South Australian crops can be severely impacted by poor and variable growing conditions, which includes low-fertility soils. Crop plants possess strong instincts to reduce grain number due to variable growing conditions or reduced fertiliser. This is a major contributor to the yield gap in SA. This project seeks to help close this yield gap through the import and testing of new genetic material that makes barley less responsive to environmental conditions.
This demonstration project aims to provide valuable information on immediate and longer-term sulphur management options applicable to a wide range of growing regions. The project aims are to be achieved by comparing different forms of sulphur fertilisers for mobility and availability within soil profiles with detailed profile sampling; and assessing the impact of two different crop types in sulphur accessibility due to varying rooting depths.
This project aims, through a controlled glasshouse trial, to determine soil salinity thresholds for emergence and vigour of current pulse crops across a small range of soils by manipulating baseline soil salinity levels.
Advancements in iron iron deficiency formulations have delivered significant yield gains on calcareous soil types in the South East of South Australia and this provides an opportunity to investigate the degree of iron deficiency in other regions where these soil types are prevalent such as the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula.