Agricultural Science Commons^™

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

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Flaxleaf and tall fleabane (Conyza spp.) are emerging weeds in Western Australia (WA), germinating in spring and becoming major weeds in summer. Fleabane is now considered an important weed of reduced tillage farming systems.

Historically, fleabane was primarily a weed of roadsides, particularly if the road shoulders were sprayed with glyphosate, leaving bare soil on which the fleabane could germinate and flourish.

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

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) is a prostrate, stemless, sprawling annual herb that germinates during autumn and winter. In Western Australia (WA), competition from 7 to 90 capeweed plants per square metre in a wheat crop can reduce crop yield by 28 to 44% and net return by 25 to 76%.

Rust Disease And Its Management In Faba Beans, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Faba bean rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae) is host specific, meaning it does not infect cereals or other break crops. The rust is not widespread in Western Australia but low to moderate levels occur in the Esperance and Katanning regions. Individual crops suffer yield losses in some years.

Rust has also been recorded in the high rainfall region in the northern agricultural area, around Dongara.

This page summarises the symptoms, infection cycle, disease risk and spread, and management recommendations for faba bean rust disease.

Sclerotinia Stem Rot And Its Management In Lupins, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

With lupins being susceptible and grown in close rotation to canola, particularly in the northern Western Australia (WA) grainbelt, lupin growers are facing increasing pressure from the disease sclerotinia stem rot (caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum).

This page covers the disease symptoms, infection process, yield and quality impacts, and management in lupin crops.

Breeding Ewes Are Worth Feeding, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

Despite potentially elevated grain prices, strong prices for meat and wool mean that Western Australian sheep farmers can confidently supplementary feed their underweight ewes in summer/autumn.

Analysis in 2019, based on then-current prices, showed it was a profitable investment to feed all ewes to maintain condition during pregnancy, and to feed low condition score single bearing ewes and low and medium condition score twin bearing ewes to gain condition.

In 2019, John Young from Farming Systems Analysis Service completed an analysis on the value of a ewe in the WA farming system. His report had some important messages for the …

Development Of A Disc Blade Cutting System For Sesame Harvesting: Determination Of Operating Criteria And Energy Requirements, Selcuk Ugurluay, Gamze Genc

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study aimed to explore the use of rotary disc blades in cutting, since the mowing units used in sesame harvesting contain many parts, require frequent lubrication, and have vibration problems. An experimental setup with a disc blade working on a cut-mowing system based from harvesting methods of sesame plants was designed and fabricated. The most suitable cutting criteria which are blade edge types (30°-30°, 30°-Flat, 45°-45°, 45°-Flat) and disc blade diameters (150, 180, and 210 mm) were determined for shearing and disc cutting action. The lowest cutting energy was consumed by the disc blade with a 30°-wedge angle at …

Postharvest Characterization And Storage Of Fresh Katmon Fruit (Dillenia Philippinensis), Leonisa A. Artes, Amparo A. Wagan, Michelle E. Omana, Leonardo L. Tamisin Jr

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Katmon fruit has great economic potential but little is known about its postharvest behavior. This study characterized the katmon fruit after harvest so that appropriate handling may be recommended to extend its shelf life during storage or market display. Physicochemical characteristics, particularly firmness, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acids (TA), and TSS:TA ratio were evaluated during storage under room condition (22°C) and at low temperature (15°C). These characteristics were almost constant under 22°C or at 15°C for two weeks, with pH at 2.8, TSS at about 3.40°Brix, TA at 1.1 – 1.5%, and TSS:TA ratio at 3.1 – 2.04. …

Growth-Promoting Bacteria And Salicylic Acid Improve Essential Oil, Flower Yield, And Compatible Osmolyte Content Of Common Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium L.) Under Drought Stress, Mohsen Zarepour, Mohammad Mehdi Rahimi, Abdul Samad Kelidari, Moslem Abdipour

