Journal articles on the topic 'Wheat Australia Quality'
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1
Bekes, F., W. Ma, and K. Gale. "QTL analysis of wheat quality traits." Acta Agronomica Hungarica 50, no. 3 (September 1, 2002): 249–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1556/aagr.50.2002.3.3.
Abstract:
This paper aims to give an overview on the different aspects of QTL analysis of quality traits of wheat through the brief introduction of molecular genetics, cereal chemistry and the statistical methods developed and applied recently in this area. Some examples are also provided, based on the author's research activity carried out in the National Wheat Molecular Marker Program (NWMMP) established in Australia in 1996.
2
McDonald, GK. "The contribution of nitrogen fertiliser to the nitrogen nutrition of rainfed wheat crops in Australia: a review." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 29, no. 3 (1989): 455. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9890455.
Abstract:
Very little nitrogen (N) fertiliser is applied to wheat crops in Australia. Currently, about 105 t of N fertiliser (less than 20% of Australia's total consumption) are used annually at an average rate of 2-3 kg Nha. This scant use of N fertiliser over much of the Australian wheat belt N is because the N derived from a legume-dominant pasture ley is thought to provide a wheat crop's N requirement. However, trends in the grain protein content of Australian wheat and some other indices of soil fertility suggest that legume-based pastures have not always been able to supply all the N required for adequate nutrition of the wheat crop and that there has been some occasional need for extra N from applications of fertiliser. Recent declines in the productivity and quality of pastures has further increased the need for supplementary applications of N fertiliser. The increase in grain legume production also has been partly based on the presumption that grain legumes contribute to the N economy of the following wheat crop. Many experiments throughout the wheat belt show a yield advantage of wheat grown after a grain legume, but these rotation trials also show that the level of productivity of the grain legume has little effect on the yield of the following wheat crop. A review of these experiments suggests that grain legumes, directly, contribute little to the N nutrition of a following wheat crop and their benefit may be from the legume acting as a disease break or providing the opportunity to control grassy weeds.
3
Lever, T., A. Kelly, J. De Faveri, D. Martin, J. Sheppard, K. Quail, and D. Miskelly. "Australian wheat for the sponge and dough bread making process." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56, no. 10 (2005): 1049. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar05113.
Abstract:
This work investigates the suitability of Australian wheats for the sponge and dough bread market, and determines the wheat quality attributes most important for large loaf volume. A group of 30 genotypes was selected for quality testing and baking using a purpose-developed sponge and dough test baking method. Genotypes were grown at 2 sites in Queensland during winter of 2001 and 2002, and then grain from the field trials was tested in the laboratory. The traits measured included grain, flour, and dough quality, along with loaf volume as the main trait of interest. Glutenin alleles and Wx-B1 allele status of the genotypes were also determined. Genetic correlations were calculated between loaf volume and all the quality traits. The quality trait with the strongest relationship to loaf volume was flour swelling volume. Glutenin alleles and Wx-B1 alleles may also be important for sponge and dough bread quality but the data presented here were insufficient to draw strong conclusions. Consistent, large sponge and dough loaf volumes (>850 cm3) were achieved by the Batavia/Pelsart double haploids QT8753, QT10793, and QT10778. The wheat varieties Hartog and Kennedy also performed well. The work demonstrated that Australia can produce wheat suitable for this market.
4
Humphries, A. W., R. A. Latta, G. C. Auricht, and W. D. Bellotti. "Over-cropping lucerne with wheat: effect of lucerne winter activity on total plant production and water use of the mixture, and wheat yield and quality." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55, no. 8 (2004): 839. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar03250.
