2019 trials

This study determines the effect of N fertilizer placement, N fertiliser rate and N application timing on the competitive ability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in dryland no-tillage cropping system in the Western Australian grainbelt.

This trial was located in York in the grainbelt of Western Australia and investigated combinations of UAN (Urea Ammonium Nitrate) Placement (streamed or broadcast), UAN rate (low and high input) and UAN timing (early or late in the crop growth) for management of ARG.

This research aims to investigate the effect of wheat time of sowing and seeding rate, on the effectiveness and degradation of pre-emergent herbicides commonly used to control annual ryegrass in no tillage farming systems.

Barley grass is becoming an increasingly problematic weed in Western Australia. A GRDC funded project sought to increase adoption of integrated weed management tactics for barley grass, by working with grower groups to develop regionally appropriate rotations for optimal control.

A survey indicated that in growers in the northern wheatbelt felt that barley grass was most likely to be a major problem in pasture, and a common response is use of Group A herbicide to remove grass in pasture. However, given how easy it is to develop Group A resistance, the group wanted to investigate other chemical and non-chemical options in pasture, as well as the impact of late seeding and pre-emergent herbicide for barley grass control in crop.

This three year trial aimed to investigate slashing and spray topping in pasture in 2019, and then time of sowing and pre-emergent herbicides in wheat in 2020 and canola in 2021.

To identify herbicide sensitivities of new lupin varieties with the view to reduce their yield losses due to herbicide damage. Mandelup was included as a standard variety for comparison in the trial.

Blue lupins are problematic in narrow leave lupin production, especially in the Northern Agriculture Region of WA Wheatbelt and no herbicide is registered for their control in this crop. There were earlier reports that blue lupins could be controlled/suppressed with triclopyr (e.g. Garlon®) safely applied at pod setting on main stem of narrow leave lupins (Quinlan and Fleay, 2016). Two timing of application of Garlon® at 30 mL/ha were included in the trial to determine their safety on new narrow leafed lupin varieties.

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.

Barley grass is becoming an increasingly problematic weed in Western Australia. A GRDC funded project sought to increase the adoption of integrated weed management tactics for barley grass, by working with grower groups to develop regionally appropriate rotations for optimal control.

A survey indicated that growers in the southern lakes region of Western Australia often had pasture as the main rotation choice after cereal. In contrast to other areas of the wheat belt, some growers in this region considered barley grass a valuable (early) feed in pasture as well as a weed in crops. However, growers found that barley grass could have a large impact on crop yield. Growers were interested in either controlling barley grass or suppressing barley grass in crops while allowing it to survive in pasture.

Most group members felt their barley grass was resistant to herbicides (especially low-level resistance to Group A, Targa^®). However, growers were unwilling to stop using Targa^®, even if efficiency was reduced against barley grass, as it effectively controlled other grass weeds. Growers wanted to pair Targa^® with other products in the pasture to kill barley grass, and then control surviving barley grass in crop with best practice pre-seeding herbicides.

The trial aimed to investigate pasture barley grass control in 2019, pre-emergent herbicides in barley in 2020 and oats in 2021.

The aim of this trial is to evaluate and analyse the effect of deep ripping with inclusion plates on moving surface-applied lime into acidic sub-soil of deep sandy duplex. Additionally, this trial tested farm-sourced lime against commercial grade lime. 

To evaluate different sequences of pulses and canola after soil amelioration when transitioning into cereal cropping to capture maximum benefit from amelioration.

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

The primary purpose of this project was to provide additional data from a range of different agricultural scenarios (climate, soil type, management practices) in the Western Region to validate and enhance the ability of the BlacklegCM app to more accurately determine the return on investment various management decisions may provide to a grower in any given year. The secondary purpose of this investment is to increase the grower and advisor confidence in the use of decision-making tools to manage disease in canola in the Western Region, in particular increase the awareness and use of the BlacklegCM app.

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

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.

Barley grass is becoming an increasingly problematic weed in Western Australia. A GRDC funded project sought to increase the adoption of integrated weed management tactics for barley grass, by working with grower groups to develop regionally appropriate rotations for optimal control.

