Colonisation of wheat in southern New South Wales by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is significantly reduced by drought

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 563 ◽  
Author(s):  
MH Ryan ◽  
JE Ash
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Vam Fungi ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Vesicular Arbuscular

Colonisation of wheat crops by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi was examined on a pair of adjacent organic and conventionally managed farms in southern New South Wales during 1993-94. Although intended to be part of a larger study on the roles of VAM fungi in organic and conventional farming systems, the severe drought of 1994 allowed an examination of the effects of drought on VAM fungi. In 1993, rainfall was above average, crop growth was good and VAM fungi colonised between 40 and 70% of crop root length. In 1994, low rainfall resulted in poor crop growth, and colonisation by VAM fungi was significantly lower than in 1993, ranging between 5 and 16% in the crops most affected by the drought. Wheat plants adjacent to tree lines exhibited particularly poor growth and low VAM colonisation, presumably due to the trees competing with the crop for water. The lower colonisation of crops by VAM fungi in 1994 resulted in reduced inoculum levels in the soil which could affect growth of a subsequent VAM-dependent crop. In contrast to the results of research carried out under conditions of milder drought stress, the low level of VAM colonisation found in this study suggests that the VAM fungi had no significant role in alleviating the drought stress experienced by the crop.

Mycorrhizas and Root Attributes of Plants of Coastal Sand-Dunes of New South Wales

1989 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
VS Logan ◽  
PJ Clarke ◽  
WG Allaway
Keyword(s):  
Root Length ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
New South ◽  
Sand Dunes ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Coastal Sand Dunes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Vesicular Arbuscular ◽  
Coastal Sand

Root samples of 41 sand-dune plant species in 28 families were collected from sites along the coast of New South Wales during spring 1987. Of the species, 36 had vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas, with vesicles and internal and external hyphae. Among these species there was great variation in the pro- portion of root length colonised by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (from 1 to 96%); in 33 species over 10% of root length was infected. Of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal species, 21 showed arbuscules, and 16 had intracellular hyphal coils. In four plant species mycorrhizas were not found in the single samples examined; ericoid mycorrhizas were present in the remaining species, Leucopogon parviflorus, but its vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal status could not be assessed. The results, though preliminary, may reflect a high vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal status of vegetation of coastal sand-dunes of New South Wales. This would be likely to enhance plant nutrition and sandbinding, and to have implications for sand-dune management.

Spore Populations and Infectivity of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in New South Wales

1979 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 227 ◽  
Author(s):  
DS Hayman ◽  
GE Stovold
Keyword(s):  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Acaulospora Laevis ◽  
Native Grassland ◽  
Vesicular Arbuscular ◽  
Va Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Dry Soil

Spores of vesicular arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi were found in all 73 soil samples collected from different parts of New South Wales. Their numbers ranged widely from site to site (from 2 to 1952 spores per 100 g dry soil) and varied considerably for the same crop at different sites (e.g. from 47 to 464 spores per 100 g dry soil for wheat). In general there were more spores in agricultural than in native grassland-bush soils. Of the eight species found, Acaulospora laevis and Glomus mosseae were the commonest. Small spores of the Glomus fasciculatus and G. microcarpus groups were also frequent but Gigaspora spp. were fairly rare. Usually more than two VA species occurred at each site. The infectivity of the VA population in soil, assayed by measuring the rate of mycorrhizal develop- ment in clover seedlings, did not correlate with spore numbers.

