Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

The Stripe Rust Threat, B R. Whan, T. N. Khan

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

The wheat disease stripe rust caused crop losses estimated at $20 million in New South Wales during an epidemis in 983. Economic crop losses were reported in neighbouring States and as far westas Ceduna in South Australia. In some States large areas were sprayed with fungacide at considerable cost to control disease spread.

Wheat stripe rust has not been found in Western Australia yet, but all current evidence indicates that it will eventually reach this State.When it does, it has the potential to cause considerable crop losses every year, unlike the spasmodic losses from stem rust, and it will greatly …

Soil Acidity In The Eastern Wheatbelt, W M. Porter, I. R. Wilson

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

In Western Australia parts of the sandplain of the eastern wheatbelt are very acid and produce poor crops, It was not until the late 1970s that the effect of soil acidity on the productivity of the sandplain soils was examined in any detail.

Since then researchers have learnt a great deal about the nature of soil acidity in the eastern wheatbelt sandplain soils and can suggest management options for farmers.

This article discisses the problem of the very acid soils. It does not deal with the moderately acid, medium textured soils of the eastern wheatbelt. Although the acidity of these …

Soil Acidity And Liming In The Lower Great Southern, R N. Glencross, M. G. Clarke

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

In the 375 to 750 millimetre rainfall area of the Lower Great Southern, reports of loss of subterranean clover from established pastures, reduced carrying capacity for sheep and increasing soil acidity lead to the establishment in 1981 of a research programme into the effects of soil acidity on pasture productivity in that region.

Modifying Fertiliser Practices, J S. Yeates, D. M. Deeley, M. F. Clarke, D. Allen

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

If modified fertiliser practices are adopted phosphorus losses from the Peel-Harvey catchment can be reduced. Farmers can save money on fertiliser applications and the need for more expensive catchment management measures to reduce algal pollution of the estuary will be avoided.

Research data available so far indicate that, with farmer co-operation and the use of the new slow release fertiliser New Coastal Superphosphate, long-term phosphorus application rates can be reduced by 30-40 per cent - and possibly even halved - without lowering agricultural production. This will also reduce phosphorus loss to drainage water.

Although much of the research since 1982 …

Crop Variety Testing And Recommendations, H M. Fisher

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

From 1984 onwards, the Department of Agriculture's crop variety recommendations for Western Australia will be set out in a new format directly related to the 18 variety testing areas into which the South-West has been divided. These divisions should enable growers to more readily identify the recommendations which apply to their area. In addition, yield data on the varieties are provided for each area.

The recommendations are the culmination of a lenghty process of breeding, selection and testing of crop varieties. This article gives the background to the tests and how the results are used as the basis for the …