A survey indicated that in the central-eastern wheatbelt, barley grass is mainly an issue in pasture. While barley grass also grows in crops, it is rarely the most prominent cropping weed. The KDG group aimed to investigate grass selective herbicides and late-season control in pasture, and pre-emergent herbicides in-crop, to find the best combination of practices that would control barley grass while also removing other grass weed species in a three-year rotation.

The trial aimed to investigate Group 1 herbicides and spray topping in 2019, pre-emergent herbicides and knockdowns in 2020 and Group 2 herbicides and spray topping in 2021.

To optimise wheat and barley protein by better understanding response to high nitrogen rates in a given season.

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

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 nitrogen fertiliser for crops on waterlogged soils.

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.

100% of Albany and Esperance port zone growers who frequently experience waterlogging will know if ripping and/or summer/cover crops are viable tools to improve crop establishment, crop rooting depth, and yield in a waterlogging year on their property.

To investigate the cost-effectiveness of on-farm lime for ameliorating soil acidity in Kwinana East Port Zone and to validate the iLime application (developed by DPIRD and Desiree Futures with funding from GRDC) by comparing simulations with field trial results.

To demonstrate the effectiveness of newly registered fungicides on ascochyta in chickpeas.

Identify suitable lentil varieties for Western Australian farming systems.

1. To investigate the effects of dry sowing on the nodulation and nitrogen fixation of chickpea in a low rainfall environment.

2. To investigate the residual effects on the growth of a subsequent wheat crop.

To identify herbicide sensitivities of new or potential new chickpea varieties with the view to reduce their yield losses due to herbicide damage.

To identify herbicide sensitivities of new lentil varieties with the view to reduce their yield losses due to herbicide damage.

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

To determine if a soil wetter, such as SE14, improves plant establishment in years with a dry start.

The objective of the project is to support the introduction and scale up of commercial cultivation of Linseed in the Great Southern region of Western Australia and will support a larger initiative developed by Southern Dirt to develop a localised Linseed supply chain to take the crop from paddock to consumer on the back of renewed demand for Linseed’s omega 3 oil composition and capturing additional value for local growers.

Consistent supply with volume is imperative to develop a market that has the ability to realise the full value of Linseed produced. In order for growers to take up production it is important they have a full agronomic package available to grow the crop successfully.

Additionally, Linseed needs to generate an equivalent return per hectare of alternative rotational crops such as canola in order to expand into the rotation.

The key objectives of this project are:  

A: To determine if Linseed can be successfully grown under dryland farming conditions in the Great Southern region of Western Australia with the potential to scale up to commercial cultivation.

B: To determine if any investment is required into machinery and infrastructure by growers to grow linseed.

C: To develop basic agronomic guidelines to grow linseed in WA.

D: To assess the yield potential of two commercially available linseed varieties grown under dryland conditions in WA, Croxton and Bilney.

The trials located at Miling and Kojonup in the grainbelt of Western Australia investigated combinations of canola variety (hybrid or open pollinated), crop row spacing (25 or 50cm) and canola seeding rate (20, 35 or 50 plants/m2). The average seedbank at the Miling and Kojonup sites were 3,630 seeds/m2 and 23,240 seeds/m2 respectively.  Annual ryegrass (ARG) establishment was reduced in hybrid canola treatments seeded at narrower 25 cm row spacing. Decreasing crop row spacing (from 50 to 25cm) and increasing canola seeding rate (from 20 to 50 plants/m2) was found to reduce ARG establishment in the absence of herbicides. At the Kojonup site, ARG seed production was reduced by hybrid varieties (Trophy) and higher plant densities (50 plants/m2). However due to the low rainfall at the Miling site, no interactions were identified. Canola yield in this study was increased in hybrid variety (Trophy) treatments especially at higher seeding rates (50 plants/m2). Interestingly, however, canola seeded at the wider row spacing (50cm) consistently out yielded the corresponding variety and seeding rate combination at the narrower 25cm row spacing. This study conducted two trials in 2018 (Mingenew and Cunderdin) and 2019 (Miling and Kojonup). Multi- environment trial analysis for the combined 2018 and 2019 data to be completed.

