Agricultural Science Commons^™

Property Planning Manual For The Swan-Canning Catchment - February 2002, Catherine Nind, Kylie Banfield, Brian Lloyd

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

Perth, its suburbs and adjacent semi rural and rural areas are part of the Swan-Canning catchment. Ona broad scale the Swan and Canning Rivers are part of a large drainage system that collects and drains water from across the catchment via a myriad of small channels, creeks, brooks and drains which, working together, concentrates the flow into a single water body, the Swan-Canning Estuary. This drainage system collects water both from the surface of the land and also from water, which seeps beneath the surface and moves underground.

The water may contain a considerable variety of potential pollutants, such as …

Declared Plant Control Handbook Recommendations For The Control Of Declared Plants In Western Australia, John R. Peirce, Rachael A. Pratt

Biosecurity published reports

Sixth Edition.

Reviewed October 2005.

Plants may be "declared" by the Agriculture Protection Board under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976.If a plant is declared, all landholders are obliged to control that plant on their properties. Declarations specifies a category, or categories, for each plant according to the control strategies or objectives which the Agriculture Protection Board believes are appropriate in a particular place.

Among the factors considered in categorising declared plants are:

* the impact of the plant on individuals, agricultural production and the community in general,

* whether it is already established in the area, and …

Monitoring Subsurface Drainage Flow At Remote Locations, Stephen R. Workman, Stephen F. Higgins, Scott A. Shearer

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Laboratory evaluations and field results are presented for a slotted weir used to measure discharge from subsurface drains. The head–discharge curve for the vertical slot is a simple power function with an exponent of 1.5. There was excellent agreement (r² > 0.99 and 1:1 slope) between predicted and observed discharge in laboratory testing of 12 test weirs representing five slot widths. The primary advantages of the vertical slot weir are its simplicity, ease of maintenance, and ability to measure small flow rates. Disadvantages include a tendency for the slot to close a small amount over time as a result of …

Almonds Western Australia, Andrew Quinn, David Pocock

Horticulture published reports

The Almond industry 1s one of the less explored new industry options in Western Australia, despite offering one of the more significant opportunities for expansion and market development. Previous attempts to expand the industry have met with little progress primarily because of the small orchard areas planted, limited economies of scale, significant impact by birds and absence of a local processing plant.

Global Almond exports exceed US$1 billion per annum and are dominated by California. Almond products are traded in the international commodity market with prices primarily set by the USA.

Critical to the development of the industry in Western …

Predators Of Mesoplatys Ochroptera In Sesbania Planted-Fallows In Eastern Zambia, G. Sileshi, M. Kenis, C. K.P.O. Ogol, S. Sithanantham

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Mesoplatys ochroptera Stål (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a serious pest of the tropical legume sesbania (Sesbania sesban (L.) Merrill) widely used for soil fertility improvement in southern Africa. Surveys were conducted between October 1997 and June 1999 in order to identify the predators of M. ochroptera in sesbania fallows in eastern Zambia. The Heteroptera Afrius yolofa (Guérin-Méneville), Glypsus conspicuus (Westwood), Macrorhaphis acuta Dallas, Mecosoma mensor (Germar), Rhinocoris segmentarius (Germar), and Deraeocoris ostentans (Stål), the carabid beetle Cyaneodinodes fasciger (Chaudoir), the ants Tetramorium sericeiventre Emery and Pheidole sp., and the lacewing Mallada sp. were recorded as predators of M. ochroptera for the …

Miscellaneous Publication 009/2001 - Pistachios Western Australia An Income Producing Reforestation Opportunity For The Wheatbelt, Andrew Quinn

Horticulture published reports

Faced with a rising water-table, salt and acid land impacts, the Western Australian Wheatbelt requires significant changes to traditional farming system models.

Part of this drive towards improved sustainability is the need to re-plant substantial areas to tree belts or blocks. One of the limiting factors in the widescale adoption of on-farm tree planting is the narrow range of opportunities to generate income from these sites.

