Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Agricultural chemicals South Australia'

The use of pesticides poses a serious threat to the limited water resources of South Africa. The amounts which are not taken up by crop plants, are often washed away by runoff into surface waters, or leached through the soil, causing groundwater pollution. The problem of pesticide pollution is often intensified by inappropriate usage, disposal and monitoring in agriculture and predictive models have proven to be an effective tool for improving management practices. Research, however, has focused mainly on surface water contamination and groundwater impacts are largely unknown. Furthermore, pesticide registration in South Africa is largely determined by international standards and there is a need for impact assessments to be carried out under local conditions. The aims of this study included the determination of priority pesticides in South Africa based on usage and properties, the determination of pesticide sorption in two selected South African soils, and an assessment of pesticide fate by modelling.

Includes examples of information booklets as appendices
Includes bibliographical references: p. 232-251
xiv, 251 p. : photo. ; 30 cm.
Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Community Medicine, 1994

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Novartis is a life sciences company with its headquarters in Basie, Switserland. Novartis divides its business into three core activities, namely Healthcare, Consumer Health and Agribusiness (Novartis AG). Novartis AG is further divided into crop protection, seeds and animal health. In order to improve business systems, Novartis AG divides its business into five geographical areas, namely NAFTA, Western Europe, Central- and South America, Asia/Pacific countries and Business International. Novartis Crop Protection South Africa (Novartis CP SA) reports to Business International. The financial position of producers in various sectors of the agricultural industry has weakened over the past years. Various reasons are given for this, such as a decrease in nett farm income, adverse weather conditions, a government which is unsympathetic towards the commercial producer, macro-economic factors (weakening of the local currency against the US Dollar and British Pound and high interest rates), as well as poor financial and general management by producers. Due to this poor performance, the agricultural industry as a whole hardly showed growth in real terms over the past five years. Input suppliers, such as the aqrochernical industry suffered the same fate. The agrochemical industry has changed tremendously over the same period. Suppliers of generic products are increasing annually. The agrochemical industry is regulated by Act 36 of 1947. This Act makes it relatively easy, fast and cheap for generic producers (and suppliers) to register their products in South Africa. This huge increase in cheaper generic products led to poor performances by the producers (and suppliers) of research-based products, both in volume and price. Currently, there is an imbalance between the number of suppliers and the number of distributors in the South African Agrochemical Industry. Consequently, the suppliers of these generic products always find a keen distributor in South Africa. Presently, Novartis CP SA has the largest market share in the agrochemical industry in South Africa. Over the years, Novartis CP SA developed a very strong distribution network. This network was partly the reason for Novartis' success in the field. This distribution network, in broad terms, was managed as a franchise. In other words, Novartis CP SA gave an independant company the right to sell its product range in an allocated geographical area. Today, all the suppliers of researched-based products are using dealerships to distribute their products. Although this system worked very well, it was important for Novartis CP SA to adapt this system if the situation in the agrochemical and agricultural industries would change. Due to the changes that took place in both industries, it was of utmost importance for Novartis CP SA to gain more control over the management of the distribution network. As a supplier, it was also important that Novartis CP SA tried to stabilise the fragmented distribution industry by grouping some of the individual dealerships together. As the leader in this transformation process, Novartis CP SA was in a position to choose its partners. With the establishment of Novon Crop Protection Chemicals (Novon), a company was formed in which Novartis AG and the various dealerships, as a group, has a shareholding of 45% each. In exchange for the shares in Novon, each dealership offered a 26% (veto right) shareholding in their companies to Novon. Via Novon, Novartis CP SA created a distribution company which will be able to defend its marketshare in the future.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Novartis is 'n Switserse maatskappy wat spesialiseer in die lewenswetenskappe met sy hoofkantoor in Basel, Switserland. Novartis se besigheid word in drie kernaktiwiteite verdeel naamlik; gesondheidsorg, verbruikersgesondheid en landboubesigheid (Novartis AG). Landboubesigheid behels weer gewasbeskerming, saad en dieregesondheid. Novartis AG verdeel sy besigheid in vyf geografiese streke: NAFTA, Wes-Europa, Sentraalen Suid-Amerika, Asië/Pasifiese lande en Besigheid Internasionaal. Novartis Gewasbeskerming Suid-Afrika (Novartis CP SA) rapporteer aan Besigheid Internasionaal. Die finansiële posisie van produsente in verskeie vertakkings van die landboubedryf het oor die laaste aantal jare aansienlik verswak. Daar is verskeie redes vir hierdie tendens, waaronder 'n afname in netto boerdery inkomste, swak weersomstandighede, 'n regering wat nie simpatie toon met die kommersiële produsent nie, makro-ekonomiese faktore ('n verswakking van die plaaslike geldeenheid en hoë rentekoerse), asook swak finansiele en algemene bestuur deur produsente, die belangrikstes is. Vanweë hierdie swak prestasies, het die landboubedryf in sy geheel nie werklik enige groei getoon nie. Insetverskaffers soos die landbouchemiese bedryf het dienooreenkomstig ook nie oor die afgelope aantal jare werklik reële groei getoon nie. Voorts het die liandbouchemiese bedryf in Suid Afrika ook oor die afgelope aantal jare verander. Verskaffers van veral generiese produkte het toegeneem. Die landbouchemiese bedryf word deur Wet 36 van 1947 gereguleer. Hierdie wet maak dit vir die vervaardigers van generiese produkte baie maklik en goedkoop om produkte te registreer. Die toename in goedkoper, generiese produkte het die verskaffers van navorsingsgebaseerde produkte se verkope (prys en volume) onder kwaai druk geplaas. As gevolg van 'n wanbalans tussen die aantal verskaffers en verspreiders in Suid-Afrika, het hierdie generiese vervaardigers maklik gewillige verspreiders van hul produkte gekry. Novartis CP SA het tans die grootste markaandeel in die landbouchemiese bedryf in Suid- Afrika. Hierdie posisie as markleier, is gevestig met die hulp van sy verspreidingsnetwerk. In breë trekke het Novartis CP SA sy handelaarsnetwerk op die beginsels van 'n bedryfsreg (franchise) bestuur. Dit bring mee dat Novartis CP SA aan onafhanklke maatskappye die reg gee om sy produkreeks in 'n spesifieke geografiese area te versprei. Die meeste verskaffers van landbouchemiese produkte in Suid-Afrika maak tans van handelaars gebruik om hul produkte te versprei. Alhoewel hierdie stelsel effektief was, was dit vir Novartis CP SA belangrik om dit aan te pas by veranderende omstandighede binne die landboubedryf. Dit was vir Novartis CP SA belangrik om deel te wees van die besluitneming en bestuur van die verspreidingsnetwerk, asook om die reeds gefragmenteerde verspreidingsbedryf te stabiliseer. Deur hierin die voorloper te wees, was Novartis CP SA in staat om te kies met watter van die plaaslike verspreidingsmaatskappye hy in vennootskap wou gaan. Met die stigting van Novon Gewasbeskerming Chemikalieë (Novon), het daar 'n maatskappy ontstaan waarin Novartis AG 45% aandeel het, terwyl die onderskeie handelaars ook 'n aandeel in die maatskappy het ( 45% in totaal vir al die handelaars). As teenprestasie, het Novon 26% aandeel (dus 'n vetoreg) in elkeen van die handelaars bekom.

