Life Sciences Commons^™

Armyworm Control In Coarse Grain Crops, G D. Rimes

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

Investigations of armyworm infestations carried out in Western Australia during 976 have shown that a complex of three species is involved in the spasmodic outbreaks that may cause damage to course grain crops.

This article looks at the economics of control methods.

Aeration, Phosphorous, And Lime Affect Nitrogen Mineralization In Imperfectly Drained Forest Soils, M. S. Bhangoo, D. J. Albritton, Eugene Shoulders

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Unamended, limed, and phosphorus-enriched Caddo, Beauregard, and Wrightsville silt loams (A1 horizon) were incubated for six months at room temperature under two moisture regimes. At field capacity, unamended soils lost 0.7% of organic matter and converted 166 ppm of organic nitrogen to inorganic forms. Ninety-five percent of the converted nitrogen was present as N₄-H or NO₃-N. Limed and phosphorus-treated soils at field capacity lost about 1.0% of organic matter and accumulated 191 to 201 ppm of inorganic nitrogen. Submerged soils lost very little organic matter and accumulated only 24 to 28 ppm of inorganic nitrogen. There was a loss of …

Subterranean Clover In W.A. 1. The Current Situation, B J. Quinlivan, C. M. Francis

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

From small beginnings some 50 or more years ago subterranean clover has come to dominate the pasture scene in Western Australia. Of the 7 000 000 hectares of sown pasture all but some 500 000 are sown to subterranean clover. Further, it is estimated that there remains an area of similar size still to be sown, although in some instances these future sowings will be possible only if suitable varieties are available.

Clearing and pasture development within the various agricultural regions of the State took place, as a rule, within quite clearly defined time intervals and the varieties selected for …

Protecting Agriculture In 1976 : Three Sides Of An Apb Campaign, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

A quick look at three areas in which the A.P.B. are working with landholders to protect Western Australia from invasion.

Protecting our agriculture and wildlife is not only the APB's job— it is very much the community's job also. Any suspect birds or plants must be reported immediately to the Agriculture Protection Board.

New Control For Esperance Armyworms, G R. Strickland, G. D. Rimes

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

Armyworms are periodically responsible for serious cereal crop damage in Australia, often causing up to 80 per cent crop loss.

Amajor outbreak at Esperance in 1975 resulted in some 14,200 ha requiring treatment.

This was the first serious outbreak of armyworm for nine years in Western Australia.

A major new problem in the control of armyworm outbreaks is that use of DDT has been restricted by residue and withholding period problems, especially with a crop such as barley in which the grain is unprotected by glumes.

The trial results suggest that trichlorfon is a suitable material to eradicate armyworms and …

The Control Of Annual Ryegrass, Geoffrey A. Pearce, J. E. Holmes

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

A valuable pasture plant - one of the worst weeds if cereal crops - host to a potent animal disease toxin.....annual ryegrass is the subject of intensive studies by the Department of Agriculture.

This article reviews current research into the control of annual ryegrass in crops.

Lupin Split Seed : A Disorder Of Seed Production In Sweet, Narrow-Leafed Lupins, M W. Perry, J. W. Gartrell

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

Commercial seed production from narrow-leafed lupins (Lupinus angustifolius L.) began in Western Australia in 1967, based on the newly-bred low alkaloid cultivar Uniwhite. The release of improved cultivars has led to the crop's wide acceptance and more than 100 000 ha were sown to sweet lupins in 1975.

With the greater area and wider range of soil types devoted to lupins, a developmental abnormality of the seeds, which became known as "split seed", was observed in some situations.

Effect Of Soil Buffer Capacity On Soil Reaction (Ph) Modification And Subsequent Effects On Growth And Nutrient Uptake Of Plantanus Occidentalis L. Seedlings, P. E. Pope, R. B. Vasey

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The buffer capacity of a soil is a significant factor in determining the longevity of soil reaction (pH) adjustments by aluminum sulfate, Al2(SO4)3, or calcium carbonate, CaCO₂. After 12 weeks the modified pH values of the highly buffered Emory silt loam had changed substantially toward the original pH value of 7.6. Modified pH values for the Groseclose silt loam soil remained essentially unchanged under the same conditions. These differences in soil response to modified soil pH are related to the differences in the percentage of vermiculite chlorite and chlorite in the clay fractions of the two soils. The longevity of …

Soil Salinity Measurement By The Four-Electrode Probe Technique, K. Sriotai, John T. Gilmour

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The four-electrode probe method was tested on a Crowley silt loam soil in which salt type, salt content, and water content were varied. Theory associated with this technique of assessing soil salinity was verified. Equations were developed which quantified the relationships between soil electrical conductivity obtained by the four-electrode probe technique (EC), saturation extract (EC1), and 1:2 soil to water extract (EC2).

