Life Sciences Commons^™

Profitable Canola Production In The Northern Grainbelt Of Western Australia 2001, Paul Carmody, Adrian Cox

Bulletins 4000 -

Canola is a member of the Brassicaceae family that also includes mustard, turnip, wild radish, cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli.

It is a winter growing oilseed that can be produced in most arable areas of Australia where winter crops are currently grown. Originally known as rapeseed using the varieties B. campestris, the varieties of B. napus have almost completely replaced this earlier variety in all the areas where the crop is grown.

The swing to B. napus varieties was due to their superior yields, resistance to blackleg and better quality oil and meal. Canola can be grown on a wide variety …

Avocado Culture In Western Australia, Alec Mccarthy

Bulletins 4000 -

The avocado is a large evergreen tree of sub-tropical origin. The fruit are high in protein, fats (mono and polyunsaturated), several minerals and vitamins. The Guinness Book of Records lists the avocado as the most nutritious fruit in the world. It is suitable for infants through to the elderly and does not contain any cholesterol.

Avocado trees are quite adaptable, being grown from Kununurra in the north down to Albany in the south. They are being grown commercially in the south-west from Perth down to Pemberton and in Carnarvon. Avocado trees are frost susceptible, particularly when young, so they are …

Improved Soil Management And Cropping Systems For Waterlog-Prone Soils : Results Of The 1999 Season, Derk Bakker, Greg Hamilton, D Houlbrooke, Cliff Spann

Resource management technical reports

The project aim was to map the distribution of waterlogging occurrences relative to soil type and climate; to develop soil, water and crop management practices applied to the concept of raised beds to alleviate or prevent waterlogging; to establish the economics of raised bed farming, relative to geographic location and waterlogging frequency.

Re-Thinking The Summer Drenching Program, Brown Besier

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

The summer drenching program has provided highly effective sheep worm control in Western Australia for many years - but recent research challenges its long term sustainability.

Trial results suggest that in large parts of the State, summer drenching is the main factor leading to the development of drench resistant worms. Alternative programs less likely to lead to drench resistance will require greater monitoring of worm burdens and panning pasture moves.

Crimson Seedless Promise Wa Table Grape Boon, Ian Cameron

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

Five years of research and development into growing Crimson Seedless table grapes in Western Australia has produced a product of international quality. Berry sizes are 20 per cent larger than those being exported by both California and other Australian States. Overall, Crimson Seedless is expected to provide enormous opportunities for Western Australia's table grape industry.

Ecological Sustainability For Pastoral Management, Hugh Pringle, Ken Tinley

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

Pastoralists and rangeland bureaucracies are now required to operate within the limits of ecological sustainability. However, while the concept of ecological sustainability has been enshrined in law and policy at State and Commonwealth levels in Australia, there has been little translation into pastoral management objectives. The introduction of the 'EMU (Ecosystem Management Unit) process', as an equal partnership between ecologists and pastoralists, promises to bring pastoralists into close dialogue with the landscapes they manage on their stations, and to acknowledge and manage for values other than pasture production. In doing so, pastoralists are likely to increase production, reduce costs, and …

Bugs By The Million For Medfly Eradication, Bill Woods

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

As a first step towards nation-wide eradication of Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly), a pilot project was undertaken in Broome using Sterile Insect Technique in an attempt to eradication the Medfly population. The results have been promising, and further investigation of eradication for Western Australia is underway.

Western Australia Soil Acidity Research And Development Update 2001 : Time To Lime, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

This book for 2001 again summarises the work being carried out by staff of The Integrated Soil Acidity Research, Development and Extension projects in Western Australia. These projects are based at Agriculture Western Australia, The University of Western Australia and CSIRO.

Several articles in this book are an indication that the current round of funding for this work is drawing to a close in June 2002. The articles reflect our increasing understanding of not only the effects of soil acidity but also the time required for current practices of surface applied lime to ameliorate acidity in both the surface and …

Testing The Efficiency Of Broadacre Farms, Ben Henderson, Ross Kingwell

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

A study of 93 broadacre farms has revealed that most farms display high levels of technical efficiency. On average, technical efficiency is improving, although a small proportion of farms remain relatively inefficient due to a number of factors.

Protein Plus : Increasing Summer Milk Protein Levels

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

Protein Plus has commenced as a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and the CSIRO Division of Livestock Industries. The project is aimed at investigating the causes of Western Australia's problems with low summer milk protein levels, and finding management solutions for farmers.

Improving Irrigation For Ord Sugar Cane, Jim Engelke, Joe Sherrard, Gae Plunkett, Tim Triglone

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

Major changes are underway in irrigation practices for the Ord sugar industry as it moves to implement recent findings on improving irrigation efficiency and managing rising groundwater. Significant improvement in efficiency is expected by more accurately matching water application with crop water requirements and by minimising drainage losses through improved water application techniques.

Based on findings from this work, drying off may not be an appropriate strategy for the ORIA as a means of improving crop sucrose content, but could allow for some reduction in water use towards the end of the crop cycle without adversely impacting on sucrose yield. …

Alternative Oilseeds R&D For Biodiesel Production, Paul Carmody, Howard Carr, Anne Morcom, Graham Walton

Research Reports

Biodiesel is widely known an excellent alternative to mineral diesel and has been extensively demonstrated in the EC and the United States. It is a renewable fuel made by reacting 20 parts of Canola oil with one part methanol or ethanol (grain alcohol), injecting hot water through the mixture and allowing to cool. The Biodiesel naturally separates from the water solution, with no further refining or processing required. Biodiesel has the same combustion properties as regular diesel with considerably lower levels of polluting emissions (appendix 1). Bio-diesel has been found to be a cleaner fuel than diesel, resulting in lower …

Hydrogeological Study Of The Dongolocking Reserves, Dumbleyung, Western Australia, Ben Whitfield

Resource management technical reports

The aims of the hydrogeological study were to assess the characteristics of aquifers within the weathered zone, throughout the Dongolocking Reserves and in the surrounding farmland; provide baseline data on root zone salt store (EM38) and vertical distribution of stored salts (EM38) through the use of ground-based geophysical techniques; identify remnant bush at risk of salinisation; suggest management options to address any observed salinity problems; provide a groundwater monitoring network.

