Use of field-based infrared spectroscopy in crop sensing equipment has the potential to significantly improve efficiencies in identifying plant nitrogen (N) content and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) across wheat and barley crops.
Development of double-haploid breeding populations to fast track production of dual-purpose awnless wheat for frost-prone areas of South Australia has the potential to drastically cut losses – estimated to cost growers about $33 million a year – and give them more profitable options for grain and hay production.
With the grains industry suffering a skills shortage, a SAGIT-funded internship is encouraging graduates to take up a career in the agriculture sector. Grains research intern Danielle Allen says she wants a career in grains research when her internship at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) finishes in February.
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology is being utilized as part of a three-year trial funded by SAGIT to effectively identify barley grass densities in cereal crops on Upper Eyre Peninsula.
A project to determine optimum temperatures for killing weed seeds when burning narrow windrows in low-rainfall systems aims to provide farmers with more accurate data for the non-herbicide control strategy as resistance builds to herbicides.
Controlled environment evaluation of barley germplasm in conjunction with field trials in varying climates across South Australia have validated previous research into heat stress affecting wheat and that high temperatures are “very important” for driving grain yield during anthesis and grain filling.
The clearest outcome from a project examining field on seed mould and in-crop activities affecting faba bean production in South Australia is overwhelmingly in favour of growers planting newer PBA varieties “sooner than later”, according to SARDI researcher Dr Rohan Kimber.
SIGNIFICANT improvements for spray coverage in stubble retention systems can be achieved by following basic principles of measurement, stubble management and spray manipulation, according to an interim Hart Field Day Site project report.
A new SAGIT-funded project is giving a local perspective to the national problem of weed management for SA growers by evaluating and optimising settings for a new weed seed control technology.
LIQUID phosphorus and granular phosphorus were found to produce similar wheat yields in 2016 in a SAGIT-funded fertiliser efficiency trial being run at Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula.
Rhizoctonia fungicide responses have been investigated in two South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT) funded projects in the South Australian Mallee, finding that applying fungicide to control rhizoctonia root rot increased barley yield by 0.3 tonnes per hectare at Wilkawatt in 2015 even though growing season rainfall was only 114mm.
While much of the research funded by SAGIT aims to help growers solve today’s challenges, some projects operate ‘behind the scenes’ to prepare for the future.
A new SAGIT funded project is studying the value of spading header rows to control weeds and improve soil health.
Growers in the Mid-North and Yorke Peninsula can access a range of innovative crop monitoring data thanks to a SAGIT-funded project studying high-tech crop monitoring tools.
GROWERS experiencing poor protein levels in cereal crops following medic pastures could soon have an explanation thanks to SAGIT-funded research happening at the Minnipa Agricultural Centre.