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1996
Katanning Interdisciplinary Research Forum Katanning Interdisciplinary Research Forum
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia
Follow this and additional works at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/reports Part of the Agriculture Commons
Recommended Citation Recommended Citation
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia. (1996), Katanning Interdisciplinary Research Forum.
Department of Agriculture, Perth. Report.
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AnnualPastureinanIntegratedLivestock/CroppingSystem Thefittingofsuitablecultivarstospecificfarmingsystems/managementstrategies androtationisanimportantindustryneed. Pasturelegumecultivarsmustbeableto maximiseestablishingplantnumbersinthepasturephaseoftherotation.
R.A.Latta
Introduction Discussion
Thedeliberateuseofself-regeneratingannuallegumesinlegumecerealrotations providesignificantbenefits,throughincreasedcerealyieldsandlivestocknumbers.
Apotentialdoublingofthenationalcerealyieldwaspredicted,the1960’s,ifdemand warranted,withsuccessfulley-farmingsystemsprovidingthemajorimpetusto ensurethatachievement
Thebenefitsderivedfromimprovingthelegumecomponentofapasturearequite evident,however,thechallengeremainstogainandmaintainclientuptake. “New”
systemssuchasphasefarmingandcultivarssuchasbalansaclover,lucerneand serradellaarebeingtargetedtoachievewiderappealforthismostenvironmentaland economicallyviablefarmingpractice.
Inthe1970’sandintothe1980’stheley-farmingsystemwaschanging. Rotations werebeingshortened,therewasanincreasedusedofbroad-leavedweedherbicides andaspreadofredleggedearthmite,sitonaweevilandpastureaphids. Annual legumebasedpastureswereoftenlargelycomposedofannualgrassescarrying associateddiseasesintothesubsequentcerealphaseoftherotation. Thesefactors werethreateningtheviabilityofthesub-cloversandannualmedicsandthereforethe ley-farmingsystem.
Inresponsetoimprovedlivestockreturns,thedevelopmentofimprovedcultivarsand betterpastureestablishmentandmanagementtechniquestherewasanincreaseinthe areaseededtosubcloversandmedicsinthe1980’s. However,recentsurveyssuggest thattheresowingshavebeenlargelyunsuccessfulwithlowplantdensitiespresentin mostpaddocks,apartfromthosewherethefarmerhasimposedrelativelyhighinputs, intermsofweedandinsectcontrolandplantnutrition.
Thispaperpresentsabriefcaseinsupportoftheongoingprogressoftheley-farming systemthroughtargetedinputsintopasturemanagement.
Results
Currentresearchhasshownapositiverelationshipbetweenpasturelegumedry matterproductionandincreasedgrainyieldandproteinpercentageinthecereal phaseoftherotation. Increasedgrassdrymatterand/ordensityhadanegative impactongrainyieldandproteinpercentage. However,chemicalmanipulationof thepasturewasshowntobeanessentialmanagementpracticetomaintainorimprove thelegumecomponentinthepasturephase.
Grazingsheepatclosetotwicethedistrictstockingrateonamedic-basedpasture wasshowntoincreaseboththemedicherbageproductionandthesubsequentcereal productivity,withnomeasurednegativeimpactonanimalproduction.
PulseResearchandDevelopment
iNOORPORA'IlONOFUXIKNEINIOnKWHOIJiFAI^MSYSITM
R.Jetlner L-JBlacklow
Theinclusionofpulsesintofarmingsystemshasthedualobjectiveofactingasa breakcropincerealsystemsbyprovidingasourceofresidualorganicnitrogen, opportunitiesforrotationalweedanddiseasecontrolandimprovingsoilstructureand theobjectiveofachievingprofitbyprovidingareadilyharvestablehighproteinseed forbothon-farmuseandoff-farmcashmarkets.
Background
Lucerneisexperiencingaresurgenceinpopularityasapasturespeciessinceits demiseduetoinsectattackinthe 1970sand1980s. Withnewinsectresistance varietieslucerneisonceagainbecomingaviablepastureoptionforfarmers. The benefitsoflucerneincludeitsabilitytocontributetothesoilnitrogenpoolwhichwill helpreducefertiliserinputcostsinthecropphaseandimprovegrainyieldand quality,providehighlydigestibleandnutritiousfeedpotentiallyyearroundand reducewatertables.
ThepulseindustryinWesternAustraliahastraditionallybeenbasedonthenarrow- leaflupin. Asustainedeffortinbreeding,managementandmarketingoflupinsover thelast30yearshasseentheindustrygrowinareatoapproximately 1.2million hectares. Narrowleaflupiniswellsuitedtolargeareasofdeep,coarse-textured,low pHsandysoilsinWesternAustralia. However,lupinispoorlyadaptedtotheneutral toalkalinered-brownearths,duplexsoilsandshallowred-earthsofsouth-west Australia.
