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The Pros & Cons Of Retaining Stubble, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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

Few farmers in Western Australia today would question the desirability of retaining crop stubble. The problem usually is how to manage stubble so that it does not interfere with other parts of the farming system

Stubble Retention For Control Of Wind Erosion, Dan Carter, Paul Findlater, Steve Porritt

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

The surest way to control wind erosion in continuous cropping systems is to retain stubble. Over the past ten years, Western Australian research has focused on the amounts of stubble needed to prevent that erosion.

The Role Of Earthworms In Western Australian Agriculture, Tom Mccredie, Lex Parker

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

Earthworms have a reputation as soil builders and renovators, particularly among 'organic' farmers and gardeners. They improve soil fertility through increased aeration, aggregation, water infiltration and release of nutrients from organic matter. However, the benefits of earthworms in the wheatbelt have been doubted for many years because of their poor survival in cultivated soils.

Since cropping began in the Western Auslmlian whealbelt over 1OO years ago, the physical condition of many soils has deteriorated. The primary causes of soil degradation were the European cultivation practices used by farmers and the trampling effect of introduced animals. in particular, sheep.

A Review Of Plant Introductions To The Kimberley 1955 To 1987, R Mccartney

Grain and other field crops published reports

This report summarizes the work done by the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, in the west and north Kimberley in introducing plant species during 1955-1987.

For the purposes of this repor1the following areas are defined thus:

• West Kimberley- lies between latitude 17°5 and 19°5 and longitude 121°E and 127°E, with an extension to the north of 1° between 121°E and I 24°20'E. The area is 118,000 km".

• North Kimberley - lies north of latitude 17°5 and between longitude 124°20'E and 127°30'E. The area is 85,000 km'.

• East Kimberley-lies north of latitude 19°5 and between longitude 127°30'E and …

1991 Catalogue Of The Australian Lupin Collection Including Field Evaluation Data For Wild, Semi-Domesticated And Fully Domesticated Accessions, J. C. Clements, W. A. Cowling

Grain and other field crops research reports

This report lists all wild, semi-domesticated and fully domesticated accessions in the Australian Lupin Collection to 1991. The Collection is composed of 2,264 accessions (Perth Numbers between 20629 and 27067) introduced to Australia or from naturalized populations and breeding programmes within Australia. Several accessions are selections from variable populations which were identified during field trials in South Perth, Western Australia. This catalogue lists the characteristics and field evaluation data for every accession where available. Plant breeders and crop scientists will find this information useful for the selection of lupin genotypes with desired characteristics.

Section A of this catalogue should be …

Revegetation Guide To The Central Wheatbelt, E C. Lefroy, R J. Hobbs, L J. Atkins, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia, Csiro, Division Of Wildlife And Ecology

Bulletins 4000 -

The rapid development of the central wheatbelt for agriculture over the past century has produced a productive farming landscape, but one which is increasingly subject to degradation. Erosion, salinization, declining soil structure, waterlogging and acidification are all symptoms of this degradation and causes of lost agricultural production. In addition, most of the native vegetation and many of the native animals have disappeared, and the natural heritage of the area resides in small scattered patches that together make up only seven per cent of the wheatbelt region.

Many farmers now recognize that replanting trees and shrubs is an effective means of …

Miscellaneous Publication 28/91 - Midas (Model Of An Integrated Dryland Agricultural System), David J. Pannell, Andrew Bathgate

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

MIDAS is a bioeconomic model of mixed crop/livestock farms in Western Australia. It selects farm management strategies which maximise profit subject to resource, technical and environmental constraints using the linear programming technique. This document provides a thorough documentation of the version of MIDAS developed for the "eastern wheatbelt" region. If you are learning to use MIDAS with the MARG menu driven system, you need to read the MARG manual as well as this documentation.

From early in the life of MIDAS, we gave a high priority to making the data and assumptions readily accessible in documentation and in microcomputer spreadsheet …

Bulletin No 4219 - Chemical Control Of Insect Pests In Field Crops And Pastures, T. P. Quinn, G. P. Mangano, P. J. Michael

Bulletins 4000 -

Chemicals currently registered in Western Australia for use against pests of field crops and pasture are given in the following tables. Trade names are listed alongside each chemical formulation.

Department of Agriculture Bulletin 4185 "Insect and allied pests of extensive farming" will help you identify the pest(s) through coloured photographs, descriptions and keys. Information on the type of damage, life cycle and control is also provided. Further information is available in Farmnotes on specific pests and on pests of a particular crop.

