Life Sciences Commons^™

Weeds Can Poison Crops, Aik Hock Cheam

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

Weeds can interfere with the growth of a crop simply by competing with the crop for nutrients, moisture and light. But some weeds also release chemicals that inhibit the germination and growth of crop plants; the technical term for this is allelopathy. Aik Cheam outlines the problems caused by two common weeds and the discusses preventative measures.

Production Of High-Value Wheats : One Sustainable Answer To The Cost:Price Squeeze, Wal Anderson, Alan Peggs, Doug Sawkins

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

Farmers and scientists alike over the past decade have sought to address the declining terms of farm trade (the cost.price squeeze) by increasing wheat yields in ways that will ensure both their economic and ecological survival. Nevertheless, costs have continued to increase as a proportion of the value of the product.

Many farmers have increased their wheat yields substantially and the industry as a whole is more conscious of the quality of its product.

Over the past 10 years or more there has been intense interest in, and considerable adoption of. conservation farming techniques such as minimum tillage, residue retention, …

Opportunity Knocks : Sowing Wheat Early In The North-Eastern Wheatbelt, Nicole Kerr, Doug Abrecht

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

Farmers consider many factors in deciding whether to start sowing wheat, but the most important are the amount of rain and time of year. In this study we assessed the chances of farmers in the north-eastern wheatbelt (less than 325 mm rainfall) receiving enough rain to sow wheat early. In low rainfall areas such as this, where an early finish to the season is likely, it is especially important that farmers take advantage of all early sowing opportunities. The potential benefits of sowing wheat early generally outweigh the associated risks, particularly in lower rainfall areas. However, early sowing depends on …

Increased Returns From Agronomic Inputs In Early Sown Cereal Crops, W K. Anderson

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

When crop variety and soeing dae are matched so that flowering occurs in the 'window' for a particular site, grain yields are increased and yield response to inputs such as nitrogen fertilizer and seeding rate is magnified.

This response occurs because the srop's potential for setting and filling grains is much improved by sowing at the optimum time. However varieties differ in their yield potential because they have different lenghts of growing season, which probably affects grain numbers, and because they have different inherent grain sizes. These differences affect the way varieties react to sowing date. Figure 1 shows how …

Early Sowing : One Key To Improved Yields Of Cereal Crops, M W. Perry, Wal Anderson, Rob Delane

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

Early sowing of cereal crops is one of the most important management practices through which Western Australian cereal growers can increase yields.

Researchers have long known that in theory early sowing should mean improved growth and water use efficiency - which both contribuite to increased yields. Application of this knowledge has had to await new tillage and herbicide technology, but recent research in the northan and central wheatbelt has now demonstrated the advantages of early sowing in practice. And more exciting yet, there is evidence that yield responses to weed control and applied fertilizers may also be greater in early …

Flower : Predicting Flowering Times Of Cereal Crops, G A B Elliott, Stephen Loss

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

FLOWER is a computer program which predicts the flowering date of a given wheat or barley variety at a specified location and sowing date. Department of Agriculture agronomists, breeders and advisers are using the program to provide useful information on how the development of cereals responds to different environments across Western Australia's cereal growing areas.

Frost Injury To Wheat, S P. Loss

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

Frost injury has not been a major concern to the Western Australian wheat industry despite causing spectacular but irregular crop losses on some farms.

The development of suitable herbicides, direct drilling technology and the adoption of early flowering varieties in the late 1970s and early 1980s led to wheat crops being sown and flowering earlier than previously. This resulted in an increase in the incidence of frost damage.

Research into frost indicates that most wheat producers face low to moderate risks of yield loss caused by frost. However, individual farms in particular years can suffer devestating widespread losses. Grost injury …

Early Sowing Of Ceral Crops In Low Rainfall Areas, R J. Delane, John Hamblin

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

One of the objectives of the Department of Agriculture's crop research in the low rainfall, northern wheatbelt is to develop crop varieties and management practices that will make best use of stored water on both sandplain and fine textured soils. Sowing a crop early will improve its water use efficiency and yiel in low rainfall areas.

