Increasing wheat yields in a high rainfall area of Western Australia

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 607 ◽  
Author(s):  
WK Anderson ◽  
WR Smith
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Seed Rate ◽  
Wheat Production ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Agronomic Practices ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall ◽  
N Rates ◽  
High Rainfall Area

Average commercial wheat yields in the southern, high rainfall area of Western Australia have seldom exceeded 1.5 t/ha and wheat is not widely grown. However, the average annual rainfall and length of growing season (>400 mm and >6 months) are conducive to much larger yields. Thirteen factorial experiments with mid and long season cultivars (Aroona and Osprey), 2 levels of applied nitrogen (N) (40 and 80 kg N/ha), 2 seed rates (50 and 100 kg/ha) and with or without fungicide were conducted at 8 sites over 2 seasons. The experiment was done to investigate combinations of cultivar and agronomic practices suitable for increased wheat production in long season environments in Western Australia. Largest grain yields (>4 t/ha) were obtained where wheat followed a grass-free break crop, and the mid season cultivar was used with 80 kg N/ha and 100 kg/ha of seed. Increases due to cultivar and seed rate were more consistent than those due to N, and increases from application of fungicide were less consistent. It is suggested that the optimal wheat production 'package' will include sowing in May in rotation with a grass-free break crop, seed rate of about 100 kg/ha and, when all other factors are optimal, N rates of over 40 kg/ha. The greatest yield increases were associated with the sites where wheat followed a grass-free crop. Increases due to other factors were relatively smaller. Hectolitre weight and percentage of small grain (<2 mm) often reached levels that would have entailed downgrading in commercial deliveries. However, in the most productive crops where root and leaf diseases were minimal, these quality parameters were seldom deficient and grain protein contents exceeded 10% at yields of up to 4 t/ha.

Persistence of several annual legumes in mixtures under continuous grazing in the south west of Western Australia

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (70) ◽  
pp. 632 ◽  
Author(s):  
GB Taylor ◽  
RC Rossiter
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Truncatula ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
The Other ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Annual Legumes ◽  
South West ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall ◽  
Average Rainfall

Two experiments are described: one in the wheatbelt in areas receiving 320 and 400 mm average annual rainfall, and the other in a medium rainfall area with an average rainfall of 640 mm. In the first experiment various combinations of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) and cupped (Trifolium cherleri) and rose clovers (T. hirtum) with subterranean clover (T. subeterraneum) were grown at four sites. Each site was continuously grazed by sheep for periods ranging from three to five years. At all sites subterranean clover became dominant within a few years of establishment. The second experiment involved rose and subterranean clovers in ungrazed pure swards and mixed swards which were either grazed or ungrazed. Grazing was continued for three years. Grazing had a profound effect on the composition of the mixture: whereas subterranean clover dominated the grazed sward, in the absence of grazing rose clover over-topped the subterranean clover and dominated the mixture. The success of subterranean clover in grazed mixtures is attributed largely to relative inaccessibility to the grazing animal, particularly of seedlings but also of seeds.

Increased responsiveness of short oat cultivars to early sowing, nitrogen fertilizer and seed rate

1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 729 ◽  
Author(s):  
WK Anderson ◽  
R McLean
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Sowing Date ◽  
Correct Choice ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Sowing Time ◽  
Seed Rate ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall ◽  
Oat Cultivars ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
Applied Nitrogen

