Local agronomists in the West Midlands area have noted over time nutrient levels such as phosphorus are declining in soils with high yield potential and increasing in low potential soils. Variable rate technology can assist replace P in the high zones and reduce P applied in the low performing zones reducing the risk of nutrient leaching and improving profitability for farmers. However there are still some barriers to adoption.
Potato growers in the Gingin and Dandaragan areas face significant production challenges due to highly variable soil types under centre pivots. One problem during tuber establishment is where irrigation decisions for lighter soil types result in overwatering on heavier soil types, resulting in rotting of seed pieces on the heavier soils. On the other hand, optimizing irrigation for heavy soil types results in underwatering of seed pieces on lighter soils. The trial is being conducted in Gingin and Dandaragan on sandy and loamy soils respectively.
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.
This demonstration, featured at the 2015 Spring Field Day site was designed to show that, in the right season, ripping affects nitrogen uptake
efficiency and availability to crops. It was located in Dandaragan on red loamy soil and showed positive results.
This trial was designed to assess the value of muriate and sulphate sources of potassium on growth and yield of wheat when applied by banding and topdressing at seeding time or topdressing after emergence. The trial was conducted in Dandaragan on brown loamy sand to explore varying sources, rates, timings and placement of K to determine the optimal practice for K nutrition in the area.
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 investigation responses to N and K, effects on leaf disease and interactions with a foliar fungicide. The trial was located in Dandaragan on pale, grey and deep water repellent sand. Researchers wanted to see the difference in differing applications of nitrogen and potassium fertilisers, as well as look at the effects of wheat yield from leaf disease and how interactions with a foliar fungicide (Prosaro) from Bayer CropScience affect yield.
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.
This trial was conducted by Southern Dirt and aimed to improve the adoption of liming practices in the medium to high rainfall zone of Western Australia by demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of lime application and incorporation. The trial site was located 12km north of Kojonup and was chosen for its combination of targeted soil type (forest gravel) and pH range (4.5 – 4.8 CaCl2) up to a depth of 60cm.
This trial was conducted in Dandaragan to determining the value in $/ha for each weed control component in the canola crop within specific herbicide technology systems and then developing a software model to calculate the individual and cumulative value to growers of each of these elements for weed control in a “Integrated Weed Control Package”. The site experienced low starting rainfall with staggered plant emergence and then with further rainfall plot populations were within 75 to 85% of targeted plants/m2. All pests and diseases were controlled to an acceptably high level.