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Crop Updates 2002 - Farming Systems, Peter Metcalf, Mike Ewing, Roy Latta, Keith Devenish, Diana Fedorenko, Clayton Butterly, Chantelle Butterly, Kim Diamond, Neil Diamond, Stuart Mcalpine, Bill Bowden, Jessica Johns, Terry Piper, David Bowran, Robert Beard, Phil Ward, Dominie Wright, Nichole Burges, Roger Jones, Danae Harman, Greg Shea, George Yan, David Tennant, David Hall, Anyou Liu, Clinton Revell, Candy Hudson, Andrew Blake, Natalie Lauritsen, John Fosu-Nyarko, Roger Jones, Lisa Smith, Mike Jones, Geoff Dwyer, Bill Bowden, Michael O'Connell, Chris Gazey, David Gartner, Amanda Miller, Richard W. Bell, K. Frost, Mike Wong, Ross Brennan, N. J. Blake, G. Mconnell, D. Patabendige, N. Venn, Derk Bakker, Greg Hamilton, Dave Houlbrooke, Cliff Spann, Paul Blackwell, Bindi Webb, G. Lyle, K. Wittwer, Perry Dolling, Senthold Asseng, Ian Fillery, Michael Robertson, Caroline Peek, David Rogers, Peter Portman, Jeff Russell, Greg Shea, Ben Henderson, Ross Kingwell, Tresslyn Walmsley, Jean Galloway, Debbie Thackray, Moin Salam, Art Diggle, William J. Macleod, Jenny Hawkes

Crop Updates

This session covers forty one papers from different authors:

INTRODUCTION

1. Future Farming Systems session for Crop Updates 2002 Peter Metcalf, FARMING SYSTEMS SUBPROGRAM MANAGER GRAINS PROGRAM Department of Agriculture

2. Perennial pastures in annual cropping systems: Lucerne and beyond, the ‘Big Picture’, Mike Ewing, Deputy CEO CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity, Department of Agriculture

3. Perennial pastures in annual cropping systems: lucerne and beyond, Roy Latta and Keith Devenish, Department of Agriculture

4. Establishing Lucerne with a cover crop, Diana Fedorenko¹, Clayton Butterly¹, Chantelle Butterly¹, Kim and Neil Diamond^{2 …}

Western Australia Soil Acidity Research And Development Update 2002 : Time To Lime, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

The Soil Acidity Research, Development and Extension Project has produced a summary of the activities, research results and recommendations each year and this book is the last in a series of seven.

The Department of Agriculture Western Australia, The University of Western Australia and CSIRO have supported the project with industry funds from The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and The Natural Heritage Trust (NHT).

The high level of funding for soil acidity research, development and extension comes to an end in June 2002. It is now time for the management of soil acidity to be part of all …

Western Australia Soil Acidity Research And Development Update 2001 : Time To Lime, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

This book for 2001 again summarises the work being carried out by staff of The Integrated Soil Acidity Research, Development and Extension projects in Western Australia. These projects are based at Agriculture Western Australia, The University of Western Australia and CSIRO.

Several articles in this book are an indication that the current round of funding for this work is drawing to a close in June 2002. The articles reflect our increasing understanding of not only the effects of soil acidity but also the time required for current practices of surface applied lime to ameliorate acidity in both the surface and …

Western Australia Soil Acidity Research And Development Update 2000 : Time To Lime, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

We have come a long way over the past three or four years in terms of both, the level of understanding and recognition of Soil Acidity as a major land degradation issue for the wheatbelt of Western Australia, and, in our actions to treat the problem.

During 1999 there were three very significant changes relating to acid soils in Western Australia.

• Lime use in WA increased by over 200,000 tonnes from 1998 to 1999 to a record 653,000 tonnes, which was double the amount applied in 1997.
• The Agricultural Lime Industry adopted a voluntary Lime Industry Code of Practice in …

Western Australia Soil Acidity Research And Development Update 1999 : Time To Lime, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

We all know we have to apply lime as part of our farming systems. This means that a huge amount of lime will be applied to soils which have never had lime applied before.

One of the effects of this is that we can now consider thinking about introducing acid-sensitive systems to soils, which previously would have been considered too acid.

The other side of liming is that the pH changes affect many soil properties. There is an element of uncertainty about whether unforeseen side effects will emerge on our fragile soils as a result of this new practice.

The …

Western Australia Soil Acidity Research And Development Update 1998 : Time To Lime, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

Recent yield responses by canola where lime has been applied to acidic soils are very encouraging. Two sites have shown that the yield increase in canola after lime was applied in the previous year would have easily paid for the total cost of purchase, transport and application of the lime.

This work was carried out to demonstrate the increased options that are likely to be available once producers are treating or managing soil acidity. Canola is becoming increasingly important as a cash value crop and a break crop allowing wider rotations.

Growers are pushing the limits of canola’s tolerance to …

Western Australia Soil Acidity Research And Development Update 1997 : Time To Lime, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

There is a lot of lime being spread in Western Australia – or is there?

In fact, the Australian Bureau of Statistics agricultural census paints a picture showing that we are still far short of the amount of lime that should be getting on to the ground.

For many years Western Australian soils acidified without significant production penalties. The soil pH was at values that were not affecting plant growth. However, over the last decade or so, large areas of soils have reached the point where production is being affected. In addition, we are now introducing plant species such as …

Results Of Stubble Research In Western Australia, Michael Perry, Ron Jarvis, Mel Mason, David Tennant

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

Few farmers would question the desirability of retaining stubbles, both for control of erosion by wind and water, and to return organic matter to the soil. While the present debate is focused on the short term management of stubbles, longer term effects also need to be considered.

The Department of Agriculture has several long-running trials intended to measure long term effects.

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.

West Midlands Development : Cereals For The West Midlands, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE sandplain soils and climate of the West Midlands area are primarily suited to grazing.

However, the place of cereals is receiving a great deal of attention in view of their advantages in the early stages of development, and the need for the diversification of farm production.

Cultivation : Does Haste Mean Waste?, H M. Fisher

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

Many farmers believe that increasing the speed of cultivation and seeding implements will cause deterioration of soils and reduced crop yields.

In a three-year trial on clover ley land at Wongan Hills higher cultivation speeds tended to increase rather than decrease wheat yields. There was some deterioration in the physical structure of the soil.

Trace Elements For Cereal Crops And Pastures, Edgar Noel Fitzpatrick

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

TRACE element deficiencies are widespread in Western Australia and application of copper, zinc, molybdenum and cobalt have played a major part in land development in this State.

Research Officer E. N. Fitzpatrick, M.Sc. (Agric.) reviews recent Department of Agriculture research on the use of Trace elements for crop and pasture growth on deficient soils in Western Australia.

Bare Patch And Poor Emergence Of Cereals. 3. Crusting Of The Soil Surface, S C. Chambers

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

In some seasons extensive bare patches occur in cereal crops sown on the heavier wheat belt soils.

Experimental results from Beverley indicate that the poor emergence in some of these plantings may be due to crusting of the soil surface.

Working the surface with light harrows may destroy the crust and improve emergence.