Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 2, No. 1. March, 1970

The Prairie Naturalist

EDITORIAL: Speaking of Ecologists ▪ Paul B. Kannowski

NEEDED: AN ETHICAL BASIS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ▪ Gordon L. Iseminger

THE POPULATION PARADOX ▪ Gary L. Pearson

THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS—A CALL TO ACTION ▪ Glen A. Sherwood

NORTH DAKOTA—1970 ▪ Philip B. Aus

Copper Requirements For The South-Eastern Wheatbelt, D J. Gilbey, K. D. Greathead, J. W. Gartrell

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

FARM experience and the results of five years intensive research have shown copper deficiency to be widespread in the south-eastern wheatbelt.

On many areas of the south-eastern wheatbelt, copper deficiency is likely to restrict wheat yields.

Work Completed Or In Progress 1970, R Weir

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

1. Yield selection characteristics - 70WH5, 70M15. 2. Sorghum development - 70GL2, 70GL9. 3. Moisture stress effects on wheat - 69GL15, 70GL3, 70GL8. 4. Flower abortion of Lupins - 70GL18, 70GL19, 70GL20, 70GL21, 70GL22. 5. Salarimeter Readings

Results Of Field Experiments 1970, M D. Carroll

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

1. 70M17 The effects of Cultivation on Soil Nitrogen and Wheat Production 2. 69N11 and 69ES30 Soil Nitrogen Build-up under Various Legumes at Different Plant Densities 3. 7ON021 (R.N. Glencross) Rates of Copper and Zinc on Daliak Sub. Clover.

The Control Of Algae, G R W Meadly

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

CONDITIONS in areas of still, stored water in Western Australia can easily become ideal for the development of algae and control measures may become necessary in farm dams and swimming pools.

Part I - Controlling The Soil Moisture Environment Of Transpiring Plants, Part Ii - Prediction Of Leaf Temperature Under Natural Atmospheric Conditions, Charles T. Haan, Billy J. Barfield, Robert Edling

KWRRI Research Reports

Part I

A technique for controlling the soil moisture potential in the root zone of transpiring plants was developed. The method uses the principles of unsaturated flow through a porous media to develop the desired moisture potential. In the case of non-steady state transpiration, the maximum possible fluctuation in the soil moisture potential can be determined by the techniques presented.

Part II

Two implicit leaf temperature prediction equations were derived from the energy balance approach. The equations define sensible and latent heat transfer from a plant population as a two step process:

1. Transfer between the plant leaf and the canopy …

Superphosphate Deficiency Raises Pasture Oestrogens, H G. Neil, T. Marshall

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

A recent field experiment on established pastures at Esperance Downs Research Station has demonstrated a relationship between superphosphate application, pasture oestrogens and oestrogenic response in sheep.

Results of the experiment indicate that on phosphate deficient soils carrying oestrogenic clovers, the levels of oestrogenic materials in the pasture are increased if superphosphate applications are below those recommended for healthy pasture growth.

1970 Results Of Field Experiments, A C. Devitt

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Please find enclosed a summary of results obtained from a range of field trials. These include a study of some techniques to replace undesirable cultivars of subterranean clover; the competitive ability of some subterranean clovers; the evaluation of the sub clover cultivars, Dinninup 3, Midland B,some members of subspeciesYanninicum, the medic cultivars Cyfield and Tornafield; and the preliminary results from an exotic pasture species introduction trial at Shark Bay. In most cases complete results have been or will be circulated in report form.

Annual Summary Of Experimental Results 1970-71 - Evaluation Of Pasture Species, G H. Walton

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

During 1970 interest in the small ungrazed Legume Species Trials was reduced to ten trials located in the more troublesome areas. Five of the trials are on the sandy soils of the Midland Plain three trials are in Merredin-Southern·cross region, one is on deep sand at Tincurrin and the other is at Pindar. All thesites are sandy soils on which the sub clover strains appear to perform the best. The newer trials are investigating the value of sub clover cultivars such as Northam A,Mt Helena A, Shenton Park A, and Daglish. These trials will be the subject of a special …

Soil Microbiology, D E. Chatel

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER INOCULATION EXPERIMENTS Badgingarra and Newdegate Comparisons between Rhizobium trifolii strain WU290 and possible replacement strains were continued. The work was conducted for the following reasons 1. The need for information on "back-up" strains particularly since the inoculant manufacturers had experienced difficulty in producing high-count peat cultures of WU290. 2. Strain CC2480a had proved very satisfactory in the Eastern States. Although it did not show up to advantage under our conditions in 1968,further testing was indicated. 3. The need for information on inoculation needs on old land.