ThebenefitsoflucernehavebeenrecognisedbyCL1MAandtheGrainsResearch andDevelopmentCorporationwhohavesupportedafiveyearprojecttoevaluate lucerneinphasefarmingsystemsintheGreatSouthernregionofWesternAustralia.
Oneaspectoftheresearchprojectistodevelopmethodsoflucerneestablishment undercover-cropsthatareharvestedforhayorgrain. Presently,thedisadvantageof establishinglucerneisthatstandsrequireoneseasontoestablish. Thismeansthat economicreturnoffthatlandisnegateduntilyearstwoandonwardswhilslstill maintaininginputcosts. Manyprimaryproducersarckeentoestablishlucerne,even inpresenteconomicclimes,butarehesitantinremovingproductivelandfromthe accountantsbalancesheetandnotoffsetting,immediately,inputcosts. Todevelop lucerneestablishmenttechniqueswithacashcover-crop,whilstmaintaining satisfactorylucerneplantdensities,wouldencouragemanymorepeopletoinclude thisbeneficialpasturespeciesintheircropping-pasturerotation.
Over50%oftheGreatSouthernandlakesregionhavered-brownearthsoilsand shallowsandyandloamyduplexsoilswhichareoftenneutraltoalkalinepH. In reccmyears,thegrainproteinlevelofwhealgrownonthesesoilshassteadilybeen declining. Forsustainablecropproduction,growerscroppingonthesesoilsrequireai leastonepulsetoincludeintheirrotation.
In 1992,theDepartmentofAgriculturecommencedalargeeffortinestablishingnew profitablefoodlegumeindustrieswithexportpotential. Thisistobeachievedby identifyingpulsecropssuitedtotheheaviersoilsandbydevelopingcrop managementpackagesthatenablefarmerstoprofitablyadoptpulses.
Overthelastfouryears,AgricultureWesternAustraliahaveconductedpulseresearch trialsintheGreatSouthern,SouthCoastandLakesregions. Theirobjectiveshave beentodefinethemostappropriatecombinationsofsoiltypexgrainlegumex managementforprofitablegrainlegumeproductioninthemajorfarmingsystems.
Fieldtrialshavedemonstratedthegreatpotentialfortheproductionoffababean, chickpea,albuslupinandlentilonsoiltypesthatnarrow-leaflupinsarepoorly adapted.
Asthepulseindustriesintheregionexpand,emphasismustnowbeplacedonthe improvementofbothgrainyieldandgrainqualityofthepulsesgrownintheslate.
Developmentofstablemanagementpackagesandtheevaluationofvarietiesand breedingmaterialsuitedtoourenvironmentarehighpriorities.
ResearchandDiscussion 1995
In 1995anestablishmentexperimentwassowninPingrup(<350mm/annum)which assesseddifferentcover-cropestablishmentmethods(Figure1). Theresultsshowed, conclusively,thatlucerneestablishmentwithoutacover-cropandshallowresultedin thehighestplantdensitiesandbiomassproduction. Themostsuccessfulmethodof establishinglucernewithawhealcover-cropwastotopdresslucerneinamongstrows ofwheat,thishowever,resultedinalucernebiomassyieldtobereducedby36times.
Interrowinganddrillinglucernewithwheal(3cm)resultedinpoorlucerne new
Awellmanagedlegumerotationsu-onglyimprovesthechanceofobtaininggrain suitableforsomeofthehighervaluesegregations. Considerthelengthofthelegume phase,theamountofdrymatterproducedinthelegumephaseandtheseedyield.
establishment. Lucernehadnosignificant(p0.05)effectonwheatplantdensitiesor yields,whichexceeded2t/haforalltreatments.
Observationsin 1996ofthe 1995lucerneestablishmenttrialhavebeenthatlucerne sownwithoutacover-crophasdevelopedalargecrownandlucernesownwitha cover-cropisweakandsimilartoanestablishingfirstyearplant.
Thelongerthelegumephaseandhighdrymatterproductionarelikelytocontribute tohigherproteincontents(yieldsaswell). Thecontributionwillvaryfrom yearto year soitisimportanttounderstandtheseasonaleffects. Proteincontents"fromout ofnowhere”in 1995indicatetheimportancesummerrainfallmayhaveonthe mineralisationofN,apointtonotewhendecidingwheretoproducesoftornoodle wheatwhichhaveamaximumproteincontent. Canolagenerallyprovidesanideal breakforsoftwheatorbarleyunlessthecanolawasgrownafteralonggoodlegume phaseonaloamysoiltype(Figure1).
Thistrialhadsomeinherentproblemsinthatfirstly,cover-cropratewasestimatedto beonly 10%lessthantheraleusedformonoculturewheatcrops,ratethatisprobably toocompetitive. Secondly,sowingconfigurationlimitationsofthemachinery resultedinpoorlucerneseedplacementwhichbiasedcertaintreatments.
1996 Economicgrainyieldresponsescanstillbeachievedwiththeadditionof50kg/haof
N. Thisistheminimumrateadvisabletoachieve9.5%proteinonthelightersoil types. RotauonandappropriateNratesmustbeusedtocomplementeachother,n doesnotpaytofertiliseforproteinalone.
In 1996cover-cropestablishmenttrialshavebeenexpanded. Theaimistominimise competitiontowardsestablishinglucernewhilststillgaininganeconomicyieldoff thecover-cropandmaximisinglucernestanddensity.
Intwotrials,duplicatedintwoclimaticenvironments,Pingrup(<350mm/annum) andBorden(>350mm/annum),luccmcestablishmentsuccesswillbeassessed underdifferentsowingrateregimesofthecover-cropandlucerneandrowspacings betweenthecover-cropandlucerne.
FundedbyGRDC(WesternRegion)
E
s £ .£•
Q
Figure 1:AveragegrainproteinresponseofwheatsownmidMaytoNapplication J5 (kg/ha)followingvariousrotations(1994).
L=Lupins.W=WheatP=Pasture.B=Barlcy.0=Oats.(95)=Resultsfrom1995
Q_
Fig 1.Lucerneplantdensitiesofthe 1995sownestablishmenttrialin
Pingrup.(l^L.ucerne,W=Wheat.D=Drilled(3cm),TD=Topdressed.N=Nitrogen(0or40kg/ha;.
18or36cm=RowSpacings)
MakingtheGradeforWheat
DecreasingtheRegionalImpactofAnnualRyegrassToxicity inWesternAustralia
B.ShackleyandR.Tugwell
W.D.Roberts Background
ProjectObjectives
Lessthan20%ofthewheatcropproducedinthesouthernwheatbeltisreceivedinto highvaluesegregation(A.SoftorASWNoodle)orhigh(>10%)protein
segregationsforASW. Thisisareflectionofthelowproteincontent(<9.5%)ofthe wheatreceivedoverthelasttenyearsandtheamountofgrainreceivedasGeneral Putpose(GP). Overthelast5yearsapproximately33%ofthesoftwheatdelivered wasdowngraded. TheproportionofASWdowngradedissimilartosoftwheatbut morevariable.
Todevelopproceduresforpredictingtheoccurrenceandspreadofannualrye-grass toxicity(ARGT)inWesternAustraliaby:
1.determiningthegeographicaldistributionoffarmsreportinglossesfromARGT.
2.comparingenvironmentalandmanagementfactorsinareasofhighandlow prevalenceofARGT.
Reasonsfordowngradingincludelowprotein,screenings,weatherstainingoreven highproteininthecaseofsoftandnoodlewheat. Thesefactorscanbeinfluencedby theseason,managementandinsomecasesvariety. Researchisbeingconductedto developmanagementsystemsthatminimiseseasonalinfluenceontheoccurrenceof smallgrainsandinappropriateproteinlevels.
Summaryoftheproject
Thisprojecthasdevelopedaprocedureformonitoringtheoccurrenceandspreadof ARGTinWesternAustralia. However,theeffectsofregion,farmandpaddockrisk factorsaswellastheirinteracdonssuggestthatconcentradonofbacterialgallsand thelevelofcorynetoxins,asmeasuredinthisstudy,wouldbeapoorpredictorofrisk ofcorynetoxinpoisoning.
ProjectAims
Todevelopmanagementsystemsminimisingoccurrenceofsmallgrainsand low/highprotein.
Optimisemanagementtominimisesusceptibilityofeultivarsandcrossbreds tosmallgrains.
1.
ManysheepgrazepaddocksinfestedwithbacterialgallsanddonotdevelopARGT.
Intakeofcorynetoxinsbysheepisapparendyoccurringinpaddocksratedlow, mediumorhighriskofARGT. Condnuingwidespreadbutsporadicstocklosses from ARGTcanbeanticipatedand,unlessmanagementstrategiesareadapted,the highcostassociatedwithcontrolorprevendonofthisdiseasewillcontinuein endemicARGTareas.
2.
3. Identifymechanismsthatcontrolproductionofsmallgrains.
ResultsandDiscussion
Theperformanceofclubheadeultivarsandnonclubheadsoftwheatcrossbredsunder differentmanagementstrategiesarebeingcomparedinthenewresearchproject.
Adoptionofdienonclubheadtypes,whichhavelargergrainsthantheexisting clubheads,mayhelptoavoiddowngradingthroughthereductionofscreenings.
Screeningswerenotaprobleminthesoftwheattrialprogramin1995,howeverthere issomeindicationthatmoderatetohighlevelsofnitrogenmayleadtohigher screeningsintheculdvarTincunin. Preliminaryresultsinotherwheatmanagement trialssuggestthattheremaybesomescopeinmanagingscreeningsviaseeddensity ornitrogennulridonbutthiscanvarywiththeculdvar.
Practicaluseoftheresults
ThereislitdeevidenceinthisstudythatfarmersfromendemicARGTareasare proficientinthemanagementoftheARGTorganismsbasedontheconcentradonin rye-grassseed. Otherfactorscontributedtothevariationindiseaseexpression between 1991to 1993.