Bibliography: leaves 103-106. This research is concerned with rural land sharing communities in South Australia. The state's planning system is examined to see what mechanisms it possesses for dealing with communal or any other unconventional development, and what the main planning constraints are. A case study of an actual development application for a rural land sharing community is examined.

Thesis (B.A. (Hons))--University of Adelaide, 1990.
Illustrations consist mainly of coloured photographs. Figure 9 & 10 are black and white photocopies. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-41).

[Truncated abstract] Malva parviflora L. (small-flowered mallow) (Malvaceae) is a common weed of pastures and wastelands and its distribution has increased rapidly throughout Australia during the last decade. Control of M. parviflora with herbicides, such as glyphosate, is often unsatisfactory and changing farming practices, such as minimum tillage, have facilitated its spread. Yet there has been little research on M. parviflora in the past and many aspects of its biology and ecology are unknown. Hence, there exists a need to examine these aspects in order to investigate and develop suitable integrated weed management strategies. Weed identification is the first and probably the most important step in the management of weeds. Here it is shown that the weedy Malva species in Western Australian farming systems is M. parviflora, and not a morphologically similar Malva species or hybrid of two species. A common garden study of 24 populations collected across the agricultural region of south-west Western Australia revealed that since its introduction over 140 years ago M. parviflora has successfully adapted to a wide range of distinct environments. The species is able to thrive in areas that vary in annual rainfall from 315 to 496 mm, maximum average temperatures from 21.9 to 26.8oC and minimum average temperatures from 9 to 13.6oC. However, there was limited broad scale ecoclinal differentiation and low genetic variation within the common garden study with only length of time between sowing and flowering differing between populations. As the species was shown to possess a predominately inbreeding system, which typically would create ecotypes/ecoclines due to limited gene flow, it was suggested that seed dispersal by sheep is likely to have increased gene flow thus suppressing population differentiation. A considerable proportion of mature hardseeded M. parviflora can survive rumen digestion and mastication by sheep. ... With origins thought to be in the Mediterranean region, it is not surprising that M. parviflora has thrived and prospered in south-west Western Australia. This thesis has determined several aspects that have enabled it to flourish in this Mediterranean-type environment and most of these attributes, including autogamous reproduction, ecoclinal/ecotypic formation, dormancy and asynchronous germination and rapid seed development, are commonly found in successful weeds world-wide.

Thesis (M. Commerce (Hons.)) -- University of Western Sydney, 2008.
A thesis submitted to the University of Western Sydney, College of Business, School of Marketing, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce (Honours). Includes bibliographical references.

