Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

The Doublegee Problem In Western Australia, D J. Gilbey

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

Doublegee is native to South Africa and is now naturalised as a serious weed of crops and pastures throughout the temperate areas of Australia.

Doublegee was introduced for cultivation as a vegetable by English migrants to the Swan River Colony in 1830, and a bed of doublegees is known to have been sown at Mr. J. Phillips' property on the Canning River in 1833. However, the plant soon became a troublesome weed and its name was changed from Cape spinach to Tanner's curse and later to doublegee.

More than 180 doublegee seedlings per square metre have been counted in a …

1975 Phosphorus And Sulphur Sources Trials, M D. Bolland

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

1. Sulphur sources trials (a) Newdegate Gypsum Trials: Yarloop - 75YA3, Bridgetown - 75BR10, Busselton - 75BU6, Alexandria Bridge - 75BU7. (b) Gyplap - FeS04 Trial: McAlinden - 75BY4. 2. Phosphorus source trials: E. Chittering - 75NO7A E. Chittering - 75NO7B

1975 Magnetic Seed Treatment, M. W. Perry

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

In early 1975 a magnetic devise for treating cereal seed was imported into Western Australia from Canada, The device ("Zapper" Magnetic Seed Treater, manufactured by Agronetics Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada.) consists of two parallel magnets with opposed poles, encased in a plastic moulding. Seed is treated by passing it through the magnetic field between the magnets. Literature accompanying the Zapper claimed earlier maturity and that - "...a majority of research tests have shown 5 - 15% increases in yield", The device was tested in five field trials and in laboratory tests during 1975. No effect of magnetic treatment was detected …

1975 Fallow Re-Assessment And Soil Physical Data Accumulation, D Tennant

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

This report summarises progress and data available for the following investigations. 1. Fallow Re-assessment - 72M29. 2. Soil Physical Data Accumulation. (a) Evaluation of methods of bulk density measurement. (b) Water holding capacities and mechanical analyses of wheatbelt soils. (c) Water holding capacities of metropolitan sands. TABLE 3 Water holding capacities (1/10 - 15 Atmosphere water contents) of metropolitan sands (mm of water). Bulk density of 1.6 assumed. 1. Medina Research Station. 2. Morley White Sand. 3. Karrakatta Sand. 4. Bassendean Sand. 5. South Perth Lawn. 6. South Perth Scrub. 7. Underwood Avenue Research Station. 8. Floreat Park Sand. 9. …

1975 Control Of Silverleaf Nightshade And Saffron Thistle, P A. Rutherford

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

75NA6 - Rates of Tordon 50-D x times of application on Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) 75Na7 - Herbicide screening trial on Silverleaf Nightshade. 75Es25 Saffron thistle control in wheat. 75Es26 Saffron thistle control in pastures. 75Es25 Property - G. Graham, Circle Valley. 75Es26 Property - G. Graham, Circle Valley.

1974 Field Experiments On Legume Seed Inoculation, D. L. Chatel

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

The response of sweet lupins to inoculation in Western Australia Before proceeding with details of the six lupin inoculation experiments conducted in 1974 the following comments are presented as a brief summary of the work so far done on lupin inoculation. Thirty nine inoculation experiments with sweet lupins (mainly Lupinus angustifolius var. Uniwhite, Uniharvest and Unicrop have been conducted in South-Western Australia since 1970. They have been drill-sown under farmer conditions and they have been aimed at finding where it is necessary to inoculate and the best method of inoculating seed. Of the 39 trials, 36 gave better nodulation following …

A Comparative Study Of Ribonuclease From Two Winter Barley Cultivars Based Upon Separation, Purification And Partial Characterization Of Rna-Degrading Enzymes, Raymond Sze-Chung Wong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The differences in the response to KCl of the RNA-degrading enzymes of two barley cultivars, “Dicktoo” (a hardy type) and "Tennessee Winter” (a non-hardy type), were investigated. Two types of enzymes, ribonuclease (RNase) and nuclease, were separated from crude extracts by disc electrophoresis. The electrophoretic gels were assayed for RNA-degrading activity in the presence and absence of EDTA (EDTA is a nuclease inhibitor). By means of density gradient isoelectric focusing, the nuclease preparation from Tennessee Winter was shown to have an isoelectric point between 5.3 and 5.5, while the nuclease preparation from Dicktoo has three isoelectric points of 4.9, 5.5 …

