Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Lupin Breeding In Western Australia : The Narrow-Leaf Lupin (Lupinus Angustifolius), John Sylvester Gladstones

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

Over the past seven years the narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) has become a significant crop plant in Western Australia.

The present crop varieties are the result of a long-term breeding programme started in 1954 with the aim of producing a broad-acre crop from a plant well adapted to our light soils but with a number of characteristics which precluded its use for cropping.

To an original sweet narrowleafed lupin, soft-seededness, nonshattering pods, early flowering and a distinctive appearance to distinguish it from bitter types were progressively added.

The author of this article, Dr. J. S. Gladstones, began lupin breeding at …

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.

Extracts From The Department Of Agriculture's Annual Report, 1974-75, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The Department of Agriculture's Annual Report for the year ended June 30, 1975, took the form of short reviews of selected activities of the Department during the year.

Some of these reviews are reprinted below to give an idea of the range of activities undertaken by the Department. A limited number of copies of the full report are available to interested organisations from the Department of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South Perth, 6151.

In past years the Department's report has taken the form of a relatively detailed technical summary of the work of each Division. Because of the large volume of …

Wheat Rust Epidemics, A G P Brown, J. T. Reeves

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

Stem rust of wheat is probably the most damaging plant disease in the world. The rust fungus attacks stems, leaves and heads, producing characteristic red-brown pustules which affect the plant's ability to fill out the grain. Yield loss is directly related to the amount of rust in the crop and the length of time the crop is infected.

In Western Australia it is not uncommon to find rust on crops in mid-October, but usually there is negligible loss of yield. In fact this pattern is quite normal throughout the world: In general, rust arrives too late to cause an epidemic. …

Prospects For A Successful Rape Crop, M J. Barbetti, A. G. P. Brown, P. Mcr. Wood

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

Since the disastrous 1972 season, when blackleg disease reached epidemic proportions, rapeseed production has declined dramatically. With attractive prices for rapeseed in prospect many farmers may be trying this crop again.

If the risk of loss from blackleg could be assessed early in the season it would assist in deciding whether rape would be an economic proposition.

Crop Recommendations (1975) And Variety Trials (1973-1974), Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Variety recommendations for 1975 were derived mainly from results of 259 trials conducted at 60 sites in 1973. The main programme included wheat, oat, barley and lupin trials sown at 43 sites in wheatbelt areas; biscuit wheat trials on 12 sites in southern medium and high rainfall areas, and special hard wheat trials on 12 heavy land sites in low rainfall areas.

Also included was a series of early-sowing trials with lupins, wheat and barley; linseed trials in southern coastal areas, and preliminary wheat, oat and barley variety trials on research stations.

Why New Land Farmers Need A Super Bounty, Edgar Noel Fitzpatrick

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

Development of farming land in Western A ustralia's agricultural areas requires the application of large amounts of superphosphate. Since 1963, the Phosphate Fertiliser Bounty applied to superphosphate manufacture has ensured that this superphosphate has been available to farmers at reasonable cost and has helped to make new land development economically worth while.

Originally applied as an incentive to agricultural development, the bounty is now to be withdrawn and it is feared that the resulting increase in the cost of superphosphate will retard development of many West Australian farms and reduce many farm incomes to an unsatisfactory level.

These effects will …

Department Breeds New Oat Variety, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

XBVT 189, the new oat variety which will be released to selected growers for the 1975 planting, is the product of cross-breed ng, selection and testing work conducted by the plant breeding and crop testing groups of the Department of Agriculture's Wheat and Sheep Division.

Grain Moisture And The Weather : What Can The Records Tell Us?, M W. Perry, P. A. Fievez

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

The expansion of cereal production in areas along the south coast has exposed harvesting problems associated with high grain moisture.

A grain delivery standard of 12 per cent moisture means that, in the absence of grain drying facilities, harvesting times in the field are restricted to those hours when grain moisture falls below this figure.