The study on different extension approaches was undertaken in the Bathurst area of New South Wales, Australia. One hundred farmers were surveyed in random pairs according to those who belong to the formal group, ???Landcare???, and those who did not. The survey included questions on personal, physical resources, ecological and economic factors, farm practices and management (including actual practice, use of extension methods and information sources) Focussing on behavioural change over time, attitudes, perceptions and intentions. The impact of extension approach on different levels of innovation was considered: simple (e.g. tree planting), medium (e.g. pasture development) and complex (soil erosion control) on behavioural change. It was hypothesised that the ???group??? extension approach should be more effective with complex innovations, but the main significant differences found were in level of tree planting (higher in government funded Landcare), money spent on erosion control (including tree planting) and attitudes to the severity of local erosion (all higher in Landcare members). There were no other differences in attitudes, intentions or change in farming practice except that non-Landcare farmers planted more pasture and applied more lime. The outcomes did not support the hypothesis, and it was not possible to distinguish the differences that did occur in performance from extension approach versus access to funds. Field days are an important extension method for the adoption of cropping by landholders. Among the different extension methods, those who conducted erosion control through pastures, preferred government officers and meetings. Those who adopted tree planting and were in Landcare preferred magazines as the extension method. This added further weight to the argument that the formal group extension approach may not be perceived by its members to have any influence on adoption at this level. Generally, mass media was more important in the early stages of adoption and personal influence more important in the evaluation stage. This also applied to simple versus complex innovations. Surprisingly all farmers placed a very high reliance on government officers for information and decision-making, particularly those in Landcare, compared to neighbours or family. Formal group extension still needs assessing but using models other than Landcare.

Chemical pollution of freshwater is a worldwide environmental problem
eutrophication, heavy metals and salinity are amongst the most widely used indicators of pollution. The aim of this study was to assess the status of nutrients, heavy metals and salinity, and the seasonal variation int he Bottelary River.

Public health was once synonymous with environmental health. However, as living conditions improved the two fields diverged. Environmental factors are again re-emerging as hazards human health. Increasing global reliance on agricultural and veterinary chemicals (AgVets) over recent decades has is now a serious public health concern. Evidence of their toxicity has prompted international efforts to minimize, monitor and manage exposure risks. Direct involvement of the primary health care workforce is seen as critical to this process, yet little data exists on the health burden on Australian rural communities imposed by these chemicals. The study presented here attempts to explore the impact of these chemicals on two rural communities in Victoria, and ascertain the how the existing primary heath care system responds to AgVet exposure issues. Health determinants are complex, and inter-related, and the client �provider interface is not an entity acting in isolation from other frameworks. The provider-client service relationship has evolved against a background of legislation and provider training. Many external factors also impinge, such as the structure and focus of the health sector, and Australia�s systematic approach to environmental and chemical management. Examination of this underlying infrastructure in Australia provided the background against which the issue of exposure to agricultural and veterinary chemicals was explored. A brief summary of international developments in this area served to provide insight as to what interventions may be introduced to address the issue of chemical exposure. A CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview) survey of 1050 households sought the perspectives from two Victorian agricultural communities to gather self-reported AgVet exposure patterns and health data, and whether respondents perceived their health problems were linked to exposure. Respondents were also asked to comment on the primary health care service experiences from local providers, and which services they preferred to seek for health advice. Perspectives were then sought from all primary health care providers servicing these communities. Information was sought on their level of expertise in diagnosing, and managing exposure related illness, via face-to-face interviews, focus groups and paper surveys. The study revealed rural communities have a long history of hazardous exposure to toxic AgVets. Awareness of toxicity risks is growing, yet further scope exists to improve safe handling of chemicals. High levels of illnesses known be associated with AgVet exposure exist among rural populations. Many believe their own ill-health is linked to exposure, and express strong dissatisfaction with the apparent lack of environmental health expertise especially among their GPs. Health providers demonstrated limited understanding of the health impacts of AgVet exposure. The lack of environmental health expertise among the existing primary health care workforce means that health conditions associated with exposure to AgVets are not being identified, and the absence of health intelligence hampers health planning. In Australia, the health, environment and primary industries sectors function in effect, as distinct silos, with little cross-fertilisation. The United States has combined its agricultural chemical legislative authority to develop a focus on human health, establish direct links, and biomonitoring programs to protect human heath. The U.S. has also developed environmental health expertise at the primary health care level to address community needs as they arise. Strategies are required in Australia to connect the environment, chemical management and health portfolios, with respect to the emerging environmental issues of chemical exposure. There is a need also in Australia to inject environmental health capacity into the primary health care practice.

Salinity, waterlogging and drought are major causes of land degradation and serious threats to sustainable agricultural productivity in the south-west agricultural region of Western Australia (WA). The spectral signatures of pasture plants under drought, waterlogging and nutrient deficiency were examined in a greenhouse study using both a field and an analytical laboratory spectrometer (400 to 2,500 nm wavelength). Drought stress group (RWC, 39.9%) has the highest reflectance of 48.2%, waterlogging group (RWC, 49.7%) with a magnitude of 43.1% reflectance and control group (RWC, 61.5%) has the lowest of 41.9%. The highest separability based on magnitude among control, waterlogging and drought stress groups is located at reflection band at 1,666 nm, 1,818 nm and 2,216 nm and at 1,450 nm absorption bands. Remote sensing and GIS techniques were used to predict risks of soil salinity and waterlogging in the study area. Time-sequenced Landsat TM satellite data and groundwater data were analysed to delineate areas where major changes in soil salinity, waterlogging have taken place before and after engineering interventions of deep drains.The rainfall data analysis of all cities in the south-west of Western Australia indicate that annual rainfall has been decreasing since 1969 for some cities in the region and rainfall is decreasing in some cities since 1975. The winter season rainfall shows a downward trend and summer season rainfall shows an upward trend linked to an increase in the frequency of summer storm events in the south-west, in the Wheatbelt and in the east of Western Australia. The annual rainfall and summer season rainfalls have been increasing in the north of Western Australia and both annual rainfall and summer season rainfalls show an increasing trend. Climate change was studied for northern, eastern, Wheatbelt and south-west of WA and its impacts of on surface runoff, groundwater recharge, and land degradation were studied.Deep open drains were monitored in the two major drainage districts of Narembeen and Dumbleyung in Wheatbelt of Western Australia. The efficacy of drains in mitigating the problems of waterlogging and salinity in the area was studied. Information on monitoring of drains in six coastal districts in Western Australia, from Australia and other countries was collated and a coastal drainage best management practices ‘BMP Toolbox’ has been developed.

