Life Sciences Commons^™

Bare Patch And Poor Emergence Of Cereals. 3. Crusting Of The Soil Surface, S C. Chambers

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In some seasons extensive bare patches occur in cereal crops sown on the heavier wheat belt soils.

Experimental results from Beverley indicate that the poor emergence in some of these plantings may be due to crusting of the soil surface.

Working the surface with light harrows may destroy the crust and improve emergence.

Root Diseases In Wheat On Clover Ley : Factors Under Investigation. 4. Seed Bed Preparation, S C. Chambers

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The occurrence of root rots in wheat crops in relation to seed bed preparation was studied in a series of field experiments.

Results suggest depth of cultivation has little effect upon the incidence of root diseases.

Ploughing of the seed bed reduced the amount of root rot compared with scarifying and also gave higher yields.

However, the increased yield appears to be mainly due to better control of weeds.

Oat Variety Trials On Research Stations, J L. Mcmullan, J. T. Reeves

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE oat variety trials on whose results the Department of Agriculture's recommendations are based are carried out each year on research stations in the medium and low rainfall areas.

Results of oat variety trials on Department of Agriculture Research Stations in the medium and low rainfall areas for the years 1957,1958,1959 and 1960

Weed Problems In The Kimberleys, Rijn P J Van

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AFTER fifteen years of irrigated agriculture, weeds have become a major problem at the Kimberley Research Station.

Since the Station is regarded as a type location for the potentially irrigable areas of the Ord River Valley, a similar problem is expected to arise when the surrounding areas have been under several years of commercial cropping.

An intensive study of weeds was therefore initiated at the Research Station in 1960.

Clover Ley Farming In Western Australia : An Important Research Project, T C. Dunne

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IT is an accepted fact that the pasture period developed as an alternative to cropping in areas where cereals are grown results in increased fertility and a potential for higher cereal crop yields.

Successive Crops In A Clover Ley Rotation, H M. Fisher

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Recent investigations suggest that cereal production on clover leys in the medium rainfall region can be increased by growing a succession of cereal crops after the pasture phase.

In most areas accumulated fertility after four to five years of clover pasture will support two, and in some cases three, high yielding cereal crops grown in succession.

Where root rot diseases are prevalent it is an advantage to sow oats as the initial crop.

Applying Copper And Zinc Fertilizers To Cereals, H M. Fisher

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Most light soils with a sandy or gravelly surface are likely to need copper and zinc; heavier clay or loamy soils mostly do not.

Yield And Flour Quality Of Early Maturing Wheat Varieties, J A. Parish, J. T. Reeves

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

DESIRABLE milling characteristics have for many years ensured a ready market for Australian wheat. Present demand for Australian wheat is strong and the sale of the 1961 harvest is assured.

Cereal Products Adviser J. A. Parish, B.Sc. (Agric.) and Plant Breeder J. T. Reeves, M.Sc. (Agric.) describe and explain the tests on the results of which wheat variety recommendations are based.

Detailed results of yield and quality tests from early maturing wheat variety trials are included.

Root Diseases In Wheat On Clover Ley : Factors Under Investigation. 1. The Role Of Oats After Ley, S C. Chambers

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The role of oats in relation to root diseases of wheat was examined at four of the State Wheat Research Stations.

Several recognised pathogenic organisms were isolated in the course of the investigation, the most important being Ophiobolus graminis, which is the cause of "take-all."

Results suggest that one year under oats after clover ley is sufficient to reduce the incidence of take-all, except when seasonal conditions are extremely favourable to the disease.

In areas where take-all is a problem, wheat planted after a first crop of oats can sometimes give a higher yield than a first crop of wheat. …

Webworm And The Weather, J A. Button

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

FOR many years farmers have remarked on the cyclic occurrence of webworm outbreaks in their cereal crops.

Webworm, the State's most serious pest of cereals, has frequently assumed a role of major importance for one or two seasons, and then not been troublesome for a number of years.

A research programme being carried out by the Entomology Branch aims to give a better understanding of the effects of weather conditions on the seasonal incidence of webworm, and should lead to more effective control of this pest.

Root Diseases In Wheat On Clover Ley : Factors Under Investigation. 2. Relative Susceptibility Of Wheat And Barley, S C. Chambers

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ROOT ROTS of wheat and barley are caused by several fungi, the most important in Western Australia being Fusarium spp., Helminthosporium sativum and Ophiobolus graminis.

Local surveys have shown that the incidence of each organism varies with district and also depends on other factors, such as seasonal conditions and cultural practices.

The relative susceptibility of wheat and barley to these fungi has never been studied in detail under local conditions, although many such investigations have been conducted overseas.

Downy Mildew Of Wheat, S C. Chambers

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

DOWNY MILDEW is caused by the fungus Sclerospora macrospora Sacc. and is almost solely confined to waterlogged areas in paddocks of heavy soil types.

Generally, the disease is most evident in crab-hole gimlet country.

Hard Seeds In Lupins, B J. Quinlivan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A study of hard seeds in the W.A. blue lupin is yielding some interesting facts about this important survival mechanism of pasture plants.

