Life Sciences Commons^™

No-Till Sowing : Helping To Keep Cropland Soils In Place, Kevin Bligh, Paul Findlater

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

Repeated erosion of tilled land can ;ower crop and pasture yields because of reduced available moisture and nutrient storage. Kevin Bligh and Paul Findlater look at the causes of water and wind erosion and the role of no-till sowing in minimising erosion.

Coping With Brown Spot And Root Rots Of Lupins, Mark Sweetingham

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

There is increasing concern that brown spot and root diseases may limit the long term viability of lupin cultivation in close rotations in the agricultural areas of Western Australia. Research has found several useful strategies to reduce the impact of brown spot and Pleiochaeta root rot so that losses can be kept to a minimum. Rhizoctonia has proved more difficult to combat. Although less widespread than Pleiochaeta, it has caused severe losses and appears to be increasing in incidence, particularly in the northern wheatbelt. Research has vastly expanded our knowledge of the strains of Rhizoctonia present in our soils and …

Serena And Circle Valley Medic Establishment, M A B Ewing

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

Since the commercial release of the burr medics Serens in 1983, and Circle Valley ayearlater, much has been learnt about the establishment and management of these pasture legumes. When sown on suitable soils and with appropriate establishment and management techniques, these medics have the potential to dramatically change farm profitability. This results from both increased production from livestock and from improved cereal crops grown in rotation.

Twenty-One Hints For Savings Of Seeding Time, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The efficiency of machinery and labour during seeding operations has been studied by the Kondinin and Districts Farm Improvement Group and the Department of Agriculture.

The following specific hints were suggested.

How Efficient Are Seeding Operations : Kondinin Work Study, E J. Roberts, C. R. Lester, J. E. Young

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

The efficiency of machinery and labour during seeding operations was studied in 1977 by the Kondinin and Districts Farm Improvement Group and the Department of Agriculture. The aim was to find what influenced efficiency during cropping.

Time spent on activities during the working day was measured, and it was found that repairs, maintenance, meals and other incidental jobs considerably reduced the time spent driving the tractor.

Each farmer participating in the study was given the results of his own farm compared to the group, indicating tasks most needing improvement.

The Economics Of Spray Seed, J W. Malcolm

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

THE "Spray Seed"* technique has many advantages over conventional cultivation methods of weed control. Some of these are matters of convenience, preference or opinion, and these cannot be measured in general economic terms.

However, most farmers are in the business to make money and as making money becomes harder they are more concerned with the extra money a new move is likely to earn for them.

Urea Drilled With Seed Affects Germination And Yield, M G. Mason, A. Loutit, J. A. C. Smith, D. Highman, P. Stallwood

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

Trials in 1968 at Burracoppin and York again showed it is safer to topdress urea just before seeding than to drill a mixture of seed and urea.

At all but the lowest urea rates, urea drilled with the seed reduced the number of plants emerging and surviving, and reduced final wheat yields.

Bare Patch And Poor Emergence Of Cereals. 4. Quality Of The Seed, S C. Chambers

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

The importance of using fresh good quality grain for sowing wheat crops was emphasised by results obtained in recent plot trials.

Seedling emergence was less for broken, pinched and small types of seed than for large grain and was further reduced with ageing of the seed.

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.