2018 trials

To compare and showcase a range of strategic tillage options for amelioration of shallow sandy duplex soils (Sand over clay/gravel) and to assess their effectiveness at overcoming a range of soil constraints including topsoil water repellence and Compaction and increasing crop productivity over a period of 4-5 years.

This trial is the second year of the trial series comparing the performance and response of two breeding lines (03198-18, named Kowari , and 06204-16, named Bilby ) and two benchmark varieties (Carrolup and Williams ) to changes in nitrogen and plant density in medium rainfall environments.

• How will the barley and wheat perform side by side after a serradella phase?
• How much N do we need to apply to each crop type after a serradella phase, and which is the most profitable?
• Will there be Imazethapyr residue from April 2017, and will it affect the non-CL® variety?

To determine if spacing lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L) and canola (Brassica napus) plants in more uniform geometric patterns can improve yield of these species in the Northern Agricultural Region of Western Australia.

To investigate yield and phenology of canola varieties when sown in March to provide better advice to agronomists and growers about the best varieties to use and safe sowing and flowering windows.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To investigate yield and phenology of canola varieties when sown in March to provide better advice to agronomists and growers about the best varieties to use and safe sowing and flowering windows.

To measure the effect of deep ripping on depth to free water (waterlogging) and the associated yield response of canola (2018) and wheat (2019) after deep ripping on this soil type.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct an oat variety trial.

Investigate the effect of row spacing up to 66cm in two hybrid varieties at two different seeding rates to determine if row spacing or plant density can ameliorate the effect of sclerotinia stem rot, with or without fungicide application.

To investigate yield and phenology of canola varieties when sown in March to provide better advice to agronomists and growers about the best varieties to use and safe sowing and flowering windows.

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 evaluate the rotational benefit of different sequences of pulses and canola after soil amelioration when transitioning back into cereal cropping following amelioration.

To conduct a canola (Roundup Ready) variety trial.

To conduct a wheat variety trial.

• Assess the influence of soil renovation treatments on soil borne diseases.

To conduct a wheat variety trial.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

This project set out to contribute to an understanding of legume agronomic and financial management in the Esperance Port Zone in an effort to support the decision-making process undertaken by growers in deciding the best crop sequence for their farms, including which break crop best suits their needs.

This project aims to:

1. Contribute to the agronomic understanding of best practice pulse agronomy in the EPZ.
2. Contribute to the financial decision-making process undertaken by growers in deciding the best crop sequence for their farms, including which break crop is the best option to suit their needs.

This project aims to establish 4 demonstration sites in the Esperance Port Zone that are used by growers to increase their knowledge and adoption of deep ripping and controlled traffic farming to alleviate non-wetting soils, compaction and waterlogging on different soil types in the port zone to improve crop production.

To do so the project will measure the grain yield and gross margin outcome of each soil ameliorant treatment at each site.

To conduct a wheat variety trial.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield across varying sites on a farm near Nyabing, WA.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on wheat yield in a sand over gravel soil type near Northam, WA.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To conduct a wheat variety trial.

To monitor the presence of soilborne disease levels in the farming system following the legume pasture, Sothis.

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

To condcut a wheat variety trial.

This GRDC investment aims to look at the impact of summer cropping on waterlogged winter soils and the resultant impact on crop growth and yield in the next winter growing season. Stirlings to Coast Farmers member Steve Lynch has been growing summer crops for the sole purpose of drying his soil profile in the summer to reduce the risk of waterlogging in the winter-time. Without livestock to benefit from the summer feed, Steve still believes the reduced risk of water-logging is a tangible benefit to his winter crop yields as well as providing diversity into the cropping system. Simon Harding’s (Williams demonstration host) intentions with the summer crop was to reduce his waterlogged areas within his farming practice. The area chosen suffers severe winter waterlogging that impacts on winter crop production and profitability.

To identify suitable Lentil varities for WA growers.

To investigate the efficacy of newly registered fungicides for control of ascochyta in chickpea.

To investigate the efficacy of newly registered fungicides for control of ascochyta in chickpea.

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.

Identify suitable lentil varieties for WA growers.

To evaluate if retaining OP canola seed leads to reduced yield or oil.

To conduct a wheat variety trial.

This research aims to evaluate the yield and economic benefits of using the Reefinator on ironstone sheet soils in the Lake Grace area.

To investigate the suitability and profitability of alternative legume crops in the Western Region.
 

To assess the yield response to deep ripping depth on a productive sand plain near Kojaneerup, WA.

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

To investigate the effect of seeding rate and nitrogen program (application rate and timing) on grain yield and quality to reduce the yield gap in the high-rainfall zone where there is high yield potential.

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 test the following hypotheses:
1. Low plant density will not reduce yield of early April sown wheat
2. Delayed nitrogen application will not affect grain yield
3. Agronomy can offset yield reductions from grazing wheat sown in early April

To demonstrate the profitability of alternative grain legume crops across the Western Region.

To conduct a canola variety trial.

To determine what is the best way to apply nutrients on non-wetting soils after amelioration in the
Geraldton port zone (GRDC RCSN project).

To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield over a two year period in the To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield over a two year period in the eastern wheatbelt

To conduct a long season wheat variety trial.