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Farming
Ahead - Konidin Group [External
link]
2004
No. 155 December 2004 p.26
(Native foods industry,
new web site)
Contact: Maarten Ryder
No. 155 December 2004 p.49-50
Mosaic approach to
sustainable farming
Farming often takes place within paddocks with boundaries which fail to
recognise variation in soil type, position in the landscape and production
potential. This article describes a new concept called mosaic farming
which aims to match crops and pastures to landscape and soil characteristics
to achieve long-term economic and environmental benefits.
by Lisa Brennan (CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems) and Hamish Cresswell CSIRO
Land and Water.
No. 154 November 2004 p.36
Protozoa fight bad bugs to reduce
plant disease
A diverse, balanced and active soil biota helps to provide the right soil
conditions for sustainable crop production. Protozoa are single-celled
organisms present in most soils with populations ranging from 100 to one
million per gram of soil. This article explains the critical role protozoa
play in soil and crop health.
by Gupta Vadakattu (CSIRO Land and Water) and Janet Paterson, Kondinin
Group
No. 154 November 2004 p.38-40
Crop rotation could reduce
Pythium root rot
Root pathogenic Pythium species are widely distributed throughout cropping
soils in the mid- to high-rainfall areas (more than 350 millimetres),
infecting all major grain crop and pasture species. This article details
the results of recent CSIRO and Landmark research which could provide
better management options for Pythium root rots.
by Paul Harvey
No. 153 October 2004 p.38
Pythium exposed in WA
(The control of Pythium root disease will substantially increase yields
and returns for grain growers right across southern Australia - including
southwest WA).
Contact: Paul Harvey
No. 153 October 2004 p.54-55
Fluid fertilisers free
phosphorus for crops
Fluid phosphorus fertilisers are showing promise on the calcareous soils
of Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, where soil chemical reactions frequently
bind granular phosphorus and render it unavailable for plant use. But
what of non-calcareous, alkaline and acid soils? This article details
the impact of fluid phosphorus on a range of soil types. by Mike McLaughlin
No. 153 October 2004 p.56
New method makes soil
tests less costly
Traditionally, soil tests have been expensive and time-consuming and as
a result farmers often lack detailed information of soil properties, particularly
at the paddock level. This article details an emerging soil analysis method,
which will determine a wide range of chemical and physical soil properties
quickly, accurately and at low cost. by Mike McLaughlin
No. 152 September 2004 p.46-48
Low-tech approach favoured
for yield maps
Yield monitors, global positioning and geographic information systems
are considered key requirements of precision agriculture. But many farmers
are managing their properties more precisely and productively without
these high-tech tools. This article details how three producers are using
low-cost methods to achieve their management goals. by Mike Wong, Peter
Stone and Greg Lyle
No. 152 September 2004 p.54-56
Identify subsoil problems
to increase profits
While there are many reasons some paddocks perform more poorly than others,
most yield differences can be traced to soil problems. Subsoil constraints
such as salinity and compaction inhibit crops from extracting soil water
and nutrients. This article explains how identifying subsoil problems
can enable more productive management decisions to be made. by Garry O’Leary,
David Roget and Victor Sadras
No. 151 August 2004 p. 38
Pythium emerges as a significant
pathogen
Pythium root disease has been described as the ‘common cold’
of cropping systems and its impact on crop productivity often has been
underestimated or completely overlooked. In this second article of the
series ‘know your microbe’ Pythium is put under the microscope
to show how the soil pathogen operates. by Gupta Vadakattu and Janet Paterson
No. 150 July 2004 p. 44
Microbes and soil structure
intimately linked
Each teaspoon of soil contains about one billion bacteria which, along
with other soil microbes, control the physical and chemical health of
a soil. This article introduces a new series called ‘know your microbe’
which will use close-up images to highlight the critical role micro-organisms
play in farming systems. by Gupta Vadakattu and Janet Paterson
No. 149 June 2004 p.16
Stubble method lifts soil carbon
(Winged blades can improve stubble incorporation, which quickly increases
soil carbon levels).
Contact: Clive Kirkby
No. 149 June 2004 p.26-27
Separate seed and fertiliser
to lift yields
Avoiding fertiliser toxicity, achieving accurate sowing depth and keeping
stubble residue off the seed row are three critical factors in successful
canola establishment. This article details how matching sowing rates to
soil conditions, fertiliser input and sowing system technology can lift
canola establishment rates and seed yields. by Jack Desbiolles (University
of South Australia), Bill Davoren and David Roget (CSIRO)
No. 149 June 2004 p.48
Nodules knocked by herbicide
application
Herbicides are essential in intensive farming systems, particularly with
the move toward reduced tillage. Legumes also play a vital role in farming
systems through their ability to fix nitrogen. This article outlines early
research into the impact of herbicides on legume function, in particular
their ability to develop nodules and produce valuable nitrogen. by Elizabeth
Drew, Amanda Cook, Michael Bennet, Gupta Vadakattu and David Roget
No. 148 May 2004 p. 17
Chemical-free disease
control
(The commercial potential of the fungus Trichoderma to combat soil-borne
diseases is being evaluated by Bio-Care Technology, in conjunction with
the CSIRO and Chinese researchers.)
Contact: Maarten Ryder
No. 148 May 2004 p. 18-20
Do the sums to check precision
pays its way
Matching the amount of money spent on precision agriculture with its expected
benefits is the key to making money from the new technology. This article
outlines a simple investment analysis, developed by CSIRO, which can be
used to determine whether precision agriculture will return a profit.
by Peter Stone CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems (in collaboration with Chris
Smith and Mike Wong)
No. 147 April 2004 p.54-55
Reducing deep soil water
losses
To help farmers minimise deep water loss CSIRO researchers have developed
a simple tool to improve the effectiveness of phase farming and also demonstrated
the value of summer fallow management.
by Warren Bond, Kirsten Verburg and Chris Smith.
No. 146 March 2004 p. 20
More
efficient N-fertiliser use
(New CSIRO research will enable growers to improve the efficiency of nitrogen
fertiliser application on-farm.
Contact: Jeff Baldock
No. 146 March 2004 p. 28-30
Deep
tillage lifts grain yield and quality
Soil compaction reduces root growth, hinders crops from accessing available
soil moisture and can decrease grain yield. Recent CSIRO research indicates
that compaction can become an issue even on deep sands and that deep ripping
can increase grain yields significantly on these soils.
by Victor Sadras, David Roget, Gary O’Leary and Bill Davoren
No. 146 March 2004 p. 36
Root
fungi release phosphorus to lift yields
More than 70 per cent of the phosphorus fertiliser applied on-farm each
year binds to minerals in the soil and becomes unavailable for crop use.
This article details an exciting CSIRO discovery of soil fungi capable
of unlocking such bound phosphorus and increasing crop yields.
by Steve Wakelin and Maarten Ryder
For further information please contact the Communication
Group.
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