Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
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Significance of honeybee pollination in increasing seed yield of Trifolium alexandrinum (Fabales: Fabaceae) and its impact on economic sustainability of smallholder farmers
No full textA major limitation to producing high seed yields in berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) is failure to set seed, predominantly due to lack of pollination. Despite the importance of berseem clover as a leading forage legume, the contribution of pollinators to seed set is scarce. In Pakistan, the honeybee population is declining mainly because of the extensive use of neonicotinoid pesticides and habitat fragmentation. This, combined with the region’s harsh environment and the use of inferior, locally bred genotypes, has resulted in low seed yields. Insufficient seed availability leads to limited forage supply, resulting in poor livestock nutrition, which subsequently impacts livestock health and productivity, and reduces farmers’ income. The present study estimated the seed production of 3 berseem clover genotypes resulting from honeybees [Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)] pollination in 2 growing seasons (2012–2014) in the central Punjab region of Pakistan. Experiments had 2 pollination treatments (open pollination and honeybee inclusion) and 3 seed genotypes, viz. farmer own-saved, market, and the improved variety cultivars. For both growing seasons, honeybee pollination resulted in significant increases in seed yields ranging from 35% to 67%, regardless of seed genotype. With the exception of the number of seed heads/m2, all seed yield parameters also increased significantly in response to honeybee inclusion. The combination of improved variety and honeybee inclusion resulted in the production of a maximum number of seeds per head (45.3), 1,000-seed weight (3.7 g), and estimated seed yield (375.5 kg/ha). In addition, the increase in estimated net income of seed ranged from PKR 82,485 Rs/ha (US1728/ha) with the use of honeybees as an insect pollinator across all the seed genotypes. Honeybee pollination has broader implications for mixed farming systems by playing a key role in preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable agriculture. It also enhances the quality and quantity of berseem crops by increasing the production of high-quality seeds and forage leading to improved livestock productivity and family food security which strengthens the economic resilience of rural communities
WA Insecticide Guide 2024 - Autumn Winter
No full textRegistered chemicals for broadacre crops in Western Australia.
The insecticides listed in the tables within this guide can be used on any crop appearing on the chemical label, if the rate used does not exceed the highest rate that is registered for use on that crop.
There are many products with different trade names that contain the same active ingredient. This list is not exhaustive and does not imply any specific recommendations of brand names.
Unless otherwise specified, all insecticides listed are emulsifiable concentrates (EC). Other insecticide formulations are suspension concentrate (SC), wettable powder (WP), capsule suspension (CS), wettable granules (WG), emulsion (EW) dry flowable (DF) and water dispersible granules (WDG). Ultra-low volume (ULV) insecticides are not listed.
Read the chemical label before use and check label withholding periods for grazing or hay/silage/fodder production before application.
Please turn on punctuation if using a screen reader.
