2018 trials

The objectives of this project are to quantify the size and efficiency of response to mid-row banded nitrogen in irrigation systems within the southern Riverina of Australia. This will include the assessment of the effect of mid-row banded N on growth, yield and apparent nitrogen recovery efficiency (ANRE), of wheat as compared to the current best-practice method of topdressing at GS31 and the control.

Another key objective of this project is to assess the loss of banded nitrogen during waterlogging events to determine if denitrification losses are reduced in banded nitrogen and compared to topdressed nitrogen and the control.

In Western Australia, break crop options are currently limited and there is a high proportion of wheat and barley grown in rotation. Cereal crops account for 60-70% of paddocks sown in any one year, with the remaining area sown to a range of crop and pasture types including canola, lupin, clover, volunteer pasture, or left as fallow. In addition, there is an interest in chickpea and lentil to add a high value legume to the crop rotation. The application of these break crops is dependent on the grain price per tonne and on the level of severity of biological constraints present that lead to a reduction in grain yield and which varies from paddock to paddock. The use of a single break crop in rotation has been shown to be an effective tool in managing both weed and diseases that affect wheat production to remove biological constraints to crop production and allow the sustained production of cereal crops. However, with a change in resistance status of many common weeds and diseases, and a change in soilborne pathogens, a single break crop applied to a cropping system that is largely based on cereals has limited effect in reducing the biological constraints, with the longevity of the break crop benefit being reduced. Recent studies into the break crop benefits for highly herbicide resistant weed populations has found that a break of at least two years was needed to prevent grass seed set and substantially reduce grass seedbank numbers. 

Considering the high percentage of cereal crops grown in Western Australia, there is the need to evaluate the use of double break crop sequences to improve wheat grain yield and profitability. In particular, the Eastern Wheatbelt region has very limited break crop options, and there is the need to investigate the better use of tools such as fallow periods to improve break crop outcomes.

To assess growth (via top biomass at heading) and grain yield of diverse oat varieties (vs durum wheat check) under saline-sodic soil conditions, compared with "good soil" conditions at Turretfield.

A key aim of this project is through three years of trials to deliver key elements of a demonstrated and communicated variety specific HRZ Noodle Wheat production package. This purpose of the HRZ package is to increase noodle wheat quantity and quality and reduce downgrade risk.

A second aim of the project is to provide greater diversity and options for crop rotations in the southern HRZ – the current dominant rotation of canola: barley is under threat with more disease and chemical resistance.

Growing noodle wheat in the HRZ, has traditionally been considered a risky, due to the risk of not making ANW1, this project aimed to quantify this risk, by comparing wheat varieties, and how the perform in the HRZ.

To compare three legume crops in farmer scale seeding strip trials at three locations in the Albany Port Zone. Demonstrations will compare several legume crops in different soil types in different micro-environments. The same trial sites will be monitored in 2019 to determine the effects (positive or negative) of the legume break crop on the subsequent barley/wheat crop and soil nitrogen status. The legume demonstration trials will provide growers with current agronomic information for pulses/legumes as a break crop in farming systems for the Albany Port Zone. Information from both the legume demonstration and effect on the subsequent crop will complement the Crop Sequence Calculator Workshops to be run concurrently by Farmanco.  

The aim of this trial is to assess the viability of long season wheat in the HRZ. 

The trial aimed to address the lack of long-term lime trials taking place in the Albany Port Zone. 

The aim was to evaluate five different lime sources from the southwest to determine were differences in their effect on soil pH and yields. 

To enable growers to make timely and efficient nitrogen decisions in the Albany and Esperance port zones by having a rule of thumb around the cost/benefit of feeding N to crops on waterlogged soils.

This project looked at the long-term effect of P rates on crop production in the APZ. 

To evaluate the grain yield and economic benefit of soil amelioration and controlled traffic practices on a broader range of soil types across the grain growing region of WA.

This trial aims to increase the knowldege and adpotion of deep ripping techniques and controlled traffic to allieviate non-wetting soils, compaction and waterlogging. 