Abstract:
Two field experiments in southern Australia investigated a farming system of over-cropping wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) into established lucerne (Medicago sativa subsp. L.) varieties of different winter activity ratings. The study was completed at Roseworthy, South Australia, and Katanning, Western Australia, between August 2000 and May 2003 in seasons receiving below average and average rainfall. Comparative lucerne persistence and biomass, wheat biomass, grain yield and protein contents, and soil water contents were measured. Wheat grain yield was reduced by 13–63% by over-cropping lucerne compared with wheat monoculture. Winter-dormant lucerne (winter activity Classes 0.5 and 2) reduced the yield penalty compared with winter-active varieties (Classes 6 and 10) in 2 of the 4 evaluations. The positive response to applying N at sowing in the second year of over-cropping wheat at Katanning was greatest in the most winter-dormant lucerne treatment (winter activity 0.5). Soil water contents were similar under the lucerne/wheat over-cropping and lucerne monoculture treatments irrespective of lucerne winter activity. Deficits of up to 43 mm at Roseworthy and 88 mm at Katanning were measured in the 0–200-cm soil profile at the start of the third summer of the study. The study shows that it can be more efficient in terms of land area to over-crop wheat into lucerne than to grow monocultures on separate parcels of land akin to phase farming. The improved productivity of over-cropping is associated with the separation of growth patterns of winter wheat and summer-active lucerne. This farming system offers great potential for improving sustainability and productivity in southern Australian cropping rotations.
5
Williams, R. M., L. O'Brien, H. A. Eagles, V. A. Solah, and V. Jayasena. "The influences of genotype, environment, and genotype×environment interaction on wheat quality." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, no. 2 (2008): 95. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar07185.
Abstract:
Knowledge of the relative contributions of genotype (G), environment (E), and genotype and environment interaction (G × E) effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) quality leads to more effective selection in breeding programs and segregation of more uniform parcels of grain better suited to the needs of customers. Their effects on wheat quality were reviewed using papers obtained from 4 major international databases. The literature is dominated by research from North America, with lesser contributions from Europe, Australia, and the rest of the world. Use of analysis of variance to partition sources of variation due to G, E, and G × E was the most common approach but, more recently, residual maximum likelihood methods that can accommodate large, but unbalanced, datasets have been used. In North America and Europe, the relative contributions of G, E, and G × E varied across studies, but traits associated with protein content were more influenced by E and G × E than those associated with protein quality, dough rheology and starch characteristics, where G effects were more important. Variation in the relative contributions of G, E, and G × E was highly dependent on the G and E sampled. The Australian studies were characterised by a relative lack of G × E, with G and E rankings being similar across the country for the protein quality, dough rheology, and starch quality traits examined in detail. This suggests that, in Australia, more efficient testing of potential cultivars will be possible for these traits, especially when the underlying variation at the gene level is known, and that efficiencies in the design and conduct of trial systems and quality evaluations could be achieved by testing samples from targetted environments without affecting genetic gain and overall crop quality.
6
Eagles, H. A., Karen Cane, R. F. Eastwood, G. J. Hollamby, Haydn Kuchel, P. J. Martin, and G. B. Cornish. "Contributions of glutenin and puroindoline genes to grain quality traits in southern Australian wheat breeding programs." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, no. 2 (2006): 179. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar05242.
Abstract:
Glutenin genes were known to influence maximum dough resistance (Rmax), dough extensibility (extensibility), and dough development time, whereas puroindoline genes were known to influence grain hardness, flour water absorption (water absorption), and milling yield. These are important determinants of grain quality of wheat in Australia. This study was conducted to investigate the combined effect of these genes on Rmax, extensibility, dough development time, water absorption, and milling yield in a large dataset assembled from the breeding programs based at Horsham, Victoria; Roseworthy, South Australia; and Wagga Wagga, New South Wales; for at least 10 seasons. The effect of the glutenin genes on Rmax, extensibility, and dough development time was confirmed, as was the effect of the puroindoline genes on water absorption and milling yield. In addition, puroindoline genes were shown to significantly affect extensibility and dough development time. The Pina-D1a/Pinb-D1b genotype increased extensibility, dough development time, and milling yield relative to the Pina-D1b/Pinb-D1a genotype. Both of these genotypes are present in cultivars classified as hard-grained in southern Australia. Therefore, the allelic composition of both glutenin and puroindoline genes is required to predict the grain quality of hard wheat in southern Australian breeding programs. The glutenin and puroindoline genes in combination accounted for more than 50% of the genotypic variance for these traits, except for milling yield, but a substantial proportion of the genotypic variation could not be attributed to these genes, indicating that other genes affecting the traits were present in the populations of these wheat-breeding programs.