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Drought is one of the major constraints on agricultural productivity in arid and semiarid regions. Coping with drought stress involves several adaptations and mitigation strategies such as the use of plant-growth promoting bacteria and salicylic acid, which was examined in this study under two levels of water regimes (well-watered as control and drought stress) in southwest Iran in 2018 and 2020 on common yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Catalase levels significantly increased in response to drought stress and salicylic acid application. Salicylic acid and combined application treatment of both bacteria also resulted in a significant increase in proline compared with …

Effects Of Soil Type, Irrigation Method, And Biomass Application On Grain Yield And Its Determinants In Irrigated Lowland Rice Of Agusan [Research Note], Jehru C. Magahud

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Information about the influence of soil type, irrigation method, and biomass use on rice productivity in Agusan is insufficient, despite their importance in developing or improving irrigated lowland rice production. Hence, this study determined the influence of these factors on grain yield and yield-contributing crop traits. It also explained grain yield based on yield determinants and recommended water management for improving grain yield. The greenhouse experiment was laid out in a three-factor randomized complete block design with 10 replications. The treatments were [a] Butuan sandy loam soil (SLS) and Butuan loam soil (LS); [b] continuously flooded (CF) and controlled irrigation …

Assessment Of Variants Of Organic-Based Rice Production Systems In Negros Occidental, Philippines, Cielo Luz C. Mondejar, Gerald E. Bello, Karla V. Canto, Chenille Kaye L. Galvan, June Nill F. Paclibar

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

A survey was conducted to determine information needs and assess variants of organic rice-based production among rice farmers in Negros Occidental, Philippines. Survey data were gathered from 199 out of 400 identified organic rice practitioners in the province, which accounts for a > 95% confidence level and 5% of margin of error. Among the respondents, only 20.1% had organic certification from third-party representatives, and 42.2% can be classified under a low-input farming system. Some (21.1%) were in transition for certification or were farmers intending to go into organic certification with third-party representatives. The remaining (16.6%) used organic inputs but were not …

Willingness To Pay And Market Potential For Biowrap: An Economic Study Of A New Biodegradable Mulch Product In Home Gardening, Gengchen Cai

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study explores the market potential of BioWRAP, a biodegradable sprayable weed suppression product, by assessing the willingness to pay (WTP) among American home gardeners. Traditional plastic mulch offers significant agronomic benefits but poses considerable environmental challenges, making BioWRAP a promising alternative due to its similar benefits and reduced environmental impact. Using a double-bounded contingent valuation method, we analyze the WTP for BioWRAP among different demographic groups and gardening practices. Our findings indicate that the highest WTP for BioWRAP is among home gardeners who currently use chemical sprays for weed suppression, followed by those using physical barriers, with the lowest …

Testing Feed Is Vital For Feed Budgeting, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

A little knowledge of the nutritional value of your supplementary feeds can save you a lot of money and hassle.

In dry seasons, it is likely that farmers will need to start supplementary feeding earlier than usual. The higher requirement for supplementary feeds over dry seasons means accurate feed budgeting becomes increasingly important to minimise feed wastage, for weaner survival, and to maintain stock at the right condition score (CS) for joining.

Diamondback Moth And Its Management In Canola And Crop Weeds, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Diamondback moth larvae are a serious pest of canola, brassicas, and forage crops, and are difficult to control. The pest breeds up on summer weeds and volunteer canola plants. If there are abundant early rains and mild winters, diamondback moth larvae pose a risk to canola crops.

Spray-Topping Pastures, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Spray-topping or pasture topping is the application of a sub-lethal rate of herbicide when grasses are coming into head and flowering.

The aim is to reduce the production of viable seed and the seedling population in the following year. The grass is not killed by the herbicide application.

Spray-topping is normally carried out in preparation for the following season's cropping program.

Leaf Diseases And Their Management In Oats, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Leaf diseases of oats impact on grain yield and quality and reduce hay quality characteristics, such as colour and digestibility. This page outlines the symptoms, factors favouring disease risk and spread, and management.