Thisstudyhasprovidedfannerswithregionalriskassessment Tominimisedie impactofARGTcosteffeedvecontrolmeasuresshouldtargetfarmerswherethe diseaseisendemic. AdifferentmixofstrategiesisneededforareaswhereARGT onlyoccursinfrequendy.
Theinformationgatheredabouttheeffectivenessoftreesonwaterlogging,salinity andshelter(hencetheeffectoncropyield)maybeincorporatedintosingleyear economicmodelssuchasMIDASandinvestmentanalysisspreadsheetssuchas Pilot/CopiloL Thiswillenablebetteradvicetofarmersinthedevelopmentof treatmentsforwaterloggingandsalinitycontrol.
Thiswillbeparticularlyimportantinthenextfewyearsasalternativecontrol strategiesforARGTbecomeavailable. AnyreductionintheincidenceofARGTina regionwilldependonwidespreadadoptionandcorrectapplicationofthese
managementpractisesbyfarmers.
Theincidenceofherbicide-resistantannualrye-grasspopulationsinthewheatbelt willcontinuetoincreaseinthe1990’sandthusleadstoincreasedgallproduction.
Withtheemergenceofherbicideresistantrye-grass,managementprogramsfor infestedpaddockswillneedtoincludeacomponentforthemonitoringandcontrolof ARGT. Again,adifferentmixofstrategiesisneededbetweenendemicorsporadic ARGTareas.
Resultsofthedurationandincidenceofwaterloggingadjacenttotreeswithand withoutdrainswillbepresentedalongwithcropyields. Measurementsoftreesap fluxwillbediscussedaswillthesignificanceofthecontributionoftreestothewater balance. Thecollaborativenatureofthestudywillalsobehighlighted.
FundedbytheMeatResearchCorporation.
References
Kang,B.T.,Reynolds,L.,Atta-Krah,A.N.(1990).Alleyfarming. AdvancesinAgronomy43:315- 359.
Kort,J.(1988).Benefitsofwindbreakstofieldandforagecrops. Agriculture,Ecosystemsand Environments.22/23:165-190.
McFarlane,D.J.andCox,J.(1990).Seepageinterceptordrainsforreducingwaterloggingand salinity. WAJournalofAgriculture.31:2,66-69.
McFarlane,DJ.,Wheaton,G.A.,Negus,T.R.andWallace,J.F.(1992).Effectsofwaterloggingon cropandpastureproductionintheUpperGreatSouthernWesternAustralia.WADepartmentof AgricultureTechnicalBulletinNo86,45pp.
SelectCommiueeintoLandConservation(1991).FinalReport.GovernmentPrinter.WA(192pp).
GroundwaterRechargeControlwithTreesandPerennial
Pastures. IncreasingtheProductivityokWaterloggedand
ModeratelySalineLandforSheepandWoolProduction.
B. Ward T.Casson
Waterloggingisestimatedtoaffect1.8millionhectares(0.5Mincropand1.3Min pasture)andcost$90millionannuallyinlostproduction(SelectCommitteeinto LandConservation,1991). Theeffectsofwaterloggingoncropandpasture productionintheUpperGreatSouthernhavebeendescribedbyMcFarlaneelal (1992). Waterloggingalsocontributestorechargeofdeepsalinegroundwater systems(McFarlaneandCox,1990)potentiallyaffecting2.4millionhectares(Select CommitteeintoLandConservation, 1991). Whilsttheeconomicimplicationofthese problemsarerelativelyclear,thebiophysicalknowledgeuponwhichsolutionscanbe basedisverylimited. Thishasleadtouncertaintyinthedesignandextensionof possibletreatments. Itisalsoclearthatcontroloflanddegradationproblemssuchas waterlogging,salinityandwinderosionthatoccuronpaddockandcatchmentscale requirestheintroductionofmoreperennialplantcovertofarmingsystemsover extensiveareas,ratherthanintensivetreatmentsonsmallareas.
Briefbackground
Limitedproductiondataconstrainthedevelopmentofgrazingsystemsforwinter waterlogged,moderatelysalineareas. Althoughspeciestoleranttowaterloggingand moderatesalinitywillnothavetheinherentproblemsofsaltbushes(highsalt,poor drymatterdensity)thelackofgoodgrazingdataintraditionalandalleyfarming systemsinthisenvironmentneedstobeaddressedtodeterminetheirwholefarm valueanddevelopthebestsystemsfortheefficientutilisation.
Majorfindingstodate
AgrazingexperimentwassowninMay/June1995withfourreplicatesoffour pastures:Balansaclover,Balansaclover+fescue,Balansaclover+Concord,Persian clover+concord. Controlplotsofunimprovedlandwereincluded forcomparison.
ThesepastureswerethengrazedfromsenescencebyMerinoweanerwethersinorder todetermineifimprovedpasturesonwaterlogged/modcratelysalinelandcould providedietofsufficientqualitytopermitcontinuedgrowthbyyoungsheepover summer.
