Earth Sciences Commons^™

Fertigation Of Vegetables In Western Australia, J Burt

Bulletins 4000 -

Fertigation is the technique of using soluble fertilisers to supply essential nutrients to vegetables through sprinkler or trickle irrigation systems, or by means of a boom spray. It is ideally suited to most horticultural areas in Western Australia, especially the sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain that have a poor capacity to retain nutrients.

Before and after planting, nutrients are often applied to vegetables on soils of the Swan Coastal Plain by applications of poultry manure* or solid fertilisers. After planting, fertigation is a safe and effective method of applying top-dressings of nutrients to crops, especially after the rows …

Bulletin No. 37: Living Resources And Habitats Of The Lower Connecticut River, Glenn D. Dreyer, Marcianna Caplis

Bulletins

No abstract provided.

Monitoring Subsurface Drainage Flow At Remote Locations, Stephen R. Workman, Stephen F. Higgins, Scott A. Shearer

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Laboratory evaluations and field results are presented for a slotted weir used to measure discharge from subsurface drains. The head–discharge curve for the vertical slot is a simple power function with an exponent of 1.5. There was excellent agreement (r² > 0.99 and 1:1 slope) between predicted and observed discharge in laboratory testing of 12 test weirs representing five slot widths. The primary advantages of the vertical slot weir are its simplicity, ease of maintenance, and ability to measure small flow rates. Disadvantages include a tendency for the slot to close a small amount over time as a result of …

Organic Vegetables : A Guide To Production, Steven Mccoy

Bulletins 4000 -

There appears to be considerable opportunity for the development of organic vegetable production in Western Australia for either fresh or processed product. While a number of growers are successfully producing relatively small quantities of organic vegetables for both domestic and export markets, few large scale commercial growers have sought to capitalise on this opportunity.

Consumer interest in organically grown vegetables has increased rapidly in recent years due largely to concerns relating to food safety, health and the environment. For more information on markets for organic vegetables refer to AGWEST publication “Market Prospects – Organic Carrots and other Vegetables”.

Predators Of Mesoplatys Ochroptera In Sesbania Planted-Fallows In Eastern Zambia, G. Sileshi, M. Kenis, C. K.P.O. Ogol, S. Sithanantham

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Mesoplatys ochroptera Stål (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a serious pest of the tropical legume sesbania (Sesbania sesban (L.) Merrill) widely used for soil fertility improvement in southern Africa. Surveys were conducted between October 1997 and June 1999 in order to identify the predators of M. ochroptera in sesbania fallows in eastern Zambia. The Heteroptera Afrius yolofa (Guérin-Méneville), Glypsus conspicuus (Westwood), Macrorhaphis acuta Dallas, Mecosoma mensor (Germar), Rhinocoris segmentarius (Germar), and Deraeocoris ostentans (Stål), the carabid beetle Cyaneodinodes fasciger (Chaudoir), the ants Tetramorium sericeiventre Emery and Pheidole sp., and the lacewing Mallada sp. were recorded as predators of M. ochroptera for the …

Post-Tillage Dynamics Of Soil Structural And Hydraulic Properties Induced By Capillary Forces And External Loading, Teamrat Afewerki Ghezzehei

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Tillage modifies the soil structure to create conditions favorable for plant growth. However, the resulting loose structure is susceptible to collapse by internal capillary forces and external compactive stresses with concurrent changes in soil hydraulic properties. Presently, limited understanding of these complex processes often leads to consideration of the soil plow-layer as a static porous medium. The objective of this dissertation was to develop physically based modeling of soil structural dynamics at the pore scale, based on soil mechanical and rheological properties. The basic geometrical framework of the models was based on regular packing of monosized spherical aggregates forming unit-cells. …

An Environmental Geochemical Study Of Connecticut Marsh Sediments, Nicole A. Heller, Michael A. Kruge, Johan C. Varekamp, Tabitha Zierzow