Oat cultivars of tall (West), intermediate (Mortlock) and dwarf height (Echidna) were compared for their response to sowing time, nitrogen fertilizer and seed rate. Experiments were carried out in the 500-800 mm average annual rainfall zone in Western Australia at nine sites. Cultivars were compared in experiments involving different times (3) of sowing, levels (5) of applied nitrogen and rates (5) of seed and in another experiment including all combinations of two levels of sowing time, nitrogen and seed. The optimum sowing times for the three cultivars were similar, but the yield advantage for Echidna over West was 0.63 t ha-1 for late May sowing but only 0.25 t ha-1 for sowing in late July. Yield responses to applied nitrogen were dependent on soil nitrogen status, seasonal rainfall, sowing date, cultivar and seed-rate. On average, Echidna was more responsive (0.42 t ha-1) to the initial 30 kg ha-1 of nitrogen than Mortlock (0.23 t ha-1). The optimum seed rate (where an increase of 1 kg of seed increased yield by 10 kg ha-1) was 77, 67 and 61 kg ha-1 for Echidna, Mortlock and West corresponding to 225, 185 and 160 plants m-2. The largest yielding combination of cultivar, time of sowing, nitrogen and seed rates increased yields by from 1.32 to 3.23 t ha-1 (51-220%) compared to the control or low input treatment. Biomass at heading increased linearly to about 6.5 t ha-1 with rainfall up to 200 mm. Rainfall to heading in excess of 200 mm appeared to be inefficiently used for biomass production. Grain yields also increased linearly up to about 4 t ha-1 with increasing biomass at heading and up to 6 t ha-l with the correct choice of cultivar, time of sowing, nitrogen and seed rates.

IV.—On the Occurrence and Interpretation of Rock-Cliffs and Rock-Floors on the Western Shores of the “Dry” Lakes in South-Central Western Australia

1918 ◽  
Vol 5 (7) ◽  
pp. 305-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. T. Jutson
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Salt Lake ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Wind Action ◽  
South Central ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall

In South-Central Western Australia, in the physiographic division which the writer has termed the Central or Salt Lake Division, in a large portion of which the average annual rainfall is about 10 inches per annum, numerous “dry” lakes or playas occur. These have been described and the question of their origin has been discussed by various authors. They have been differently regarded as due to glacial, marine, and wind action; also as the remains of old Tertiary rivers now largely obliterated by drifting sands; and also (in part) as deformation basins. Most writers agree that they have been formed under subaerial conditions, and probably most will ultimately agree that deformation is responsible for some at least of the lakes, or has aided in their formation.

The northern Australian beef industry, a snapshot. 5. Land and pasture development practices

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bortolussi ◽  
J. G. McIvor ◽  
J. J. Hodgkinson ◽  
S. G. Coffey ◽  
C. R. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Legume Species ◽  
Beef Industry ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall ◽  
Native Pastures

The land and pasture development practices of 375 northern Australian beef properties in 8 regions were surveyed during 1996–97. These properties represented a broad cross-section of the beef industry in terms of geographical location, enterprise and herd size, and ownership structures. Both tree clearing and killing were more common in Queensland than in the Northern Territory or northern Western Australia. In all regions where trees were poisoned, native pasture was more widely used than sowing introduced grass and/or legume species. In contrast, tree clearing was most often accompanied by sowing pastures (either an introduced grass only or introduced grass and legume species together), rather than using native pastures. Central coastal Queensland had the highest use of poisoning trees for pasture development. Tree clearing and using native pasture was most important in central Queensland regions and the Maranoa South West. Sowing introduced pasture species under live trees was more commonly practiced in northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia than in other regions. A considerable number of introduced grass and legume species were sown by producers. Most of the sown species were grasses. Many of the sown grass and legume species were spreading naturally. Buffel grass was spreading in all areas with < 1000 mm average annual rainfall, but most sown species were spreading only in wetter regions. Stylosanthes spp. were the most commonly spreading legume species in regions with > 500 mm average annual rainfall. The results are discussed in relation to contemporary natural resource management issues and how this may affect land and pasture development activities in the future.