Trends In Wheat Protein/Yield Relationships, G B. Crosbie, Harry Fisher, Bryan Whan

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

The major concern of wheat breeders in WesternAustralia has been to increase grain yield while maintaining quality at an acceptable level. There has been no concious effort to select for protein content. It is of interrest, therefore, to compare the relationship between yield and protein of varieties which have been prominent in Western Australia at various times, to see what effects yield increases have had on protein content and the extent of any variation which might exist.

Variation In Wheat Protein Content : The Effect Of Environment, G B. Crosbie, Harry Fisher

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

Over the past 20 years, the average protein content of WesternAustralian wheat has ranged from 9.3 to 12.0 per cent, with a mean level of 10.4 per cent. At most grain receival points, in any one season, individual loads can often vary in protein content by as much as 5 per cent protein or more. Rainfall and soil fertility account for much of this variation.

Frost Injury To Cereals In W.A, M W. Perry, A. G. P. Brown

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

Late spring frosts commonly reduce yields and affect the quality of grain in wheat crops, especially in the southern, eastern and north-eastern districts. The damage is usually localised on individual farms, but is sometimes widespread.

Barley, and oats to a lesser extent, are also affected. Average losses of wheat in Western Australia have been estimated at 3 to 5 per cent, per year, or about 2 million bushels on current production figures.

Recommended Cereal Varieties : 1969, H M. Fisher, J. T. Reeves, J. A. Parish

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

Cereal varieties widely recommended for growing in 1969 are Gamenya and Falcon wheats, Dampier and Beecher barleys and Swan oats.

Other varieties include the new wheat Darkan, which is recommended only for the higher rainfall areas, the rust resistant wheats Mengavi and Gamut, and Irwin oats for late sowing in northeastern districts.

Wren Wheat Unimpressive In West Australian Trials, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WREN WHEAT, the subject of current controversy in the Eastern States, has been tested in trials in Western Australia and the results have indicated that it is not likely to yield well in this State.

The Effect Of Straw On The Emergence Of Wheat Seedlings, W A. Shipton, W. R. Tweedie

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

The emergence of wheat seedlings was decreased substantially when seed was planted close to oaten straw.

When the grain was placed a 1/4 inch above a straw layer emergence was depressed by more than half.

Varieties And Time Of Sowing, H M. Fisher

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

THE extent to which seasonal conditions favour the various stages of plant development has a marked effect on cereal yields. Because varieties differ in their development they react in different ways to a particular seasonal pattern.

Wheat Quality Surveys In Western Australia. Part 1. The Distribution Of Areas Producing High And Low Protein Wheat, J A. Parish

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

THIS article reports results from survey work carried out by the author, in collaboration with Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd., on wheat drawn from all receival points in Western Australia during the period 1956-63.

Wheat Quality Surveys In Western Australia. 2. Variation Between Seasons And Localities In The Production Of High And Low Protein Wheat, J A. Parish

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

Although the protein content of West Australian f.a.q. wheat averages only 9.4 per cent., often substantial amounts of comparatively high protein wheat are contained in this mixture.

However the quantity varies widely from year to year and is obtained from widely scattered areas of the wheatbelt.

Deep Sowing Of Wheat : The Effect On Root Systems, S C. Chambers

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

DEEP sowing appears to be an important cause of poor emergence in wheat and care should be taken to seed at the recommended depth of 1 to 1J inches.

Nevertheless some growers in drought liable areas, persist in sowing at 2 to 3 inches in the belief that it will encourage a deep root system.

Take-All Of Wheat On The Esperance Downs, S C. Chambers

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

THE agricultural development of the Esperance Downs was reviewed recently by Shier, Dunne and Fitzpatrick (1963) who indicated the great potential of this region.

They described the establishment of clover ley pastures capable of supporting heavy stocking rates. Crops of oats or linseed also give excellent returns.

Weed-free rotations which include linseed, oats or vetches may reduce wheat losses caused by take-all on the Esperance Downs.