Major leaf diseases of oats are septoria avenae blotch, stem rust, leaf rust, and barley yellow dwarf virus. Their severity changes with seasons.

Foliar Diseases And Their Management In Lupins, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

This factsheet describes symptoms and management of the major fungal and viral diseases affecting lupin foliage, stems, and pods. Several of these diseases have the capacity to cause significant losses if not managed effectively.

Inoculum can be carried in soil, seed, stubble, on green regrowth, or by insect vectors, depending on the disease. Therefore, an integrated approach to disease management is required using tactics such as crop rotation, stubble management, fungicide seed dressing, variety selection, and seed testing

Are You Planting Resistant Weeds With Your Crop Seed?, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Key messages

• West Australian (WA) grain growers have significant weed seed contamination in their crop seed.

• WA growers are sowing herbicide resistant weed seed into their cropping paddocks.

• Crop hygiene (harvest, seeding, transporting) is important to minimise spread of weeds.

Harvest is well underway throughout the WA grainbelt, and growers will be harvesting grain and collecting seed for next year’s crop.

However, this crop seed can be contaminated with weed seeds and, if seed cleaning operations are only partially effective, this weed seed may be sown into paddocks with crop seed in the following season.

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 …

Survey Of Soilborne Pathogens Infecting Strawberry In Oxnard, California & Effect Of Planting Date And Chill Treatment On Yield Of Strawberry, Samantha Z. Simard

Master's Theses

Survey to quantify the frequency of the five main pathogens (Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae races 1 and 2, Verticillium dahliae, and Phytophthora spp.) infecting strawberry in the Oxnard growing district of California. M. phaseolina was the most prevalent pathogen detected in diseased plants in the Oxnard growing district, present in 67.6% of samples positive for at least one pathogen. F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae race 1 (35.3%), V. dahlia (8.8%), F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae race 2 (5.9%) and Phytophthora spp. (2.9%) followed at lower prevalence. Associations were found between fewer drip irrigation lines …

Weather Risks, Crop Losses, And Risk Proneness: An Examination Of Evolving Risk Preferences Of Rice Farmers In Bangladesh, W. Parker Wheatley, Taznoore Khanam, Valerien O. Pede, Takashi Yamano

Economics Faculty Publications

Changing climate poses significant challenges for smallholder rice farmers. Weather-related deviations from longer-term patterns and crop losses due to abiotic hazards can affect farmer risk preferences and drive adaptive responses. In addition, farmers’ proneness to and past experiences with crop risks such as drought, submergence, and excess soil salinity can impact their baseline risk preferences and their response to changing risks. Using data for Bangladesh from two waves of the Rice Monitoring Survey, climate-related data (precipitation and temperature), farmer reports of crop losses, and measures of proneness to abiotic risks, this article estimates how weather deviations from longer-term trends, crop …

Foraging Strategies Of Ruminant Livestock On Intensively Managed Grasslands: Potential And Constraints, I J. Gordon, C Lascano

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

All grazed swards exhibit heterogeneity in the spatial (horizontal and vertical) dispersion of species/biomass. A herbivore foraging at random within such a heterogeneous environment would ingest less nutrients than wou Id one which exploited the heterogeneity on offer through selective grazing. The suite of decision-making processes involved in the selective grazing we observe is termed the animal's foraging strategy. On first observation, intensively managed sown swards appear to offer little opportunity for a herbivore to exhibit a foraging strategy; however, opporlunities do exist and there is empirical evidence that herbivores foraging on sown swards tend to have a diet higher …

Comparative Foraging Strategies Of Grazing Ungulates In African Savanna Grasslands, N Owen-Smith, D H.M Cumming

