Life Sciences Commons^™

Control Of Prodenia Litura On Cotton In The North Of Western Australia, P N. Forte, D. G. Shedley

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

COTTON is subject to considerable insect attack at the new Ord River irrigation area in the East Kimberleys of Western Australia.

Although a long list of insects have been recorded as damaging cotton in this area there are two which have proved so far to present the biggest problem.

These are Heliothis punctigera and Prodenia litura.

Nodulation Of Legumes On New Light Land. 2. Protection Of Rhizobia From The Toxic Action Of Superphosphate And Trace Elements, O M. Goss, W. A. Shipton

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

VAST areas of new light land being developed in Western Australia are deficient in trace elements such as copper, zinc and molybdenum as well as in phosphorus.

These fertilisers are known to be damaging to the rhizobial bacteria inoculated on the seed unless they are protected by lime pelleting.

Nodulation Of Legumes On New Light Land. 1. Survival Of Rhizobia On Inoculated Pelleted Seed Held For Varying Periods Before Sowing Into Dry Soil, O M. Goss, W. A. Shipton

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

MOST of the light land areas being opened up in Western Australia are very sparsely populated with the rhizobial bacteria so essential for successful legume establishment.

Seed inoculation is therefore a necessity.

Farmers often have to resort to dry sowing because of the large acreages being planted or late opening rains.

Nodulation Of Legumes On New Light Land. 4. Rhizobial Strains For Pasture Establishment, O M. Goss, W. A. Shipton

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

LEGUMES are the basis of improved pastures in Western Australia.

Successful establishment of these legumes depends on the presence in the soil of suitable bacteria which will invade the roots and develop nodules in which nitrogen fixation is carried out. The nitrogen compounds produced are utilised by the plants, making them independent of soil nitrogen.

At the end of the season, the decomposition of the plant residues improves soil fertility.

Slime Moulds [Replaced By Farmnote 114/77], Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

DURING autumn and spring, yellow or grey masses of slimy or powdery material suddenly appear on the blades of lawn grass and other low-growing plants and render them unsightly.

The organisms responsible are known as slime moulds.

Recommendations For Doublegee, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

Is it worth losing the legume component of the pasture in order to kill the doublegee?

Damage Caused By Hormone-Like Herbicides, G R W Meadly

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

THE discovery of the selective action of herbicides such as 2,4-D and MCPA resulted in a rapid expansion in the use of these chemicals for agricultural purposes, particularly for the control of weeds in cereal crops.

Gorteria : A Recently Recorded Weed, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

A NUMBER of our major weed pests including Cape t u l ip and double gee are native to South Africa.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Gorteria, recently recorded for the first time in Western Australia, also comes from that country.

Recommended Oat Varieties, J L. Mcmullan

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

THE varieties Kent, Ballidu, Avon and Fulmark are recommended for sowing in 1965 by the Department of Agriculture and the Coarse Grains Advisory Committee.

The areas suitable for these varieties, when planted for various purposes, are given in the map and tables.

Dairy Farming In The Busselton-Margaret River District. Part 2. Stocking Rate And Production, R A. Bettenay

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

Survey results suggest that the production of butterfat per acre could be doubled on many farms in the Busselton-Margaret River district.—Second in a series of articles reporting a survey of farm practices on 100 farms in the district.

Weed Control In Irrigation Channels, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

Probably the major task involved in maintaining drainage and irrigation channels is the regular removal of weed growth.

The cost of hand chipping a standard head channel is approximately 10s. per chain.

The use of suitable chemicals could reduce this cost considerably.

Brown Spot Of Passion Fruit, R F. Doepel

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

Brown Spot is a serious fungal disease of passion fruit in this State.

Successful crop production is dependent on adequate disease control in the plantation.

BROWN SPOT is found in plantings throughout Western Australia. Severe outbreaks of the disease have occurred in most districts, including Serpentine, Manjimup, Nannup and Denmark.

Although isolated young plantings may remain healthy for two or three years, the disease eventually becomes established in the vines.

Kimberley Research Station Progress Report, 1964 : Oil Crops, D F. Beech, M. J. T. Norman, W. R. Stern

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

INVESTIGATIONS on the adaptation of a range of oil crops to the Ord River environment have been in progress since the early years of the Station.

Seed And Pasture Rates For New Dairy Pastures, F E. Ryan

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

THE success or failure of pasture establishment on new land often depends on the interaction of rate of seeding and rate of superphosphate application.