The Poison Schedule for each product is indicated in the table. Extremely toxic chemicals are labelled as "dangerous …

Pasture Condition Guides For The Murchison River Catchment, A Fox, T R. Eckersley

Soil conservation survey collection

Knowledge of the pasture resource and its capabilities is essential to sustainable use of the rangelands. Rangeland managers must be able to recognise firstly the different pasture types, and secondly, the differences between present condition classes for each type. Both factors affect the stock carrying capacity, and appropriate pastoral management of a pasture. This guide has been produced for use by pastoralists to assist them to recognise and assess the condition of the perennial pasture resource of their own properties. The guide describes the condition states found in 10 of the most widespread pastures of the Murchison River catchment (Fig. …

The Effect Of Nitrogen On Pastures And Subsequent Sheep Production., L. Cransberg

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 89MT1

Location: Mt Barker Research Station

To measure the effect of autumn/winter application on:

1. Pasture growth rates and composition

2. Sheep production using pregnant/lacting ewes.

Trial 89KA6

Management systems for sheep.

Location: Kojonup

To measure the effects of set stocking and strip (rotation) grazing on:

1. Pasture production, composition and quality.

2. Sheep production (liveweight, condition score, wool growth rate, fibre diameter strength and vegetable matter contamination).

Performance Of Annual Legumes And Their Mixes Under Different Crop:Pasture Rotation., P. Evans

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 86KA64, 86KA65 and 86KA66

Performance of annual legumes and their mixtures under different crop:pasture rotations.

Seed reserves, especially in the 1:1 rotation treatment, are on average below 100 kg/ha and in many cases below 50 kg/ha for all three soil types. Because of this the 1991 season will be used to fertilize, control weeds, and apply a grazing management system to favour legume production and seed set. No crop will be sown in 1991.

Sub clover flowering, sequential sowings.

Location: Katanning

To provide seven different temperature and photoperiod regimes, eight cultivars of sub clover ranging in maturity from Nungarin …

Soil Science Research Report - 1991

Soil Science Research Reports

Climate Weather Data Collection Points .......... 1

Weather Data 1991 Reported from Research Centers .......... 2

Flow of Water and Particles in Soils and Porous Media (D. Swartzendruber) .......... 9

Soil Respiration in Ridge Till (M. A. Liebig, A. J. Jones, J. W. Doran, and L. N. Mielke) .......... 11

Wheel Traffic Effects on Soil Properties in Ridge Till (M. A. Liebig, A. J. Jones, L. N. Mielke, and J. W. Doran) .......... 15

Fallout Cesium - 137 to Assess Soil Erosion (T. Oztas, A. J. Jones, L. N. Mielke and R. Grossman) .......... 21

Response of Wheat to Phosphorus …

Seed Phosphorus In Wheat And Lupins, Blakely Paynter, K. Adcock, R. W. Bell, Tim Pope

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 90NO119

Seed P in wheat.

Location: Greenhills.

Design: 2 applied P x 3 seed P x 4 replicates, sowing wheat (cv. Aroona) seed from 89N33 at 70 kg/ha on May 15, 1990.

Trial 90NO120

Seed P in wheat.

Location: York

Design: 2 applied from P x 3 seed P x 4 replicates, 89N33 at 70 kg/ha on May 25, 1990.

Trial 90NO117

Seed P in lupins

Location: Greenhills.

Design: 2 applied P x 3 seed P x 4 replicates, sowing lupins (cv. Gungurru) from 85BA35 at 100 kg/ha on May 15, 1990.

Trial 90NO118

Seed P in lupins.

Location: …

Adjusting Farm Strategy To Allow For Seasonal Conditions, Andrew Bathgate, Stephen Robinson, Ross Kingwell

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

Changes in the price of wheat did not alter the selection of best rotations on various soils, or the area of crop, in an economic study done by the Department of Agriculture. When determining what area to crop, it is much more important to consider the type of start to the season, the amount of summer rainfall and whether light land can be sown early. If there is a good start to the season, the size of the increase in the area of crop depends on the capacity of seeding gear and the mix of soil classes on the farm.

Windbreaks Prove Their Worth, Tim Negus

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

Strong winds in the south-west of Western Australia in April 1991 carted tonnes of top soil from stubbles, over-grazed pastures, and recently prepared cropping land. However, where there were windbreaks, downwind protection into the paddock was up to 10 to 20 times the height of the windbreaks. On May 1, 1991, the author inspected farm land for damage from Narrogin to the Dongolocking area, to Harrismith, up the rabbit-proof fence to West Corrigin and back to Narrogin via Kweda. He found the extent of soil erosion varied, and that some tree species planted in windbreaks gave better protection than others

Whole-Farm Planning : Success At Wilgi Creek, Kevin Shanhun

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

Ian and Bev Lynch own Wilgi Creek, a 376 ha mixed farming property at West Mount Barker in the 700 mm rainfall zone. In 1983, they started a whole-farm plan to overcome the problems of declining production caused by waterlogging (their biggest problem), salinity and deterioration of the remnant native vegetation. Today, their property is an example of a successful, wholefarm land conservation plan based on agroforestry, timber production, water harvesting and improved pastures.