Yield and fertilizer N recommendations in winter wheat – an alternative approach in high rainfall areas of the UK

2012 ◽  
Vol 151 (4) ◽  
pp. 463-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. WHITE
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Price Ratio ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
N Concentration ◽  
Optimum N Rate ◽  
N Rates

SUMMARYThe requirement for inorganic fertilizer nitrogen (N) by winter wheat crops in the United Kingdom is derived using the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Fertilizer Manual. In the experimental programme described and discussed in the present paper, the appropriateness of these recommendations for winter wheat grown in Northern Ireland is examined.Yield response to N varied in experiments conducted on two winter wheat cultivars (cvars) in Northern Ireland from 2007 to 2009. Consequently the optimum N rate (Nopt, defined as the rate of applied N where the value of the increase in yield equals the cost of the increment in fertilizer applied and beyond which additional N would not repay its cost) also varied from year to year. The band of fertilizer N rates over which margins were reduced by £20 (GBP) and £50 also varied from year to year. Changes in the N:grain price ratio affected Nopt to differing extents in the three experiments depending on the shape of the yield v. N response.Nopt should therefore be considered as a range of N rates because (1) it varies from year to year and probably also field to field and (2) the margin of income from grain over cost of fertilizer varies little over a range of N rates because of the shape of the asymptotic response of yield to N. Alternatively, in high rainfall areas (annual rainfall >700 mm) of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where Table C of the Fertilizer Manual (formerly RB 209) is used to determine soil nitrogen supply (SNS) index, a single N rate could be adopted at SNS indices of 2 or less (equating to soil N supplies of 100 kg/ha or less). A rate of 240 kg N/ha could be adopted based on the over-years function fitted to all results in the three experiments reported in the present paper and including treatments that vary in the splitting of N applied between the two applications and in their timing.Grain N concentration rarely exceeded the guideline 19 mg/g for feed wheat crops identified in the Fertilizer Manual (Anon. 2010). Overall, N taken up by the crops was used efficiently, and particularly so at lower N rates. However, at low fertilizer N rates the contribution from ‘free’ soil N inflates the ‘apparent’ value of grain yield produced. The responses of yield and grain N concentration to N show that crop processes work to maximize yield at the expense of N concentration in the grain. Therefore there is less need to be concerned about identifying the optimum N rate and predicting fertilizer N requirement with a high degree of precision. Instead growers could assess and adjust the efficiency of their N use based on grain N concentration generally, rather than specifically assess whether their fertilizer N applications were close to Nopt. Essentially as grain N concentration increases, yield/kg of applied fertilizer N decreases. Thus at low grain N concentrations, yield could be increased by increasing N applications and at high grain N concentrations yield could be maintained and profitability increased by reducing N applications.

Trends in grain production and yield gaps in the high-rainfall zone of southern Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Robertson ◽  
John Kirkegaard ◽  
Allan Peake ◽  
Zoe Creelman ◽  
Lindsay Bell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Potential Yield ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Eastern Australia

The high-rainfall zone (HRZ) of southern Australia is the arable areas where annual rainfall is between 450 and 800 mm in Western Australia and between 500 and 900 mm in south-eastern Australia, resulting in a growing-season length of 7–10 months. In the last decade, there has been a growing recognition of the potential to increase crop production in the HRZ. We combined (1) a survey of 15 agricultural consultants, each of whom have ~40–50 farmer clients across the HRZ, (2) 28 farm records of crop yields and area for 2000–2010, (3) 86 wheat and 54 canola yield observations from well managed experiments, and (4) long-term simulated crop yields at 13 HRZ locations, to investigate recent trends in crop production, quantify the gap between potential and actual crop yields, and consider the factors thought to limit on-farm crop yields in the HRZ. We found in the past 10 years a trend towards more cropping, particularly in WA, an increased use of canola, and advances in the adaptation of germplasm to HRZ environments using winter and longer-season spring types. Consultants and the farm survey data confirmed that the rate of future expansion of cropping in the HRZ will slow, especially when compared with the rapid changes seen in the 1990s. In Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia the long-term water-limited potential yield in HRZ areas, as measured by experimental yields, consultant estimates and simulations for slow developing spring cultivars of wheat and canola was 5–6 and 2–3 t/ha for a decile 5 season. For Western Australia it was 4–5 and 2–3 t/ha, where yields were less responsive to good seasons than in the other states. The top performing farmers were achieving close to the water-limited potential yield. There are yield advantages of ~2 t/ha for ‘winter’ over ‘spring’ types of both wheat and canola, and there is scope for better adapted germplasm to further raise potential yield in the HRZ. Consultants stated that there is scope for large gains in yield and productivity by encouraging the below-average cropping farmers to adopt the practices and behaviours of the above-average farmers. The scope for improvement between the below- and above-average farmers was 1–3 t/ha for wheat and 0.5–1.5 t/ha for canola in a decile 5 season. They also stated that a lack of up-to-date infrastructure (e.g. farm grain storage) and services is constraining the industry’s ability to adopt new technology. Priorities for future research, development and extension among consultants included: overcoming yield constraints where growing-season rainfall exceeds 350 mm; adaptation of winter and long-season spring types of cereals and canola and management of inputs required to express their superior yield potential; and overcoming barriers to improved planning and timeliness for crop operations and adoption of technology.