This report presents a model for the development of a Pistachio nut industry with production integrated into existing Wheatbelt farming systems. In addition to offering significant environmental benefits, the Pistachio tree offers the opportunity …

Western Australian Avocado Industry Survey - 2000, Alec Mccarthy

Horticulture research reports

Key components of the project: The avocado industry in Western Australia has been steadily growing over the past 15 years. During this time there has been no comprehensive survey of the industry to determine its size and production base. This survey aimed to collect information from as many commercial avocado growers as possible about tree numbers, age, yield, markets, growing methods and general industry knowledge.

Industry significance: This survey will provide comprehensive data on the avocado industry that will enable producers, packers, marketeers, investors, etc to have greater confidence in their various decision makings.

Key outcomes: Significant increases in annual …

Market Prospects Organic Carrots & Other Vegetables, Steven Mccoy

Horticulture published reports

This report provides a brief overview of the market opportunity for West Australian organically grown carrots and other vegetables grown in rotation with carrots. The report outlines market opportunities and important aspects of the local WA, interstate and export markets for consideration by conventional carrot growers with an interest in investing in the production of carrots grown organically, certified in compliance with the Australian "National Standards for Organic and Biodynamic Production".

Management Of Soil Organic Matter And Gypsum For Sustainable Production In The Carnarvon Horticultural District Of Western Australia, R.S.B. Greene, A.J. Lin, D. C. Parr

Agriculture reports

Soil quality is critically important for the long-term production of high quality and high yielding fruit and vegetable crops in the Carnarvon horticultural district of Western Australia. A stable soil structure is essential for good soil quality.

A Strategic Marketing Analysis Of The Western Australian Olive Industry, Francis D'Emden

Horticulture published reports

A recent survey of Western Australian olive growers has revealed the rapid expansion of the State's Olive Industry, with at least 1.7 million olive trees to be planted in the next two to four years in Western Australia. NSW and SA are currently the dominant producers with around 64% of olive trees planted in those States.

This analysis concentrates on the olive oil market, as most groves have been planted to varieties suited to olive oil production. Approximately 4% of trees are table varieties, most of which have been planted amongst groves of predominantly oil or dual-purpose varieties.

Western Australia …

Composting Of Feedlot And Dairy Manure: Compost Characteristics And Impact On Crop Yields, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Walker Luedtke, Mark Schroeder, Charles A. Francis, Gary Lesoing

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Since 1993, approximately 17,600 tons of beef feedlot and dairy compost have been spread on 1,100 acres. Crop yields were measured to determine the impact of a one-time compost application by using no-compost check strips in large-scale production fields. Adding compost to irrigated corn, irrigated soybeans, and dryland corn acres significantly increased yields, with four-year average increases of 2.3, 1.5, and 2.7%, respectively. For all crops measured, the response to compost was greatest the first year following application and declined linearly in subsequent years. The increased yield from compost application offsets spreading costs using average prices for crops.

Burakin Focus Catchment Report, Mike Clarke

Natural resources published reports

The Burakin Focus Catchment Project was developed between farmers and Agriculture _ Western Australia. The project was designed to give farmers an understanding of the salinity processes occurring within the Catchment and suggestions on appropriate management.

Work began in the Catchment early in 1999 and was complete at the end of 2000. Intensive hydrological investigations formed the basis of the study, which was complemented by surface water control and revegetation strategies. Agronomic issues associated with sandplain soils were raised by the farmers at the initial meeting and this led to a soil survey to determine the pH status of the …

Farming Systems To Manage Salinity. Farmer Directed Research, Development And Extension. Research Results 2001, Richard Olive

Natural resources published reports

More and more of Western Australia's agnicultural lands are becoming saline. Currently it is estimated that about 18 milliion ha of land are affected to a greater or lesser degree by salinity causing production losses estimated at about $70 million a year.

