Agricultural Science Commons^™

Russian Wheat Aphid And Its Management In Wheat And Barley, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Russian wheat aphid is found worldwide and has spread throughout all major grain growing countries. In Australia, Russian wheat aphid is present in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and Western Australia, where it was first detected in 2020.

In Western Australia, Russian wheat aphid is found in low, medium, and high rainfall areas.

Presence of Russian wheat aphid in Western Australia is not an international trade issue and there are no trade implications for the grain industry, as bulk grain is not a host for Russian wheat aphid.

Managing Aphids And Viruses In Lupins, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Aphids reduce yields by direct feeding damage, which causes flower and pod abortion and occasionally plant death in lupins. The extent of damage varies between seasons, but losses can be severe in years that favour aphid population development.

Lupins are most vulnerable to aphids during budding and flowering, as severe feeding damage on growing tips can cause buds to drop, flowers to abort, and reduced pod set. Some lupin varieties are more susceptible to aphids than others.

Aphids transmit serious virus diseases, which reduce yields and contaminate seed stocks. Some species of aphids are more difficult to control than others.

Native Budworm Spraying Threshold, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

The number of native budworm caterpillars in a crop is the major factor determining potential economic damage from the pest. Table 1 was generated with results from department trials to provide an estimate of potential loss from native budworm damage.

Crop loss (kilograms per hectare (kg/ha)) for each caterpillar netted in 10 sweeps (or found per square metre (m2 )) is shown in Table 1. One caterpillar netted in 10 sweeps is equivalent to about 20,000 caterpillars/ha for most pulse crops, assuming an even distribution over the crop

Stem Rust And Its Management In Wheat, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) is a foliar disease that can significantly reduce wheat yields if it occurs in early spring and is not controlled. Risk factors, management strategies (including variety choices and foliar fungicides), and yield loss from different varieties are discussed here.

In Western Australia, stem rust typically causes losses of 10 to 50% in wheat, but this can increase to 90% when it occurs in early spring and is not controlled.

Stem rust affects wheat and triticale, but barley can also be a host during summer months.Stem rust produces large, reddish-brown spore masses on both …

Developing A Controlled Traffic (Tramline) Farming System, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Controlled traffic farming (CTF) is a farming system built on permanent wheel tracks where the crop zone and traffic lanes are permanently separated. It can improve profitability and sustainability.

Implements for seeding, spraying, spreading and harvesting have a particular span, or multiple of it, and all wheel tracks are confined to specific traffic lanes.

CTF increases profit by more yield, better grain quality, improved operation timeliness, and reduced costs. The environment can improve, with less nutrient leaching, less water erosion, better water infiltration, and less greenhouse gas emission. Implementation needs a clear, long-term plan, and prioritisation of soil health.

Another …

Button Grass And Its Management, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Button grass (Dactyloctenium radulans) is a native species found throughout Australia. It is a common summer weed species that depletes soil moisture and nutrients, reducing the yield potential of the subsequent crop. It also acts as a green bridge for crop pests and disease.

The rapid emergence and growth of button grass after rainfall makes it important for the Australian plague locust.

It can be a valuable pasture species in arid areas, although overgrazing of button grass can result in toxicity for sheep and cattle.

Finding The Safe Planting Window For Blackspot, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

The Blackspot Manager disease risk forecaster model is an effective tool to help identify the best balance between early sowing and potential yield loss from blackspot. Blackspot can lead to significant crop losses. Field peas become infected when windborne spores are released from fruiting bodies on infected stubble. The timing of spore release is generally early in autumn, depending on summer and autumn rain events.

Barley Grass And Its Management In Crops, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Barley grass is a common name for Hordeum glaucum and H. leporinum. Barley grass is a major crop weeds species because the seed is readily dispersed, it is renowned for rapidly germinating in autumn, and post-emergent herbicide control options are limited. It can also act as an alternate host for cereal diseases and can develop resistance to herbicides.

The rapid germination of the species after rainfall gives barley grass the potential to act as a green bridge for cereal root rot diseases

Brome Grass And Its Management In Crops, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Brome grass (Bromus spp.) is one of the most competitive grass weeds in wheat. Over the last 10 years, brome grass has increased in importance to a greater extent than any other weed species in Australia.

Recent changes in crop production systems, increased conservation tillage, a lack of available selective herbicides, and a decline in system diversity have seen an increase in the importance of this weed in Western Australia (WA).

Seed is the main source of brome grass infestation and, as few seeds remain dormant, the most important aspect of management is to reduce its seed bank.

Annual Ryegrass And Its Management In Crops, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is one of the most serious and costly weeds of annual winter cropping systems in southern Australia. It is highly competitive and can compete with a crop as early as the 2-leaf stage.

Annual ryegrass is a winter to spring growing weed that can emerge from late autumn to early spring. The number of emergence flushes and the density of plants that emerge are related to initial seedbank levels and the frequency and amount of rainfall.

Herbicides, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Herbicides play a vital role in integrated weed management programs. Knowledge of the mechanisms and activity of herbicides will improve the impact and sustainability of herbicides as a weed management tactic. This fact sheet is a guide to the types of herbicides available and when and how they should be used.

Herbicide Application, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Herbicides can be applied by a variety of means, including boom sprayers, aerial spraying, misters, blanket wipers, rope wick applicators, weed seekers and back-pack sprayers. This fact sheet reviews the different methods, including nozzles and calibration of equipment, used to apply herbicides.

Boosting Winter Pasture Growth, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Applying gibberellic acid or nitrogen fertiliser to pasture in winter can increase dry matter production of grasses and broadleaf weeds and help reduce feed shortages in winter.

Effective Furrow Sowing For Water Repellent Soils, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Furrow sowing creates micro-relief, small ridges, and furrows into which water can be harvested. Sloping water repellent surfaces induce run-off, which collects at the base of the sown furrow, enhancing water entry through increased hydraulic pressure.