The effect of biosolids on cereals in central New South Wales, Australia. 1. Crop growth and yield

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sludge Cake ◽  
Dewatered Sewage Sludge

Two forms of biosolids, with and without lime, were applied to acid soils at 2 sites in central New South Wales. Wheat and triticale were then grown on these sites to determine the effect of biosolids on crop growth and yield. The forms of biosolids used were dewatered sewage sludge cake, and N-Viro Soil which is a lime amended sewage sludge. Dewatered sewage sludge cake was applied at rates of 0, 6, 12 and 24 dry Mg/ha, and N-Viro soil at 0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 dry Mg/ha. Biosolids produced grain yield increases of over 50% at both sites, with the largest yield increases at the highest rate of dewatered sewage sludge. Continued cropping at 1 of the sites showed that significant yield increases were still obtained 3 years after the initial application. The addition of lime and N-Viro Soil raised soil pH, and produced small but long lasting yield increases. However, the main benefit of biosolids seems to have come from the nutrients they supplied rather than changes in soil pH.

Seasonal Changes in Diet Preferences of Free-Ranging Red Kangaroos, Euros and Sheep in Western New South Wales.

1977 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA Ellis ◽  
EM Russell ◽  
TJ Dawson ◽  
CJF Harrop
Keyword(s):  
Animal Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Ovis Aries ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Red Kangaroo ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Selective Eating ◽  
Free Ranging

Stomach contents of free-ranging animals were analysed botanically for low Atriplex shrubland in western New South Wales, Australia, during 1972-74 in good seasons producing abundant growth and diversity of vegetation. Red kangaroo (Megaleia rufa), euro (Macropus robustus) and sheep (Ovis aries) selected grass and forbs when those were readily available. In poorer pasture sheep selected mainly flat-leaved chenopods (saltbush) and kangaroos selected mainly grass with different amounts of flat- or round-leaved chenopods. Euros were the most selective, eating grass even when there was little grass present. Potential overlaps in diet between kangaroos and sheep were greatest in good pasture and least in the poorest conditions. The other groups of plants considered were non-chenopod shrubs and browse. Extent of overlap was not clear, because animals may have eaten different species within the groups of plants. The study period did not include any severe drought, in which overlap in diet and competition between animal species would have been most significant.

The growth rates of weaned lambs grazing three legume-based pastures during summer

1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (102) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
ID Sanderson ◽  
JD McFarlane ◽  
WR McManus
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
The Poor ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Lamb Growth

An experiment was conducted on the Central Western Slopes of New South Wales with Dorset Horn x Merino lambs to assess their liveweight gains during summer when weaned on to a lucernebased pasture under dryland conditions, and when weaned on to irrigated lucerne and red clover pastures. Lambs grazing irrigated lucerne, irrigated red clover and dryland lucerne had average growth rates of 155, 178 and 124 g day-1/head, respectively, throughout the 106 day experimental period. The poor growth rates of lambs on the dryland lucerne were apparently due mainly to the low digestibility of the dry feed on offer as a result of low rainfall, which also caused feed supply to be limiting during part of the experimental period. Lamb growth and intake data suggest that the diets selected from the red clover were of higher digestibility than those selected from the irrigated lucerne. It was concluded that irrigated red clover and irrigated lucerne provided useful diets for young lambs in this environment, although the growth rates achieved were less than reported elsewhere for these species in cooler climates. Growth rates achieved by lambs grazing dryland lucerne were less satisfactory for prime lamb production.

An experimental translocation of brush-tailed bettongs (Bettongia penicillata) to western New South Wales

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 421 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Priddel ◽  
Robert Wheeler
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Release Site ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Source Population ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Bettongia Penicillata ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
Low Incidence

