Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
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Saltland pastures in Western Australia
No full textSaltland pastures are associations of salt and waterlogging-tolerant plants that produce fodder for grazing animals from saline and waterlogged soils. Saltland pastures can improve production from saltland sites, reduce salt movement from the site, and improve soil structure.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends that saltland management is part of a whole-farm, and preferably whole-catchment, plan
Shallow relief drains in Western Australia
No full textShallow relief drains are easy to construct and a cost-effective way to: remove accumulated surface water from depressions and low-lying land divert run-off from land that is prone to inundation or flooding remove surface water to a safe disposal area, to reduce the length of time the land is inundated or flooded reduce the potential for localised recharge and the development of secondary salinity improve the continuity of flow within the catchment along the valley floor
Interdecadal stability in ecological indicators suggests no ecosystem downgrading by a long-standing shark fishery
No full textFishing without management constraints considerably alters stocks, habitats, and ecosystems. Assessing fishing impacts at multiple levels is required to inform ecosystem-based management. We applied a range of ecological indicators to assess potential ecosystem effects resulting from the activities of a long-standing shark fishery in Western Australia. Following considerable fishing reductions triggered by the implementation of a range of management measures, the fishery\u27s spatial distribution, catch composition, and taxonomic and functional diversity indicators have fluctuated, even though remaining relatively stable through time, suggesting no systematic impacts on ecosystem structure
European wasp baiting trial 2020
No full textA Western Australian-first baiting program implemented by the department to eradicate European wasps from a 9 km stretch of rugged and largely inaccessible bushland of the Darling Scarp yielded promising results
Initiation of a farming systems trial series in Western Australia
No full textIn recent years substantial changes to Western Australian broadacre farming systems include large reductions in the area of pasture and grain legumes, increased canola production and more frequent cereal plantings (Harries 2023). In addition, the use of farm inputs such as pesticide and fertiliser have increased. To understand the implications of these changes on production constraints across the rotation, multi-year trials, that are managed as per farmer practice, are required. To achieve this, a similar approach as Eastern Australian colleagues was utilised, combining rotation x nitrogen fertiliser rate x sowing time treatments to simulate a wide range of current and alternative farming systems. In 2023 three trial sites were established: Northampton (Northern medium rainfall), Merredin (Central low rainfall) and Lake Grace (Southern medium rainfall). These trials test a range of crop and pasture rotations over four years
Bean yellow mosaic virus and its management in lupins
No full textBean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) is an aphid-transmitted virus that commonly causes necrotic symptoms that kills lupin plants when infected early before pod set. When plants are infected after pod set, black pods develop (known as black pod syndrome).
BYMV is found predominantly in high rainfall areas of the Western Australian (WA) grainbelt. This page outlines the symptoms, diagnosis, factors favouring disease risk and spread, yield and quality impacts, and management for BYMV in lupin crops in W
Blackleg and its management in canola
No full textBlackleg, caused by the fungus Leptosphaeria maculans, is the most common and serious disease of canola in Western Australia (WA). Blackleg can cause significant damage by infecting the cotyledons or first leaves early in the season, leading ultimately to crown lesions or cankers later in the season.
Changes in variety choice, crop rotation, earlier sowing times, and stubble retention have extended the risk of blackleg disease. Because of early emergence, later stages of crop growth are more likely to be exposed and infection can occur on all parts of the plant above ground, including canola flowers, stems, and branches (this is referred to as Upper Canopy Infection or UCI).
Diagnosis of blackleg in canola is available via our DDLS Plant pathology services, which is a chargeable service
Diamondback moth and its management in canola and crop weeds
No full textDiamondback moth larvae are a serious pest of canola, brassicas, and forage crops, and are difficult to control. The pest breeds up on summer weeds and volunteer canola plants. If there are abundant early rains and mild winters, diamondback moth larvae pose a risk to canola crops
Foliar diseases and their management in lupins
No full textThis factsheet describes symptoms and management of the major fungal and viral diseases affecting lupin foliage, stems, and pods. Several of these diseases have the capacity to cause significant losses if not managed effectively.
Inoculum can be carried in soil, seed, stubble, on green regrowth, or by insect vectors, depending on the disease. Therefore, an integrated approach to disease management is required using tactics such as crop rotation, stubble management, fungicide seed dressing, variety selection, and seed testin
Root lesion and burrowing nematodes and their management
No full textNematodes are common soil pests that feed on the roots of a wide range of crops in all agricultural areas of Western Australia, resulting in significant crop yield loss. Root lesion nematode can be managed but not eradicated.
This factsheet summarises the biology of the root lesion nematode (RLN, Pratylenchus spp.) and burrowing nematode (Radopholus spp.) species that damage Western Australian (WA) crops, and their diagnosis and management