Systemsthatcombinetrees,shrubsandannualcropshavedevelopedinotheraresof theworld. Areviewofagronomicworkonthesesystems(Kangetal. 1990)shows manypositiveresults. Longterm(625fieldyears)yieldincreasesaveraging 15%in wheal,barley,oats,cornandsoybeansfromtreewindbreaksintheGreatPlainsof NorthAmericahavealsobeenreportedbyKort(1988). Combiningthepotentialto controlwaterlogging,salinityandwinderosionwiththeprospectofshelterbenefits ofcropyieldsrepresentsasignificantmovetowardsagriculturalsustainability.
Improvedpasturesgrewuptothreetimestheamountofdrymatterproducedon controlplots(2.5l/ha). AllplotswerestockedinthesecondweekofDecember‘95 accordingtotheamountofdrymatteravailableaftersenescence(improvedpastures 26sheep/ha,controlplots10sheep/ha).
Thispaperdetailsresearchonthelikelyimpactofcombiningtreesandother perennialvegetationwithagricultureoncropproduction,waterloggingandrecharge.
SuchasystemhasnotpreviouslybeeninvestigatedinaMediterraneanclimatewith duplexsoils. Thestudyaimstomeasuretheeffectofuees(withandwithoutdrains) onwaterloggingandcropproduction. Thewaterbalanceof5hablocksofperennial andannualvegetationbetweenbeltsoftreesalongdrains(about200mapart)is beingcalculated. Theeffectsofthetreatmentsonthecomponentsofthewater balancewillbelinkedtomeasurementsofcropperformancesuchasgermination, development,biomass,leafarea,rootingdepth,cropyieldandcropcomponents. The sitesareinstrumentedwithpiezometerstorelatelocalhydrologytoregional
hydrologyanddipwellstomeasureincidenceanddurationofwaterlogging.
Heavyrain(>3()mm)overChristmas'95hadamajoreffectonthedrymatter availabletosheeponimprovedpastures,whichdroppedto2.0to2.5t/habymid January,whilelittleeffectwasobservedonunimprovedpastureswhichremainedat theselevels. However,evenwiththeselargealterationsintheavailabledrymatter, sheepgrazingimprovedpastures(stillat326sheep/ha)continuedtomaintainamuch higherliveweightthanthoseonunimprovedpastures(10sheep/ha).
Thisimprovementinliveweightswasreflectedinwoolproductionwithsheepon improvedpastureshavingheaviercleanfleeceweights(1.95kgef. 1.7kg),withthe differencebeingentirelyattributabletothe10weekperiodofearlysummergrazing.
ImprovingFarmingSystemsonHardskttingGreyCeaySoils LiveweightofMerinoweanerwethersgrazingpastureon waterlogged/moderatelysalinelandatWoodanilling P.D.FisherandJ.M.Bignell
HardsettinggreyclaysoilsareamajorsoiltypewithinWesternAustralia,occupying morethan1.5millionhectares(NurmohamedandPatabendige,1992•).However theirmanagementispoorlyunderstoodandtheirwidespreadproductivityisthought tobeseverelyrestrictedduetothelackofsuitablefarmingsystems.TheGrains ResearchandDevelopmentCorporationandAgriculturalWesternAustraliahave initiatedafiveyearmulti-disciplinaryresearchprojecttoaddressthefarmingsystem constraintsonthesesoiltypes.TheprojectcommencedinJuly1995witha
comprehensivefarmersurveytoobtaininformationontheextentofthesesoilsand thepopularityofcurrentfarmingsystems.Acriticalobjectiveofthefarmersurvey wastoidentifyfarmerperceivedproblemswiththemanagementofhardsettinggrey claysoilssothatresearchobjectivescouldbechosenwhichhavethebroadsupportof thefarmingcommunity.
Weekofgrazing Thispaperwilldescribesomeoftheresultsfromthebroadscalefarmersurvey.
Theseresultsillustratetheunanimousnatureofsomefarmerperceivedproblems,but alsothevariabilityofmanyoftheconcernsthatfarmershavewiththemanagement ofthesesoils.Thepaperwilldescribehowanunderstandingofthewholefarming systemhasbeenusedtodevelopatwoprongedapproachtoimprovingfarming systemsonhardsettinggreyclaysoils.
Woolgrowth byweanersgrazingpastureson waterlogged/moderatelysalineland
cleanwool8 EU lialansa
S Balansa+ryegrass
□ Balansa+fescue
■ Control
■ Persian+ryegrass (kg/ha)^
Oneapproachwillbealongtermcomparativeevaluationofcurrentandemerging farmingsystemsonascalewhichmostfarmerscanrelateto.Thiscomparativestudy willevaluatethebottomlineeconomicstohelpfarmersselectthemostsuitable farmingsystemfortheirparticularcircumstances,andwillalsoallowevaluationof factorswhichareofgrowinginteresttofarmersbutwhichtheymayhavedifficully indetermining,suchaswateruseefficiency,risingwatertables,sustainabilityofsoil structureandorganicmatter,andnutrientcycling.