Unless ways are found to halt and reverse the salinisation of land it is estimated that another 4.4 million ha could become saline over the next 50 years.

Grain growers and the Federal Government, through the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). are investing $12 4 million in R&D across Australia to develop productive solutions to the salinity …

Habitat Management Strategies For The Control Of Cereal Stemborers And Striga In Maize In Kenya, Z. R. Khan, J. A. Pickett, L. Wadhams, F. Muyekho

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Maize is the principal food and cash crop for millions of people in the predominantly mixed crop-livestock farming systems in Kenya. Stemborers and striga (Striga hermonthica) are major constraints to increased maize production in eastern Africa. An intercropping and trap crop system has been developed, using a ‘push-pull’ strategy, for the control of stemborers in small scale maize farming systems. The ‘push-pull’ strategy involves trapping stemborers on highly susceptible trap plants (pull) and driving them away from the crop using repellent intercrops (push). Napier grass (Pennisetum piirpiirenm Schumach) and Sudan grass (Sorghum vulgare sudanense Stapf J are used as trap …

Impact Of Solar Radiation Rainfall And Cannibalism On Disappearance Of Maize Stemborers In Kenya, M. J. Bonhof, W. A. Overholt

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The effect of solar radiation, rainfall and cannibalism on the disappearance of eggs and larvae of the cereal stemborer Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) were studied. Disappearance and nonviability of egg batches was higher on plants exposed to solar radiation than on shaded plants. Significantly fewer small larvae were recovered from plants exposed to rainfall than from shielded plants. Cannibalism among larvae of the same size was not common except at high larval densities. Contrary to the common belief that disappearance is the result of prédation, these studies show that solar radiation and rainfall might also play an important role in the …

Profiting From Adversity - Meeting The Challenge Of Salinity Through New Industry Development, Andrew Quinn, Tamara Law, Peter Rowe

Natural resources published reports

Salinity in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia is one of the most significant challenges facing the State's agricultural sector.

Efforts to manage the increasing effect of salt influenced and threatened farming land requires not only the implementation of new farming systems, but a new way of thinking and attitude to production more in tune with environmental and technological limitations.

While past environment lobby pressures have significantly focused on other production activities such as mining and forestry, the future is likely to see increased community interest in agricultural production systems.

Consumers World wide are becoming more environmentally sensitive, with global media …

Low Recharge Farming Systems. Case Studies On The South Coast, Arjen Ryder, Jamie Bowyer, Gerry Skinner, Clare Mccarron

Natural resources published reports

This booklet is intended as a guide to assist land managers to design or select low recharge farming systems. Options that increase water use are described with benefits and issues for each option.

Case studies describe the experiences of landholders who have had a go at establishing and managing such systems. Examples are included from different rainfall zones. The systems mentioned in this manual are only a guide.

Case studies describe the experiences of landholders who have hada go at establishing and managing such systems. Examples are included from different rainfall zones. The systems mentioned in this manual are only …

Eucalypt Woodlands A Guide To Management, Liz Brown, Colin Holt

Natural resources published reports

This guide was mainly developed using information gathered from studies in Salmon gum (E. salmonophloia) woodlands. However, the principles in this guide can be broadly applied as it considers the general ecological processes that occur within most woodlands.

If your goal is to restore a woodland to a healthy, functioning unit with a range of original species, this guide provides a way of diagnosing the health of individual woodlands and some of the causes of poor health. It also suggests some relevant management actions.

There is a huge array of different types of Euclaypr Woodlands in the Western Australian Whearbelr, …

Agriculture Western Australia's Great Southern Agricultural Research Institute Katanning, Agriculture Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

Agriculture Western Australia's Great Southern Agricultural Research Institute has been established as a centre of excellence for research, development and extension into sustainable farming systems The. agency has a long association with the town of Katanning dating back to 1925 when the agency provided a general agricultural advisor.

The new Institute is strategically located in the heart of key sheep and cropping production areas with significant growth potential.