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Core material from Spartina-dominated Housatonic and Connecticut River estuarine sites (ranging from low to high marsh) were investigated in order to test the hypothesis that organic and inorganic pollutants preferentially accumulate in the low marsh environment. Radiometric data indicate that the low marsh setting experienced sedimentation rates an order of magnitude greater than that of the mid to high marsh. The low marsh sediments from the Housatonic tend to have significantly higher concentrations of trace metals (e.g., Cu and Zn, likely contributed by brass mills formerly active upstream). Petrographic examination of the samples under reflected white and blue light …

Management Of Soil Organic Matter And Gypsum For Sustainable Production In The Carnarvon Horticultural District Of Western Australia, R.S.B. Greene, A.J. Lin, D. C. Parr

Agriculture reports

Soil quality is critically important for the long-term production of high quality and high yielding fruit and vegetable crops in the Carnarvon horticultural district of Western Australia. A stable soil structure is essential for good soil quality.

Alfalfa As A Cash Hay Crop, John Nowak

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Over the years we have all learned of the great potential alfalfa has as a forage crop in Kentucky. We have seen it used as hay, haylage and even pasture. Many aspects of our agri-business community have alfalfa as an important part of their business.

Alfalfa For Beef Cattle, W. Roy Burris

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is sometimes said to be "too good" for beef cattle. Although it's nutritional value may sometimes exceed beef cows' needs, to dismiss it's potential for beef cattle would be a mistake. Alfalfa can be useful as a harvested feed or as a grazing crop.

Alfalfa For Dairy Cattle, Donna M. Amaral-Phillips

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is known as the queen of the forage crops and for good reasons. Alfalfa is an excellent forage for dairy cattle because it provides nutrients needed by dairy cows in a package which is highly digestible and cost effective. Alfalfa can be grazed directly by cattle or harvested as hay, haylage, or batage. Dairy farmers will purchase locally-grown hay if it is high quality (RFV greater than 150). When marketing cash hay one needs to understand that the quality of alfalfa greatly impacts milk production and economics of a dairy operation. This impact is felt even when as little …

Alfalfa Hay For Horses, Laurie Lawrence

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Horse owners frequently mention cleanliness, color and cutting when it comes to choosing hay. Cleanliness should be the most important factor in selecting horse hay. Hay that contains dust or mold can inflame the respiratory tract. It is also possible for hay mold to affect other systems in the horse such as the digestive system and liver. Some horses suffer from a chronic respiratory condition that seriously impairs their ability to breathe normally. This condition, commonly known as heaves, worsens when horses are fed moldy or dusty hay. Horses with heaves are exercise intolerant and thus have little value except …

Reducing The Risk Of Bloat, Patty Scharko

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Bloat refers to excessive accumulation of gas in the rumen. Bloat results when an animal can not eructate or "belch up" gases produced in the process of rumen fermentation. The gas may be in the free form or may be mixed with rumen contents in the form of froth. It occurs both on pasture and in feedlots and can be a major cause of death in cattle wherever intensive farming is practiced. Additional losses can include decreased milk production and reduced rate of gain. Although legumes may increase the opportunity for bloat to occur, fear of bloat should not keep …

Grazing Alfalfa: Is It Right For You?, Jimmy C. Henning

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Grazing alfalfa can be a very profitable and valuable practice for many Kentucky farmers. How do you know if this practice will work for you? First, you must be able to grow alfalfa. Second, you must address the concerns that are specific to grazing alfalfa.

Establishing Alfalfa Using No-Till Techniques, Gary Bates

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

There have been many changes in agriculture over the fast 50 years. One of the greatest has been the use of no-tiff planting methods. The development of drill and herbicides has made no-till seedings as successful as seeding into prepared land.

Am-Pm Cutting Of Alfalfa, Garry D. Lacefield, Michael Collins, Jimmy C. Henning

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Over the past twenty years of this Conference we have spent considerable time discussing "Alfalfa Harvest Management." We have discussed the importance of stage of maturity and its impact on quality on many occasions. We have presented research on many aspects of hay and haylage management. An overall theme for all the discussions has been "harvest for quality," with emphasis on saving the leaves during the entire harvesting process. Our recommendations have, are, and will continue to be centered around those management practices that will result in the greatest opportunity for preserving alfalfa quality from standing crop to feeding. This …

Can We Follow Alfalfa With Alfalfa?, Monroe Rasnake

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The question of how soon alfalfa can safely be reseeded following an old stand of alfalfa has been debated for many years. It has been a topic of the Kentucky Alfalfa Conference on at least two other occasions (Rasnake, 1995; Rasnake 1999). Recent research has attempted to determine what causes the problem, how it is affected by soil conditions, and whether the problem can be reduced through plant breeding. This paper will review some of the research.