6 5 4 3 2 Theotherapproachwillbefundamentalresearchintothefactorswithinthesoil
environmentwhichmightrestrictyieldsfromreachingtheirpotential,under particularclimaticconditions.Thisworkisnotintendedtobesuitableforfarmlevel applicationatthisstage,butratheritisintended toidentifyfactorswhichwill becomethefocusoffutureappliedresearchtofurtherdevelopimprovedfarming systems.
References
Nurmohamed,JandPatabendige,D.,1992.ManagementofMoortSoilsintheGrealSouthern RegionofWesternAustralia.DeparunenlofAgricultureWesternAusualiaTechnicalReportNo56.
1 0
Dec7toJan8 Jan8toFeb5 FebtoMar7
BreedingforWoolQuantityandQuality Implications J.Greeff
•increasedplantavailablenitrogenearlyinthecropsgrowingseason
•mayreducetheneedforlopdressing
•increasedyieldsthroughincreasedtillersinitiatedinseedlingcrops.
Breedingsheepforbothwoolquantityandqualityisacomplextask. Woolquantity dependsontraitssuchasfollicledensity,staplelengthandfibrediameterwhilewool qualityisdeterminedbyanumberofdifferenttraits. Usingthepriceofwoolasa guidetodeterminewhichqualitytraitsarethemostimportant,ithasbeenshownthat fibrediameteraccountsfrom50upto80percentandstaplestrengthfrom10to 15 percentofthevariationofthepriceofwool. Therestismadeofsmallcontributions formstyle,vegetablematter,colour,marketing,etc.
•mayhavefurtherimplicationsforpractitionersofminimumtillageasinthese techniquesthereislimitedsoildisturbanceandlowerratesofresiduebreakdown(less organicmatteroxidation).
Toimprovewoolquantityandqualitygenetically,anumberoftraitsneedtobe changedsimultaneously. Thesetraitsareinheriteddifferentlyandaregeneticallyand phenotypicallylinked. Thismeansthatchanginganetraitwillalsohaveaneffecton anumberofothertraits. Asdifferentbreedershavedifferentbreedingobjectivesitis thereforeessentialthatbreedersmustbeawareofwhatgeneticchangescanbe achievedwhenbreedingforimprovedwoolquantityandquality.
ResearchatGSARIinKatanninghasquantifiedthesegeneticandphenotypic relationships. Itisnowpossibletoadviserambreedersonwhatchangestheycan expecttoachieveforthemostimportantwooltraits. Ithasbeenshownthatshould breedersselectanimalsonlyonfleeceweightandfibrediameterwhilemaintaining bodyweight,theymayruntheriskofdecreasingtheirstaplestrengthasacorrelated responsedependingontheamountofselectionpressureappliedtofibrediameter.
Thisnegativeeffectcanbepreventedbeusingcoefficientoffibrediameterasan indirectselectioncriteriontoimprovestablestrengthinthemultipletrainselection index. Ithasbeenshownthatitcanbeupto80percentasefficientasselectingon staple
DoesPastureManipulationandSpraytopping ImproveSoil
NitrogenLevels?
Theroleofmitochondrialfunctionincervicaltransitby
RAMSPERM D.Windsor
Aseriesofexperimentswereperformedtoinvestigatetheeffectoffreezingand thawingonmitochondrialfunctioninramsperm,todeterminetheeffectivenessof currentfreezingproceduresinpreventingmitochondrialinjury,andtoinvestigatethe roleofmitochondrialrespirationinallowingramspermtopenetrateandcrossthe cervix, whilespermfromfrozenramsemenexhibitmotilityafterthawing,theylose theirabilitytocrossthecervix(LightfootandSalamon,1970). Onlythosesperm capableofaccumulatingrhodamine123(iethosewithfunctioningmitochondria) wereobservedtobecapableofmotilityinaviscousmedium.
A.Wallace
Atrialhasbeenrunninginayearinyearoutcrop:pasturerotation,atKatanningand Tincurrin,since1991. Pasturemanipulationandspraytoppinghavebeencarriedout eachyearforthecontrolofannualgrasses,withthesametreatmentsbeingappliedto thesameplots. Wheatcropshavebeenestablishedusingthedirectdrilltechniqueor followingasinglecultivation.
Plantavailablesoilnitrogen(NO3andNH4)hasbeenmeasuredatorimmediately priortothebreakoftheseasonforthepastfive(Katanning)ortwo(Tincurrin)years.
Asimplifiedrhodamine123uptakeassay(WindsorandWhite,1993)wasdeveloped tomonitormitochondrialfuncdonbeforeandafterfreezing. Theresultsofthis procedurewerehighlycorrelatedwiththeproportionofdamagedspermpresentina semensample.