7
Sissons, Mike, Ben Ovenden, Dante Adorada, and Andrew Milgate. "Durum wheat quality in high-input irrigation systems in south-eastern Australia." Crop and Pasture Science 65, no. 5 (2014): 411. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp13431.
Abstract:
To extend the production base of durum wheat in Australia, field trials were conducted on seven registered durum varieties across four seasons and six sites in locations where irrigation was supplied during crop growth. The purpose was to determine if the quality of the grain produced met the requirements for good milling and pasta-making quality and to understand the genotype, environment and their interaction in affecting yield and technological quality of the grain and derived pasta. High grain yields and grain protein were obtained, producing large grain weights, low screenings and low percentage of hard vitreous kernels. Yellow colour of semolina and pasta was reduced marginally but dough and other pasta technological characteristics were similar to typical dryland durum production, with some exceptions. Varieties were identified with potential for production under irrigation.
8
Korte, Chris J., Patrick Wilson, Brian Kearns, Glenn J. Fitzgerald, Joe F. Panozzo, Cassandra K. Walker, Brendan Christy, et al. "Potential impact of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and climate change on Victorian wheat marketing grades and value." Crop and Pasture Science 70, no. 11 (2019): 926. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp19155.
Abstract:
The potential impact of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) and future climate predicted for 2050 on wheat marketing grades and grain value was evaluated for Victoria, Australia. This evaluation was based on measured grain yield and quality from the Australian Grains FACE program and commercial grain delivery data from Victoria for five seasons (2009–13). Extrapolation of relationships derived from field experimentation under elevated [CO2] to the Victorian wheat crop indicated that 34% of grain would be downgraded by one marketing grade (range 1–62% depending on season and region) because of reduced protein concentration; and that proportions of high-protein wheat grades would reduce and proportions of lower protein grades would increase, with the largest increase in the Australian Standard White (ASW1) grade. Simulation modelling with predicted 2050 [CO2] and future climate indicated reduced wheat yields compared with 2009–13 but higher and lower grain quality depending on region. The Mallee Region was most negatively affected by climate change, with a predicted 43% yield reduction and 43% of grain downgraded by one marketing grade. Using 2016 prices, the value of Victorian wheat grain was influenced mainly by production in the different scenarios, with quality changes in different scenarios having minimal impact on grain value.
9
Hunt, James R. "Winter wheat cultivars in Australian farming systems: a review." Crop and Pasture Science 68, no. 6 (2017): 501. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp17173.
Abstract:
Winter wheat cultivars are defined as those that have an obligate vernalisation requirement that must be met before they will progress from the vegetative to reproductive phase of development i.e. they must experience a true winter before they will flower. Historically, very little breeding effort has been applied to the selection of winter cultivars suited to southern Australia, with the notable exception of the New South Wales Agriculture breeding program based in Wagga and Temora that ran from the 1960s until 2002. A shift by growers to earlier sowing, increased usage of dual-purpose cereals, and research highlighting the whole-farm benefits of winter cultivars to average farm wheat yield has increased grower interest and demand for winter cultivars. Three major wheat breeding companies operating in southern Australia have responded by commencing selection for milling quality winter cultivars, the first of which was released in 2017. Existing research relating to winter wheats in southern Australian farming systems is reviewed here, including interactions with agronomic management, environment and weeds and disease. It is concluded that winter wheats can offer significant production and farming system benefits to growers by allowing earlier establishment, which increases water-limited potential yield (PYw) by ~15% relative to later sown spring wheats, and makes forage available for dual-purpose grazing during vegetative development. Winter wheats sown early require agronomic management different to that of later sown spring wheats, including greater attention to control of grass weeds and certain diseases. There are significant research gaps that will prevent growers from maximising the opportunities from new winter cultivars once they are released. The first of these is a well-defined establishment window for winter cultivars, particularly in medium-low rainfall environments of South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia that have not historically grown them. There is circumstantial evidence that the yield advantage of early established winter wheats over later sown spring wheats is greatest when stored soil water is present at establishment, or the soil profile fills during the growing season. Explicit confirmation of this would allow growers to identify situations where the yield advantage of winter wheats will be maximised. Given the imminent release of several new winter wheat cultivars and the increases in PYw that they embody, it is critical to experimentally define the management and environmental conditions under which performance of these new genotypes are optimised, before their release and availability to growers. Optimising the genotype × environmental × management interactions possible with these cultivars will empower growers to make the best use of the technology and better realise the gains in water limited potential yield possible with these genotypes.