The trial aimed to look at the long term effects of ripping on crop yields by monitoring crop performance of the treated plots for three seasons post-ripping. 

The trial aims to raise awareness amoung growers around the decline in the effectivness of ripping over time, and the risk of re-compaction if controlled traffic is not properly implmented. 

To evaluate the appropriateness of chickpea varieties for the Victorian high rainfall zone (HRZ) on an autumn or spring sowing date. 

To evaluate potential new foliar fungicide spray strategies and varieties for management of aschochyta blight in chickpeas. 

To evaluate fungicide strategies to manage ascochyta blight in chickpea in the low rainfall Mallee environment. 

To evaluate chickpea varieties and breeding lines against ascochyta blight and their response to foliar fungicide application. 

To evaluate chickpea varieties and breeding lines against ascochyta blight and their response to foliar fungicide application. 

To evaluate potential new foliar fungicide spray strategies and varieties for management of aschochyta blight in chickpeas.

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 investigate the response of chickpea to application of macro and micro-nutrients.

To investigate the response of chickpea to application of macro and micro-nutrients on a sandhill and swale soil.

To identify nutrient inputs that will improve growth and yield of chickpea on the variable soil types encountered in Mallee paddocks.

To evaluate autumn or spring sowing for chickpea varieties in the Victorian high rainfall zone (HRZ). 

To investigate the adaptability of a range of chickpea varieties and breeding lines to varying sowing dates. 

To investigate the adaptability of a range of chickpea varieties and breeding lines to varying sowing dates. 

To evaluate the yield of chickpea breeding lines with cold tolerance traits in comparison to selected commercial varieties. 

To test the disease management efficacy of a set of fungicide programs in faba beans in the Victorian high rainfall zone (HRZ).  
 

To assess the efficacy of fungicide programs in faba beans in the Victorian high rainfall zone (HRZ).   

To evaluate new breeding lines of faba beans for the Victorian high rainfall zone (HRZ). 

To test the adaptability of faba beans to changes in sowing date and plant density in the Victorian high rainfall zone (HRZ). 
 

To test the response of two common faba bean varieties to changes in plant density in the Victorian high rainfall zone (HRZ). 

To evaluate potential foliar fungicide spray strategies, new breeding lines and varieties for management of fungal diseases in faba bean. 

To evaluate potential of foliar fungicide spray strategies, new breeding lines and varieties for management of fungal diseases in faba bean. 

To evaluate the performance of a range of faba bean varieties and breeding lines with traits for adaptation to low rainfall zones. 

To investigate the tolerance of a newly released faba bean variety PBA Bendoc to residual (simulated) and in-crop application timings of Group B herbicides in comparison with the commercial variety PBA Samira. 

To investigate the tolerance of a newly released faba bean variety PBA Bendoc to residual (simulated) and in-crop application of various Group B herbicides in comparison with the commercial variety PBA Samira. 

To investigate the response of faba bean to application of macro and micro-nutrients. 
 

To investigate the response of faba bean to phosphorus fertilizer rates. 

To assess the efficacy of fungicide programs to manage black spot in field peas in the Victorian high rainfall zone (HRZ).  

To test the effect of micronutrient supplements on field pea grain yield. 
 

To test the adaptability of field pea varieties to changes in sowing time. 

To test the adaptability of field pea varieties to changes in sowing time in the Victorian high rainfall zone (HRZ). 

To evaluate fungicide strategies to manage blackspot in field pea in the low rainfall Mallee environment. 
 

To identify Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) field pea genotypes which may offer yield improvements over current varieties grown in the low rainfall northern Mallee environment. 

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

Assess the performance of a range of lentil, faba Bean, field pea and vetch varieties and breeding lines on acidic soils in the North Central region of Victoria. 

To identify the best adapted lentil varieties to the variable soil types encountered in Mallee paddocks. 

To identify the best adapted lentil varieties to the variable soil types encountered in Mallee paddocks. 
 

To evaluate the adaptability of a range of lentil varieties and breeding lines in the low rainfall zone.