Foreword [2001], Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

This is the front matter of the proceedings.

Profitable Canola Production In The Great Southern And Lakes District, Paul Carmody, Ashley Herbert

Bulletins 4000 -

The Canola industry has rapidly grown with a 10 fold increase in area sown in Western Australia over the four years from 1996-99.

The driving force behind this increase in area can be attributed to the successful adoption of weed control technology in Triazine Tolerant Canola.

By knowing the model of the limiting factors, which are usually; weed control, fertiliser practices, blackleg management, variety selection, seeding dates, seeding depths, insect control and swathing, we can make the right decisions and achieve the targeted profit.

To produce yield to potential, all factors need to be optimised, otherwise yields will be decreased …

Improvements In Turfgrass Color And Density Resulting From Comprehensive Soil Diagnostics, Matt Cordell, Jonathan Davis, David E. Longer

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

There are roughly 220 golf courses in Arkansas, and as many as 50% of these courses were constructed using common bermudagrass fairways. Although resilient, common bermudagrass loses density and quality over time. In this experiment physical and chemical properties of the soil were analyzed to determine the causes of decline in turf quality observed on several fairways of a local golf course. Once a particular fairway was selected for study and preliminary soil sampling conducted, GS+, a geostatistical computer program, was used to map the location of certain chemical deficiencies. A moderate to severe Mg deficiency was detected throughout the …

Factors Influencing Spatial Variability Of Soil Apparent Electrical Conductivity, D. E. Clay, J. Chang, D. D. Malo, C. G. Carlson, C. Reese, S. A. Clay, M. Ellsbury, B. Berg

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Soil apparent electrical conductivity (EC_a) can be used as a precision farming diagnostic tool more efficiently if the factors influencing EC_a spatial variability are understood. The objective of this study was to ascertain the causes of EC_a spatial variability in soils developed in an environment with between 50 and 65 cm of annual rainfall. Soils at the research sites were formed on calcareous glacial till parent materials deposited approximately 10,000 years ago. Soil samples (0–15 cm) collected from at least a 60 by 60 m grid in four fields were analyzed for Olsen phosphorus (P) and …

Burakin Focus Catchment Report, Mike Clarke

Natural resources published reports

The Burakin Focus Catchment Project was developed between farmers and Agriculture _ Western Australia. The project was designed to give farmers an understanding of the salinity processes occurring within the Catchment and suggestions on appropriate management.

Work began in the Catchment early in 1999 and was complete at the end of 2000. Intensive hydrological investigations formed the basis of the study, which was complemented by surface water control and revegetation strategies. Agronomic issues associated with sandplain soils were raised by the farmers at the initial meeting and this led to a soil survey to determine the pH status of the …

Farming Systems To Manage Salinity. Farmer Directed Research, Development And Extension. Research Results 2001, Richard Olive

Natural resources published reports

More and more of Western Australia's agnicultural lands are becoming saline. Currently it is estimated that about 18 milliion ha of land are affected to a greater or lesser degree by salinity causing production losses estimated at about $70 million a year.

Unless ways are found to halt and reverse the salinisation of land it is estimated that another 4.4 million ha could become saline over the next 50 years.

Grain growers and the Federal Government, through the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). are investing $12 4 million in R&D across Australia to develop productive solutions to the salinity …

Profiting From Adversity - Meeting The Challenge Of Salinity Through New Industry Development, Andrew Quinn, Tamara Law, Peter Rowe

Natural resources published reports

Salinity in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia is one of the most significant challenges facing the State's agricultural sector.

