Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

The Naturalised And Cultivated Annual Medics Of Western Australia, B J. Quinlivan

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

IT is not many years since the term pasture improvement in Western Australia was synonymous with one species only, subterranean clover.

The amazing adaptability of this species to the environment enabled it to be grown in a wide range of rainfall conditions and in many different districts.

Premium Wheat In Western Australia, J A. Parish, R. F. Stone

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

This article describes the requirements for premium wheat and suggests a simple way for farmers to predict if their wheat will be suitable.

Correct initial sampling is vital.

Wheat Quality Surveys In Western Australia. 2. Variation Between Seasons And Localities In The Production Of High And Low Protein Wheat, J A. Parish

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

Although the protein content of West Australian f.a.q. wheat averages only 9.4 per cent., often substantial amounts of comparatively high protein wheat are contained in this mixture.

However the quantity varies widely from year to year and is obtained from widely scattered areas of the wheatbelt.

Recommended Oat Varieties, 1966, J L. Mcmullan

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

THE varieties Avon, Fulmark, Irwin, Kent and Ballidu are recommended for sowing in 1966 by the Department of Agriculture and the Coarse Grains Advisory Committee.

The areas suitable for these varieties, when planted for various purposes, are given in the map and tables.

Preserve And Use Tobacco Stalks, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

When Kentucky's 1964 tobacco crop is stripped , there will be about 176,000 tons of stalks in and around stripping barns. There will be more than $2 million worth of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in them.

If these stalks are left outside the barn and exposed to winter rains, 61 percent of the nitrogen, 38 percent of the phosphorus, 83 percent of the potassium and 41 percent of the organic matter may be lost.

Use Of Phosphate Fertilizers And Bedding To Preserve Manures, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

Superphosphate fertilizers added to farm manures as they accumulate in barns, feed lots, and loafing areas will reduce the loss of nitrogen as gaseous ammonia.

Farm Manures, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

More than 16 million tons of farm manures valued at more than $47 million are produced on Kentucky farms each year.

Almost half of these manures accumulate in barns, feedlots, and loafing areas. A large part of this will accumulate in these areas between now and pasture time next spring. These manures must be removed from time to time and the cost of handling is unavoidable. Preserving their value and using them wisely on crops and soils that benefit from them will give a fair return on handling costs.

Agronomy Notes, No. 19, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

A Test Ban Treaty designed to stop nuclear explosions above ground was signed. World tension was eased. Fear of radioactive fallout was lessened. The Chinese have the atomic bomb. They did not sign the Test Ban Treaty. World tension is on the up-swing.

What has all this to do with agriculture in Kentucky?

Borax, Borates, And Other Boron-Carrying Compounds, Harold F. Miller

Agronomy Notes

Boron is available on the market in a number of different compounds. Since the amount of boron contained in each compound is different, the concentration will determine the rate required per acre. Frequently, all of these boron-containing compounds are erroneously referred to as borax (11.36 percent boron).

Organic Toxicity, Jones H. Smiley, Ira E. Massie

Agronomy Notes

In recent years there has been much discussion on the subject of organic matter toxicity and its relation to the severity of black root rot of tobacco. Organic matter toxicity is due to or at least related to toxins produced during organic matter decomposition.

Fertilizer-Insecticide Mixtures On Corn, R. L. Miller, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

Soil fertility and insects are major factors that affect corn yields. The proper kinds and amounts of fertilizers and insecticides properly placed will make corn production more economical on fields where either or both are needed.

Fertilizer-Insecticide Mixtures On Tobacco Plant Beds And Fields, George D. Corder, R. L. Miller

Agronomy Notes

Fertility and insect control programs have a major influence on tobacco production. The proper amounts and kinds of fertilizers and insecticides properly placed will make production more economical on beds and fields if either or both are needed.

Is a fertilizer-insecticide mix the best way to meet the fertility needs and t he insecticide needs on tobacco? The following questions and answers should help show how the decision was reached that this method is not recommended.

Root Rot Of Legumes Caused By Cylindrocladium Scoparium, Daryl A. Freter, Roy D. Wilcoxson

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Massey ( 3) in 1927 was the first to report that Cylindrocladium scoparium Morgan could parasitize plants. In 1928 Sherbakoff ( 4) isolated the fungus from a chlorotic red clover plant and from diseased apple roots. Cox (2) proved that C. scoparium can cause damping-off, root rot, stem infection, and needle blight on seedlings of several conifers. He also found that C. scoparium was highly pathogenic on several species of Leguminosae. Bugbee ( 1 ) reported alfalfa to be ideal for detecting C. scoparium in soil in the greenhouse because the seedlings damped-off and the fungus sporulated on the seedlings. …

Insect Pests Of Cotton In The Ord River Irrigation Area, K T. Richards

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

COTTON is grown in the Ord Valley of north Western Australia, mainly as an annual, irrigated crop during the hot summer months of the "wet season".

It is usually planted in November-December and harvested March-May.

This period of growth corresponds closely to that of maximum insect activity.

Watch Out For Wild Oats, J G. Paterson

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

SINCE the publication of the results of trials with Carbyne* on wild oats in cereal crops several enquiries have been received from farmers whose crops have been heavily infested with the weed.

Linseed Variety Trials, 1963-64 Season, J T. Reeves

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

RESULTS of 1963-64 linseed variety trials are available for four trials on research stations and for four trials on farmers' properties.