Experimental Results 1970-71 - Phosphorus-Sulphur Maintenance Trials., R N. Glencross

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Medium Rainfall Zone Trials Eleven replications of the basic rate of P, rate of SO4-S and S experiments were maintained during 1970 in the 20in - 30 in. rainfall zone. Soil types examined were the very gravelly soils (5 reps, 4 sites), sands or loamy sands over gravel or clay (3 sites) and sandplain soils (3 reps, 2 sites). In all cases except one, fertiliser history was not reliable, but in every case well over one ton of super had been applied. over a period of over 15 years.

Anhydrous Ammonia, M G. Mason

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Anhydrous ammonia, as the name infers, is pure ammonia, It is kept in a liquid form under pressure and must therefore be stored in special vessels. When pressure is released it changes to gaseous form. Anhydrous ammonia is the most concentrated form of nitrogen fertiliser available. It has 82% nitrogen compared to 46% for urea, the most concentrated solid form of nitrogen fertilisers.

Trials carried out were:

1965 - 1967 Wongan Hills Research station (3)

1967 - Badgingarra (1)

1968 - Moulyinning (1)

1968 - North Lake Grace (1)

1969 - Westonia (1)

Merredin (1)

Tammin. (1)

List Of Experimental Programmes 1970 - 1971, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

L.T. Jones, Vines and vegetables. J.E.L. Cripps, Fruit tree management. R.N. Glencross, Nutrition of pastures and cereals in higher rainfall areas. M.D. Carroll, Fertility changes mineral deficiencies. D.L. Chatel, Soil Microbiology. C.M. Francis, Agronomy and adaptation of lupins. A.E. Oakley, Radioisotopes studies. J.W. Gartrell, Trace element nutrition of cereals and pastures. M.G. Mason, Nitrogen nutrition of cereals. D.A. Nicholas, Evaluation of perennial and annual pasture cultivars in higher rainfall areas. M.L. Poole, Agronomy of crops in high rainfall areas, oilseed and other new crops. D. Tennant, Soil-plant water relations and root growth of cereals. G.H. Walton Evaluation of pasture cultivars …

The Effects Of Herbicides On Three Soil Inhabiting Blue Green Algal Species, Lee C. Darlington

All Master's Theses

The object of this study was to examine the effects of varying concentrations of 2, 4-D, Dalapon, and Tordon on the growth of several nitrogen-fixing blue-green algal species obtained from soil samples and grown under culture conditions in the laboratory.

Chemical Firebreaks, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

MANY public bodies are making regular use of herbicides to create firebreaks. In Western Australia more than $200,000 is being spent on chemicals each year to protect property from fire.

In many situations where the buildings and property are of great value, the cost of the chemical becomes insignificant.

Promising Results On West Kimberley Pindan Country, A L. Payne

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

IN the 22 to 28 inch rainfall belt of the West Kimberley area of Western Australia are extensive areas of what is locally known as "pindan" country.

The term "pindan" refers to a light red or yellow sandy soil type supporting scattered Eucalypts, sparse-dense wattle scrub and grasses such as curly spinifex, ribbon grass and native sorghum.

Paspalum Vaginatum : For Salty Seepages And Lawns, C V. Malcolm, I. A. F. Laing

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

PASPALUM VAGINATUM, aptly termed "sea shore paspalum" has an amazing ability to thrive in wet salty situations. It is also a good lawn grass.

Seed of the grass is not available but it may easily be established by planting pieces.

This article reviews where and how the grass may be used.

Honey Plants In Western Australia, F. G. Smith

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

Successful honey production depends, among other things on a good knowledge of the plants which produce nectar.