10
Choct, M., R. J. Hughes, and G. Annison. "Apparent metabolisable energy and chemical composition of Australian wheat in relation to environmental factors." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 50, no. 4 (1999): 447. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/a98155.
Abstract:
A total of 81 wheats collected from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia over 3 harvests were assayed for apparent metabolisable energy (AME) in broiler chickens. The non-starch polysaccharides (soluble and insoluble) and their individual sugar components, starch, and protein were also determined. The nutritive quality of wheat varied significantly (P < 0.01), especially at time of harvest, with approximately 40% having an average AME value <13 MJ/kg dry matter. The low-AME wheats usually caused copious quantities of watery and sticky droppings. The occurrence of low-AME wheats was associated more with climatic conditions during growth than with geographical region.
11
EGLEZOS, SOFRONI. "Microbiological Quality of Wheat Grain and Flour from Two Mills in Queensland, Australia." Journal of Food Protection 73, no. 8 (August 1, 2010): 1533–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.4315/0362-028x-73.8.1533.
Abstract:
A baseline investigation of the microbiological quality of wheat grain and flour from two mills in Queensland, Australia, was undertaken in order to assess the capacity of these two mills to meet microbiological criteria specified by a customer for raw, non–heat-treated flour. This baseline testing was performed over the 2006 to 2007 wheat season. Three hundred fifty flour samples were monitored for yeast, mold, and Bacillus cereus, 300 for Escherichia coli, 150 for Salmonella, and 100 for aerobic plate count. Fifty grain samples were analyzed for yeast, mold, E. coli, Salmonella, and B. cereus. There was a single isolation of Salmonella Give in unscreened wheat. The yeast, mold, E. coli, and B. cereus prevalences were 56, 40, 2.0, and 4.0% for grain and 71, 17, 0.7, and <0.3% for flour, respectively. Of the positive samples, the means were 3.7, 2.7, 0.6, and 2.1 for grain, and 3.0, 2.8, and 0.8 log CFU/g for flour. The mean of the aerobic plate count was 4.2 log CFU/g with a 95th percentile count of 4.6 log CFU/g. A microbiological quality baseline of wheat grain and flour from these two Queensland mills has been determined. These data in a specific sense assist the two mills to assess their capacity to meet microbiological criteria, and in a general sense provide at least a limited snapshot of Queensland wheat and flour quality for risk assessments being carried out to evaluate the safety of plant and plant products.
12
Wellings, C. R. "Puccinia striiformis in Australia: a review of the incursion, evolution, and adaptation of stripe rust in the period 1979 - 2006." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58, no. 6 (2007): 567. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar07130.
Abstract:
The wheat stripe rust pathogen (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici; Pst) was first detected in Australia in 1979. The features of the initial pathotype suggested that it was of European origin, and later work provided evidence that it was most likely transmitted as adherent spores on travellers’ clothing. Despite long-held views that this cool temperature pathogen would not adapt to Australian conditions, Pst became endemic and progressively adapted to commercial wheat production through step-wise mutation. Several of these mutant pathotypes became frequent in the Pst population, causing widespread infection and significant costs to production (yield and quality losses; chemical control expenditure) in certain cultivars and seasons. Pathotype evolution, including adaptation to native barley grass (Hordeum spp.) populations, is described. The occurrence of an exotic pathotype of Pst in Western Australia in 2002, and its subsequent spread to eastern Australia, represented a major shift in the pathogen population. This pathotype dominated pathogen populations throughout Australia from 2003, with chemical control expenditure estimated at AU$40–90 million annually. Another exotic introduction was detected in 1998. Initial data indicated that certain isolates collected from barley grass were highly avirulent to wheat differentials, with the exception of partial virulence to Chinese 166. Further seedling tests revealed that these isolates, tentatively designated barley grass stripe rust (BGYR), were virulent on several Australian barleys, notably those of Skiff parentage. Data, including molecular studies, suggest that BGYR is a new forma specialis of P. striiformis. Field nurseries indicate that BGYR is likely to have little impact on commercial barley, although this may change with further pathotype evolution or the release of susceptible cultivars.
