Large areas of South Australia are affected by sodic soils which results in lost agricultural productivity. Determination of gypsum rate requirements using conventional methods is problematic and can lead to increased costs for producers. The aim of this project is to develop an improved and rapid test for assessing gypsum requirements to improve crop production in sodic soils in South Australia.
This project will assist South Australian growers to increase pulse yields by managing paddock variation associated with soil biotic and abiotic constraints. Data generated will also form the foundation for a decision support model. Focus paddocks will be mapped for pathogen levels and rhizobia as well as physical characteristics including pH, salinity and soil type. These factors will be related to remote sensing imagery and yield maps to determine the drivers of variation.
This PhD project will look to develop multi-scale (regional to paddock scale) monitoring methods for canola pests and beneficials, both pre-season and during season. The results will allow for improved risk analysis and decision making for integrated pest management by farmers and agronomists, avoiding over-use of insecticides.
This project will quantify the variability in seed weight from field samples of the weed annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) and quantify how seed weight of annual ryegrass impacts the efficacy of harvest weed seed control (HWSC) impact mills.
The overall aim of this project is to increase the profitability from phosphorus (P) fertiliser applications and determine sustainable P fertiliser strategies. This project focuses on two key P management areas: improving applications in variable paddocks/landscapes and refining long-term P management strategies on highly P responsive soils. This project will build on the results from SAGIT projects TC219 and TC221. This project is a co-investment, with GRDC providing 50% of the total funding.