G91-1025 Two Crops In One Year: Doublecropping, Russell Moomaw, Gary Lesoing, Charles A. Francis

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Choice of crops, weed control, and other cultural practices for successful doublecropping are discussed here. Multiple cropping refers to growing two crops on the same field during the same year. One method of multiple cropping is doublecropping, which is when one crop is grown after the first crop is harvested. Prime USA regions for doublecropping are the eastern cornbelt, and southeastern and south central states where relatively long growing seasons and abundant rainfall occur. By contrast, shorter growing seasons and less frequent rainfall limit the potential for doublecropping in Nebraska. Irrigation is essential for successful doublecropping in Nebraska. Without irrigation, …

Development Of Procedures To Determine The Fertilizer Requirements Of Annual Pasture Legumes Grown In Cereal Cropping Systems., Blakely H. Paynter

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trials 88ME67, 88SC17, 90ME1 and 90ME2

Location: Merredin

To determine the phosphate (P) fertilizer requirements of burr medic on marginally acidic, medium textured soils and yellow serradella on acidic, light textured soils.

Trials 89ME52, 89ME55 and 86ME61

Location: Merredin

Determine the response of yellow serradella and burr medic to residual phosphate and freshly applied phosphate.

Trials 89ME50, 89ME54, 88ME67, 88SC17, 89ME60

Location: Merredin.

To measure the influence of different levels of pasture productivity (generated by different levels of P supply) and the different pasture legumes on subsequent wheat crops.

Pasture And Fodder Shrub Species For Deep Sandy Soils., Tim Wiley

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 90MO64

The evaluation of alternative pasture species on deep sandy soils.

Location: Moora.

Soil type: Deep siliceous sand, moisture at depth pH 5.9 - 6.1 in CaC1^₂.

Trial 90MO65

The evaluation of alternative pasture species on deep sandy soils.

Location: West Gillingarra

Soil type: Deep siliceous sand, moisture at depth pH 5.9 - 6.0 in CaC1₂

Trial 90MO66

The evaluation of alternative pasture species on deep sandy soils.

Location: West Koojan

Soil type: Deep siliceous sand pH 5.8 - 5.9 in CaC1₂

Trial 89BA40

Tagasaste establishment trial

Location: Badgingarra Research Station.

Soil type: poor quality …

The Greening Of Australia, Martine Scheltema

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

Many urban Australians have little understanding of the problems of land degradation because it's an extremely slow process that doesn 't directly influence their day-to-day lives. Understandably, they would have trouble relating to sub-soil compaction, waterlogging, increased soil acidity and salinity. They also have trouble comprehending why fencing according to soil type is an important management tool for farmers, or what role contour banks, drainage systems, the addition of gypsum and planting trees have in reversing land degradation. But given that tree loss "has been at the core of almost every aspect of land degradation in Australia ", and that …

Tree Crops For Profit And Land Improvement, John Bartle

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

Western Australian agriculture is deficient in good perennial species. The traditional segregation of agriculture and forestry has diverted attention from commercial wood producing trees as a potential perennial crop. Recently, scientists have made rapid progress in developing tree cropping systems suitable for extensive use in the wetter (more than 600 mm average annual rainfall) areas of the lower south-west. There is potential for a major industry based on fast-growing eucalypts for pulpwood. The foundations for this industry developed from work on agroforestry, forestry sharefarming and salinity control.

Narrow-Winged Seeder Points Reduce Water Erosion And Maintain Crop Yields, Kevin Bligh

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

Sowing crops without loosening the topsoil by tillage reduces water erosion. It can increase infiltration of rainfall into loamy soils, thereby reducing runoff and increasing potential crop yields. Crop yields were maintained after I1 seasons of seeding an Avon Valley loam near Beverley with minimum and no-tillage seeding operations. Infiltration increased significantly from 80 per cent of the 1983 growing-season rainfall under the traditional three tillage operations, to 87per cent under a single tillage operation using a combine seed drill. Infiltration increased further to 96 per cent under a no-tillage system using a triple^lisc drill. At Gnowangerup, 80 per cent …

Toward Better Minimum Tillage For South-Coastal Sandplain Soils, W L. Crabtree

Resource management technical reports

Seventeen farmers compared their conventional cropping practices with some form of minimum tillage cropping. The minimum tilled crops yielded 21 percent less grain than the conventionally sown crops. The reasons for these decreased yields were in most cases related to inexperienced management. The minimum tilled treatments usually had very poor weed kill strategies which often resulted in large weeds at sowing, very cloddy seed-beds, and numerous insects in the young crops.