Over the last two decades, a great many farmers in the Adelaide Milkshed (the region supplying Adelaide with its liquid milk) have left the dairy industry which has led to a decrease in milk production relative to demand. Reasons are explored and improved management of the farm, and relocation of dairies to the south east and mid north are considered as possible options for increased milk production. How the dairy farm system operates and the means by which can adopt to malfunctioning or breakdown within the farm system is also discussed.
Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geography, 1993

"September 2001"
Bibliography: leaves 144-159.
xix, 159 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.
Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library.
The two main aims of this study were: 1) to determine if the presence of Calcium carbonate in soil was the reason behind soils from Yorke Peninsula having relatively high OC (organic carbon) contents, given local farming practices, and 2) to determine the effect that the composition of the soils' OC has on the mineralisation rates.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Agronomy and Farming Systems, 2002

A significant proportion of Australia's sugarcane crop is grown on east-coast estuarine floodplains underlain by pyritic gel-clay subsoils. At the current study site these agricultural acid sulfate soils are typically characterised by a topsoil horizon of river alluvium, a subsoil of oxidised actual acid sulfate soil (AASS), a zone of partially oxidised AASS and a deep sulfidic horizon of pyritic potential acid sulfate soil (PASS). Addition of nitrogenous fertiliser at key points in the sugarcane cropping cycle can create soil nitrogen levels in excess of immediate soil flora/fauna and crop requirements. In high rainfall tropical and sub-tropical regions conditions are thus suitable for nitrate, a strong oxidising agent, to leach down to the sulfidic soil layers with the consequent risk of pyrite oxidation. Little information is available on the fate of nitrogenous fertilisers in these pyritic subsoils. The purpose of this field and laboratory study was to evaluate the potential for nitrate reduction to occur in the presence of pyrite in sugarcane soils in the Tweed River valley, northern NSW, Australia. The study focus was on examining the soil profile hydrology including leaching mechanisms and nitrate concentrations down the profile to the AASS/PASS interface, as well as evaluating the potential for nitrate to increase the rate of pyrite oxidation in this generally anoxic soil zone. Following an investigative nitrogen field trial to gather initial data, a second replicated urea fertiliser treatment trial with a nil-treatment control plot and three nitrogen (N) treatments was set up on a plant-cane-block in collaboration with a Tweed region cane grower, Robert Quirk. Installed loggers recorded rainfall, air and soil temperature, soil moisture and watertable data. Separate surveys and analytical work characterised selected soil physical, morphological and geochemical aspects. Soil profile sampling on four occasions over the twelve month crop cycle was analysed for N-species, NH{u2084}{u207A} and N0{u2083}{u207B}. Hydraulic data analysis showed the watertable generally varying between 0.2 and 1.4 m below ground level with observed strong and rapid responses to rainfall events greater than approximately 15 mm per day. This and associated data supports the postulate that soil nitrate could move down the profile under even moderate precipitation events in these soils. Temperature, pH, redox potential and biological substrate soil data demonstrated the biogeochemical suitability of these subsoil zones to support nitrate reduction. Soil-N analysis revealed significant differences between N-trial treatments using urea fertiliser and also significant nitrogen transformation and movement within the soil profile. Over a period of weeks, the urea fertiliser was rapidly transformed and appeared in the upper profile as elevated levels of ammonium and nitrate ions. The initial high ammonium levels quickly declined to be replaced almost completely by nitrate in the upper layers of the cane soil. Subsequently, increasing soil nitrate concentrations were evident deeper in the soil profile on higher nitrogen treatment plots during the middle phase of the crop cycle. In no instances were significant levels of nitrate detected below the soil redoxcline (the oxic-anoxic boundary) at around 1.0 m depth, nor was nitrate pooling evident anywhere in the AASS transition zone. Laboratory experimental work was undertaken to evaluate nitrate reduction coupled with pyrite oxidation under the biogeochemical conditions existing in the AASS transition zone. Results indicated that nitrate reduction associated with pyrite oxidation does take place in pyritic gel clay from the field site.

