Nutrition of irrigated crops on an alkaline brown clay soil at Trangie, New South Wales. 1. Lucerne

1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 445
Author(s):  
DK Muldoon

The elements nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur and zinc were sequentially omitted from a 'complete' fertiliser applied to plots on an alkaline soil, and lucerne (Medicago sativa) was sown immediately afterwards. The dry matter production of lucerne was measured in repeated cuts over 2 years; its mineral composition was determined periodically. In a second experiment 4 rates of phosphorus were applied to a l -year-old stand of lucerne and dry matter production recorded for 1 year. Lucerne yields in the first year were reduced from 17-1 8 t/ha to less than 14 t/ha by omitting phosphorus. Yields universally decreased in the second year as the 50 kg/ha P applied at sowing was depleted through the removal of 40 kg/ha P in forage. Following this depletion a linear yield response up to 80 kg/ha P was found (experiment 2). Omitting phosphorus fertiliser reduced the plant phosphorus concentration from 0.23 to 0.21% when sampled 15 months after sowing. The plant phosphorus concentration decreased with time in all treatments. The available soil phosphorus level decreased from an initial 12 to 6-7 �g/g after 6 months and further to 2 �g/g after 30 months. Fertiliser phosphorus raised the soil phosphorus level but this also was depleted to 2-3 �g/g in 30 months. Omitting zinc reduced the plant zinc concentration. However, neither the omission of nitrogen, potassium, sulfur nor zinc from the fertiliser had any effect on lucerne yields.

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (65) ◽  
pp. 705 ◽  
Author(s):  
BJ Scott

The dry matter production of a pasture of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula cv. Jemalong) under different rates and methods of application of superphosphate was examined, during 1971 and 1972, on a phosphorus deficient soil at Condobolin, New South Wales. The treatments were factorial combinations of four rates of superphosphate (0, 126, 376, and 753 kg ha-1) and four methods of application of superphosphate (surface spread i.e. topdressed, surface applied in bands, placed at 5 cm depth, and placed at 1 0 cm depth). The dry matter production and phosphorus uptake results demonstrated the effectiveness of subsurface placement of superphosphate, but relative ineffectiveness of surface application during the dry winters experienced. The results also showed that root development in the dry 0-2 cm zone was restricted compared with that in the deeper moist soil layers. Soil phosphorus tests showed that one year after topdressing phosphorus had not moved below the 2-4 cm depth layer, even at 753 kg ha-1 of superphosphate.


1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 341 ◽  
Author(s):  
CS Andrew ◽  
PJVanden Berg

The effects of aluminium (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 p.p.m.) on dry matter production and subsequent short-term uptake and translocation of phosphorus in whole plants, and on the uptake of phosphorus by excised roots, of six tropical pasture legumes were ascertained. Macroptilium lathyroides, Desrnodiurn uncinaturn, Lotononis bainesii, and Stylosanthes hurnilis were tolerant species in terms of effects on dry matter production. Glycine wightii was a sensitive species and Medicago sativa a very sensitive one. In the whole plant study, plants were grown in Solution culture with a phosphorus concentration of 2 p.p.m., under the above aluminium treatments. Aluminium increased the subsequent uptake of phosphorus (tops+roots) in all species (phosphorus substrate concentration 1 x 10-5M labelled with 32P, 1 and 3 hr uptake periods). Phosphorus uptake in the tops of the four tolerant species was increased by aluminium treatment, and in the two sensitive species it uas reduced. In both the absence and presence of applied aluminium, L. bainesii was the most efficient species per unit weight of root tissue in sorbing total phosphorus, and in addition had the highest efficiency of translocation of phosphorus from roots to tops. S. humilis was also an efficient species. In the excised root study, addition of aluminium to the solution enhanced the sorption of phosphorus by all species. The enhancement was greater in a relatively strong phosphorus solution (2 x 10-4 M) than in a dilute solution (1 x 10-4). The sorption of phosphorus by excised roots of S. humilis from dilute and relatively strong phosphorus substrates was greater than that of other species, both in the absence and presence of added aluminium. L. bainesii was omitted from the excised root experiments.


Author(s):  
Yashvir S. Chauhan ◽  
Rex Williams

Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] in Australia has been transformed from a niche opportunistic crop into a major summer cropping option for dryland growers in the summer-dominant rainfall regions of Queensland and New South Wales. This transformation followed stepwise genetic improvements in both grain yields and disease resistance. For example, more recent cultivars such as ‘Crystal’, ‘Satin II’ and ‘Jade-AU‘  have provided up to a 20% yield advantage over initial introductions. Improved agronomic management to enable mechanised management and cultivation in narrow (<50 cm) rows has further promised to increase yields. Nevertheless, average yields achieved by growers for their mungbean crops remain less than 1 t/ha, and are much more variable than other broad acre crops.  Further increases in yield and crop resilience in mungbean are vital. In this review, opportunities to improve mungbean have been analysed at four key levels including phenology, leaf area development, dry matter accumulation and its partitioning into grain yield. Improving the prediction of phenology in mungbean may provide further scope for genetic improvements that better match crop duration to the characteristics of target environments. There is also scope to improve grain yields by increasing dry matter production through the development of more efficient leaf canopies. This may introduce additional production risks as dry matter production depends on the amount of available water, which varies considerably within and across growing regions in Australia. Improving crop yields by exploiting photo-thermal sensitivities to increase dry matter is likely a less risky strategy for these variable environments. Improved characterisation of growing environments using modelling approaches could also better define and identify the risks of major abiotic constraints. This would assist in optimising breeding and management strategies to increase grain yield and crop resilience in mungbean for the benefit of growers and industry.