The information tabled is a guide only. Whilst every care has been taken in preparation of the information, some errors or omissions may have occurred.https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fc_pestfactswa/1023/thumbnail.jp
Inert mineral mulches provide an additional grain yield on alkaline-sodic-saline soils of the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia
No full textPoor water relations reduce crops grown on alkaline-sodic-saline soils in low rainfall environments of the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia (\u3c 350mm, annual rainfall). The poor water relation is due to the high sodium content, which results in soil dispersion and low water infiltration, and the saline conditions associated with transient salinity, which result in osmotic stresses that reduce water availability. We investigated the impact on grain yield using novel soil amelioration systems, which include gypsum applied at a low rate (G0.1, 0.1 t ha-1), in-furrow compared to a high rate (G3.0, 3.0 t ha-1), gravel mulch (GM) (2–4 cm) thick applied to the soil surface and deep tillage using a Paraplow (PP) to 35 cm at three sites in the shires of Mullewa (Devils Creek), Merredin (Moorine Rock) and Esperance (Grass Patch) in 2022 and 2023. The GM treatment increased the average yield by 0.53 t ha-1 (0–1.24 t ha-1) across all sites and years, representing a mean percent yield increase of 54% (0–164%). The G0.1, G3.0, and PP treatment\u27s main effects were insignificant. Physical constraints are not the greatest constraint in these soils so investment in deep ripping can be ruled out until chemical constraints are managed. The only site to respond to gypsum was sodic with low EC in the topsoil. Mulching, through inert mineral mulch, can provide yield stability during drier seasons
Fisheries Research Report No. 339: Assessment of the status of the South Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource
No full textThis document provides the 2023 risk-based weight of evidence stock assessments for snapper, Bight redfish, hapuku, blue morwong, and Western blue groper for 2023 in the South Coast Bioregion (SCB)
Road to Robustness: Digital measurements of tree growth for precision orchard and fruit robustness management
No full textA goal of orchard management is producing consistent good quality saleable fruit that satisfies consumers and assures return buy. One way this could be achieved is by addressing fruit robustness. Fruit robustness is a term used to describe fruit with qualities that allow them to withstand postharvest rigours including handling, storage, time, and temperature fluctuations in the supply chain, especially those aimed for export markets. Less robust fruit are more prone to rots and disorders and can turn away consumers from repeat purchases of avocados. Fruit robustness is the topic of the national Hort Innovation funded project “AV21005- Growing Robust Avocados” researching what drives fruit robustness and how to achieve it consistently
Agricultural groundcover update December 2023
No full textSummary About 96% of the grainbelt had adequate vegetative groundcover (more than 50%) to prevent wind erosion in December 2023. In the northern half of the grainbelt, a larger-than-average area has 51–60% groundcover, which is expected to decrease to below 50% over the summer. Just under 4% of the grainbelt (553,000 ha) had less than 50% groundcover, which is inadequate to prevent wind erosion. West Midlands Ag Soil Zone had the highest risk of wind erosion and 11.4% of this farmland had inadequate groundcover. Less than 0.5% of the grainbelt had a high to very high risk of wind erosion because groundcover levels were less than 30%
Procedures for rangeland condition assessment in the Kimberley 2022
No full textThis report defines the procedures used in 2022 by DPIRD to complete rangeland condition assessment (RCA) in the Kimberley region which has grass-based pastures. For the rest of the pastoral estate, DPIRD uses the Procedures for RCA in the Pilbara and southern rangelands which have predominantly shrub pastures.
RCA is the process DPIRD uses to make systematic, lease-level assessment of rangeland. Rangeland condition considers both the condition of pastures (as defined in the \u27Pasture condition guide for the Kimberley\u27) and soils as determined by erosion, using the erosion assessment method on pastoral lands in Western Australia (WA). The methods have evolved over several decades of practice and are unique to WA.
RCAs generally report on the basis of pastoral stations, which may contain one or more pastoral leases and, on occasion, include land with other tenure types that is used for pastoral purposes.
The data collected during an RCA are used to report on rangeland condition at the lease and regional scales. The RCA aims to quantify the condition of rangeland landscapes and pastures and to use this and other information to assess the effectiveness of pastoral management. The RCA process is part of DPIRD\u27s regulatory compliance approach
Assessment of the status of the Pilbara Demersal Scalefish Resource
No full textExecutive Summary
For this assessment of the Pilbara Demersal Scalefish Resource (PDSR) of Western Australia, red emperor and bluespotted emperor are the indicator species used to represent the status of the resource. In addition, goldband snapper, though not an indicator species, is relatively abundant in the annual catches, particularly in deeper waters (around 100 m) and in the western Pilbara region and its status has also been assessed
Estimating soil texture by hand
No full textEstimating or measuring soil texture provides valuable information about soil properties affecting crop and pasture growth. Soil texture affects the movement and availability of air, nutrients, and water in soil. A simple and quick measure of soil texture is the way a soil feels when manipulated by hand.
The department recommends laboratory testing of soil texture (and other factors) for all critical soil uses, including farm dam construction and claying