A total of 85 brush-tailed bettongs (Bettongia penicillata) from Western Australia and two sites in South Australia were translocated to Yathong Nature Reserve (YNR) in western New South Wales in October 2001. Aerial baiting to control the introduced red fox (Vulpes vulpes) had been undertaken on YNR since 1996. Thirty-one bettongs were fitted with radio-transmitters at the time of release, and two subsequently. Trapping took place at irregular intervals after the translocation. In all, 73% of telemetered bettongs died within the first six months; all were dead within 13 months. Eight bettongs died within the first eight days immediately following their release, due to causes other than predation. These eight all originated from St Peter Island (SPI), South Australia. A low incidence of breeding on SPI supports the belief that this source population was in poor condition and unsuited for translocation. Overall, 19 of the 33 telemetered bettongs were killed by predators: 14 (74%) by feral house cats (Felis catus), two (11%) by birds, and three (16%) by predators, which, although they could not be fully identified, were not foxes. One month after release, surviving bettongs weighed less than they did at the time of their release (mean decrease in mass = 9.7%, range 2.6–22.4%, n = 11). Within two months of their release most had regained any lost mass (mean change in mass since release = –0.3%, range –5.9 to 10.5%). Food resources on YNR appeared sufficient to sustain adult brush-tailed bettongs, despite a period of severe drought. Small pouch young present at the time of release were subsequently lost. Females gave birth and carried small pouch young (up to 50 mm), but no young-at-foot were recorded. Bettongs did not disperse further than 10 km from their release site. Overall, 50% of aerial-tracking locations were no further than 3.2 km from the release site, and 92% no further than 7.0 km. This experimental translocation of brush-tailed bettongs failed due to predation by cats. It demonstrated that foxes were no longer a threat to wildlife on YNR and identified cats as the major impediment to the restoration of locally extinct fauna.

Trapping efficiency for foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central New SouthWales: age and sex biases and the effects of reduced fox abundance

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Kay ◽  
Edward Gifford ◽  
Rob Perry ◽  
Remy van de Ven
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Trapping Efficiency ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Drought Period ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sex Biases ◽  
Age And Sex

A total of 276 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was captured over 40 597 trap-nights during 1994–96 at three separate sites in central New South Wales, resulting in an overall trapping efficiency of one fox per 147 trap-nights. Trapping using multiple trap sets placed at carcases was 3.2 times more efficient than trapping using single trap sets. During 1994–95, when two of the sites suffered a severe drought, fox abundance declined to less than 0.2 foxes km–1 of spotlight transect; trapping efficiency at those sites also declined, to an average of one fox per 315 trap-nights. Mean trapping efficiency for non-drought periods was one fox per 135 trap-nights, 2.3 times more efficient than during the drought period. In 1995 and 1996, 353 foxes were shot in areas adjacent to each site. This gave the opportunity to compare sex and age biases between the trapped and shot samples: the ratio of males to females was significantly higher in the trapped sample than in the shot sample, and there was also a significantly higher ratio of adults to juveniles in the trapped sample than in the shot sample.

Increasing mycorrhizal colonisation does not improve growth and nutrition of wheat on Vertosols in south-eastern Australia

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Ryan ◽  
R. M. Norton ◽  
J. A. Kirkegaard ◽  
K. M. McCormick ◽  
S. E. Knights ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Fungal Colonisation ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Most crops host arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Canola and other brassicas are some of the few exceptions. This study examined AM fungal colonisation, uptake of phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn), growth, and yield of wheat following brassicas and crops that host AMF in 5 crop-sequence experiments in southern New South Wales and Victoria. All experiments were on alkaline Vertosols, similar to soils in the northern wheatbelt on which low AM fungal colonisation of wheat following canola, or long-fallow, has been reported to induce poor crop growth. Soils with a broad range of extractable P concentrations were chosen. AM fungal colonisation of wheat was generally lower following brassicas than hosts of AMF, although this varied with year and location. The effect on wheat AM fungal colonisation levels did not vary between brassicas with differing levels and types of root glucosinolates. Low AM fungal colonisation did not affect early wheat growth, pre-anthesis P and Zn uptake, or yield. A positive relationship between AM fungal colonisation and grain Zn and P concentrations occurred in one experiment. High levels of colonisation by AMF did not protect crop roots from damage by root pathogens and high levels of pathogen damage made interpretation of results difficult in some instances. As these findings are consistent with results from an experiment on an acidic Kandosol in southern New South Wales, it appears farmers do not need to consider the degree to which wheat will be colonised by AMF when planning crop sequences in south-eastern Australia.

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