1975 Nitrogenous Fertilisers For Cereals - Trials With Wheat, Oats And Barley, M. G. Mason

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Rates of nitrogen on wheat - soil test - Fifty-one sites were selected and soil sampled during February- March. All these proposed trials consisted of four replications and these reps were soil sampled separately. In each rep. 20 samples were taken to 10cm depth with pogo stick samplers. In addition, from three holes at random across each trial bulk samples were obtained from the 0-15, 15-30 and 30-45 cm soil intervals These soil samples were air dried (if not already dry) and sieved to remove > 2 mm fraction (gravel). Portions of these < 2mm fractions from the 0-10cm samples were sent to the Government Chemical Laboratories and to C.S.B.P. & Farmers Ltd. At C.S.B.P. analyses were carried out to determine P and K content and the C.S.B.P. soil nitrogen test was also carried out on them. This measures nitrate content before and after incubation with moist soil at 32c for seven days. A measurement was also made after 14 days. At Government Chemical Laboratories analyses were to be carried for Organic carbon and for a number of nitrogen fractions, including Total Nitrogen, MH4 + NO3 Nitrogen and several incubation techniques. These were also to be determined on the profile samples, which were also to be subject to the following analyses: a) Mechanical Analysis b) pH (in water) c) Cation Exchange Capacity d) Moisture Holding Capacity All of these trials were planted except for one at Jerramungup, where the marker pegs were ploughed out by the farmer. Vegetative cuts were then taken during the August - September period on 46 of the remaining 50 sites. Three of the other four sites were abandoned because of severe waterlogging (Neridup), extreme weediness (Nugadong) or due to poor plant survival (possibly due to webworm) combined with weeds (Mallalying). The trial at Wannamal was sown to oats, by the farmer. The nitrogen treatments were still applied and the trial was retained but not sampled for dry matter production. These samples were to be analysed for nitrogen content. Dry matter production and grain yields are set out in the following tables. 61M11, 75A1. 75A2, 75A3, 75AL1, 75AL2, 75BA2, 75BA3, 75BR1, 75BR2, 75C1, 75C2, 75C3, 75E2, 75E3, 75ES1, 75ES2, 75ES4, 75GE1, 75GE2, 75GE3, 75JE1, 5JE2, 75KA1, 75KA2, 75LG1, 75LG2, 75LG3, 75M2, 75M3,75M4, 75ME1, 75ME2, 75ME3, 75MO1, 75MO2, 75MO4, 75MT2, 75MT3, 75N1, 75N2, 75N3, 75NA1, 75NA3. 75NA4, 75NO2, 75NO3, 75SG1, 75SG2, 75TS2, 75TS3, 75TS4, 75WH4, 75WH5, 75WH6, 75WH7.

Peanuts For The Ord, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Peanuts were extensively tested in experiments on the Ord River in the early 1950s, but it is only recently that varieties better adapted to heavier soils have re-opened prospects of commercial production.

The new varieties remain dormant after maturity and an irrigation just before harvesting allows the crop to be lifted with the soil friable enough to reduce harvesting losses and the amount of soil sticking to the kernels.

These varieties have been extensively tested in Department of Agriculture trials at Kimberley Research Station since 1958, and preliminary recommendations for crop production and pest and disease control have been formulated.

Virus Diseases In Agriculture, George Mclean

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

Viruses are extremely small particles which can only be seen with an electron microscope. A virus is present in a diseased plant as huge numbers of tiny particles within the cells of the plant. Viruses which are infectious can cause disease, and reproduce only inside the cells of a living plant.

Many insects transmit plant virus diseases—aphids, leafhoppers, mealy bugs, thrips and beetles. Generally a virus is spread by only one of these groups of insects.

The Western Australian Department of Agriculture is expanding the diagnostic service for the identification of plant viruses.

Blackleg Of Rapeseed, A Bokor, M. J. Barbetti, A. G. P. Brown, G. C. Mac Nish, P. Mcr. Wood

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

Unless blackleg can be controlled there is little future for rapeseed as a major commercial crop in W.A.

Until 1972, oilseed rape showed great promise as an alternative cash crop for Western Australian farmers, especially in the Great Southern and south coastal areas.

However, like most other cruciferous crops, rape is prone to attack from diseases and insect pests. Most of these can be controlled, but the fungus disease blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans) emerged as a major threat to the industry.

Clearly, unless the disease can be controlled, there is little future for rapeseed as a major commercial crop in Western …

Kenaf : A Possible Multi-Purpose Crop For The Ord River Irrigation Area, I M. Wood

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

Kenaf is a tropical crop which shows promise for use in paper pulp, oil and protein production; the young growth is a nutritious animal feed.