Whereeffectivegrasscontrolhasbeenachievedthroughpasturemanipulationand sub-cloverhasbeenabletogrowintheabsenceofinterspecificcompetition,levelsof availablenitrogenaresignificantlyhigherthanwherenoorincompletegrasscontrol hasbeenconducted,from 123%-279%moreavailablenitrogencomparedtothe
controllevel. Thesemenfreezingproceduremostcommonlyusedbyindustrywascomparedtoa
numberofnewermethods,andtofreezingsemenwithoutthebenefitofprotective agents. Noneofthefreezingprotocolsexaminedresultedinspermwithhigherpost
thawlevelsofmitochondrialintegritythanunprotectedsperm. Itisconcludedthat currentproceduresforfreezingramsemendonotprovideadequateprotectionfor spermmitochondria.
Wherespraytoppinghasbeenconductedinspringofthepastureyeartheamountof availablenitrogenalmostinvariably,ifnotalwayssignificantly,increased. The effectwasmostnoticeableonplotswithpoorearlygrasscontrol.
Itisthoughtthatthiseffectiscausedbytwoprocesses. Firstlythemodeofactionof paraquat,theherbicideusedforspraytopping. Paraquatisacontactdesiccant herbicidewhichcausesrapiddeathofalltissuecontacted. Cellandchloroplast membraneintegrityislost. Thiswouldresultinthereleaseofcellcontentswithin theplantandmayhelptospeedthebreakdownprocess.
Merinoeweswereinseminatedwithsementreatedwithmetabolicinhibitors,using eithercervicalorlaparoscopicinsemination. Glycolyticinhibitiondidnotaffect fertility. Mitochondrialinhibitionreducedfertilityincervicallyinseminate(P<0.05), butnotlaparoscopicallyinseminatedewes. Thisisthepatterntypicallyassociated withinseminationwithfrozensemen(MaxwellandHewitt, 1986).
Secondly,weatherconditionsinspring(warmingtemperaturesandsomesoil moisture)wouldnotlimittheactivityofsoilorganisms,andmicrobialbreakdownof treatedplantresiduescouldcommenceintheyearoftreatmentratherthanbeing delayeduntilthefollowingautumnwiththereturnofmoistconditions.
Itisconcludedthatmitochondrialrespirationplaysanimportantpartinpenetration oftirecervixbyramsperm. Mitochondrialinjuryduringfreezingislikelytobe implicatedinthepoorfertilityoffrozenramsemenusedforcervicalinsemination.
Effectivelythen,spraytoppedpasturesareaheadonthebreakdownandconversionof plantresiduestoavailablenutrients,comparedtountoppedpastures. Whethera spraytoppedpasturewillyieldagreateramountoftotalnitrogenthananuntopped pastureisunknown. Itmaybethatonlythelengthofthebreakdownphasehasbeen alteredandnotthefinalnutrientyield.
References
Lightfoot,R.J.andSalamon,S.(1970).Fertilityoframspermatozoafrozenbythepelletmethod. I.
Transportandviabilityofspermatozoawithinthegenitaltractofdieewe.loumalofReproduction Fertility22,p385.
Maxwell,W.M.CandHewitt,L.J.Acomparisonofvaginal,cervicalandintrauterineinseminationof sheep.loumalofAgricultureScience106pp191-193(1986).
Windsor,D.P.andWhitel.G.(1993).Assessmentoframspermmitochondrialfunctionby quantitativedeterminationofspermrhodamine123accumulation. MolecularReproductive Development36pp354-360.
Mapofareassuitableofspeciesadaptedforwaterlogged,slightlysalineland.
Notes
Astepbeyondproducingamapofsailaffectedlandistolookattheoptionsfor improvingproductionfromtheseareas. TessCassonisworkingonincreasingwool productionfromwaterlogged,slightlysalinesoils. Ihaveproducedamap highlightingareasofseverelywaterloggedandmoderatelysalinelandwerepasture speciessuchasbalansawillgrow. Thiswillhelplocateresearchandtrialsitesand targetextensionprogramstoareaswithmostsuitableland. About69,000hectaresor about5%oftheKatanningsurveyareaisseverelywaterloggedandmoderatelyaffect bysalinity.
Theseexamplesshowhowevenbroadscalelandresourcesurveyscanassistinthe developmentofsustainablelanduses.
UsingResultsfromLandResourceSurveystoDevelop
SustainableFarmingSystems.
Notes
H.Percy
MembersoftheNaturalResourcesAssessmentGrouparecurrentlysurveyingthe landresources,inparticularsoilsandlandforms,intheagriculturalareasofWestern Australia. Amajorobjectiveoftheseactivitiesistocontributetosustainableland uses. TheteamworkingontheKatanningsurveyhavesurveyedabout1.5million hectaresinthemiddletoupperBlackwoodandupperGordon-FranklandandPallinup RiverssinceJune1991. Theresultsarebeingdrawntogetherinmapsandatechnical report Theseidentifythemajorsoilsintheareaandindicatewheretheyoccurinthe landscape. Soilprofiledescriptionsandchemicalanalysesfor2300sitesare availableintheSoilProfileDatabase. 1willusethreeexamplestoillustratehowthis mappingiscontributingtosustainableagriculturallanduseswithintheKatanning region.