Extent And Impacts Of Dryland Salinity, C E. Mcconnell, R Short

Resource management technical reports

The extent and impact of dryland salinity in Western Australia was based on analysis of groundwater depth and trend and the risk of shallow watertables is derived from these two attributes. As dryland salinity is caused by shallow watertables, the risk of salinity is inferred from the risk of shallow watertables.

Groundwater Study Of The Quairading Townsite, T Cattlin

Resource management technical reports

A hydrogeological investigation and a flood risk analysis were carried out for the town of Quairading with the aim of accelerating the implementation of effective salinity management options.

Groundwater Study Of The Bencubbin Townsite, Cahit Yesertener, P Lacey, Shawan Dogramaci, F Lewis, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia. Rural Towns Program, Ali S. Mahtab, S Sharafi

Resource management technical reports

A groundwater study of the townsite of Bencubbin. It aimed to accelerate the implementation of effective salinity management options. The study consisted of drilling investation and installation of a piezometer network, groundwater flow modelling and a flood risk analysis.

Groundwater Study Of The Pingrup Townsite, D Pollock, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia, Louise Hopgood, F Lewis, Ali S. Mahtab, Anthony D. Barr, Muhammad J. Siddiqi, Ron Colman

Resource management technical reports

A groundwater study was carried out in the townsite of Pingrup. It aimed to accelerate the implementation of effective salinity risk management. The study consisted of a drilling investigation and expansion of a piezometer network, a pumping test, groundwater flow modelling and a flood risk analysis.

Blackwood Catchment : Katanning Zone (Zone 6) : Catchment Appraisal 2001, Henry Brockman, Blackwood Rapid Catchment Appraisal Team (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

The aim of this report is to document the extent of salinity and land degradation within the Katanning zone, Western Australia, and management options aimed at reducing recharge and land degradation.

Farmer Crop Update Series - Western Region' Project Number Daw630, Nicole Kerr

Research Reports

The aims of this project are to:

• Provide regional forums for updating growers with the latest R&D in cropping systems and grain production.

• To foster participative R&D through effective interchange between agency based R&D groups, agribusiness R&D groups and grower based groups with potential to participate in R&D at a range of levels (from merely providing feedback to linking broadscale on-farm tests with the research).

• To reduce research segmentation by fostering a climate of mutual benefit in R&D exchange. There is already emergence of research segmentation from proprietary research. However, apart from an initial proprietary advantage (within …

The Reproductive Biology And Temporal Distribution Of A Great Egret And Nankeen Night Heron Colony At The Perth Zoo, Robyn Phillimore

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

A colony of Great Egrets (Ardea alba) and Nankeen Night Herons (Nycticorax caledonicus) has existed at the Perth Zoo in Metropolitan Perth for over 25 years. The colony is particularly significant for the conservation and management of Great Egrets in Western Australia as it is the only colony located in the Metropolitan area. Baseline information of their breeding biology was needed to facilitate the development of management guidelines for the zoo colony. Foraging behaviour was used to highlight specific adaptations in hunting strategies and diet. However, it was not possible to observe foraging Nankeen Night Herons as they forage at …

Time Series Modelling Of The Environmental Factors Affecting The Daily Catch Rate Of Western Rock Lobster, Sukanlaya Srisurichan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The western rock lobster fishery is one of the most significant and valuable single species fisheries in Australia and in the world. It generates a gross commercial value of $200-300 million dollars per year for the economy of Western Australia. The impact of environmental factors on the daily catch rate of the western rock lobster is of particular interest to the W.A. Marine Research Laboratories, at the Ministry of Fisheries, Western Australia. Considerable time and effort has been invested into building and developing suitable models to measure such impact on this fishery. While past research has focussed on monthly or …

Aspects Of The Taxonomy And Ecology Of The Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Assemblage Of The Swan Coastal Plain : (With Particular Reference To Habitat Fragmentation And The Quindalup Dune System), Nadine A. Guthrie

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Long term studies encompassing seasonal variation in abundance and species present, forming base-line phenological data, arc required to understand the responses of the carabid (Ground Beetle) fauna to major habitat changes. In addition, few habitats unaffected by human disturbance remain in Australia, and evaluation of these fauna in these areas is required before further habitat loss occurs. Generally an unknown group of terrestrial predatory invertebrates in Australia, carabids have been the subjects of few ecological studies in this country. This restricts the utility of the Carabidae in environmental or conservation assessment programs in Australia. A study was initiated to assess …

The History And Performance Of Dorper Sheep In Western Australia, Roy Butler, S C. Wiese, M C. Young

Conference papers and presentations

The history of Dorper sheep in Western Australia is reviewed, since their arrival as embryos from South Africa, in 1996. Limited data are provided - mainly small-scale observations and anecdotes - on reproduction, growth rates, carcass characteristics, diseases, and some other issues that have been encountered with the sheep in Western Australia. Predictions are made for the future of Dorper sheep in Western Australia.