gold. Prosulfocarb (e.g. Arcade) must be incorporated within 7 days of application.

The eConnected Grainbelt projects aim is to connect grain growers to the information that they need to make profitable decisions that are tailored for their paddocks, for their businesses, and for the variable conditions that they face each season.

The trial aims to see the benefits of crop grazing at various times of sowing, to increase feed availability for stock, while retaining winter pastures and to find out whether crop grazing can be utilised in delaying the flowering window to reduce the impact of frost. It also aims to assess the impact of grazing times against the grain yield and quality across various species and varieties.
 

To conduct a wheat variety trial.

To (i) establish a network of 100 engaged women from farm businesses across all port zones; (ii) increase confidence and capacity of women involved in farm businesses; (iii) increase engagement of women in local and industry organisations; (iv) increase sharing of farm business management responsibilities across various partners; (v) increase awareness and understanding of farm business succession, governance, farm advisory boards, technology, the impact of social media, office management systems, farm employment obligations and options, structures and strategies for overcoming the unexpected; (vi) improve communication and team management skills; (vii) aid better understanding of how significant agriculture is globally and the opportunities that brings Australian farm businesses; (vii) improve relationships and understanding between farmers and their consultants, accountants and bankers.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield in a gravelly loam soil type near Muradup, WA.

To conduct a wheat variety trial.

To report on a survey of the “Red Leaf Clover Syndrome”.

To determine the spread pattern from aerially applied baits.

The trial purpose was to compare seed dressing and foliar application of Bioprime using granular and liquid fertilisers. 

To compare different clay spreading and tillage methods for the amelioration of water repellent gravel soils.

To compare crop emergence between treatments.

To compare programs of seed and foliar fungicides for BL control.

To compare yield and $ROI between Canola disease programs.

To investigate the efficacy of seed dressing and fertiliser applied fungicides on the time of onset, rate of development and yield impact of wheat powdery mildew.

Evaluate Lokomotive as an in season foliar potassium source for correcting potassium deficiency and compare to muriate of potash (MOP).

This trial examines potassium (K) rates as muriate of potash (MOP) products applied by a number of methods and the effects on growth and yield of Mace wheat.

To demonstrate and evaluate nitrogen-rich strips (N Gauges) and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measurement as to provide a simple, accurate and easy-to-understand decision support tool to guide economic application of nitrogen during the growing season.

• Serradella is a useful pasture species on the sandy soils of the West Midlands. But it has two major weaknesses: weed control (particularly radish and capeweed) and a lack of early biomass production. By sowing serradella with a Clearfield Barley variety (Scope or Spartacus) and using Clearfield (Imidazolinone) herbicides both of these weaknesses can be overcome.
• The aim of this demonstration was to highlight the pro’s and con’s of using Clearfield Barley as a cover crop when sowing serradella pastures.

To test whether we can increase radiation use efficiency and yield in wheat by changing architecture (floppy vs. erect leaves).