Grain moisture, however, remains the major problem and for planning purposes, producers require an estimate of the harvesting time available in a given year. This will depend on all the climatic variables which affect grain moisture. These include rainfall and dew which deposit water directly …

Skeleton Weed : The 1974 Narembeen Campaign, C R. Chambers

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

Skeleton weed took an alarming, historic turn in Western Australia at the 1974 New Year.

After a decade of an almost complacent pattern—control of one or two small outbreaks annually by the Agriculture Protection Board— general alarm erupted with the discovery of big areas at Pithara and mainly Narembeen.

What followed was a massive movement and engagement of not only Department staff but also the farming community in an attempt to beat this outbreak.

Wheat Breeding, J T. Reeves, N. Roy

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

In a normal harvest about 90 per cent of Western Australia's wheat production is exported overseas, where it is used in a wide range of products including noodles, bread, "steamed" bread, chapattis and biscuits

Wheat breeders in W.A. therefore have the problem of developing new varieties suited to many end uses, not all of which have the same quality requirements.

Pasture Seeds : Production Techniques And The Future Market Situation, B J. Quinlivan

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

Like other farming and grazing industries, pasture seed production has its share of booms and slumps —perhaps more than its share. In Western Australia, the industry reached a high point during the mid-1960's when land development along the south and west coastal districts was at its height.

The drought year of 1969 and the subsequent rural depression saw pasture seed production fall to its lowest level for ten years and it is only in the last 12 months that there has been a revival.

With the sudden upsurge of interest last summer there will be many potential seed producers now …

Nitrogen Fertilisers For Pasture Production, Walter Jacob Cox, K Hawley

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

At current prices nitrogen fertiliser is not an economic substitute for good clover pastures, but it can supplement the system by increasing nitrogen supply at peak growth periods. It can also provide useful increases in pasture production at critical feed times. Nitrogen usage for pasture production is still in the experimental stages and small areas should be tried before large-scale application.

The Place Of Lucerne In Western Australian Agriculture, N J. Halse, C. M. Francis

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

Lucerne, the world's most important fodder legume, has never won largescale acceptance in West Australian farming, largely because of our success with productive subterranean clover pastures. But recent disease problems on sub. clover stands have led to greater interest in alternative species, especially lucerne, for higher rainfall areas.

This article summarises our knowledge of lucerne establishment and management in W.A. and reviews current research aimed at achieving better results from lucerne.

The Effect Of Applied Nitrogen And Subterranean Clover On The Growth Of Doublegee, D J. Gilbey

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

Until 20 years ago doublegees in Western Australia were mainly confined to the red-brown earth soils of the wheatbelt.

Since then, they have spread to light loamy sand soils in the wheatbelt, many of which have carried subterranean clover from the mid-1940s onwards.

It has been widely presumed that the spread of doublegees on to the lighter sandy soils of W.A. can be associated with the establishment of subterranean clover on these soils.

This report summarises the results of a glasshouse experiment on the effect of clover and nitrogen on the growth of doublegee.

Grain Moisture Problems On The South Coast, J A. Parish, G. H. Jones

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

In most West Australian grain growing districts high temperatures and dry weather at grain maturation are ideal for harvesting and enable delivery of grain with acceptable moisture levels. Grain from W.A. is known in world markets as a good quality dry product which is unlikely to deteriorate in storage. However, growers in coastal areas and particularly those south of Narrogin sometimes have trouble harvesting grain below the receival limit of 12 per cent moisture.

Linseed : A Forgotten Crop, M L. Poole, R. J. Guyton, H. M. Fisher

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

Linseed has become a forgotten crop in Western Australia. From a peak production of 6 200 tonnes from 12 500 hectares in 1969, and an apparently bright future, it dwindled to a bare 80 tonnes from 250 hectares in 1973.

This article looks at some of the reasons for this decline and, with linseed fetching all-time record prices on world markets, gives reasons why the crop should be grown.