Pea And Faba Bean Symbiosis With Rhizobium., J. Evans, C. Wallace, N. Dobrowolski

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 89WH55, 89KA57, 89M26, 90A12, 90A13, 90M59, 90M60

Location: Merredin, Konnongorring, Dalwallinu, Wongan Hills, Kojonup, Avondale Research Station.

To undertake relevant field studies to establish whether there are constraints to pea and bean symbiosis, arising from management, environment or genetics, and affecting crop N accumulation and productivity.

Trial 90BA60

Using Le-mat (omethoate) insecticide and legume inoculant on seed.

Location: Badgingarra Research Station,

To measure the effect of Lemat on the nodulation and growth of medics and luceme.

Rhizoctonia Bare Patch Of Cereals And Lupins. Sterile Red Fungus (Srf) And Control Of Take-All Disease In Wheat., G. C. Macnish

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 86E31

Rhizoctonia strains and paddock history.

Location: Esperance Downs Research Station ( Paddock C5)

To determine the effects of pasture, cultivation and cropping on Rhizoctonia root rot, Rhizoctonia patch and distribution of patch and non-patch strains of R. spp

Trial 88E39

Rhizoctonia patch mini-plot establishment area.

Location: Esperance Downs Research Station ( Paddock N1B)

To examine the effects of cultivation and minimum tillage in patches in lupins and to provide sites for mini-plot experiment.

Trial 88KO15

Rhizoctonia bare patch establishment area.

Location: Kojaneerup annex.

To establish an area (with a known history) for future research.

Trial 89E12

Rhizoctonia bare …

Virus Diseases In Lupins., R. Jones, Simon Mckirdy, A. R. Baker, J. Stevenson

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 90BA12, 90WH17, 90A6, 90MT13

Location: Badgingarra, Wongan Hills, Avondale and Mt Barker.

Cucumber Mosaic Virus - Effect of different levels of infection in seed sown.

Trials were done at Badgingarra and Wongan Hills in which plots were sown with seed of cv. Gungurru which transmitted CMV at rates of 5,, l' and O,. The plots were separated by 30 m wide cereal buffers. The intended plant density of 45 plants/sq m (seeding rate 80 kg/ha) was not achieved at either site because of non-wetting soil problems (Table 1). Establishment of CMV infected seedlings as opposed to healthy ones was …

Leaf Diseases Of Wheat, R. Loughman, Geoff Thomas, J. A. Bathgate, W. R. Smith

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 90PE10

Strategic variety mixtures to reduce septoria diseases of wheat. Evaluation of wheat lines for suitability to mixing for septoria control.

Location: Mt. Barker Research Station

To determine components of partial resistance to both Septoria species to ensure that lines with components that are complimentary are chosen for evaluation as mixtures for Septoria control.

Trial 90MT12 and 90ME10

Assessing effects of a paired variety mixture to reduce Septoria.

Location: Borden and Mt Barker Research Station.

To assess the effects of a variety mixture on Septoria diseases.

Trial 90MT11 and 90JE9

Evaluating variety mixtures to reduce septoria, using a range …

Management Of Lupin Root Rots In The Northern Agricultural Region., W. Macleod

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 90GE93

Field survey of lupin root diseases in the northern wheatbelt.

Location: Northern Agricultural Region - majority within Geraldton Advisory District.

To determine the extent, severity and exact nature of fungi causing root and hypocotyl rots of lupins in the northern wheatbelt.

Trial 90GE98

Effect of time of sowing on rhizoctonia infection of lupins.

Location: Woorree.

To examine the effects of sowing lupins at various intervals after the start of the season on the level of Rhizoctonia hypocotyl rot.

Trial 90EC24

Observations on stunt patch on the eradu sandplain.

Location: East Chapman Research Station.

To examine the effects of …

Pleiochaeta Diseases Of Lupins, Mark Sweetingham

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 90WH20, 90SC5, 90LG8

Rates of dicarboximide fungicides for lupins.

Location: Wongan Hills Research Station, South Carrabin Research Station, East Hyden.

To compare the disease control and yield response of Rovral and Sumisclex seed treatments at a range of rates.

Trial 90M11, 90BA17

Rates of dicarboxide fungicides for lupins.

Location: Merredin Research Station, Badgingarra Research Station.

To compare the disease control and yield response of Rovral and Sumisclex seed treatments at a range of rates,

Evaluation Of Trifolium Pasture Species On A Summer Moist Joel Sub Soil North West Of Harvey., R. Snowball

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 90HA2

Introduce a range of long season annual pasture species and 1 perennial species in order to utilize summer sub soil moisture more effectively than the existing subterranean clover pastures.