Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Bulletin 3929 - Irrigation In Western Australia, K S. Cole

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

Irrigation is essential in many parts of the world to produce essential food and profitable cash crops. Generally, those areas of land with less than 360 mm of rain spread over a distinct wet season of several months cannot grow crops for food or cash on rainfall alone. Then irrigation becomes necessary unless some peculiarity such as an oasis exists.

Analysis And Testing Of Powered Tillage Blades, Larry G. Wells, E. M. Smith, D. E. Hammett

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Fundamental design considerations for powered rotary tillage blades are presented and discussed. The relationship between blade angular velocity and the geometric dimensions of cutting edges is specified for tillage blades rotating counter to the direction of travel and assuming a typical forward speed for tillage.

Analyses showed that a powered blade rotated opposite to the direction of travel can be operated at relatively lower angular velocities than can one rotated in the direction of travel to achieve equivalent blade velocity and acceleration relative to the soil. Furthermore, a blade rotated opposite to the direction of travel requires relatively lower power …

Wind Drag On Burley Tobacco Plants, James H. Casada, Linus R. Walton, Larry G. Wells

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Drag coefficient and center of resistance to wind forces were determined for four varieties of burley tobacco at three stages of growth and using wind velocities ranging from about 3 to 17 m/s. Drag coefficients determined ranged from about 0.024 at the highest velocity to about 0.081 at the lowest velocity. Stage of growth and wind velocity had significant effects on drag coefficient. Variety did not have a significant effect on drag coefficient. Mean center of resistance varied from 42.3 percent of the distance from bottom leaf to top leaf at the early stage of growth to 71.2 percent at …

The Influence Of Harvesting Strategies And Economic Constraints On The Feasibility Of Farm Grain Drying And Storage Facilities, Otto J. Loewer Jr., Thomas C. Bridges, G. M. White, Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The economic return to on-the-farm grain drying and storage facilities is influenced by many factors including harvesting strategies, facility management, market conditions, energy considerations, and facility design. This study evaluates the influence of these factors on expected net return.

Economic Comparison Of Alternative Burley Tobacco Harvesting Practices By Computer, Thomas C. Bridges, Larry G. Wells, George A. Duncan, John N. Walker

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The computer model CATCH (Computer Analysis of Tobacco Cutting and Housing) was developed to provide the individual tobacco producer with management information concerning alternative methods of harvesting burley tobacco. CATCH utilizes specific producer in-puts to analyze 24 alternative burley production systems and presents up to four economic rankings containing costs, equipment and labor for each system. The economic rankings aid the producer in decision making with regard to his own operation.

The Influence Of Harvest Rate And Drying Time On Grain Drying And Storage Facility Selection, Thomas C. Bridges, Otto J. Loewer Jr., Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Determination Of Strategy For Harvesting Burley Tobacco, Yasuhiko Miyake, Larry G. Wells, George A. Duncan, Jimmie Rankin

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The decision-making process associated with the scheduling of burley tobacco harvesting operations was formulated as a multi-stage decision process, and solved using a procedure called dynamic programming. The solution of a stochastic dynamic programming model provides a set of optimal decision rules, that is, a strategy. When certain user-specified parameters are provided, the decision model provides information concerning the optimal date to start harvesting, the optimal number of hours to harvest on each day, the optimal date to introduce hired labor, and the optimal number of workers which should be hired.

The solution of the dynamic programming model makes it …

Getting The Best From Tractor Tyres, J Quealy

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

The amount of pull a tractor develops depends largely on tyre efficiency and so with so many tyre size options for the one tractor model it is very easy to make the wrong decision on tyre fitment.

Tyre efficiency varies with tractor weight, soil conditions, inflation pressure and tyre size.

Hers we look at some of these factors and how changing them may affect efficiency.

Calibration Of Boom Sprays, J R. Peirce

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

Boom sprays have become increasingly common on Western Australian farms, allowing farmers to take advantage of modern herbicided.

Most boom sprays used on farms have 50 cm nozzle spacings and require calibrating regularily to ensure accurate herbicide application.

By following these steps, the boom will deliver accurate amounts of herbicide.

How To Select A Tractor, W T. Brown

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

A look at some of the factors to be considered when choosing a tractor for your farm. There is no one answer

A Computer Model For Evaluating Corn Harvesting, Handling, Drying And Storage Systems, Thomas C. Bridges, Otto J. Loewer Jr., John N. Walker, Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Replacing Farm Machinery, R Crossman

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

In talking of machinery replacement it seems implied that the replacement items of plant are bigger and therefore better than their predecessers. It is also implied that plant replacement is becoming more costly.

Before any decision to replace machinery, the reason for replacement should be carefully considered.

There may be alternatives to the bigger and better solution.

Options For Machinery And Labour, A F. Herbert

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

Machinery is one of the highest costs in farming today. It is not unusual for capital investment in machinery to be 20 to 30 percent of the total investment in the farm.

On an annual basis, expenditure directly attributable to machinery can be 40 per cent or more.

This article cannon be a panacea for everyone to reduce machinery costs - each farm is different. But some of the issues might be of help.

Matching Tractors And Implements, I W. Grevis-James

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

Tractor and implement matching involves balancing implement load characteristics with tractor output characteristics to obtain the best output from the combination. Too much or too little can be costly.