In the semi - arid Mediterranean - type environments of southern Australia, soil and water resources largely determine crop productivity and ultimately the sustainability of farming systems within the region. The development of sustainable farming systems is a constantly evolving process, of which cropping sequences ( rotations ) are an essential component. This thesis focused on two important soil resources, soil water and nitrogen, and studied the effects of different crop sequences on the dynamic of these resources within current farming systems practiced on the upper Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. The hypothesis tested was that : continuous cropping may alter N dynamics but will not necessarily alter water use efficiency in semi - arid Mediterranean - type environments. Continuous cropping altered N - dynamics ; increases in inorganic N were dependent on the inclusion of a legume in the cropping sequence. Associated with the increase in inorganic N supply was a decrease in WUE by the subsequent wheat crop. Overall, estimates of water use efficiency, a common index of the sustainability of farming systems, in this study concur with reported values for the semi - arid Murray - Mallee region of southern Australia and other semi - arid environments worldwide. Soil water balance and determination of WUE for a series of crop sequences in this thesis suggests that the adoption of continuous cropping may increase WUE and confer a yield benefit compared to crop sequences including a legume component in this environment. No differences in total water use ( ET ) at anthesis or maturity were measured for wheat regardless of the previous crop. Soil evaporation ( E [subscript s] ) was significantly affected by crop canopy development, measured as LAI from tillering until anthesis in 2002, however total seasonal E [subscript s] did not differ between crop sequences. Indeed in environments with infrequent rainfall, such as the upper Eyre Peninsula, soil evaporation may be water - limited rather than energy limited and the potential benefits from greater LAI and reduced E [subscript s] are less. Greater shoot dry matter production and LAI due to an enhanced inorganic N supply for wheat after legumes, and to a lesser degree wheat after canola, relative to continuous cereal crop sequences resulted in increases in WUE calculated at anthesis, as reported by others. Nonetheless the increase in WUE was not sustained due to limitations on available soil water capacity caused by soil physical and chemical constraints. Access to more soil water at depth ( > 0.8m ) through additional root growth was unavailable due to soil chemical limitations. More importantly, the amount of plant available water within the ' effective rooting depth ' ( 0 - 0.8m ) was significantly reduced when soil physical factors were accounted for using the integral water capacity ( IWC ) concept. The difference between the magnitude of the plant available water capacity and the integral water capacity was approximately 90mm within the ' effective rooting depth ' when measured at field capacity, suggesting that the ability of the soil to store water and buffer against periodic water deficit was severely limited. The IWC concept offers a method of evaluating the physical quality of soils and the limitations that these physical properties, viz. aeration, soil strength and hydraulic conductivity, impose on the water supply capacity of the soil. The inability of the soil to maintain a constant supply of water to satisfy maximal transpiration efficiency combined with large amounts of N resulted in ' haying off ', and reduced grain yields. A strong negative linear relationship was established between WUE of grain production by wheat and increasing soil NO₃ - N at sowing in 2000 and 2002, which conflicts with results from experiments in semi - arid Mediterranean climates in other regions of the world where applications of N increased water use efficiency of grain. Estimates of proportional dependence on N₂ fixation ( % N [subscript dfa] ) for annual medics and vetch from this study ( 43 - 80 % ) are comparable to others for environments in southern Australia ( < 450mm average annual rainfall ). Such estimates of fixation are considered low ( < 65 % ) to adequate ( 65 - 80 % ). Nevertheless, the amount of plant available N present at sowing for subsequent wheat crops, and the occurrence of ' haying off ', suggests that WUE is not N - limited per se, as implied by some reports, but constrained by the capacity of a soil to balance the co - limiting factors of water and nitrogen.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2005.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 176-179)
xiii, 202 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm.
Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, 1989

In the semi - arid Mediterranean - type environments of southern Australia, soil and water resources largely determine crop productivity and ultimately the sustainability of farming systems within the region. The development of sustainable farming systems is a constantly evolving process, of which cropping sequences ( rotations ) are an essential component. This thesis focused on two important soil resources, soil water and nitrogen, and studied the effects of different crop sequences on the dynamic of these resources within current farming systems practiced on the upper Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. The hypothesis tested was that : continuous cropping may alter N dynamics but will not necessarily alter water use efficiency in semi - arid Mediterranean - type environments. Continuous cropping altered N - dynamics ; increases in inorganic N were dependent on the inclusion of a legume in the cropping sequence. Associated with the increase in inorganic N supply was a decrease in WUE by the subsequent wheat crop. Overall, estimates of water use efficiency, a common index of the sustainability of farming systems, in this study concur with reported values for the semi - arid Murray - Mallee region of southern Australia and other semi - arid environments worldwide. Soil water balance and determination of WUE for a series of crop sequences in this thesis suggests that the adoption of continuous cropping may increase WUE and confer a yield benefit compared to crop sequences including a legume component in this environment. No differences in total water use ( ET ) at anthesis or maturity were measured for wheat regardless of the previous crop. Soil evaporation ( E [subscript s] ) was significantly affected by crop canopy development, measured as LAI from tillering until anthesis in 2002, however total seasonal E [subscript s] did not differ between crop sequences. Indeed in environments with infrequent rainfall, such as the upper Eyre Peninsula, soil evaporation may be water - limited rather than energy limited and the potential benefits from greater LAI and reduced E [subscript s] are less. Greater shoot dry matter production and LAI due to an enhanced inorganic N supply for wheat after legumes, and to a lesser degree wheat after canola, relative to continuous cereal crop sequences resulted in increases in WUE calculated at anthesis, as reported by others. Nonetheless the increase in WUE was not sustained due to limitations on available soil water capacity caused by soil physical and chemical constraints. Access to more soil water at depth ( > 0.8m ) through additional root growth was unavailable due to soil chemical limitations. More importantly, the amount of plant available water within the ' effective rooting depth ' ( 0 - 0.8m ) was significantly reduced when soil physical factors were accounted for using the integral water capacity ( IWC ) concept. The difference between the magnitude of the plant available water capacity and the integral water capacity was approximately 90mm within the ' effective rooting depth ' when measured at field capacity, suggesting that the ability of the soil to store water and buffer against periodic water deficit was severely limited. The IWC concept offers a method of evaluating the physical quality of soils and the limitations that these physical properties, viz. aeration, soil strength and hydraulic conductivity, impose on the water supply capacity of the soil. The inability of the soil to maintain a constant supply of water to satisfy maximal transpiration efficiency combined with large amounts of N resulted in ' haying off ', and reduced grain yields. A strong negative linear relationship was established between WUE of grain production by wheat and increasing soil NO [subscript 3] - N at sowing in 2000 and 2002, which conflicts with results from experiments in semi - arid Mediterranean climates in other regions of the world where applications of N increased water use efficiency of grain. Estimates of proportional dependence on N [subscript 2] fixation ( % N [subscript dfa] ) for annual medics and vetch from this study ( 43 - 80 % ) are comparable to others for environments in southern Australia ( < 450mm average annual rainfall ). Such estimates of fixation are considered low ( < 65 % ) to adequate ( 65 - 80 % ). Nevertheless, the amount of plant available N present at sowing for subsequent wheat crops, and the occurrence of ' haying off ', suggests that WUE is not N - limited per se, as implied by some reports, but constrained by the capacity of a soil to balance the co - limiting factors of water and nitrogen.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2005.