The knowledge gained will be useful in future pasture plant breeding projects.

SOME interesting facts on hard seeds in lupins have come from experiments commenced several years ago.

This article outlines the reasons for the experiments and the results with lupins so far.

Subsequent articles will cover subterranean clover and techniques for softening hard seeds in both species before planting.

The Effects Of Tillage Implements On Cereal Yields, H M. Fisher

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Careful soil preparation is essential for cereal crops grown without fallow on clover ley land.

Crops give better yields where the land is broken up with a mouldboard or disc plough rather than a scarifier or similar machine.

The implements differ appreciably in their capacity to control weed growth and this is largely responsible for variations in cereal yields. "Takeall" disease is reduced by efficient weed control.

Root Diseases In Wheat On Clover Ley : Factors Under Investigation. 5. The Evaluation Of Fungicidal Treatments, S C. Chambers

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The use of fungicides, either as seed or soil dressings, for the control of root rotting diseases of wheat, was examined in a series of field experiments.

Results suggest that seed dressings have no effect on the incidence of root rotting fungi in the mature crop.

When fungicides were applied to the soil, a reduction in the incidence of take-all was noted in one experiment, but the same treatments had toxic effects on plants in a second similar experiment.

Wimmera Rye Grass : Major Pasture Grass Of The Cereal And Sheep Areas, H G. Cariss

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

MANY of the volunteer pasture species of the cereal and sheep areas seed profusely, persist well and produce useful early green feed.

Mostly, however, they produce poor quality herbage of low forage value, particularly during the spring and summer months.

The seeds of many species cause problems in stock husbandry and lower the value of wool.

List Of Registered Fertilisers For 1962, H G. Cariss

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IN accordance with the provisions of the Fertilisers Act, 1928-1955, it is required that—with the exception of bulk sales to a manufacturer and those made in accordance with a buyer's written prescription—all fertilisers sold must be registered annually.

The registration year is from November 1 to October 31 in the following year. The list of fertilisers registered for the year commencing November 1, 1961, is set out in the following tables.

Barley : Variety Trials 1954-1960 And Recommendations For 1962, J T. Reeves, J. L. Mcmullan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE object of the barley variety trials carried out by the Department of Agriculture is to obtain yield and other information on new varieties or crossbreds produced in Australia or introduced from overseas.

Silage Competitions In The South-West : 1960-1961, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Review and results of the 1960-61 Australian Dairy Produce Board Silage Competition, and an outline of the 1961-62 Competition.

Barrel Medics For Eastern Wheatbelt Pastures, D B. Argyle

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

There is a big potential for the use of barrel medic in wheatbelt pastures, and prospects have been further improved by the advent of the early-maturing Cyprus strain.

In this article Merredin Agricultural Adviser D. B. Argyle gives some hints on establishment and management of barrel medic pastures in the eastern wheatbelt.

Much of what he says also applies to other areas; contact your local adviser for further information.

Growing Peas For Canning And Freezing In Western Australia, James P. Fallon

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Canned and frozen peas to the total annual value of over a quarter of a million pounds are being imported into Western Australia from Eastern States.

Could our requirements be supplied from crops grown in this State?

The answer is "Yes" and this article gives a general background of information on pea growing and an indication of areas suitable for pea crops.

Yellow Dwarf Disease Of Cereals, H L. Harvey

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

YELLOW dwarf, caused by the barley yellow dwarf virus (Oswald and Houston 1951) was recorded in this State for the first time last season.

There is reason to believe that this disease has been present for some years but in the past its symptoms have been confused with various environmental and nutritional disorders.

Cotton Growing On The Ord River, N J. Thomson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Cotton growing is nearing the commercial stages on the Ord River, with the first farm scale crops now ready to harvest on the Pilot farm, and the Kimberley Research Station.

It is already backed by some years of experimental work at K.R.S., which has provided the background for this article giving the first recommendations on cotton growing for future settlers in the Ord River Irrigation Area.

Frost Injury Of Wheat, S C. Chambers

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Late spring frosts commonly reduce yields and affect the quality of grain in many wheat crops- especially throughout the southern, eastern and north-eastern districts.

The damage is usually localised on individual farms, but occasionally widespread damage occurs in the south of the State.

Meadow Hay, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

rriHE nutritive value of pasture is high in early spring and remains so until early flowering.

After this the protein content falls rapidly, the fibre content rises and the plants become more lignifled and their digestibility reduced.

Irrigating Dry Season Crops In The Ord Valley : How To Prepare Land For Sowing, D F. Beech

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE best way to grow dry season crops of safflower, linseed and rapeseed under irrigation in the Ord Valley is by sowing on to broad flat ridges, separated by small furrows 3 ft. 6 in. apart.

This system of sowing is called the "corrugation" method.

Farming Without Fallow, H M. Fisher

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

UNDER the more intensive cropping rotations common in the early development of the cereal areas of Western Australia bare fallowing was a basic technique in cereal production.

By ploughing the land in July or August and keeping it bare of vegetation for nine or ten months, either by grazing or cultivation, a substantial beneficial effect on the subsequent crop could be expected.