Every apiarist needs to know which plants are of importance to honey-bees, where those plants occur, and when they flower. He also needs to know which plants produce nectar which will result in the production of good quality honey, and which produce unpalatable or unmarketable honey. To maintain the strength of his bee colonies he also needs to know which plants produce nutritious pollen.

The object of this bulletin is to provide the basic information on these subjects in the main beekeeping areas …

Continuous Cropping Trials, M G. Mason

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

The aims of the trials at Binnu, Chapman, Wongan Hills, Avondale and Merredin were:

1. To determine whether the application of nitgrogen and fertilisers can maintain yields under a "continuous cropping" system
2. To compare the merits of three sources of nitrogen for this purpose.
3. To determine the maintenance dressing of superphosphate under this system and the need for supplementary fertilisers.

Trial 61A2
There have been no great problems with this trial. for a number of years the plots have required chemical spraying to control wild oats which had built up. In 1968 and 1969 some plots were soil sampled to determine …

Pasture Establishment In The Wheatbelt, M L. Poole

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

The value of legume based wheatbelt pastures is so great that considerable care is warranted during their establishment. Without such care patchy establishment or even complete failure is likely to occur.

IN THE WHEATBELT too many farmers still put less effort into their seeding of pasture species than their seeding of crops.

This may be because both compete for the farmer's time in the busy seeding period and it is the cereal crop which possesses the obvious cash value.

However, the total value of a good pasture has to be assessed over a period of several years because of its …

Pasture Improvement In South Western Australia, J W. Malcolm

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

"There is no doubt that Australia's enhanced prosperity in the last 30 years has been dependent in no small measure on the use of legume-based pastures." E. M. Hutron, June, 1968. *

THE LAST 30 years have seen an increased interest in pasture improvement which has transformed much of Western Australia. Large areas have been sown to new and improved pasture species—as a result productivity of both livestock and cereal enterprises has risen.

Wildflowers Of The Stirling Range, Alexander S. George

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

TWO hundred miles south-east of Perth, the Stirling Range rises abruptly from the surrounding plain. About forty miles long, it is a line of semi-isolated hills, rather than a continuous block.

There are many intriguing plants of diverse colour and form. Well over 400 species are known from the Range. A number of these are found no-where else, and some are restricted to one mountain.

Pastures For The Pastoral Areas, D G. Wilcox, K. Fitzgerald

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

The pastoral areas lie generally outside the zone where cultivated crops are grown.

The rainfall is erratic and the basic pastures for sheep and cattle consist of native plants.

In some favoured areas however, and in particular situations, sown pasture species are becoming increasingly important.

The Control Of Weeds In Cereals, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

PRACTICALLY all broadleaved weeds found in cereals can now be killed with herbicides and with most, the farmer has a choice of chemicals.

Two more new products are now available and these have several advantages over other herbicides.

Chemical Ploughing, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

PROGRESS in the field of chemical weed control has been spectacular in recent years. One field that is attracting interest is the idea of replacing cultivation with chemical sprays.

Linseed Production Survey : Esperance, 1968, R J. Guyton

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

A SURVEY conducted after the 1967 linseed season found that although most farmers understood the requirements of linseed growing there were several crop failures. These were associated with time of planting, soil type and insect control measures.

The Esperance district office of the Department of Agriculture conducted a second survey during December, 1968 and January, 1969

Lupins In Western Australia. 2. Cultivation Methods, John Sylvester Gladstones

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

While lupins are by and large plants of lighter and less fertile soils, important differences exist among them in their soil preferences.

There may also be some differences in climatic requirements. Present knowledge of these differences is summarized in the Table below.

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.

Soil And Plant Water Studies On Wheat Summary Of Results 1969/70, D Tennant

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Location

Trials were carried out within a radius of 5 miles of

Tammin on the properties of Messrs P. York and B. Nottage.

Sites represented deep sand, sandy loam, sand/clay and grey

clay soil types.

Saltland Pastures, C V. Malcolm

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

FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENT of Agriculture in Western Australia considerable areas of highly productive land have become salt affected to the degree that normal crops and pastures cannot be grown.*

However, species and establishment methods are available which can bring at least some of this land back into production.