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Print this pageGRDC Research Updates
This page contains papers from the GRDC Update series for both growers and advisers.
Dates for upcoming Updates can also be found by clicking here.
To view any paper in full, click on the title below:
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Mixed Models for Plant Improvement Workshop
02.07.2008
2-5 November 2008
The University of Western Australia, PerthThis workshop will present advanced statistical methods for the design of plant breeding trials and analysis of data in plant improvement programmes.
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Barley Variety and Agronomy Update 2008
25.06.2008
• A large number of new barley varieties have been released over the last few years and their adaptation to new farming systems is being evaluated.
• Schooner and Gairdner have been the preferred malting barley varieties in southern NSW. Schooner generally achieves better quality in the lower rainfall parts of the cropping belt.
• Gairdner is prone to high screenings under dry conditions, late sowing and excessive nitrogen or seeding rates.
• Newer varieties with malting potential for the region include Baudin, Buloke, Flagship and Vlamingh, all of which have higher yields and better export malting quality than Schooner. However, none meet malt specifications as reliably as Schooner.
• Hindmarsh yield and grain quality were excellent in 2007 as in 2006, probably aided by its early flowering. It is likely to become a major feed variety and is also undergoing testing for possible malt accreditation.
• Tilga and Tantangara have been the standard feed varieties but are now joined by Capstan, Fleet, Hindmarsh and Yarra.
• Screenings were high and retention low in barley crops in both 2006 and 2007. Hindmarsh and Vlamingh performed well whereas Gairdner, Flagship and Yarra were disappointing. -
Developments in Herbicide Resistance and New Products
25.06.2008
• High levels of herbicide resistance are present in annual ryegrass in South Australia and Victoria.
• Trifluralin resistance is high in South Australia, but lower elsewhere.
• There is no cross resistance to the new pre-emergent herbicides Boxer Gold and Bay 191.
• Mataven resistance in wild oats appears related to use of fenoxaprop and clodinafop.
• Fencelines and other uncropped areas around the farm are at risk of glyphosate resistance.
• Using robust rates of paraquat will reduce the risk of selecting paraquat-resistant annual ryegrass. -
Where will the canola industry be in five year?s time?
25.06.2008
Canola has the potential to increase cropping returns as a rotational crop and also in its own right.
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blackspot mangager Identifies a low risk sowing date for field peas
24.06.2008
• Blackspot spores are released into the air from infected stubble with rainfall.
• Sowing date of field peas can be manipulated to minimise exposure to the airborne blackspot spores.
• ‘Blackspot Manager’ predicts the release pattern of the airborne spores for different regions in an individual season. -
Grazing Cereals. Where are we at?
20.06.2008
Grazing cereals can provide a valuable contribution to filling the winter feed gap. The replacement of an area of spring wheat with a dual purpose wheat variety can significantly increase winter feed production while maintaining significant grain recovery if managed appropriately.
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Barley Variety and Research Update 2008
20.06.2008
The 2007 season started very well with a timely break and trials sown into warm soil facilitating good establishment, weed control and very good early season growth. The early season conditions perhaps supported much deeper root growth than in 2006 and in the dry conditions of early spring, very high levels of boron toxicity symptoms were observed. Flagship exhibited extreme leaf symptoms, with some observers doubting it would require harvesting. Significant symptoms were also present in SloopSA, Maritime and Hindmarsh. Foliar disease pressure was generally very low, although leaf rust was scored at a number of sites and both spot form and net form net blotch were scored at Yorke Peninsula sites. Mean site grain yield from the NVT trials ranged from 0.55 t/ha at Streaky Bay to 5.2 t/ha at Mundulla, with only Minnipa discarded due to very low yield and high variability.
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Faba bean disease survey conducted in 2007
20.06.2008
• Cercospora leaf spot was the most prevalent disease found in faba beans during a winter disease survey in 2007.
• Misdiagnosis of the disease is common in most districts resulting in ineffective fungicides being applied and potentially reducing profit margins.
• Preliminary results suggest short and medium-term rotations of faba bean crops appear to be at most risk from soil-borne disease carry-over, particularly on farms with extensive cropping of faba beans.
• Bark is worse than its bite – though the emergence of cercospora leaf spot in crops is a problem, its impact on yield appears less dramatic than established diseases such as ascochyta and chocolate spot.
• A single application of an effective fungicide soon after emergence is warranted for control of cercospora leaf spot in high-risk situations. -
Roundup Ready Canola 2008 Limited Commercial Release.
20.06.2008
The lifting of the moratorium in Victoria means growers in that State now finally have the choice to use this new herbicide-tolerant technology (RR canola) in the southern cropping region of Australia. NSW has conditionally lifted its moratorium for GM canola, despite GM cotton (containing herbicide and/or insect tolerant traits) being successfully grown for 10 years. South Australia is yet to lift its moratorium on GM canola with a decision expected in mid February.
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Pulse Research 2008
20.06.2008
• Early sowing of pulses is a sound risk management strategy in many districts, providing the right variety and agronomic techniques are used and consideration is given towards disease, weed and frost issues.
• Two new lentil varieties provide exciting options for growers. Nipper is a low disease risk red lentil with similar seed characteristics to Northfield. Boomer is the first high yielding, green lentil, bred specifically for Australian conditions.
• Wider rows were beneficial for lentils in 2007 trials, improving crop height, harvestability and yield.