Rhizoctonia solani AG8 is a significant soil-borne pathogen of cereal roots in semi-arid Mediterranean regions of Australia and the Pacific North West region in the United States of America, causing severe productivity and economic losses to farmers. During the past twenty years the conversion of many farming systems to conservation tillage has meant that the mycelial network of the pathogen is no longer seasonally disturbed by cultivation which has subsequently increased the potential for greater incidence of Rhizoctonia root rot. There has been some success in reducing incidence by using modifications to direct drill seeding equipment enabling some disturbance to Rhizoctonia at sowing. However, a long term sustainable solution with both economic and environmental benefit, as concluded from a review of the literature (Chapter 1) is to harness the potential for biological control of the disease via natural or induced suppression in soils. Biological suppression to specific disease organisms in soil has been reported worldwide from a range of environments. Further, the development of biological soil-borne suppression to Rhizoctonia root rot has been described for one specific agricultural location (Avon) in South Australia following a decade of stubble retention together with higher than average nutrient inputs (Chapter 1). The studies in this thesis investigate soilborne suppression to Rhizoctonia in agricultural soils from a semi-arid region of South Australia called Eyre Peninsula (EP) that produces 40% of the State’s grain. The context is that historically in Eyre Peninsula farming systems crop residue inputs to soil are inherently low, as are fertiliser N and P inputs. However, recent intensification of these systems with the implementation of continuous cereals and minimum or zero tillage has resulted in greater inputs of stubbles and fertilisers. Rhizoctonia root disease is prevalent in the mainly coarse textured alkaline soils of the region, and the reduction in cultural control associated with adoption of reduced till systems has highlighted a need for alternative control measures. In a broad context, the key question addressed in this thesis is whether the soil ecology to suppress Rhizoctonia is present or can develop in these soils from a region considered an extremely harsh environment climatically as well as edaphically. Specific key questions will be addressed in the discussion section of each chapter. The thesis, through a series of controlled environment studies, examines abiotic-biotic interactions between the soil, the Rhizoctonia solani pathogen and wheat seedlings. The work assesses how the soil organisms involved in disease suppression (both the pathogen Rhizoctonia solani AG8 organism and other antagonists or competitors) are influenced by cereal stubbles and fertilizer inputs to the system. Through a series of preliminary experiments (Chapter 3) the important variables of soil moisture and amount of pathogen inoculum (e.g. number of pathogen infected agar plugs) suitable for a bioassay method were standardised, and used throughout the rest of the work described in this thesis. Two controlled environment bioassay experiments (Chapter 4) were undertaken surveying soils from six sites across the region differing in physico-chemical and biological properties to elucidate the influence of abiotic and biotic factors on plant-soil-pathogen interactions and the potential for suppression of Rhizoctonia. A comparison was made with soil from the long term study site in SA (Avon) reported to be suppressive to Rhizoctonia. Studies growing wheat seedlings in sterilised soils demonstrated that the soils assessed were intrinsically different in terms of the growth supported by the abiotic matrix. Greatest shoot and root dry weight was observed in the soil from a region outside the EP (i.e. Avon) and the least was in an EP soil with extremely high calcium carbonate content (e.g. Streaky Bay) – a clear example of plant-soil abiotic interaction. Avon soil was confirmed as suppressive to Rhizoctonia root rot since the Avon soil inoculated with its own biotic component reduced root infection to 50% from more than 70% in the sterilised abiotic control. Whereas, for plants in the two EP soils with low calcium carbonate root infection was similar in the sterilised abiotic matrix to that in the soils inoculated with their biotic component, suggesting they were not biologically suppressive. Further evidence of the suppressive capability of the biotic component of Avon soil was obtained where it was inoculated into the two EP soils with higher carbonate and reduced root infection in plants grown in these two soils, although not in the lower carbonate content abiotic matrix of Minnipa, another EP soil. Surprisingly, considering the hostile edaphic conditions, root infection was reduced in the high calcium carbonate soil inoculated with its own biotic component, suggesting it was suppressive but not to the same extent as Avon. It was hypothesised this was possibly related to the organic C content in that soil being similar to Avon and higher than the other two EP soils. Shifts in soil organism community structure were observed when plants were grown in sterilised soils inoculated with the biotic component from another soil (i.e. rhizosphere soil from plants grown in another non-sterile matrix). Overall this work suggested there was some biotic potential for suppression in EP soils but low organic C was likely to be a constraint. EP soils were not as suppressive as Avon and abiotic constraints were highly likely, for example, the high carbonate reducing availability of P due to chemical fixation. A long term glasshouse study (Chapter 5) was undertaken to measure the effect of carbon addition to two EP soils, as stubble or young root residues, on the potential to suppress Rhizoctonia. Other measurements in this experiment were microbial biomass carbon and quantitative PCR for DNA of pathogen and other specific micro-organisms implicated as contributing to disease suppression. C input to EP soils suppressed Rhizoctonia infection in wheat seedlings (despite abiotic constraints). C input as young roots increased DNA of Rhizoctonia solani and beneficial soil organisms Microbacterium spp. and Pantoea agglomerans. C input as stubble increased the populations of the beneficial soil organism, Trichoderma spp. A further bioassay experiment (Chapter 6) investigated the effect of N and P fertiliser inputs on plant growth and Rhizoctonia suppression in two EP soils. The bioassay further investigated the interaction of these fertiliser nutrients with added available C in these two EP soils, one of which was highly calcareous. There was a positive plant growth response to added ammonium–N in both soils but no effect on Rhizoctonia infection. Addition of fertilizer P to the highly calcareous soil increased shoot and root growth and also Rhizoctonia infection without compromising effects on plant growth. Addition of available C (sucrose) with P fertiliser in the highly calcareous soil markedly suppressed Rhizoctonia infection. Two final experiments focussed on measuring the changes in pathogen and other microbial communities in response to inputs of fertiliser and C in a highly calcareous EP soil, since Rhizoctonia root rot impacts are considered a particularly big issue in this soil type. In the first experiment (Chapter 7) it was hypothesised that fertiliser P may affect suppression of Rhizoctonia root rot not only via increasing plant growth but also by altering microbial community composition. Results showed that virulence of Rhizoctonia solani was unaltered by P addition although pathogen DNA in soil and plant root infection increased. The effect of P fertiliser on plant growth compensated for the effect of P on increased pathogen population and root infection. Whilst fertiliser P increased microbial activity no shifts were detected in communities so the effects of P on soil organisms involved in suppression of Rhizoctonia root rot were not conclusive. However, in the last experiment (Chapter 8) there were measured shifts in populations of organisms resulting from addition of fertiliser P in conjunction with stubble. The known suppressive soil organisms Pantoea agglomerans and Microbacterium spp. increased whereas Rhizoctonia solani (DNA) remained constant and hence Rhizoctonia infection decreased. In summary, some soils from the EP region of South Australia expressed a degree of suppression to Rhizoctonia root rot via their biotic component in pot culture experiments. Furthermore, some of the soils, although not necessarily the same ones, contained soil micro-organisms implicated by other studies in suppression of Rhizoctonia root rot. The biotic component from some of the EP soils, whilst not suppressive in the soil matrix it was extracted from did demonstrate the potential to suppress Rhizoctonia root rot when transferred into another soil matrix, indicating an abiotic constraint to suppression. It is postulated that important abiotic properties in these EP soils were calcium carbonate content, with organic carbon and to a lesser extent mineral N and P also important since these latter properties bridge the abiotic to biotic divide. Important biotic properties are likely to be microbial activity, microbial community structure and the population of the pathogen, Rhizoctonia solani AG8. Results from this thesis work suggest that suppression to Rhizoctonia root rot can occur in EP soils despite abiotic and biotic constraints of limited C and P. Improvement and maintenance of a high suppressive capacity in soils in this semi-arid environment will require integrated agronomy aimed at maintaining a healthy crop using fertilisers, particularly P. Available carbon appears to be the most limiting constraint to microbe based biological disease suppression of Rhizoctonia root rot in these soils. Therefore it is essential that adequate available C is supplied via stubble input to develop and maintain a highly functioning soil biota. Although these results highlight that disease suppression to Rhizoctonia root rot is indeed possible in the constrained soils of the EP, the time required to develop this suppressive capacity in a field situation remains to be investigated.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2013

