Life Sciences Commons^™

Research On Declared Plants And Other Weeds, G. A. Pearce

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

Knowledge about weeds is necessary to assess their significance, devise control measures and to select those which are to be declared for the purposes of the Agricultural and Related Resources Protection Act.

Once a plant has been declared in Western Australia, all landowners must control and prevent its spread to new areas and work towards eradicating known infestations. The Act also declares plants which are prohibited from entering the State.

It is becoming more and more important to provide specific reasons for the declaration of a weed and its placement in a certain category. Such decisions require appropriate action to …

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 …

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 …

Skeleton Weed : How Serious A Threat In Western Australia?, F D. Panetta, J. Dodd

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

Skeleton weed is probably the most serious weed ever to threaten the Australian wheat industry. It interferes with wheat cropping at two stages: through competition with the growing crop, particularly for nitrogen and water during the crop's development: and later through the production of a tall, wiry flowering stem which tangles in harvesting machinery and can make harvesting difficult, if not impossible.

The weed is a major problem in eastern Australia although a combination of cultural, chemical and biological control programmes is helping to reduce its impact.

In Western Australia, skeleton weed is being contained mainly by eradication efforts. Weed …

New Grape Varieties For Premium Wines, A C. Devitt

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

The quantity and style of wine consumed in Australia has changed dramatically since the 960s.

Besides the increase in consumption from 9 to 19.9 litres per head in the past 10 years, the major changes have been the greater importance of table wine, particularily white table wine, and the more exacting standards set by consumers and wine producers.

Also more importance has been placed on distinctive regional and varietal wines and the role of premium varieties.

Algal Growth And The Phosphorus Cycle, Arthur J. Mccomb, K. S. Hamel, A. L. Huber, D. K. Kidby, R. J. Lukatelich

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

Larger algae and microscopic phytoplankton foul the waters of the Peel-Harvey estuarine system, upsetting the fishery and polluting the beaches.

These aquatic plants grow in response to phosphorus runoff from drainage, trapping phosphorus in the estuary and using it in their growth. When they die this phosphorus remains in the system to be recycled for further plant growth.

Algal pollution in the estuary can be lessened by reducing the amount of phosphorus entering the system, increasing phosphorus losses to the ocean, or in some way blocking the trapping and recycling processes.

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.