1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (54) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
CL Rudd

The response of annual medic dominant pastures to residual and currently applied phosphorus was examined in twelve experiments in cereal areas of South Australia. The experimental sites had been sown in the previous year to wheat with nine rates of phosphorus ranging from 0-48 kg P/ha applied as superphosphate. The 0.5M NaHCO3 extraction provided an effective index of residual available soil phosphorus after the crop and the amount of phosphorus detected by this soil test varied from 24-43 per cent of the total phosphorus applied as superphosphate on sandy and heavier textured soils respectively. Regression analysis showed that an available soil phosphorus level of 32-38 kg P/ha 10 cm was sufficient to produce 90 per cent of maximum pasture yield on the sandy soils but 41-47 kg P/ha 10 cm was required on heavier textured soils. Percentage phosphorus in the dry matter in spring was not correlated with pasture response.


1987 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 425-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Heath ◽  
P. D. Hebblethwaite

SummaryField experiments were conducted in 1983–4 to investigate the effect of precision drilling and plant density on establishment, growth, radiation interception and yield of combining peas of varying leaf phenotype (Varieties ‘Birte’, leafed; ‘Filby’, leafless; and ‘BS3’, semi-leafless). Precision drilling established a more uniform plant distribution than øyjord drilling; visual differences observed soon after emergence were not observed at flowering. Precision drilling resulted in more radiation interception early in the season for semi-leafless but not leafed peas; dry-matter production and photosynthetic area index (PAI) were not increased. Yield data indicated that precision drilling produced similar yields to øyjord drilling at similar densities. Increasing plant density increased radiation interception, dry-matter production and PAI during vegetative growth; density treatment effects were less marked post-flowering. Pea leaf phenotypes differed in their yield response to increasing density. Radiation interception was related to dry-matter production and PAI to obtain an estimate of photosynthetic efficiency (ε) and the attenuation coefficient (k), respectively, ε and k were constant irrespective of spatial arrangement, leaf phenotype and plant density. The relative importance of spatial arrangement and plant density in increasing radiation interception and PAI and influence on yield is discussed; other potential agronomic advantages of precision drilling are described.


1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (82) ◽  
pp. 739 ◽  
Author(s):  
BJ Scott ◽  
H Brownlee

Dry matter production and seed yields of a range of annual legumes grown in ungrazed swards were measured between 1966 and 1971 on seven sites in the low rainfall wheatbelt of central western New South Wales. Jemalong and Hannaford barrel medics (Medicago truncatula) were the highest yielding medic cultivars tested. Jemalong medic was slightly superior to Hannaford in dry matter production but seed yields were equal. The short season subterranean clovers (Trifolium subterraneum), Dwalganup and Geraldton, yielded much less dry matter and seed than the medics in most experiments. Although the mid-season subterranean clovers, Woogenellup and Clare, persisted for the duration of our experiments, their production was not as consistent as that of the medics, and plant densities decreased. The rose clovers (T. hirtum), Sirint and Kondinin, the cupped clovers (T. cherleri), Beenong and Yamina, and Snail (M. scutellata) and Paragosa (M. rugosa) medics did not produce satisfactory swards.


2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 769 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. G. McMullen ◽  
J. M. Virgona

In southern New South Wales, Australia, grazing wheat during the vegetative and early reproductive growth stages (typically during winter) can provide a valuable contribution of high quality feed during a period of low pasture growth. This paper reports results from a series of experiments investigating the agronomic management of grazed wheats in southern NSW. The effect of sowing date and grazing on dry matter production and subsequent grain yield of a range of wheat cultivars was measured in five experiments in 2004 and 2005. In all experiments, results were compared with ungrazed spring wheat (cv. Diamondbird). Grain yield of the best winter cultivar was either the same or significantly greater than the spring cultivar in each of the five experiments. Within the winter wheat cultivars, there was significant variation in grain yield, protein content and screenings, depending on site and year with the cultivar Marombi out-yielding all others. Interestingly, this cultivar usually had the least dry matter post-grazing but the greatest dry matter by anthesis of the winter wheats. Generally, if sowing of the winter wheat was delayed, then the effects on yield were small or non-existent. The results are discussed with respect to the benefits of incorporating grazing cereals into cropping programs in the medium rainfall zone of southern Australia.


1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (69) ◽  
pp. 507 ◽  
Author(s):  
MH Campbell

In a series of experiments on unploughed hill country near Turondale, New South Wales, the effects of rate and type of herbicide on establishment, survival and persistence of surface-sown Medicago sativa, Trifolium subterraneum, Dactylis glomerata and Phalaris tuberosa were ascertained. Measurements of plant density and dry matter production of the pasture under grazing were made for up to seven years after sowing. Establishment was achieved under various rainfall conditions from eleven sowings. Herbicide application proved essential for the establishment and survival of the perennial species. Survival of M. sativa seedlings through their first summer was greater on the 2,2-DPA treatments than on paraquat treatments. The addition of simazine to paraquat increased survival of M. sativa over that on the paraquat-alone treatment. No similar effect was observed when simazine was added to 2,2-DPA. Establishment and survival were not influenced by rates of 2,2-DPA between 4.1 and 12.4 kg a.e. ha-1. Plant density in established swards was increased by up to 1200 per cent by strategic grazing applied after the improved species had completed seeding. Lucerne dominated other species and in the final year of measurement produced 87 per cent of a mean dry matter production of 9719 kg ha-1.


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