Its role is to stimulate the contribution of ideas from individuals, groups and organisations with an interest in research, development and extension relating to innovative, profitable and sustainable animal and cropping based …

Community Support For Natural Resource Management. Future Frameworks: Future Needs, Fionnuala Frost, Wendy Dymond, Soil And Land Conservation Council Of Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

A report prepared for the Soil and Land Conservation Council of Western Australia.

Emerging from the Decade of Landcare is growing recognition that regional and local community involvement is integral to the success of any natural resource management (NRM) outcome. It is integral for a number of reasons:

1. Community support provides the capacity to develop plans and strategies at local, regional scale which are owned by the community who review (technical recommendations, advice and information and adapt them to suit local need;

2. Community knowledge provides an important balance to research knowledge and State and regional level strategies and …

Bulletin 4418 - Nebru Focus Catchment Report, Agriculture Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

Nehru Focus Catchment is located in the upper reaches of the Arrowsmith Catchment. It is roughly bounded by Sunset Road in the north, the north-south Kadathinni Hills to the east, the Three Springs - Eneabba Road to the south and Reed Road in the west. It changes in elevation from 372 metres Australian Height Datum (AHD) at roughly the intersection of Nehru Rd the Kadathinni Hills to the east and 220 metres AHD near the outlet of the catchment into the Arrowsmith River.

The total area of the catchment is just over 7,400 hectares.

One of the prime areas of …

Degradation In The Brockman River And Ellen Brook Catchments, Western Australia, Brian Lloyd

Natural resources published reports

An eight day survey of degradation in the Ellen Brook and Brockman River catchments revealed several areas of concern. Key concerns are:

Erosion and sedimentation

Various forms of erosion were observed during the survey that would cumulatively have an effect on the quality of both the Ellen Brook and the Brockman Rivers, and ultimately the Swan River. Erosion resulted from many situations including landholder management, subdivision design and infrastructure maintenance. Raising awareness as to consequences of erosion and sedimentation, along with remedial techniques and best management practices is recommended for the various levels of stakeholders.

Eutrophication

Eutrophication has been established …

Commercial Irrigation And Nutrition Practices For Strawberries In Western Australia, D. Phillips, D. Gatter, T. Calder, D. Pitman

Horticulture research reports

Irrigation practices employed by five commercial strawberry growers on sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain near Perth Western Australia were monitored for two consecutive seasons, 1995 and 1996 during the Spring production period.

Nutritional practices for the same grower group plus one Albany grower were monitored by plant, soil and sap analysis at 14 day intervals throughout the 1996 season.

Irrigation records showed that market quality strawberries could be produced at this time of year (August to December in Perth) on soils with very poor water retention properties with an average crop factor(E Pan) for the season of 0.7 …

The Wheat Book : Principles And Practice, W K. Anderson, J R. Garlinge

Bulletins 4000 -

Contents : Environment / revised by J. Cramb, J. Courtney and P. Tille - The structure and development of the cereal plant / revised by T.L. Setter and G. Carlton - Germination, vegetative and reproductive growth / revised by T.L. Setter and G. Carlton - Crop water use / D. Tennant - Nutrition / revised by M.D.A. Bolland, R.F. Brennan, J.W. Bowden, M.G. Mason, N.K. Edwards, M.M. Riley and S.W. Gartrell - Wheat in farming systems / revised by B. Bowden, P. Blackwell, P. Carmody, M. Ewing, R. Kingwell, R. L ghman, I. McFarlane, P. Michael, P. Nelson, I. Pritchard, …

Evaporation Reduction Potential In An Undisturbed Soil Irrigated With Surface Drip And Sand Tube Irrigation, Masoud Meshkat, Richard C. Warner, Stephen R. Workman

