2022 trials

To determine the effect of soil amelioration on frost damage 

To determine the effect of soil amelioration on frost damage 

To determine if the application of soil ameloration,  extra nutritional treatments or treatments that will disrupt ice nucleating bacteria will reduce frost damage in a high risk zone.

To determine the effect of soil amelioration on frost damage 

To investigiate if variety phenology has an impact on frost damage in a high risk frost zone

To investigiate if variety phenology has an impact on frost damage in a medium risk frost zone 

To determine if mixing cereal varieites with differing maturing will help reduce risk of crop failure in a high risk zone. 

To determine if mixing cereal varieites with differing maturing will help reduce risk of crop failure in a moderate risk zone. 

To determine if the application of soil ameloration,  extra nutritional treatments or treatments that will disrupt ice nucleating bacteria will reduce frost damage in a high risk zone.

To determine if the application of soil ameloration,  extra nutritional treatments or treatments that will disrupt ice nucleating bacteria will reduce frost damage in a high risk zone.

To determine if the risk to frost damage is similar across a range of break crops in a high risk zone. 

To determine if the risk to frost damage is similar across a range of break crops in a moderate risk zone. 

The project aims to unlock value in existing data to drive innovation in agronomy and livestock management by bringing together data from a range of sources including satellite, soil moisture probe networks, weather stations, proximal sensing and yield models. By working with farmers and advisors to link data with decision making, the project aims to make more informed and significantly improved land management decisions. 

Why do the trial? 
There are around 5 million hectares of sandy soils under agricultural production in the low to medium rainfall areas of south-eastern Australia. These soils have multiple constraints limiting production including water repellence, soil acidity, compaction and low organic carbon levels leading to poor biological cycling and nitrogen mineralisation. Estimates of the yield gap (the difference between water limiting potential and average actual crop yield) are between 1.8 and 2.1 t/ha on Upper Eyre Peninsula and as much as 2.3 t/ha on Lower Eyre Peninsula (http://yieldgapaustralia.com .au/ maps/). 
In 2016, GRDC invested in a research program to help grain growers identify and overcome the primary constraints to poor crop water-use on sandy soils in the low-medium rainfall environment (CSP00203). The 'Sands Impacts' component of this project enables grower groups to test outcomes from the research component by applying targeted mitigation and amelioration interventions to overcome production constraints. 

To evaluate the impact of inoculum loads on septoria tiritici blotch severity and grian yields in wheat in the medium rainfall zone of southern Australia

To observe the effect of fungicide application timing in controlling Septoria tritici blotch in wheat in the MRZ and LRZ of the Southern Australia.

To evaluate the impact of Septoria tritici blotch on wheat of different resistant ratings and determine yield loss in the MRZ and LRZ of the Southern Australia

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

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the LRZ.

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the LRZ.

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the LRZ.

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the LRZ.

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the LRZ.

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the LRZ.

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the MRZ.

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the MRZ.

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the MRZ.

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the MRZ.

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the MRZ.

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the MRZ.

To investigate the nutritional requirements and the impact of sowing dates for SHO safflower in different regions and soil types across Western Australia.

To investigate whether yield can be maintained as seeding rate (plant density) of canola is reduced in the high rainfall zone.

To determine whether macronutrient supply (phosphorus, potassium, sulfur) becomes limiting as canola growers target high yields with high nitrogen rates in the high rainfall zone of WA.

To determine whether macronutrient supply (phosphorus, potassium, sulfur) becomes limiting as canola growers target high yields with high nitrogen rates in the high rainfall zone of WA.

Native budworm actively feeding on cereals has not been an issue for growers or industry in the past, and considering the recent detections, growers and western region industry networks have voiced that they would like support on this issue, especially regarding sampling techniques and spray thresholds. To achieve this, we investigated this new behavioural trend and the population numbers required to cause economic yield losses to determine if and when management is required in non-traditional cereal hosts.

Through pheromone-based moth trapping, crop inspections, glasshouse trials and a field cage trial, we investigated the behaviour of H. punctigera moths and larvae on, and potential economic damage to, wheat in the northern grainbelt of Western Australia. 

Resistance to phosphine in stored grain insects from farm storages in south-eastern Australia: 2021

Rice variety V071 compared with Reiziq

To investigate barley management options to close the yield gap and reduce pre-harvest losses

This investment will deliver a series of field trials and extension activities to reduce the yield gap between attainable yield and water limited yield potential in barley in the low – medium rainfall zones alongside virtual trial treatments derived by crop models to determine new attainable yield benchmarks for barley growers.

To assess the relative importance of fungicide input for Genesis 090 and PBA Monarch under overhead irrigation.

Disease Management Strategies for Chickpeas Grown Under Overhead Irrigation

To compare identical chickpeas plant population x cultivar trials under surface irrigation

To compare identical Chickpea plant population x cultivar trials under overhead irrigation

To compare identical plant population x cultivar trials at two times of sowing under surface irrigation

NGN Comparing barley yield gap and pre-harvest losses under water limiting and non-water limiting conditions.

This investment will deliver a series of field trials and extension activities to reduce the yield gap between attainable yield and water limited yield potential in barley in the low – medium rainfall zones alongside virtual trial treatments derived by crop models to determine new attainable yield benchmarks for barley growers.

Disease Management Strategies for spring sown Faba Beans Grown Under Overhead Irrigation

The project established, assessed and demonstrated a research programme that has resulted in the demonstration of best management IDM practices for the control of Septoria tritici blotch (STB) in the southern region HRZ.

To evaluate nitrogen use efficiency in winter barley under different rates and timings of applied N fertiliser applied as urea (46% N) grown on surface irrigation.

The aim of this project was to work with growers to maximise harvester throughput capacity with acceptable losses in the Western region and compare data to that collected in 2022.

To assist farmers with their decision making by showcasing successful irrigation farm systems in local case studies.

To enable farmers to learn from others by understanding their background story, current practices and short / medium / long-term decision-making processes that assist with businesses adapting to an everchanging operating environment.

To gain the maximum value for our farm businesses in the irrigation discussion group they were actively involved in the process of collecting the case study information in farm walks.

The aim of the focus paddock was to see if deep ripping could increase plant avaliable water by removing any compaction and allowing roots to access stored moisture deeper into the soil profile.