Trials located at Miling and Kojonup in the grainbelt of Western Australia investigated combinations of canola variety (hybrid or open pollinated), canola seeding rate (20, 35 or 50 plants/m2) and canola seed size (<1.8, >2.0mm diameter) on ARG management.

Regional specific agronomy has been identified as a need by growers in RCSN Open Local Forums, in particular in using regional specific agronomy demonstrations to assist decision making of growers.

The aim of this project was to use best district practice to examine if newer varieties respond differently to increasing nutritional inputs and whether this can be exploited by growers.

This was done by measuring crop performance with different sowings times and nutrition regimes, representing different decision-making scenario's depending on budget and seasonal rainfall.

This information should then assist grower’s decisions with variety specific agronomic management.

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.  

A case study to demonstrate that faba beans can serve as a much needed break crop in the dominant canola-barley rotation on the South Coast sandplain

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

To investigate the most effective and profitable break crops in rotation with cereals (wheat) for growers with RLN and R. solani in the same paddock, a two-year (2018 & 2019) break-crop rotation trial was implemented in Dumbleyung and Grass Valley.

To investigate the fit of high value pulse crops (faba bean, lentil, and chickpea) in the sowing program and their rotational (agronomic and economic) benefits to the following cereal crop.

To demonstrate tolerance of latest lentil varieties to herbicides.

To compare and showcase the broad range of strategic tillage options for amelioration of yellow sandplain soils and to assess their effectiveness at overcoming a range of soil constraints including non-wetting soil surface, compaction and subsoil acidity and increasing crop productivity.

Investigate the effect of delayed baiting on snail mortality immediately post baiting and the longer-term impact on presence of smaller snails during the harvest period. 

This trial aims to establish the long-term value of deep ripping on compacted deep south coast sands. It investigates the longevity of the ripping benefit in a fully controlled traffic system (CTF).

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

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.

To quantify wheat yield loss in response to root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus quasitereoides) population size, by using a unique population gradient which has been set up as a result of host-crop varieties and nitrogen treatments over the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons.

To determine environmental triggers and time of day vegetable beetles and slaters are active.

Barley grass is becoming an increasingly problematic weed in Western Australia. A GRDC funded project sought to increase adoption of integrated weed management tactics for barley grass, by working with grower groups to develop regionally appropriate rotations for optimal control. A survey indicated that in southwest Australia, many growers thought their barley grass was resistant to grass selective herbicides and may have developed late germination to avoid pre-seeding herbicides. In this area barley grass was a major problem in pastures, and often in break crops too.

A three year trial aimed to investigate pre-emergent herbicides and autumn tickle in wheat in 2019, pre-emergent herbicides and crop density in barley in 2020 and grass selective herbicides and crop topping in pasture in 2021.

Barley grass is becoming an increasingly problematic weed in Western Australia. A GRDC funded project sought to increase adoption of integrated weed management tactics for barley grass, by working with grower groups to develop regionally appropriate rotations for optimal control. A survey indicated that in southwest Australia, many growers thought their barley grass was resistant to grass selective herbicides and may have developed late germination to avoid pre-seeding herbicides. In this area barley grass was a major problem in pastures, and often in break crops too.

A three year trial aimed to investigate pre-emergent herbicides and autumn tickle in wheat in 2019, pre-emergent herbicides and crop density in barley in 2020 and grass selective herbicides and crop topping in pasture in 2021.

Barley grass is one of the major weeds in the southern region. Many southern growers think their barley grass is resistant to grass selective herbicides and may have developed late germination to avoid pre-seeding herbicides. In this area, barley grass is a major problem in pastures, and often in break crops as well.

The trial aims to investigate pre-emergent herbicides in wheat in 2019, crop density and post-emergent herbicides in barley in 2020, and pre-emergent herbicides and grass selective herbicides in vetch in 2021.