13
Wrigley, CW. "Developing better strategies to improve grain quality for wheat." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 45, no. 1 (1994): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar9940001.
Abstract:
There are opportunities to improve the quality and-market value of wheat grain at all stages of production, storage and transport. An essential pre-requisite is a thorough knowledge of market requirements, both for the coming crop season and well into the future in the case of breeding programs and research planning. Elucidation of the molecular basis of grain quality is an important part of the overall strategy of quality improvement. The outcome expected from such studies will be the identification of key chemical components that can serve as markers for specific aspects of grain quality. The provision of screening tests for these marker compounds then permits intelligent quality testing at harvest, planning of genotype and environment to maximize quality, and selection of suitable genotypes at an early stage of breeding. This review describes the state of our present knowledge of grain quality at the molecular/chemical level (with particular references to dough quality for wheat), and it indicates how this knowledge can be put to practical use in better suiting wheat grain for processing requirements both in Australia and overseas.
14
McMullen, K. G., and J. M. Virgona. "Dry matter production and grain yield from grazed wheat in southern New South Wales." Animal Production Science 49, no. 10 (2009): 769. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an09055.
Abstract:
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.
15
Boer, R., DJ Fletcher, and LC Campbell. "Rainfall patterns in a major wheat-growing region of Australia." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44, no. 4 (1993): 609. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar9930609.
Abstract:
Rainfall is an important variable in the wheat production areas of Australia. This analysis examines, firstly, the pattern of rainfall over 2.3 million ha of a high-quality wheat-producing region, and secondly, develops regression equations for rainfall prediction over this region. Most of the variation in rainfall pattern across the region is accounted for by differences in October-to-March (summer) rainfall and in April-to-September (winter) rainfall. The summer rainfall differences account for over two thirds of the variation. Based on these two rainfall periods, a partitioning of the study area reveals five distinct regions. The second part of the analysis uses multiple regression to provide a set of equations for rainfall prediction at any location in the region, for a number of rainfall periods. These equations use altitude, longitude and latitude as predictors. Nearly all of the equations explain between 80% and 94% of the variation in rainfall. Differences between regions are accounted for in the analysis, making the equations widely applicable. The validity of the mean rainfall equations was tested on three further sites: the mean prediction error was 6.9%. This approach may be applicable where large land masses with similar geographical features occur.
16
Skerritt, J. H., R. H. Heywood, F. Ellison, S. J. Kammholz, and H. M. Allen. "Interchangeability of genotypes and growth locations for high-quality, high-protein wheat production in Australia." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 54, no. 10 (2003): 987. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar01205.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess whether the recent finding that 4 Prime Hard wheat varieties grown at southern sites provided flour of comparable quality with that from northern sites is likely to be generally applicable to other varieties, as this is especially important as new varieties are developed. The grain, dough processing, and baking properties of samples from 4 sets of lines, each grown over 2 seasons at 2 northern and 2 southern sites, was assessed. The samples included 2 sets of doubled haploid lines (one derived from Hartog × Klasic, differing only at Glu-A3, and the other Hartog × CD-87, differing at 5 glutenin loci), and 2 sets of F8 crossbred lines (from Janz/Hartog and Janz*2/Dollarbird, permitting an additional comparison of effects of allelic variation at the Glu-D1 locus). Approximately similar grain protein contents were obtained at one pair of northern and southern sites (respectively Narrabri and Ariah Park, 12–14%) and a second pair of northern and southern sites (respectively Roma and Walpeup, 14–17%, although the latter was consistently higher). The results demonstrated that the grain, dough, and baking properties of the lines were broadly similar at each protein content, and that in general, grain from the southern sites had comparable quality characteristics with that from the northern sites. However, in 1997, the Walpeup southern site suffered very dry conditions late in grain filling, and several of the grain samples were of low size and poor flour milling extraction rate and colour. In 1998, wet conditions late in the season meant that the grain at Ariah Park was lower in protein content and doughs were of lower extensibility and produced depressed loaf volumes. The variation in glutenin subunit composition also permitted the conduct of a detailed comparison of allelic influences on flour processing and baking properties at 4 sites and in 4 backgrounds. This revealed significant effects of allelic variation at Glu-B1, Glu-D1, and Glu-B3 on dough properties, with the effect of Glu-B1 differing between sets of lines.
