This project investigates the use of double break crops to increase the yield of subsequent wheat crops in the Kwinana East and West port zones of the WA grain growing region through the use of field experimentation.
The wheat varieties bred for traditional wheatbelt with the low and medium rainfall may limit yield potential when grown in the high rainfall area. Lengthening the construction period duration (CPD) of the spike growth may increase the sink size and therefore potential yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between yield, flowering time and the duration of spike growth period and to investigate whether yield can be improved by lengthening CPD.
Omission trials are a good visual way of highlighting the importance of each nutrient. In this trial we looked at each macronutrient and its importance to canola. Soil tests run through NUlogic suggested the potential for deficiencies in nitrogen (N), sulphur (S) and possibly potassium (K). This trial was conducted in Dandaragan on sandy loam soil. The site was very responsive to nitrogen (N) fertiliser.
This trial looked at Serenade Prime as product to increase marketable potatoes and uniformity in tuber size through two applications during the growing season. Serenade Prime did not result in an increase of total yield but recorded an improved number of ‘marketable’ potatoes from the treatment through the reduction of smaller tubers and a higher percentage of medium sized, premium tubers. The trial was conducted near Dandaragan on sandy duplex soil.
The purpose of the canola NVT trials at Dandaragan is to provide growers and their advisors with independent information on the performance of newly released varieties of canola relative to the current commercial varieties grown in the area. The intention is to have two years of data available on the NVT website at the time each new variety is made available for commercial production. The 2016 trial was located in Dandaragan on brown grey sand to yellow brown sand at depth.
The aim of the National Variety Trial (NVT) program is to generate independent information for growers and industry about newly released varieties of winter field crops relative to the current commercial varieties grown in the area. The data generated can be compared by year/s, location and variety, providing an important decision support tool for growers when assessing if they are growing the right varieties for their farm business. This trial was sown onto a high yielding, burnt barley stubble on the 24th May.
The soil type was a high quality dark Dandaragan sand/loam. Unlike many areas of the state in 2019 this site had reasonable subsoil moisture from some earlier localised rain so germinated and grew exceptionally well. The late start to the season and dry spring tended to suit the quicker varieties, however good yields were returned by all varieties in the trial.
The aim of the National Variety Trial (NVT) program is to generate independent information for growers and industry about newly released varieties of winter field crops relative to the current commercial varieties grown in the area. The data generated can be compared by year/s, location and variety, providing an important decision support tool for growers when assessing if they are growing the right varieties for their farm business. This trial was sown onto a high yielding, burnt barley stubble on the 24th May.
The soil type was a high quality dark Dandaragan sand/loam. Unlike many areas of the state in 2019 this site had reasonable subsoil moisture from some earlier localised rain so germinated and grew exceptionally well. The late start to the season and dry spring tended to suit the quicker varieties with a difference of 0.9 t/ha between the highest and lowest yielding varieties.
The limitation of centre pivot irrigation systems currently is that water can only be irrigated as a blanket application across the whole site, or be limited into ‘pizza slice’ sub-sections of the paddock. This creates severe restrictions in being able to apply water to meet the specific needs of each soil type, and often results in some soil types being over-watered or under-watered depending on the location on the site. The over-watering of soil types can result in the leaching of unused water and nutrients down the soil profile and can potentially cause off-site impacts of nutrient enrichment. The aim of this project was to better understand the movement of water in the soil profile for three distinct soil types in the West Midlands region and assess the potential for the leaching of nutrients and water below the rooting depth of potatoes. This could then guide the implementation of variable rate irrigation in the region, where irrigation can be varied across the landscape to match water applied to soil water holding capacity.
A growing number of farmers in the West Midlands region use Serradella (and other aerial seeded annual legume pastures) in the pasture phase of their rotation. Controlling weeds in Serradella pastures requires the use of different herbicides and other management strategies (e.g. weed wiping) when compared to traditional subclover based pastures.
The trial investigated the profitability of multiple types of legume crops to determine which legumes will suit different areas and rotation systems. This demonstration site was part of a state-wide project, led by the Liebe Group across the Kwinana West, Kwinana East and Geraldton port zones.
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