Root Rot Of Subterranean Clover In W.A, G C. Macnish, M. J. Barbetti, D. Gillespie, K. Hawley

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

Root rot of subterranean clover has occurred sporadically in the south west of Western Australia for a number of years.

In most seasons the disease has affected the clover paddocks of only a few farms, but in 1973 there was widespread pasture decline due to root rot in the South-West and south coastal districts.

At present the most promising approaches for minimising the effect of root rot appear to be the use of cultivation techniques and eventually the use of resistant varieties, or other pasture species.

Subterranean Clover In W.A. 2. Characteristics Required For Agronomic Success, C M. Francis, B. J. Quinlivan, N. J. Halse, D. A. Nicholas

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

Development of subterranean clover varieties is a rapidly changing scene, particularly in terms of farmer acceptance, disease and persistency problems. This is only to be expected, because this is an agricultural plant of only some 50 to 70 years standing, whereas many other pasture plants have been in common use for thousands of years.

Trends In Wheat Area And Production In W.A. Since 1946, J T. Reeves

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

Statistical examination of data associated with wheat grown in Western Australia during the 29- year period ending in 1974 shows that areas sown and total production increased substantially. Average yields and protein per hectare both increased significantly, while wheat protein percentage increased slightly, but not significantly.

Two New Lupins, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The Department of Agriculture recently released two new lupin varieties— Marri and Ultra. Marri closely resembles the existing Uniharvest variety, but is resistant to the grey leaf spot disease. Ultra is the first commercial release of a sweet Mediterranean white lupin variety in Australia.

Comparison Of Economic Returns From Grain Crops, H M. Fisher

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

While wheat is still generally the most profitable crop in Western Australia the relative profitability of barley and linseed has risen in the last few years; in southern areas they are likely to be at least as profitable as wheat.

Oats has fallen in profitability relative to wheat, and grain legumes have suffered a marked fall. Yields of these grains have increased with the introduction of new varieties but their price increases have not kept pace with those of wheat and barley. The present relationship of yields and costs indicates that substantial price changes will be needed to change the …

The Mediterranean White Lupin, John Sylvester Gladstones

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

"If you want to bring in a good lupin harvest, thrash your wife soundly before you go out sowing in the field". Old Syrian Proverb.

Lupin breeder Dr. John Gladstones does not beat his wife as recommended in the Syrian proverb above. Nor is he known to use ground up lupin seeds for the diverse cosmetic and medicinal purposes recommended in ancient Roman and other texts on lupins.

But his modern work on lupin breeding and development has undoubtedly been influenced by his detailed study of such writings.

In this article he discusses the history of the Mediterranean white lupin …

Wild Oats In W.A, J G. Paterson

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

A summary of background information, recent research findings and current recommendations for the control of wild oats in Western Australia.

Strip Vs Continuous Grazing Of Irrigation Pasture, R Sprivulis, R. Bettenay, T. Pavy

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

A report on trial work looking at the alternative grazing systems andthe returns generated.

A Comparison Of Hay Conservation Systems, E E. Rowley

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

The high cost an dshortage of farm labour in the Esperance District is posing serious problems for farmers using traditional hay conservation systems. Author Ted Rowley, then an advisor with the Esperance District office of the Department of Agriculture surveyed a number of farms to study the economics of varoius alternatives. This article is a summary of his report presented to a 1976 Fodder Conservation Workshop.

Grain Crop Varieties For Western Australia, H M. Fisher

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

Recommendations for grain crop varieties grown in Western Australia are based on the results of field trials carried out each year by the Department of Agriculture at some 50 sites throughout the agricultural areas.

New varieties are tested directly against existing commercial varieties in large scale field trials for several years. Yield and quality results are analysed and market requirements are studied before recommendations are formulated.

This article gives information on the varieties of a range of crops now recommended for growing in Western Australia.

Trikkala, A New Safe Clover For Wet Areas, C M. Francis

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

Trikkala is a new low oestrogen subterranean clover cultivar which has been released to seed producers this year. It should be available in quantity to farmers in 1977 and is recommended as an alternative to Yarloop for winter-wet situations.