Every year large areas of virgin land are cleared and sown to pasture in the higher rainfall areas, and all-too often the new pasture is not as successful as it should be because too little super is applied, and, in some cases, too little seed.

Clover Disease Of Sheep In Western Australia, A B. Beck, M. R. Gardiner

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

DURING the past five years there has been a marked increase in the incidence of breeding abnormalities of sheep associated with the grazing of subterranean clover pastures.

This complex of diseases first became a major problem in Western Australia in the years following 1940 and eventually became known as "clover disease".

Premium Wheat In Western Australia, J A. Parish, R. F. Stone

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

This article describes the requirements for premium wheat and suggests a simple way for farmers to predict if their wheat will be suitable.

Correct initial sampling is vital.

Leaf Scorch Of Apple Trees, N H. Shorter

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

BEFORE the 1964-65 fruit season, sections of a number of orchards in the Donnybrook district were converted to systems of permanent overhead sprinkler irrigation.

In several cases, however, leaf scorch occurred where these overhead sprinklers were used during the day time.

The Production Of Pasture Seeds : Facts And Figures, B J. Quinlivan

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

THE production of grass and legume pasture seeds in Western Australia has expanded noticeably in the last two or three years

With this expansion has come some publicity, at times accurate at other times not so accurate.

Peach Leaf Curl, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

PEACH LEAF CURL is a common disease in Western Australia during the spring and early summer.

Recommended Oat Varieties, 1966, J L. Mcmullan

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

THE varieties Avon, Fulmark, Irwin, Kent and Ballidu are recommended for sowing in 1966 by the Department of Agriculture and the Coarse Grains Advisory Committee.

The areas suitable for these varieties, when planted for various purposes, are given in the map and tables.

Don't Neglect Bitter Pit Sprays, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

BITTER pit is a serious fault in export apples and each year considerable quantities of f r u i t are rejected for export on this account.

Now that control measures are available, it is most important that they be applied.

The Black Beetle, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

Since first reported in Western Australia 27 years ago, the black beetle has spread widely to become a well-known pest in metropolitan home lawns and public grassed areas.

THE black beetle (Heteronychus sanctae-helenae Blanchard) is a native of South Africa which seems to have first gained a footing in Australia in about 1930, for it was then recorded as a pest of maize in New South Wales. (Gurney 1934).

Plant Diseases : Leaf Spot Of Celery, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

LEAF SPOT is the most serious disease of celery in Western Australia, and causes heavy losses in many crops during the cold wet months of June, July and August.

The disease is incited by the fungus Septoria apii Chester, and was first recorded in this State at Osborne Park in 1923.

Since then it has become a limiting factor in the production of marketable celery during the winter months.

A Herbicide For Native Poison Plants, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE usual method of killing poison plants is by a programme of ploughing, cropping and burning.

The burning not only destroys a proportion of the plants, but stimulates the germination of dormant seeds, which otherwise would remain in the soil in a viable condition for many years.

Root Knot Eelworm And Its Control, O M. Goss

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

ROOT galling caused by root knot eelworm attack is very common in the lighter sandy soils of Western Australia.

This parasitic worm causes severe unthriftiness which may even result in the death of the plant, particularly during the summer months when the disease is most damaging.

Root knot eelworm has a wide host range.

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.

Barley Variety Trials, 1964, J L. Mcmullan, J. A. Parish

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

The most promising varieties in last year's trials were the 2 row crossbreds W44 and W45 and the 6 row white grained variety Atlas 57.

BARLEY variety trials were located on four Research Stations and on farmers' properties at Northampton, Tammin and Mt. Barker. Brief details of the characteristics of the varieties and crossbreds under test were given in a previous article.

Fence Out Those Rabbits, J C. Rowbotham

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

THERE is probably no more distressing sight to orchardists' eyes than two or three hundred young fruit trees that have been damaged by rabbits.

Molybdenum Increases Cereal Yields On Wheatbelt Scrubplain, R J. Doyle, R. J. Parkin, J. A. C. Smith, J. W. Gartrell

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

IN four field experiments and two paddock strip trials since 1960, molybdenum applied to wheat and oats grown on scrubplain soils in the eastern wheatbelt increased yields by up to 3 i bushels of wheat and 5^ bushels of oats per acre.

Vegetable Seed Treatments, G C. Macnish

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

Many common vegetable diseases can be carried over from one crop to the next by means of contaminated seed.

The use of such seed also results in contamination of the soil with the disease-causing organisms.

Prevention or control of seed-bome diseases can be achieved by the use of appropriate chemical or hot water treatments.