It has proved a highly productive crop in the Ord River Irrigation area, raising speculation about its possible use as a commercial crop there. In this article a CSIRO research worker describes the properties of kenaf and reviews research results with the crop on the Ord

Lupinosis, M R. Gardiner

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

In spite of many years of intensive investigation lupinosis remains a remarkably complex and baffling problem. Current research is throwing new light on the disease and it is now much better understood— although far from beaten.

Lupinosis research is co-ordinated by the Department of Agriculture's Lupinosis Committee, on which are represented all groups working on the disease. These include veterinary surgeons and pathologists, chemists, plant pathologists and animal husbandry specialists.

Chairman of the Committee is Dr M. R. Gardiner, Chief of the Department's Animal Division and a veteran of lupinosis research.

In this article Dr Gardiner summarises the current state …

Promising Results With Pineapples At Carnarvon, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Pineapples were investigated commercially in Carnarvon in the early 1930's but drought, sunscorch, alkaline soils and problems with transport and marketing caused the infant industry to collapse in 1936.

Recently however, trials at Gascoyne Research Station have shown that pineapples can produce good yields of high quality fruit in the area.

The trials have been aimed at establishing the viability of pineapple production at Carnarvon and have been carried out by officers of the Horticulture Division.

Docks In Western Australia, J M. Allen

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

A survey carried out by the Department of Agriculture has shown that docks are the most serious weed of the higher rainfall areas of Western Australia. They are estimated to cost farmers $400 000 annually in lost production. One of the main reasons why they are important weeds is that they regenerate rapidly from tubers and compete with desirable annual pasture species. Also the upright dock flowering stems are woody and unpalatable. Individual plants become intertwined and deter stock from grazing summer pastures.

Results from the survey of the dock problem are given in this article. The findings show that …

Breeding Better Rape And Lineseed For Western Australia, N N. Roy, J. Reeves

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

Rapeseed and linseed—the main oil seed crops grown in the south-west of Western Australia—have both been beset by problems which have limited farmers' interest in them.

Rapeseed was first grown commercially in 1970, when wheat quotas and low prices for other cereals forced farmers to seek alternative cash crops. The area sown to rapeseed increased rapidly, but disastrous outbreaks of the disease blackleg caused rapid decline, and little rapeseed is now sown.

Linseed has been grown in W.A. for more than 30 years. Linseed rust proved disastrous but was overcome by the introduction and breedbreeding of rust-resistant varieties. In recent …

Biological Control Of Insects On The Ord. 1. Production Of Sitotroga Cerealella For Mass Rearing Of Trichogramma Wasps, M Grimm, P. J. T. Lawrence

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

Department of Agriculture entomologists have developed a technique for the production and collection of eggs of the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) for mass-rearing the parasitic waspTrichogramma pretiosum Riley.

Trichogramma is giving promising results in trials aimed at developing biological control of insect pests in the Ord River Irrigation Area.

Lupinosis And Rates Of Stocking Of Lupin Stubbles, K P. Croker, J. G. Allen, C. R. Lester, R. B. Guthrie

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

Lupin stubbles provide valuable summer sheep feed but under some conditions the fungus Phomopsis rossiana (for which lupins are the host plant) produces a toxin that causes lupinosis. Results from research at Badaingarra Research Station over the 1973-74 and 1974- 75 summers have shown that sheep liver damage associated with lupin stubble grazing is likely to be more severe at high than low stocking rates.

Nitrogenous Fertilisers For Cereal Production, M G. Mason

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

Among the many factors influencing crop response to nitrogen applications, the most important are the season, soil type, paddock history, time of application and source of nitrogen. Before deciding whether to use nitrogen on a cereal crop, which source to use and at what rate, the farmer needs some understanding of how these factors work.