Agricultural pastures are one of the most common land-cover types in fragmented terrestrial landscapes. While they may act as a 'matrix' (i.e. unable to support sustainable populations) for some species, for others they can have high conservation potential. In many parts of the world, agricultural pastures are being replaced by tree plantations, which will influence the distribution of patch-associated species and those that occur more broadly across the landscape. Understanding how species respond to landscape transformation is critical to the successful conservation of biodiversity. My thesis introduction further explores possible consequences of landscape transformation and the ecological and management context of my research (Chapter 1). I then present my systematic review, which assesses how the matrix has so far been considered in fragmentation studies on butterflies (Chapter 2). I found it was significantly more likely for studies not to include the matrix in their experimental design. This result was concerning as 80% of the papers which did consider the matrix reported that it had a negative impact on butterflies. My review highlights the need for future research to ensure the matrix is included appropriately in the experimental design of studies in fragmented landscapes. I then present empirical research on butterflies (Chapter 3) and ground-active beetles (Chapter 4) in a landscape of native Eucalyptus woodland patches surrounded by agricultural pastures and pine plantations in the southwest slopes of New South Wales, Australia. My results suggest that farmland offers resources to both taxa. Conversely, in areas where farmland has been transformed to plantation, I found significantly fewer beetles and a complete absence of butterflies. This research indicates that land-cover change could have serious implications for the successful dispersal of animals, and may lead to population isolation and/or biotic homogenisation. I further explore mechanisms driving the distribution of butterflies in this landscape by investigating movement of Heteronympha merope (common brown butterfly) at edges of eucalypt woodland, agricultural pasture and pine plantation (Chapter 5). I found individuals were less likely to approach pine edges compared to edges of farmland or eucalypt. They also were unlikely to cross pine edges, and in cases where they did cross, they always returned to the area they were released from. If released within pine, individuals actively departed. These results further support the suggestion that dense pine plantations may interrupt successful disperal for species in patchy landscapes. My thesis demonstrates the effects of landscape transformation on patch-associated species and others that occur more widely across the landscape. The lack of biodiversity supported by plantations is particularly concerning for conservation considering demands for plantation wood will result in plantation expansion in many areas worldwide. This thesis concludes by providing recommendations for improving the conservation value of plantations (Chapter 6), including; adopting earlier thinning schedules and preserving corridors of native trees or understorey vegetation. Implementing my recommendations will likely improve matrix use and patch connectivity for invertebrates and other taxa. Future research should concentrate on evaluating the effectiveness of my management recommendations for various taxa and systems (Chapter 6).