Facility Costs Of Centralized Grain Storage Systems Utilizing Computer Design, Otto J. Loewer Jr., Thomas C. Bridges, Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The item considered most often when estimating the cost of a grain storage facility is capacity. Of equal or greater importance is daily harvest rate. Other important considerations include drying method, materials handling equipment, energy cost, facility arrangement, labor requirements, grain quality and management ability. Only through a comparison of facilities which offer similar capacity, capability and convenience can the purchaser obtain his best system.

Pollution Of Surface Irrigation Waters By Plant Pathogenic Organisms, James R. Steadman, C. R. Maier, H. F. Schwartz, E. D. Kerr

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Systematic sampling of waterways and irrigation runoff from agricultural lands in the North Platte Project of Nebraska in July and August of 1972–1974 demonstrated that phytopathogenic organisms were disseminated. The organisms monitored included the bean common blight bacterium Xanthomonas phaseoli, the bean white mold fungus Whetzelinia sclerotiorum and various nematodes. Although many types of nematodes often were recovered from irrigation water, Heterodera sp. cysts which cause significant disease problems in the valley were found infrequently. Patterns of movement of the bacterial and fungal organisms were correlated with previous or current season infection of bean plants. The short-term survival of X. …

Growing Sunflowers In South-Western Australia, M L. Poole

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

The oil produced from sunflowers falls into the "polyunsaturated" group and usually commands a premium price on world markets.

Some Western Australian farmers seeking to diversify their cropping programmes in the face of marketing difficulties for many agricultural products are trying sunflowers, although commercial production has not yet been achieved.

This article sets out some basic information for farmers wishing to try sunflowers.

Effect Of Heated Air Drying On Soybean Oil Quality, Douglas G. Overhults, G. M. White, H. E. Hamilton, I. J. Ross, J. D. Fox

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Drought Effects On Wheat Cultivars Using Trickle Irrigation, R N. Weir

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 74M32 - The trial was aimed at - 1. Looking for cultivar differences in drought tolerance: particularly involving Gamenya and Insignia. 2. Considering trickle irrigation as a means of controlled water application. Four cultivars were sown at the end of July in salmon gum soil at Merredin. Drought effects on four wheat cultivars in controlled environment Trial 74GL8 - This work was aimed at assessing the performance of the cultivars Gamenya, Gambee, Darkan and Insignia under controlled moisture stress.

Drying Soybeans With Heated Air, Douglas G. Overhults, G. M. White, H. E. Hamilton, I. J. Ross

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Faulty Germination Of Lupin Seeds, B J. Quinlivan

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

THE number of lupin seed samples tested in the seed laboratory over the last few years has shown a marked increase with the increasing popularity of lupins as a cash crop.

A seed with satisfactory germination is one which produces a healthy seedling. The germination of lupin samples tested in the laboratory has varied markedly.

Rapeseed. 5. Harvesting Methods, M L. Poole

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

IN Western Australia the warm dry spring and early summer allows rapeseed to be direct harvested when mature, whereas in most rapeseed-producing countries the crop must be swathed, allowed to mature in the windrow, and harvested with a pick-up combine.

Urea Drilled With Seed Affects Germination And Yield, M G. Mason, A. Loutit, J. A. C. Smith, D. Highman, P. Stallwood

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

Trials in 1968 at Burracoppin and York again showed it is safer to topdress urea just before seeding than to drill a mixture of seed and urea.

At all but the lowest urea rates, urea drilled with the seed reduced the number of plants emerging and surviving, and reduced final wheat yields.

The Setting And Control Of Disc Ploughs, P A. Taylor

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

THE trailed disc plough is the most commonly used tillage implement in Australian broadacre farming, yet it is considered in some areas to be difficult to set and to operate. These notes provide information resulting from C.S.I.R.O. research to assist operators in the control and operation of trailed disc ploughs.

The Long Term Effects Of Frequent Cropping, Stanley Thomas Smith

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

AGRICULTURALLY speaking, few Western Australian soils are more than 50 years old. We have the responsibility of preserving them for farming—not for one man's lifetime, but for centuries.

The aim of this article is to demonstrate that cropping and cultural practices do have some effects on the soil, and that these effects should be considered when choosing a farm rotation.

West Midlands Development : Development Techniques, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Most clearing in the West Midlands is carried out by chaining, though the method chosen will depend on the country being cleared and on the resources of the farmer.

Land Grading In South West Irrigation Areas, 1966-67, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Land grading in the South West Irrigation Areas with modern earth moving equipment first commenced in 1949.

The advantages of land grading are well recognised by farmers and this season grading operations were carried out on 208 farms.

New Phytotron Widens Scope For Research, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

A WIDE range of new experiments and greater speed and efficiency in many existing projects has been made possible by the recent completion of the Department of Agriculture phytotron at South Perth.

The New Yilgarn Vermin Fence, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE State's vermin fence system, forming a barrier between the outer edges of the agricultural areas and the pastoral areas, has been extended 162 miles with the completion of the Yilgarn Vermin Fence this year.

Irrigating Dry Season Crops In The Ord Valley : How To Prepare Land For Sowing, D F. Beech

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

THE best way to grow dry season crops of safflower, linseed and rapeseed under irrigation in the Ord Valley is by sowing on to broad flat ridges, separated by small furrows 3 ft. 6 in. apart.

This system of sowing is called the "corrugation" method.