17
Liu, CY, and AJ Rathjen. "Association of high and low molecular weight glutenin subunits with dough strength in durum wheats (Triticum turgidum ssp. turgidum L. conv. durum (Desf.)) in southern Australia." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 36, no. 4 (1996): 451. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9960451.
Abstract:
A large set of durum wheat lines (79 including 8 advanced Australian breeding lines) randomly collected from 11 countries and 11 bread wheat cultivars were grown in replicated trials at 2 field locations to compare yield and gluten quality. Gluten strength, as measured by the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-sedimentation (SDSS) test, varied considerably among the durum lines and was associated with the presence of specific glutenins. Unlike some previous reports, the present study showed that durum wheat cultivars having the high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunits coded by Glu-B1 genes such as 13 + 16 and 7 + 8 were highly correlated with improved dough strength, which was consistent with the effect of HMW glutenin subunits on dough quality in bread wheat. Cultivars having the low molecular weight (LMW) glutenin allele LMW-2 (or gliadin band r-45) generally gave stronger gluten than lines with allele LMW-1, as reported by earlier workers. The LMW pattern LMW-IIt gave the strongest glutenin. The combined better alleles at Glu-B1 (coded bands 13 + 16, 7 + 8 v. 6 + 8, 20) and Glu-3 (patterns LMW- II, LMW-IIt v. LMW-I) showed linear cumulative effects for dough strength. All the durum lines studied had lower SDSS values than the bread wheat controls (45.8 v. 76.2 mL), though durum wheats tended to possess higher grain protein concentrations (14.0 v. 11.9%) and gave lower grain yield than bread wheat. The Australian advanced lines had higher yield and better dough strength than durums from other countries except those from CIMMYT. The Australian lines also had 1-1.5% higher protein concentration and equal or better grain yield than the bread wheat, suggesting that these lines had potential for commercial use.
18
McIntosh, R. A. "From Farrer to the Australian Cereal Rust Control Program." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58, no. 6 (2007): 550. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar07148.
Abstract:
Australia has a proud history in the development of rust-resistant wheat, a history that has evolved with the development of knowledge of host–pathogen genetics and the continuing transition of plant breeding from an art to science. William Farrer, who migrated to Australia to relieve his problem of tuberculosis, witnessed rust problems on farmers’ fields and addressed the problem as a private individual. Before the rediscovery of Mendel’s principles of inheritance he, like contemporaries in other countries, appreciated that variability was present and was inherited such that different traits could be recombined. He appreciated that there were 2 separate rusts and that both, particularly the less frequent stem rust, had to be present for effective selection in breeding programs. The University of Sydney has the oldest Faculty of Agriculture in the country and one of its first graduates initiated, in 1921, studies on cereal rust pathogen variability, host resistance, and resistance breeding. That program continues to the present time with the recurring themes of pathogen variability, host resistance, and the best ways of achieving lasting resistance. Until the 1970s, most of the knowledge of rust variability at the national level was applied to the University’s breeding program, targeted to prime hard-quality wheat for northern NSW. Following the 1973 rust epidemic in southern Australia, a National Wheat Rust Control Program was initiated, and it has evolved through several steps to the present Australian Cereal Rust Control Program with international dimensions. This paper reviews some of the history, development, applications, and achievements of 88 years of cereal rust research.
19
Anwar, M. R., D. Rodriguez, D. L. Liu, S. Power, and G. J. O'Leary. "Quality and potential utility of ENSO-based forecasts of spring rainfall and wheat yield in south-eastern Australia." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, no. 2 (2008): 112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar07061.
