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Sheep feed value guide
No full textSheep are supplementary fed for either survival or production purposes. Efficient supplementary feeding should aim to supply sheep with a diet that is sufficient in digestible energy and protein. We recommend testing feedstuffs, although the feed tables supplied here can be used to help roughly estimate the amount of grain and fodder required.
Knowing the value of different feedstuffs is critical when making decisions about livestock nutrition, for survival, maintenance and growth.
Supplementary feeding is a key part of a Western Australian (WA) sheep enterprise because most sheep systems are on annual pasture which is dry over the Mediterranean summer. Feed shortage over late summer and autumn are common
GreenFeed methane measuring machine
No full textThe Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) now has the cutting-edge GreenFeed machine which measures emissions from individual cows and sheep, allowing us to determine Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions more accurately in the paddock
Chickpeas in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA)
No full textKabuli chickpeas are a high value industry in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA). Largeseeded, high-quality grain is grown for domestic and export markets.
The Ord River District Co-operative Ltd markets locally grown Kabuli chickpeas. It mainly supplies domestic markets in Australian capital cities where chickpeas are sold as whole seed in specialty shops.
Information on the areas grown, yields and other details could not be obtained from the cooperative as they are regarded as commercial in-confidence. Chickpeas are also sold in larger volumes to Australian manufacturers to make falafel, hummus and other dips. The processing market requires varieties with specific aftercooking flavour.
The major competitors for supplying premium size markets are Mexico, Portugal and Turkey
Deep and continuous root development in ameliorated soil improves water and nutrient uptakes and wheat yield in water-limited conditions
No full textBackground and aims
Despite the widespread co-occurrence of subsoil acidity and compaction, the interaction between these factors and their combined effects on root system development under water-limited conditions is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate how the removal of soil strength and acidity influenced root development and examine relationships between root system properties and shoot growth under field conditions. Methods
Images of root growth were obtained in situ by using rhizotron facilities to assess the temporal effects of soil improvement through loosening and lime incorporation on wheat root development in the 2018 season. Following this, we examined the relationship between enhanced root systems, water and nutrient uptakes, and overall crop performance. Results
The results indicated that improved soil conditions significantly enhanced planar root length density (pRLD) through the elongation and proliferation of wheat roots in the subsoil. Regressing tree analysis suggested that subsoil strength had a more dominant influence on pRLD compared to soil pH or aluminium — leading to higher water uptake, wheat head density and yield. In addition to the benefit of loosening, the lime treatment improved soil acidity, promoting continuous root growth with root hairs, allowing plants to access previously unavailable nutrients and improve yield further. This highlights the critical role of managing multiple soil constraints for optimising crop productivity. Conclusions
In this study, the integration of root images and soil properties data provided a deeper understanding of root-soil interactions which could be useful for developing sustainable soil management practices to optimise crop productivity under challenging conditions
Control the green bridge for pest and disease management
No full textIn Western Australia\u27s climate, the survival of pests and diseases over summer is often critical in determining outbreaks of pest and disease epidemics in broadacre crops during the subsequent cropping season
Native budworm spraying threshold
No full textThe number of native budworm caterpillars in a crop is the major factor determining potential economic damage from the pest. Table 1 was generated with results from department trials to provide an estimate of potential loss from native budworm damage.
Crop loss (kilograms per hectare (kg/ha)) for each caterpillar netted in 10 sweeps (or found per square metre (m2 )) is shown in Table 1. One caterpillar netted in 10 sweeps is equivalent to about 20,000 caterpillars/ha for most pulse crops, assuming an even distribution over the cro
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
Yellow spot and septoria nodorum blotch and their management in wheat
No full textLeaf spot diseases affecting wheat in Western Australia (WA) are yellow spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis), septoria nodorum blotch (Parastagonospora nodorum), and septoria tritici blotch (Zymoseptoria tritici). They are caused by 3 different fungal pathogens but the disease symptoms and biologies are similar.
Impact from leaf spot diseases vary greatly from season to season and between locations. They are a problem in continuous wheat crops in stubble retention (no-till) farming systems. For the most effective control, an integrated disease management (IDM) approach is required.
This page outlines the symptoms, diseases spread and risk factors, yield and quality losses, and management options for the leaf spot diseases affecting wheat
Assess weed population density
No full textThe most accurate way to estimate the weed population of a paddock is to count the number of plants in an area of known size at numerous locations.
Use a quadrant, which may be square or circular, to carry out weed plant counts. The number and location of counts needed to estimate the weed population will vary depending on the distribution pattern
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)