Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Testing Grain Crops, H M. Fisher

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

TODAY'S competitive markets for crop products stress the need for greater awareness of buyers' requirements and more detailed knowledge about our ability to supply them.

Crop varieties and their performance in different environments are important aspects of production potential.

Trial Results 1971, M L. Poole

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

This report summarizes data for the following trials:

Trial 1. Rape varieties x time of seeding - Mt Barker R.S.

Trial 2. Rape varieties x time of seeding - Gibson

Trial 3. Rape varieties x time of seeding - Badgingarra R.S.

Trial 4. Rape harvesting trial-moisture content - Mt. Barker R.S.

Trial 5. Time of seeding x rates of seeding safflower

Trial 6. Time of seeding x rates of seeding sunflower

Trial 7. Depth control drill trial on rape.

Trial 8. Method of seeding trial on rape.

Trial 9. Sandblast trial - EDRS - Failed.

Trial 10. Rape varieties x …

1971 Field Experimental Results, T. O. Albertsen

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Maintenance P and S for pastures in low rainfall areas

66MO6, 67MO1, 68NO5, 68TS1, 65A1, 65C5, 69WH1,66KA7, 66LG1, 68LG1, 65N5, 67GE2, 67NO5, 66NA3, 66ME3, 66NO9.

Stocking rate and rate of super on Cyprus barrel Medic pasture

66M30.

Continuous cropping with N.P.S.

69NO1, 60NA1, 69ME1,69TS1.

Super rates for wheat

71GE5, 71GE6, 71GE40, 71J22, 71N15

Gypsum rates on rape

71GE31, 71TS24, 71TS25, 71NO22, 71NA22,71NA23, 71KA1, 71KA14, 71BY1, 71BR15, 71AL9.

Rates of phosphorus and sulphur on rape and wheat

71A16

Control Of Water Resources In W.A, T C. Calder

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

Use of underground and surface water is controlled so that the supplies are available to the general benefit of all domestic, industrial and agricultural users in a particular area.

Water is a valuable resource and its contamination and wastage must be avoided. This article outlines the provisions of the Rights in Water Act which is designed to protect water supplies from undue exploitation, contamination and wastage.

Irrigation In South-Western Australia, K S. Cole

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

THE pattern of irrigation in South-Western Australia is constantly changing, At present, the main increase is in the private sector.

In the past century, there has been a see-saw effect from private to Government to private schemes.

State Of The Fisheries Report 1968/1969, Department Of Fisheries And Fauna, Western Australia

Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

The total value of the fisheries of Western Australia is the highest of any of the States, and the Western Australian rock lobster fishery is the most valuable single fishery in Australia.

Some Wildflowers Of Western Australia, C. F. H. Jenkins, A. S. George

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

MUCH recent discussion on conservation has centred around the importance of wild flower reserves and the need for protecting one of thci State's most important tourist attractions. Although less important to visitors than the flowers, many of our wild animals hold equal interest for nature lovers and scientists, and they also need protection.

ALTHOUGH the brilliance and diversity of West Australian wildflowers are widely appreci­ated, the localities where they can best be observed in their natural state are not so well known.

In this article a brief outline is given of the more important districts in the south western part …

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.

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.

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.

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)

Likelihood Of Drought Years In South-Western Australia : How Often Can Droughts Such As That Of 1969 Be Expected In Western Australia's Farming Areas?, Eugene Adsil Fitzpatrick

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

Because of the serious consequences of drought to individual farmers and to Western Australia's economy, it is worth making an early appraisal of the 1969 rainfall conditions that led to the State's most recent drought in an attempt to estimate how often such seasons might be expected in the agricultural areas.

Dry Season In The Eastern And North-Eastern Wheatbelt, George Henry Burvill

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

The drought of 1969 ended an 11-year run of good seasons in the eastern and north-eastern wheatbelt. Good years usually have above average rainfall; wheat yields and pasture growth are greatly reduced if rains are well below average. Eighty years records show that half the years must be expected to be below average and about one-third could be well below. This area produces one-third of the State's wheat and has 9 per cent, of its sheep.

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 …

Fisheries Report No V (5) - Report On Marron In Farm Dams (Cherax Tenuimanus), N M. Morrissy

Fisheries Research Reports

A programme of selling marron (Cherax tenuimanus) to country dwellers for stocking farm dams, has been carried out by the Pemberton Trout Board for the past few years with considerable financial gain. In this case permission to sell the marron was granted by the Department of Fisheries and Fauna so as to encourage the provision of stocks of this large, freshwater crustacean for farmers in the dryer inland areas of the Southwest which are remote from sources of fresh fish and from natural stocks of marron.

The marron, however, have been sold indiscriminately, upon request, without any advice as to …

Fisheries Report No Iv (6) - Report On The Current Status Of Crocodiles In Western Australia, H. Robert Bustard Dr

Fisheries Research Reports

The aim of the survey was fivefold,

(1) to determine the present abundance and composition of saltwater crocodile populations in Western Australia,

(2) to comment on the status of the freshwater crocodile in Western Australia following 7 years of total protection,

(3) to locate study area(s) for detailed work on crocodile biology,

(4) to investigate the feelings of people on the spot (especially shooters or ex-shooters) towards crocodile conservation, and

(5) to investigate law enforcement problems relating to crocodiles

West Midlands Development : Soil Map Used To Group Similar Soils Into Land Use Classes, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Selection of areas for initial treatment is basic to economic development of blocks in the West Midlands.

Obviously, it is best to develop large areas of the most productive "land use classes" first in order to obtain the highest and earliest returns on capital.

How Important Is Sulphur For Pastures?, R N. Glencross, W. J. Cox

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

With the introduction of low sulphur compound and concentrated fertilisers, a new look is required at the sulphur status of West Australian soils, and the sulphur requirement of pasture.

In this article the functions of sulphur, deficiency symptoms and potential problem soils are described.

Current recommendations and plans for future research work are outlined.

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.

Fishery Report Iv (4) - Report On The Barramundi Fishery In Western Australia, N M. Morrissy

Fisheries Research Reports

Barramundi are widely distributed in rivers and estuaries in the semi-tropical and tropical regions of the Indo- Pacific from South China to the Persian Gulf and along the coast of northern Australia. The limiting factors to the distribution appear to be temperature and salinity.

Flora And Fauna Conservation : A Plea To Landholders, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

MUCH of the recent discussion on conservation has centred around the importance of wild flower reserves and the necessity for protecting one of the State's most important tourist attractions.

Although less important to visitors than the flowers, many of our wild animals hold equal interest for nature lovers and scientists, and they also need protection.

Water Storage Has Not Kept Pace With Stock Numbers : South Stirling Survey Finding, A L. Prout

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

RESULTS of a survey on water storage capacity in the South Stirlings area indicate that farm water storage has not kept pace with increased clearing and stock numbers.

This has resulted in many farmers requesting advice on water conservation projects following two consecutive years of low rainfall runoff.

Shed Lambing In The Esperance Environment, T Marshall, F. F. Dixon

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

Neonatal lamb mortality is often high in Western Australia and losses as high as 33 per cent, have been recorded on private properties in the Esperance area. Surveys by Western Australian Department of Agriculture officers have indicated that more than threequarters of such lamb deaths occur after birth. About half these deaths result from the combined effects of weather and mismothering.

Work in Victoria has indicated that lamb mortality may be reduced by intensive lambing systems such as shedding and this trial was established to see if shedding could reduce lamb mortality in the Esperance environment.

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.