Aspects of the biology of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in coastal eastern Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 398 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Richardson ◽  
S. Phillips ◽  
R. A. Hayes ◽  
S. Sindhe ◽  
B. D. Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Population Biology ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
European Rabbit ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
High Rainfall Area

A population of wild rabbits in a high-rainfall area near Sydney, New South Wales, was studied for 8 years to investigate the population biology of the rabbit in a high-rainfall area, to examine factors affecting the length of the breeding season, and to describe the biology of RHDV and a RHDV-like virus in the population. The breeding season was short, starting in June and ending in October, though some conceptions occurred in every month of the year. Supplementary feeding with grain, germinated wheat or high-protein rabbit pellets did not extend the breeding season, so predictions that the length of the breeding season and occurrence of anaemia were influenced by a lack of protein in the diet were not upheld. Myxomatosis appeared in late summer each year as in inland southern Australia. Studies of the immunostatus of the population showed that, even in the years before RHDV was released in Australia, 80–100% of adult animals were seropositive when tested with ELISA specifically designed to detect antibodies to RHDV, arguably owing to the presence of a RHDV-like virus. The proportion of seropositive animals fell when annual rainfall was below 600 mm and rose when it was above 700 mm. Presumably, in areas where rainfall is usually low the proportion of the population infected with the putative RHDV-like virus would slowly drop to a low level, providing a possible basis for the different epidemiological patterns found for RHDV in different parts of Australia.

Yield gap analysis of rainfed wheat demonstrates local to global relevance

2016 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 282-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. GOBBETT ◽  
Z. HOCHMAN ◽  
H. HORAN ◽  
J. NAVARRO GARCIA ◽  
P. GRASSINI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Rainfall Variability ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Substantial Contribution ◽  
Yield Gap ◽  
Wheat Production ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall ◽  
Rainfed Wheat ◽  
Global Food