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The efficiency of drip irrigation is highly dependent on evaporation losses occurring from the constantly saturated soil beneath emitters. Advent of subsurface drip irrigation is in part an approach to curb this inefficiency. An irrigation method, Sand Tube Irrigation (STI), is proposed to increase the efficiency of “Normal” surface applied drip Irrigation (NI method) on permanent tree crops without the need for burying the irrigation tubing. The sand tube consists of removing a soil core beneath the emitter and filling the void with coarse sand. A weighing lysimeter was constructed in the laboratory and instrumented to directly measure temporal evaporation …

Bulletin No 4315 - Western Australia's Agricultural, Food & Fisheries Industries 1999 - 2000, Besko Trhuij, Francis D'Emden

Bulletins 4000 -

Fifth Edition (revised and updated) December 2000.

Western Australia’s agriculture and fisheries industries have an international reputation for providing premium quality food and fibre produce to customers around the world.

The State of Western Australia is setting the international quality standard in the production of a vast array of food, fibre and fisheries products.

Agriculture Western Australia has developed the Safe Quality Food System (SQF2000), which not only meets stringent world food standards, but is being adopted in many countries as a unique trademark of quality.

Free of many pests, diseases and pollution found elsewhere, the State offers produce sourced …

Bulletin 4446 - Ord Land And Water Management Plan 2000, Agriculture Western Australia, Community Of Kununurra

Bulletins 4000 -

The wise use of the land and water of the Ord has become an imperative driven by increasing awareness of the impacts of current uses on ground water and the on the quality of the Ord River itself.

We have been lucky as a community that these resources are still in reasonable order and that we have the time to address the resource management challenges associated with our use of them. There is a wide range of land and water management issues to be addressed and all those involved have responsibilities to address some of those issues.

Dalyup Catchment 2000, Esperance Catchment Support Team

Natural resources published reports

This 'State of the Dalyup Catchment' document is a snapshot of the condition of the Catchment in the year 2000. It records the current level of knowledge of the natural resources in the Catchment and discusses some of the management issues and options. This document is a benchmark and through ongoing monitoring, trends in the condition of the Catchment can be identified.

Its primary purpose is as a tool for resource planning such as a surface water management plan, river action plan or revegetation plan. It can also be used in the preparation of funding applications.

Precision Farming Protocols. Part 2. Comparison Of Sampling Approaches For Precision Phosphorus Management, David E. Clay, Jiyul Chang, C. Gregg Carlson, Doug Malo, Sharon A. Clay, Mike Ellsbury

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Research is needed to compare the different techniques for developing site‐specific phosphorus (P) recommendations on a field‐wide basis. The objective of this study was to determine the impact different techniques for developing site‐specific P recommendation maps on yield and profitability. Enterprise analysis combined with a crop simulation model and detailed field characterization was used to estimate the value of spatial P information in a system where N was not limiting. The systems evaluated were continuous corn (Zea mays) and corn and soybean (Gfycine max) rotations where sampling and fertilizer applications were applied annually and semi‐annually, respectively. The sampling techniques tested …

Sistem Diagnosis Penyakit Tanaman Padi (Pakar Padi), Jin Gee Tee

Student Works (2000-2009)

Beras adalah makanan utama rakyat Malaysia. Banyak kajian dan penyelidikan dibuat untuk meningkatkan hasil tanaman padi. Di antaranya termasuklah mengkaji cara-cara kawalan serangga perosak dan kerja-kerja diagnosis penyakit tanaman padi. Maklumat-maklumat daripada hasil kajian harus disimpan dengan baik supaya kerja diagnosis dapat dijalankan dengan lebih lancar. Memandangkan keperluan ini, satu sistem berkomputeran yang menyimpan data data mengenai tanaman padi adalah penting dan dijangka akan memberi bantuan dalam pengurusan dan kerja-kerja diagnosis. Ini telah membawa kepada idea untuk membangunkan satu sistem diagnosis penyakit bagi tanaman padi. Sistem Diagnosis Penyakit Tanaman Padi, diberikan nama Pakar Padi adalah satu sistem berpangkalan komputer yang …