Machinery Syndicates : An Effective Way Of Reducing The Cost Of Hay Making, E K. Simmons

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

No abstract provided.

Faster Weed Germination With Early Cultivation, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

The key to cultural control of weeds in cereal crops is an understanding of the factors which govern germination of the weed seeds.

Covering the seed with soil keeps out light, provides a stable moisture supply and makes germination faster than if the seed is left on the soil surface.

Shallow cultivation at the start of the growing season provides the soil cover needed for fast, even germination of weed seeds.

Learning To Live With Clover Scorch, A Bokor, D. L. Chatel

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

Recent research has increased our understanding of clover scorch disease in Western Australia.

An economic control has yet to be developed but it appears that management can be adjusted to reduce damage to pastures and there is scope for using resistant species and less susceptible cultivars to escape the disease.

A major research programme is in progress.

Wheat Quality In W.A, J A. Parish

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

Three separate quality classes or categories of wheat are now received by C.B.H. These are a soft biscuit wheat, a hard bread wheat and a mixed grain suitable as a filler wheat in bread-making and for making noodles.

In this article the basis of quality differences between these classes of wheat is described and some of the terms and concepts used in distinguishing between cultivars (varieties) and classes of wheat are discussed.

Crop Variety Recommendations For 1973, H M. Fisher

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

Detailed wheat, barley, oats and linseed variety and planting time recommendations for the 1973 cropping season.

The Art And Science Of Plant Breeding, John Sylvester Gladstones

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

The first part of this article described the evolution of crop varieties and their improvement by simple selection. This part discusses cross-breeding and the other techniques which underly most modern plant breeding programmes.

The purpose cf crossing is to generate new combinations of varietal characteristics. It does not create anything basically new. All the genetic "ingredients" of a new variety must be present in one or other of the parents.

Grain Hardness Investigation, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

No abstract provided.

Natural Control Of Insect Pests On The Ord?, P J. Michael

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

Current trials conducted by the Department of Agriculture at Kununurra are indicating that there may be an important place for biological control of insect pests of the Ord River Irrigation Area.

Market Prospects For Rapeseed : 1972-73, R J. Guyton

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

Interest in rapeseed as an alternative crop in the agricultural region of Western Australia was reflected in the area sown in 1971, some 70,000 acres, and an initial export contract of 10,000 tons made in January 1972.

This market report draws upon information released by the Department of Primary Industry and Department of Trade and Industry (both located in Canberra) and research within the Department of Agriculture. Its purpose is to outline future prospects for rapeseed as an aid to decision making for the 1972 season.

Biological Control Of Heliothis In Sorghum, P J. Michael

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

This research looks at Biological control of Heiiothis in sorghum, a preliminary report.

Farm Operations Management, H E. Fels, A. W. Hogstrom

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

The main defence of Australian farmers against the cost-price squeeze has been to increase productivity. The tendency is to run more and more stock per man and to grow more crop per man.

Some farmers run unusually large numbers of animal units per man-year.

The operations of 16 such farmers over one year were examined to find out whether it had been profitable for them to reduce labour inputs to such an extent.

Crop Variety Recommendations For 1974, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Crop variety recommendations are reviewed each year and reflect trends in the market situation and the availability of new varieties with specific applications and advantages.

The following recommendations for 1974 cover a wide range of grain crops grown in the agricultural areas of W.A.

The Art And Science Of Plant Breeding, John Sylvester Gladstones

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

Whether he has known it or not, man has influenced the evolution of plants throughout his whole existence. In the pre-agricultural state he collected fruits and seeds from plants chosen for their useful or desirable qualities, and dispersed them wherever he went. With the neolithic revolution and the development of agriculture, some of these plants were taken into cultivation.

Consciously or unconsciously he selected types with higher yield, which germinated readily when planted, and whose seeds stayed in the head at maturity rather than being shed as in the wild grasses and legumes. Over thousands of years this "guided evolution" …