SUMMARYAustralia has a role to play in future global food security as it contributes 0·12 of global wheat exports. How much more can it contribute with current technology and varieties? The present paper seeks to quantify the gap between water-limited yield potential (Yw) and farmer yields (Ya) for wheat in Australia by implementing a new protocol developed by the Global Yield Gap and Water Productivity Atlas (GYGA) project. Results of past Australian yield gap studies are difficult to compare with studies in other countries because they were conducted using a variety of methods and at a range of scales. The GYGA project protocols were designed to facilitate comparisons among countries through the application of a consistent yet flexible methodology. This is the first implementation of GYGA protocols in a country with the high spatial and temporal climatic variability that exists in Australia.The present paper describes the application of the GYGA protocol to the whole Australian grain zone to derive estimates of rainfed wheat yield gap. The Australian grain zone was partitioned into six key agro-climatic zones (CZs) defined by the GYGA Extrapolation Domain (GYGA-ED) zonation scheme. A total of 22 Reference Weather Stations (RWS) were selected, distributed among the CZs to represent the entire Australian grain zone. The Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) Wheat crop model was used to simulate Yw of wheat crops for major soil types at each RWS from 1996 to 2010. Wheat varieties, agronomy and distribution of wheat cropping were held constant over the 15-year period. Locally representative dominant soils were selected for each RWS and generic sowing rules were specified based on local expertise. Actual yield (Ya) data were sourced from national agricultural data sets. To upscale Ya and Yw values from RWS to CZs and then to national scale, values were weighted according to the area of winter cereal cropping within RWS buffer zones. The national yield gap (Yg = Yw–Ya) and relative yield (Y% = 100 × Ya/Yw) were then calculated from the weighted values.The present study found that the national Yg was 2·0 tonnes (t)/ha and Y% was 47%. The analysis was extended to consider factors contributing to the yield gap. It was revealed that the RWS 15-year average Ya and Yw were strongly correlated (R2 = 0·76) and that RWS with higher Yw had higher Yg. Despite variable seasonal conditions, Y% was relatively stable over the 15 years. For the 22 RWS, average Yg correlated positively and strongly with average annual rainfall amount, but surprisingly it correlated poorly with RWS rainfall variability. Similarly, Y% correlated negatively but less strongly (R2 = 0·33) with RWS average annual rainfall, and correlated poorly with RWS rainfall variability, which raises questions about how Australian farmers manage climate risk. Interestingly a negative relationship was found between Yg and variability of Yw for the 22 RWS (R2 = 0·66), and a positive relationship between Y% and Yw variability (R2 = 0·23), which suggests that farmers in lower yielding, more variable sites are achieving yields closer to Yw. The Yg estimates appear to be quite robust in the context of estimates from other Australian studies, adding confidence to the validity of the GYGA protocol. Closing the national yield gap so that Ya is 0·80 of Yw, which is the level of Yg closure achieved consistently by the most progressive Australian farmers, would increase the average annual wheat production (20·9 million t in 1996/07 to 2010/11) by an estimated 15·3 million t, which is a 72% increase. This indicates substantial potential for Australia to increase wheat production on existing farmland areas using currently available crop varieties and farming practices and thus make a substantial contribution to achieving future global food security.

THE ROLE OF GRASSLAND IN MANAGEMENT

1968 ◽  
pp. 44-49
Author(s):  
B.K. Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Silt Loam ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall ◽  
Very High ◽  
Wilting Point

THE PROPERTY to be discussed is a mixed sheep and cropping unit, situated ei ht a miles east of Ashburton and midway between the Ra aia and the Ashburton rivers. Average annual rainfall is 27 in., evenly spread, but there is very high summer evaporation and therefore frequent droughts. On average, the soil is below wilting point for 40 to 50 days each summer. Winters are cold with the soil temperature being below 48°F for about four months each year. The soil is a Lismore stony silt loam averaging 9 in. in depth over gravel.

Wind blown sediment mass budget of Sahelian village land units in Niger

2001 ◽  
Vol 172 (5) ◽  
pp. 523-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Louis Rajot
Keyword(s):  
Wind Erosion ◽  
Size Range ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Complete Disappearance ◽  
Mass Budget ◽  
Sediment Mass ◽  
Aeolian Sediments ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall ◽  
The Village

Abstract To assess the mass budget of aeolian sediments transported by wind (erosion vs. deposition) at the scale of village land units (25 kmX25 km), measurements were carried out during 3 years (from 1996 to 1998) in a cultivated field and in a fallow area simultaneously. These were located in the Sahelian zone of Niger with an average annual rainfall of 560 mm. The vertical upward fluxes of particles &lt;20 mu m exported from the study area were estimated from the horizontal sediment fluxes measured using BSNE sand catchers. This mass of exported dust was compared with the vertical downward fluxes of particles of the same size range (&lt;20 mu m) measured using passive CAPYR collectors. Values of deposition recorded in the field and in the fallow were similar. In the field, wind erosion reached its maximum in May and June when the vegetation cover was minimal. In the fallow area, wind erosion was always very low in comparison with the field. It occurred during the strongest storms when the grass cover was minimal. Nevertheless, the net balance between deposition and erosion was highly positive in the fallow areas. These results have been extrapolated at the scale of the village land units based on the current land use. At this scale, the balance was positive for the arable land, indicating a net deposition of aeolian sediments of +0.36 t ha (super -1) yr (super -1) . However, the complete disappearance of fallow land would result in a balanced budget for the arable land.

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