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 …

Summary Of 1975 Field Experiments With Advisers: "Rape Blackleg Disease Fungicide Trials", M J. Barbetti

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

During 1973 and 1974 a large range of fungicide spray and seed treatment schedules were tested. The 1973 results were, on the whole, not very encouraging, but the very early post-germination spray, two weeks after germination, did indicate a possible means of control. In view of the 1973 results, in the 1974 trials fungicidal sprays were applied early, and a new method of application of fungicide to the seed, known as "prilling" was used. Using fungicide seed prills and seedless fungicide prills the idea was to have the fungicide mixed with materials which dispersed upon wetting, so releasing and making …

Summary Of Trial Results - 1975, N. R. Mckeown

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

1. From September 1971 to late August 1974 there was a mean reduction of legume content in the medic pastures from 40 per cent to 22.0 per cent but the reduction at 7.4 sh/ha was to 31 per cent. The drop in woolly clover content on the volunteer pastures was closely similar. 2. In 1972, at 7.4 sheep/ha a difference in body weight of 7-9 kg rapidly developed in favour of sheep grazing barrel medic compared with sheep on volunteer pasture. This difference was maintained consistently throughout the trial. At lower stocking rates the differences were smaller and less consistent. …

Evaluation Of The Systemic Nematicide Phenamiphos To Control The Nematode Anguina Sp In Toxic Ryegrass Pasture, B A. Stynes

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Field trials done in 1974 showed that phenamiphos could be used to control Anguina sp. and suggested that low rates may be effective with critical timing of applications. These possibilities were investigated in 1975. Locality - Katanning - F. Quartermaine and c. Butterworth. Gnowangerup - J. Griffith. Tables 1 and 2 show the absolute levels of nematodes in ryegrass seed and the density of nematodes per unit area of pasture after treatment with phenamiphos. All rates of nematicide reduced the level and density of nematodes; the highest rate being slightly more effective. The spray schedule including sprays in July and …

Summary Of 1974 Weed Control In Lupin Evaluations, J. G. Allen

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Lupin Trials 1974 1. Herbicides x Depth of Seeding - There is no evidence of a herbicide x depth of seeding interaction in lupin plant numbers, at either Broomehill or Eradu. The lupin plants on the shallow sown plots were reported to be more effected by herbicides than on the deeper sown plots at Eradu. It is suggested that shallow seeding may be a factor in predisposing lupin crops to simazine damage particularly on sandy soils, however it has not been possible to demonstrate such on effect. 2. Herbicides x Time of Seeding - At two sites (Myrup, Namban) there …

Reduction Soursob Twelve Months After Treaqtment In Cereal Crops, J R. Peirce

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Locations - Dangin / midstyle variety of soursob, Greenough / midstyle variety, Kalgoorlie Mt Monger Station chemical control of matriciaria, Northam - common short-style variety, Quairading ryegrass control in cereals, Wagin / midstyled variety of soursob in cereals.

1975 Evaluation Of New Subterranean Clover Cultivars, C. M. Francis

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

This year's trials have added little to the data already accumulated on the corssbreds 175,1 and 239.2 (Table 1). Higher seed yields at Merredin would have included some hard seed from the previous year. The lack of reliable data from the May sowings due to poor viability of some seed lines (including 175 and 239) grown at Medina was unfortunate. Data from Lake King is not yet available. Geraldton performed surprisingly well in the late sowings despite overall low seed yields. With late sowing its flowering date was within a few days of the crossbreds so that late sowing appears …

1975 Soil Fertility - Grain Lupins - Long Term Rotation Trials, Ian Rowland

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Soil Fertility - Grain Lupins 75A4, 75BA6, 75E4, 75GE9, 75JE9, 75MT6, 75N028, 75WH9. Long Term. Rotation Trials W56H, 66M29, 67Cl3, 67N4, 68E5, 68SG5, 69GE20, 73SG16. Soil Fertility - Grain Lupins Use of the stage 4 lupin variety trials to assess the effect of a year of sweet grain lupins on a following cereal crop was continued. The 1974 variety trials contained a number of lupin varieties randomised with two standard wheat varieties. Also at two times of planting. Eight trials were selected: 74GE26 at Morawa, 74BA7 at Badgingarra, 74WH8 at Wongan Hills, 74N08 at Bolgart, 74A8 at Beverley, 74MT8 at …

1975 Wild Oat Genotype X Environment Interaction, J Patterson

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

To investigate the interrelationships between wild oat (Avena sativa; fatua form) genotypes, herbicide treatment and time of application. Method: Split plot glasshouse (Forrestfield) experiment Reps (3) - plus three internal reps. Genotypes (5) - selected from north to south of southwest Western Australia Herbicides (4) - Avenge, S29761, Neoban, Water (Control) Times (6) - Average of 1 to 6 leaf stage Main plots were times and herbicides. Results: The following parameters were measured. .Growth stage at each time of application (number of leaves) .Height at each time of application .Date of full head emergence .Dry weight at full head emergence …

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 …