Plant Sciences Commons^™

Laser Levelling Land For Flood Irrigation, M D. Green, J. P. Middlemas

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

Since the introduction of laser levelling to Western Australia's South-West irrigation area five years ago, many farmers have benefited from this new and precise method of land-forming.

The use of lasser controlled earthmoving equipment to redevelop irrigated paddocks has led to improved irrigation efficiency and drainage. Less water is used for each irrigation, water is applied more evenly and less labour is needed. many older, grass-dominated paddocks have been reseeded to improve pasture species.

Eradicating Fruit Fly From Carnarvon, Kingsley Thomas Fisher

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

Late last year the Mediteranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata Weidemann) was eradicated from Canarvon, Western Australia by using an intergrated programme of sterile insect releases and bait spraying.

The eradication marked the end of a four-year study on the use and effectiveness of the Sterile Insect Technique, a biological control technique which uses an insect pest against itself. such a study can be used as a basis for treating other threatening insect pests, such as the serious cattle pest screw-worm fly, should they be found in Asustralia.

Being a biological control method, the Sterile Insect Technique is an exellent …

Water Quality For Irrigation, P R. George

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

Although irrigation and salinity problems are frequently inseperable, there is a range of management methods that can be used to handle marginal quality water. Freuently these methods are simple, but require careful planning.

The wide range in tolerance of crops to salinity can be exploiter to ensure that appropriate crops are selected for the water available.

Because crops vary in their sensitivity to salt uptake in the leaves or the roots, watering methods can be changed to avoid problems. For profitable production enough water should be applied to ensure adequate water is available for plant growth as well as to …

Residual Values Of Australian Rock Phosphates, Michael D A Bolland

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

For years superphosphate has been the cheapest, convenient and most effective way of supplying phosphorus to newly cleared soils in Western Australia's South-West that are acutely deficient in phosphorus. However its effectiveness as a phosphorus source falls markedly after application. Regular applications are needed to maintaine profitable pastures and crops on these soils.

After a big jump in supperphosphate prices in the mid 970s, researchers tested the use of Australian rock phosphates as potentially cheaper alternative phosphorus fertilisers to superphosphate. On the none-leaching sands, as this article shows, none of the rock phosphates was as effective for plant growth as …

Interceptor Drains And Waterlogging Control, J W. Cox, T R. Negus

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

Department of Agriculture trials of seepage interceptor drains from 1972 to 1983 primarily assessed the effects of such drains on salt encroachment. Although these trials showed that the drains had little influence on salt storage within the topsoil, they did reduce waterlogging downslope.

To investigate this drainage effect further, the Department's Narrogin office surveyed 35 drains on 14 properties in the winter of 1981, followed by detailed crop measurements in December that year. Provided the drains were properly designed, surveyed and constructed, and well maintained, they could be expected to increase crop yields during a waterlogging year by about 1 …

Keeping Ahead Of Powdery Mildew In Barley, T N. Khan, K. Young, P. A. Portmann

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

Powdery mildew is one of the world's most significant barley diseases. In Australia, and more particularly Western Australia, its importance has been under-rated, and only recently has interest in this disease emerged.

Powdery mildew was widespread throughout Western Australia's southern cereal growing areas in 1983. Only a prolonged dry period in August and early September of that year prevented possible large-scale crop losses. Similar outbreaks occurred in 1984.

While some barley varieties are resistant to infection, the use of fungicides, particularly seed dressings, can minimise further infection.

Soil Hardpans And Plant Growth, J W. Bowden, R. J. Jarvis

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

When farm vehicles travel over moist soils they can create hardpans which can marledly reduce crop and pasture yields.

Research at Wongan Hills Research Station has shown that plant growth and nutrient uptake were affected for at least eight years after the original workings caused the hardpan.

Beating The Blackberry, J H. Moore, E. B. Hoskins

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

The blackberry is an aggressive, strongly-growing plant that has spread throughout parts of the south-west of Western Australia.

Although most blackberry infestations on agricultural land have been dramatically reduced since compulsory control measures were introduced 30 years ago, about 3,600 hectares are still infested today.

Recent research has shown that three new herbicides are highly effective against blackberry, and much safer to use than the older ones.

Effective biological control of blackberry may also be possible.

Further Research Into Parrots And Fruit Damage, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Parrits are major pests of Western Australia's South-West fruit growing industry. The amount of damage they can cause to ripening fruit in orchards varies from season to season, but in the last two years these colourful birds have become an even greater problem.

The Agriculture Protection Board has started further research aimed at determining how wxtensive damage to fruit can be prevented.

Nitrogen And Phosphorus Compound Fertilisers, M G. Mason, J. W. Bowden

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

Nitrogen and phosphorus are two vitally important elements for plant growth which are deficient in most soils throughout Western Australia's agricultural areas.

Both nitrogen and phosphorus can also be applied in appropriate compound fertilisers which can be drilled with the seed, thus making their handling much easier. However, excessively high rates can depress plant emergence and may lower crop yields.