These are shown in the table below. Excellent yields were obtained at some sites, while disappointing results were obtained at Chapman and Esperance.

Poor results at Esperance were due to the poor finish to the season.

Take-All Of Wheat On The Esperance Downs : The Ffect Of Nitrogenous Fertiliser, S C. Chambers

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

The number of wheat tillers affected by take-all was not influenced by the application of ammonium sulphate in an experiment at Esperance Downs Research Station.

However, its use stimulated tillering and increased yields by an estimated 7.4 bushels an acre.

Lucerne Establishment On The West Midland Sandplain, J W. Gartrell

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

WEST of Dandaragan and the Midland line from Watheroo to Mingenew there are four million acres of scrubplain commonly called the Western Sandplain.

All virgin soils in this region are acutely nitrogen deficient so that the agricultural future of the region depends on how successfully legumes are grown.

Recommended Barley Varieties : 1964, J L. Mcmullan

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

THE varieties Prior and Beecher are recommended for 1964 by the Coarse Grains Advisory Committee and the Department of Agriculture.

Recommended Oat Varieties, 1964, J L. Mcmullan

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

THE varieties Kent, Ballidu, Avon, Dale and Fulmark are recommended for sowing in 1964 by the Department of Agriculture and the Coarse Grains Advisory Committee.

Dry Season Rice Varieties For The Ord River Valley, A L. Chapman, P. J. Van Rijn

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

PREVIOUS experimental work at the Kimberley Research Station (Langfield 1961) showed that, in general, indica varieties of rice are best adapted for wet-season sowing and japonica varieties for dry-season sowing.

This article gives the results of three rice variety and time of planting experiments carried out at Kimberley Research Station in the I960, 1961, and 1962 dry seasons. The recommendation is to sow the variety Caloro during May.

Stem Rust Of Wheat, H L. Harvey

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

STEM RUST is one of the most serious diseases of wheat and is of world-wide importance.

Fortunately, widespread epidemics are rare in Western Australia because the general climatic conditions are usually unfavourable to the disease.

Nevertheless, localised outbreaks of stem rust are quite common on the Esperance Plains and around Geraldton where seasonal conditions are frequently mild and humid.

The 1963-64 Wheat Stem Rust Epidemic, J T. Reeves

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

Comments on the 1963 epidemic and the current situation regarding rust races and resistant varieties in Western Australia.

THE 1963-64 harvest included 12 million bushels of undergrade wheat, representing 25 per cent, of the total harvest.

The average yield was reduced to only 11.3 bushels per acre. Although these adverse effects were due to a number of causes, the principal one was stem rust.

The economic loss due to this disease in the 1963-64 harvest probably exceeded £10 million.

Inoculation And Lime-Pelleting Of Leguminous Seeds, W P. Cass Smith, Olga M. Goss

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

IN Western Australia extensive areas of new land are brought under cultivation each year.

Much of this virgin soil is only sparsely populated with the beneficial rhizobial bacteria which nodulate the roots of common pasture and forage legumes, such as subterranean clover, barrel medic, lucerne and field pea.

The Red-Legged Earth Mite And The Lucerne Flea [Replaced By Farmnote 67/86], Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

THE red-legged earth mite and the lucerne flea are the two most important pasture pests of Western Australia.

They commonly retard the establishment of new pastures by causing serious damage to pasture legume seedlings and in some seasons can damage cereal crops.

This article describes the pests and gives current recommended control measures.

A Chemical For Doublegee, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

DURING the past two years, finance has been made available from the State Wheat Research Fund for an intensive study on doublegee.

A newly-developed herbicide has been shown to give complete control of growing plants, while ecological studies have started to yield valuable information about seed behaviour.

Recommended Wheat Varieties, 1965 : State Wheat Advisory Committee Recommendations For Wheat Varieties For 1965 Plantings, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

State Wheat Advisory Committee recommendations for wheat varieties for 1965 plantings.

THE wheat rust epidemic of 1963 has directed attention to resistance of varieties to this disease, new races of which have recently appeared in Western Australia.

However, last year was one of abnormal seasonal conditions, with late summer rains followed by a mild winter, and spring conditions which favoured rust.

Take-All Disease Of Wheat, S C. Chambers

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

Take-all is the most serious of the several root-rotting diseases of wheat in Western Australia.

In the absence of cereal crops, the fungus responsible for take-all survives on the roots of native grasses.

Losses can be minimised by adopting cultural methods which reduce the amount of infective material in the soil and which also encourage vigorous growth of the crop.

Oat Variety Trials, 1962 And 1963, J L. Mcmullan

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

OAT variety trials were located on a number of Research Stations and, in 1963, on three other properties in the higher rainfall areas.

These three trials contained only varieties of midseason maturity.

The location of the test centres is given in the tables, while brief details of the varieties and crossbreds under test in the period 1962-64, inclusive, are given in Table 1.

Linseed Growing In The Ord River Valley, D F. Beech

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

Experimental work with linseed at the Kimberley Research Station began in 1952 and has been intensified in the last four years.

Fertiliser requirements and methods of land preparation, sowing, irrigation and weed control have been established.

Suitable varieties have been selected. Farm-scale crops have been grown in the area and, although cotton is very much more remunerative as an establishment crop, it is expected that linseed will ultimately have a place in the Ord irrigation scheme.