Agricultural shows are community-based festivals that represent a majority of festivals staged in rural destinations within Australia. Recent anecdotal evidence indicates their survival is being threatened. Declines in the overall number of shows and visitor attendance have been widely reported, yet an analysis of the reason for these declines has not been investigated. Agricultural shows are managed by volunteers within not-for-profit show societies who are finding it difficult to survive in an increasingly competitive and challenging external environment. Little is understood about these show societies, their volunteer managers and the management effectiveness. This study has addressed these gaps by investigating show society management effectiveness by means of a marketing concept paradigm. A case study method employing qualitative in-depth interviews with key show society members and other stakeholders was conducted on one agricultural show. Findings reveal that this show society is managed by volunteers whose primary involvement motivation is based upon self-interest in one or more components of the show. The majority of these individuals do not have management skills and expertise required to manage a festival and whilst it is important to note their volunteering contribution, it is this lack of skills and knowledge that has prevented a systematic approach to management. There is no attempt at consumer research, strategic planning, organisational planning or volunteer recruitment. The show programs do not change to reflect the current needs of the community, rather what is affordable, who can organise it and what has always been done. As a result, the case study show society is not employing a marketing concept orientation but a product concept orientation. This study concludes that without this focus, the show society will be ill equipped to meet changing customer demands and stay abreast of competitors. To assist agricultural shows to manage future challenges and adopt a marketing concept, a theoretical model has been proposed that incorporates existing frameworks and this study’s findings.
M. Commerce (Hons.)

"August 2003."
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 294-333)
2 v. (xxxi, 333 leaves) ; ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm.
Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture and Wine, Discipline of Plant and Pest Science, 2005

While individual biographies of convict lives have appeared in the literature of Australian colonial history - albeit in truncated form - an aggregate study of convicts selected from a homogeneous group has appeared less often. Thus an opportunity has been missed to examine the commonalities as well as differences of such individuals over time - both before and after their punishment. My thesis examines the lives of 15 convicts who had worked during their bondage at the Australian Agricultural Company in New South Wales. Although the primary purpose is to use the method of micro-prosopography to seek the commonalities, differences and idiosyncrasies of these convicts' experiences, as well as their aggregate, the biographies are important in themselves. By compiling portraits of their lives I have sought to rescue them from what E.P. Thompson famously called 'the enormous condescension of posterity'. Although gaps in the biographies inevitably appear, and more information about some than others has been found, all biographies reveal enough information to highlight broader themes in colonial history - criminality and punishment, alcohol, and economic outcomes - which have been explored extensively. By tracing, where possible, the trajectory of the lives of their families I have also examined the legacy of convicts in the later history of Australia.

Includes list of publications issued during the candidature.
Bibliography: leaves 176-197.
iii, ix, 197, [22] leaves : ill., maps ; 30 cm.
Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library.
Phosphorus retention was measured in five pilot-scaled constructed wetlands with different configurations in terms of macrophyte species and substrates in order to evaluate the phosphorus removal efficiency of water plants and substrates in experimental ponds; assess the contribution of macrophytes to phosphorus removal through direct uptake, modification of water chemistry and impacts on the phosphorus adsorption characteristics of substrate; and, contribute to the optimal design and operation of constructed wetlands for the treatment of agricultural drainage water.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Soil and Water, 2002?

Includes list of publications issued during the candidature.
Bibliography: leaves 176-197.
iii, ix, 197, [22] leaves : ill., maps ; 30 cm.
Phosphorus retention was measured in five pilot-scaled constructed wetlands with different configurations in terms of macrophyte species and substrates in order to evaluate the phosphorus removal efficiency of water plants and substrates in experimental ponds; assess the contribution of macrophytes to phosphorus removal through direct uptake, modification of water chemistry and impacts on the phosphorus adsorption characteristics of substrate; and, contribute to the optimal design and operation of constructed wetlands for the treatment of agricultural drainage water.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Soil and Water, 2002?