Efforts to manage the increasing effect of salt influenced and threatened farming land requires not only the implementation of new farming systems, but a new way of thinking and attitude to production more in tune with environmental and technological limitations.

While past environment lobby pressures have significantly focused on other production activities such as mining and forestry, the future is likely to see increased community interest in agricultural production systems.

Consumers World wide are becoming more environmentally sensitive, with global media …

Low Recharge Farming Systems. Case Studies On The South Coast, Arjen Ryder, Jamie Bowyer, Gerry Skinner, Clare Mccarron

Natural resources published reports

This booklet is intended as a guide to assist land managers to design or select low recharge farming systems. Options that increase water use are described with benefits and issues for each option.

Case studies describe the experiences of landholders who have had a go at establishing and managing such systems. Examples are included from different rainfall zones. The systems mentioned in this manual are only a guide.

Case studies describe the experiences of landholders who have hada go at establishing and managing such systems. Examples are included from different rainfall zones. The systems mentioned in this manual are only …

Dealing With A Dry Season, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

Farmers' approaches to adverse seasonal conditions whether they be frost, flood or low rainfall should be to acquire as much information as possible on the immediate agronomic and financial situations and make a judgement on the longer term implications for the following seasons. Once the information has been acquired, in consultation with advisers, it is necessary to construct and implement agronomic and business strategies to deal with individual situations.

The agronomic and stocking options for the dry season supplied in this booklet deal with questions and issues arising from the Year 2000 season, which has been characterised by a mid …

Community Support For Natural Resource Management. Future Frameworks: Future Needs, Fionnuala Frost, Wendy Dymond, Soil And Land Conservation Council Of Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

A report prepared for the Soil and Land Conservation Council of Western Australia.

Emerging from the Decade of Landcare is growing recognition that regional and local community involvement is integral to the success of any natural resource management (NRM) outcome. It is integral for a number of reasons:

1. Community support provides the capacity to develop plans and strategies at local, regional scale which are owned by the community who review (technical recommendations, advice and information and adapt them to suit local need;

2. Community knowledge provides an important balance to research knowledge and State and regional level strategies and …

Effect Of The Direction Of The Blast On Vegetation Recovery Within The Zone Of Devastation Created By The May 18, 1980 Eruption Of Mount St. Helens, Washington, Dmitri Barkovsky

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A number of different remote sensing techniques were used to analyze Landsat TM image data in order to study vegetation recovery patterns at three locations within the zone of devastation of Mount St. Helens (MSH). Prior to the May 18, 1980 eruption, the vegetation in the area ofMSH was characterized by mature coniferous forest disturbed only by a few clearcuts, according to analysis of Landsat MSS data. As a result of the MSH eruption, more than 600 sq. km of the area predominantly north of the volcano were severely devastated by a number of volcanic events such as phreatic explosions, …

Degradation In The Brockman River And Ellen Brook Catchments, Western Australia, Brian Lloyd

Natural resources published reports

An eight day survey of degradation in the Ellen Brook and Brockman River catchments revealed several areas of concern. Key concerns are:

Erosion and sedimentation

Various forms of erosion were observed during the survey that would cumulatively have an effect on the quality of both the Ellen Brook and the Brockman Rivers, and ultimately the Swan River. Erosion resulted from many situations including landholder management, subdivision design and infrastructure maintenance. Raising awareness as to consequences of erosion and sedimentation, along with remedial techniques and best management practices is recommended for the various levels of stakeholders.

Eutrophication

Eutrophication has been established …

Bulletin 4418 - Nebru Focus Catchment Report, Agriculture Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

Nehru Focus Catchment is located in the upper reaches of the Arrowsmith Catchment. It is roughly bounded by Sunset Road in the north, the north-south Kadathinni Hills to the east, the Three Springs - Eneabba Road to the south and Reed Road in the west. It changes in elevation from 372 metres Australian Height Datum (AHD) at roughly the intersection of Nehru Rd the Kadathinni Hills to the east and 220 metres AHD near the outlet of the catchment into the Arrowsmith River.

The total area of the catchment is just over 7,400 hectares.

One of the prime areas of …