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

We review the evolutionary (species-specific) and ecological (individual behavioural) strategies of African grazing ungulates. The contexts considered are free-ranging wild ungulates, traditional livestock pastoralism and extensive commercial ranching. Particularly successful are (1) buffalo, able to digest grass fibre effectively in mesic grasslands; (2) wildebeest, exploiting semi-arid grasslands through migration; (3) megaherbivores (elephant, hippopotamus and white rhinoceros) utilising a wide range of vegetation components. Species-specific adaptations include body size and metabolic rate, digestive efficiency and passage rate, oral and dental anatomy, water dependence and detoxification capacity. Species overlap in grass species se'lected, with dietary differences apparent in grass height favoured, and …

Comparison Of Animal Gains Using Perennial Pastures Exclusively Or Combined With Chicory-Oats-Clover Temporary Winter Pastures, J A. Josifovich

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The increment of winter forage availability using short-rotation pastures could be an interesting way to increase winter carrying capacity. The producer could make good use of higher spring grass production. Sowing oats, rye or chicory alone is quite common in the Argentine Pampa. to evaluate the efficiency of these short-rotation winter pastures a 3 year trial was carried out at Pergamino Experiment Station. The treatments were: a) perennial pastures, 100% of the surface, b) perennial pastures 75%, and chicory-clover 25%, with 2 replications of 3 ha each. The pastures were, for. class II soils, fescue (Festrlca aru11dinacea Schreb.) cv. El …

Influence Of Climatic Factors On Animal Production In The Humid Pampa Of Argentina, J D. Josifovich, E Frutos

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

For any' pasture grazing area it is important lo know the relationship among the climatic parameters, rainfall and temperature, with carrying capacity and minimal gains. The availability of pasture to adjust stocking rates and make provisions for hay or supplementary feed needed for periods of shortage can be estimated from these data. Seven years of monthly rainfall and medium average temperature; and 25 years of forage digestibility and average daily gains were related to cattle i: carrying capacity; Analysis was made using the stepwise regression method. Carrying capacity was evaluated considering animal units (AU) for a 400 kg head gaining …

A New Theory Of Feed Intake Regulation In Ruminants And Its Implications For Forage Quality Research, J.J M.H Ketelaars, B J. Tolkamp

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The low voluntary intake of many roughages is commonly explained by a limited physical capacity of ruminants to process fibrous feeds. Recently, we developed a new theory of feed intake regulation assuming feed consumption to create both benefits for the animal (represented by the intake of net energy for maintenance and gain) and costs (represented by the total oxygen consumption of the feeding animal). For non­reproducing ruminants we have shown that voluntary intake of roughages is close to the optimum feed intake level, i.e., the level at which for the animal the ratio between benefits and costs becomes maximum. According …

Botanical Composition Of Forage Samples Selected By Grazing Sheep On The Mountain Rangeland Of Northern China, Han Jianguo, Liu Fuyuan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Oesophagus fistulae and microscopic examination were used to determine the botanical composition of forage samples selected by grazing sheep on the mountain rangeland in the Hc-Bci Province of northern China during the growing seasons of 1989 and 1990. Results show a clear preference of sheep for some forage species over others. Sheep selected Cleistogenes squarrosa, Koeleria cristata, Potentilla cihinensis, Lespedeza hedysoroides and Scabiosa comosa in each type of rangeland and from early spring to late autumn. The selection ratio of forbs was more than I , and that of grasses less than 1. Sheep showed strong preference for …

The Independent Effects Of Sward Height And Bulk Density On The Bite Parameters Of Romney Ewes And Red Deer Hinds, R J. Mitchell, J Hodgson, D A. Clark

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The independenl effects of sward height (I, 2, 3, 5 and 8 cm) x bulk density (0.65, 1.30, 2.90 mg DM/cm3) variation on the ingestive behaviour of Romney ewes and Red deer hinds were examined in seedling swards which simulated a leafy grass sward of low shear strength. Depth of penetration, horizontal area of herbage severed per bite, weight of each bite and the rate of intake all increased with increasing height, while the rate of biting decreased (P