FarmandCatchmentPlanning
Thereisahighdemandforsoilsinformationforlandholdersinvolvedinfarm planningactivities,datingbackto1989. Theapproachusedwastosimplifysoils informationintolandmanagementunits. Theinitialsetofunitswastosimplifysoils informationintolandmanagementunits. Theinitialsetofunits,developedin 1992, wererecentlyrevisedwherethelandresourcesurveyhasbeencompleted.
SalinitymapofthemiddleandupperBlackwoodcatchment
Salinityisapropertyofthesoilbutitsextentisdeterminedbythedepthtosaline watertable. Landresourcesurveysdonotattempttoevaluatethegroundwaterlevels.
Theextentofsalinesoilsineachsubsystemwereestimatedbymeasuringsoil salinity,observingplantindicatorsandlandscapeposition. PeterTilleandIallocated asalinitycategorytoeachsubsystem. Wehaveestimatedthat152,000hectaresof landismoderatelytoveryseverelyaffectedbysalinity(including15,000hectaresof saltlakes). Thisisover10%ofthesurveyarea.
AspartoftheBlackwoodProject,Ihopetousethesoil-landscapemaptopredict areasatriskofsalinity. Thiswouldrequiredataondepthtowatertables,rateof watertableriseandsaltstorageforeachunittype. Thisisasimilarapproachtothe landformpatternmethoddevelopedbyRuhiFerdowsianintheSouthernregion.
I
ntroductionNotes
TheFirstKalanningInterdisciplinaryResearchForumconvenedonWednesday, 18 September1996attheKobeelyaConferenceCentre,Kalanning,WesternAustralia.
TheForumwasorganisedbytheKatanningDistrictOfficeofAgricultureWAand hadthefollowingobjectives:
•Toimproveunderstandingoftheinterdisciplinaryimplicationsofresearch
•Toraiseawarenessofresearchprojects
•Tohelpfocusfutureresearchandinterdisciplinarycollaboration
•Togainandofferconstructivecriticism
ThispublicationcontainstheabstractsoftheForum. Thetopicsofresearchcovered, rangefromsoilmappingandmanagement,weedcontrol,wateruseefficiency,crop andpasturemanagement,throughtosheepproductionandgenetics. Thereshouldbe somethingofinteresttoeveryoneinvolvedinAgriculture.
ThroughouttheForumthemainthemeoftheinterdisciplinarynatureofresearchhas beenaddressed. Webelievethatthereviewofresearchresultsandproposed experimentationprogramsinamultidisciplinarycontextensuresagreaterinsightinto thecomplexinteractionswhichmustbeunderstoodinordertofindsustainable solutionstoagriculturalproblems.
WewouldliketothankDr.GraemeRobertson,theChiefExecutiveOfficerof AgricultureWAforpresentingtheForum'sopeningkeynotespeechonthetopicof researchforthe21stCentury. ThanksalsogotoMr.R.Hallwhospokeaboutthe researchneedsfortheagriculturalconsultant.Dr.B.Warrenwhoreviewedthe Forumatitsclose,andeveryoneelsewhocontributedtothepresentations. Special thanksgotothemembersoftheForumOrganisingCommitteenamely,AlexWallace (Secretary), MatthewAppelbee,Lisa-JaneBlacklow,HugoDunlop,JustinFuery, JohnMontgomeryandDavidWindsor.
PeterD.Fisher
(Chainnan,OrganisingCommittee)
ForumProgram
Notes
Session1:9.00am-10.15am 9.00amWelcome
9.05amResearchforthefarmerofthe21stcentury:DrGRobertson 9.40amLandusemapping:MsHPercy
10.00amPastureweedcontrolandnitrogen:MsAWallace 10.20amMorningTea
Session2: 10.45am-12.00pm
10.45amImprovingfarmingsystemsforgreyclaysoils:DrPFisher 11.05amWateruseinalleyfarming:MrBWard
11.25am Researchneedsfortheagriculturalconsultant:MrRHall 12.00pmLunch
Session3: 1.00pm-2.45pm
1.00pmWheatmanagement:MsBShackley 1.20pmPulsecropproduction:MsRJettner 1.40pmMedicsinfarmingsystems:MrRLatta
2.00pm Integratinglucerneinfarmingsystems:MsL-JBlacklow 2.20pmAnnualrye-grasstoxicity:DrDRoberts
2.45pmAfternoonTea
Session4:3.15pm-5.15pm
3.15pmSheepproductionfrombalansaclover:MsTCasson 3.35pmSheepgenedcs:DrJGreeff
3.55pmOvinespermphysiology: DrDWindsor 4.15pmDrBWarren
4.45pmClosingdiscussion
DinneratPM’sRestaurant7.00pm
I
Katanning Interdisciplinary Research Forum
Kobeelya Conference Centre, Katanning Wednesday 18 September 1996
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