Abstract:
Reliable seasonal climate forecasts are needed to aid tactical crop management decisions in south-eastern Australia (SEA). In this study we assessed the quality of two existing forecasting systems, i.e. the five phases of the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and a three phase Pacific Ocean sea-surface temperatures (SSTs), to predict spring rainfall (i.e. rainfall from 1 September to 31 November), and simulated wheat yield. The quality of the forecasts was evaluated by analysing four attributes of their performance: their reliability, the relative degree of shift and dispersion of the distributions, and measure of forecast consistency or skill. Available data included 117 years of spring rainfall and 104 years of grain yield simulated using the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model, from four locations in SEA. Average values of spring rainfall were 102–174 mm with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 47%. Average simulated wheat yields were highest (5609 kg/ha) in Albury (New South Wales) and lowest (1668 kg/ha) in Birchip (Victoria). The average CV for simulated grain yields was 36%. Griffith (NSW) had the highest yield variability (CV = 50%). Some of this year-to-year variation was related to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Spring rainfall and simulated wheat yields showed a clear association with the SOI and SST phases at the end of July. Important variations in shift and dispersion in spring rainfall and simulated wheat yields were observed across the studied locations. The forecasts showed good reliability, indicating that both forecasting systems could be used with confidence to forecast spring rainfall or wheat yield as early as the end of July. The consistency of the forecast of spring rainfall and simulated wheat yield was 60–83%. We concluded that adequate forecasts of spring rainfall and grain yield could be produced at the end of July, using both the SOI and SST phase systems. These results are discussed in relation to the potential benefit of making tactical top-dress applications of nitrogen fertilisers during early August.
20
Kirkland, Lisa S., Elia I. Pirtle, and Paul A. Umina. "Responses of the Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia) and bird cherry oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) to insecticide seed treatments in wheat." Crop and Pasture Science 69, no. 10 (2018): 966. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp18266.
Abstract:
Aphids are economically important pests of cereal crops globally. They feed on the sap of plants, which can directly reduce yield and grain quality. Many species are also proficient at transmitting important plant viruses. Two of the world’s most damaging cereal aphids are the Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia) and bird cherry oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi). These species are present in all major grain-growing regions worldwide, with D. noxia recently invading Australia. In many countries, including Australia, chemicals are an important control option. Insecticide seed-dressings, in particular, are widely used to combat early-season infestations of aphids in establishing cereal crops. In this study we examined the length of protection provided by several insecticide seed-dressings against D. noxia in wheat, and compared this with R. padi. All seed-dressings examined were efficacious for up to 5 weeks after wheat emergence; however, notable differences were evident between aphid species. In most instances, R. padi was able to persist and reproduce on wheat at an earlier growth stage than D. noxia. These findings suggest that R. padi is more tolerant to certain insecticides and may therefore re-infest insecticide-treated wheat fields earlier than D. noxia.
21
Desmarchelier, JM, and T. Ghaly. "Effects of raising the receival moisture content on the storability of Australian wheat." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 33, no. 7 (1993): 909. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9930909.
Abstract:
The receival moisture content of wheat was raised experimentally from 12 to 13% (w/w, wet basis) at sites near Cowra and Forbes (New South Wales) and Port Giles (South Australia) that were fitted with cooling (aeration), during the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons. At Cowra and Forbes, no wheat was received above 12% moisture content. At Port Giles, large quantities of wheat were received in the range 12.1-13.0% moisture content, reaching a maximum of 56% of receivals in 1 bin. However, the average moisture content in each bin did not exceed 12.0% and changed, on average, only 0.01% during aerated storage. No significant effect on quality was detected from studies on viability, bread-making quality, and mycotoxins. All wheat was successfully passed for export, meeting all normal standards including the 'nil tolerance' for live insects.
22
Anderson, W. K., M. A. Hamza, D. L. Sharma, M. F. D'Antuono, F. C. Hoyle, N. Hill, B. J. Shackley, M. Amjad, and C. Zaicou-Kunesch. "The role of management in yield improvement of the wheat crop—a review with special emphasis on Western Australia." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56, no. 11 (2005): 1137. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar05077.
Abstract:
Modern bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) has been well adapted for survival and production in water-limited environments since it was first domesticated in the Mediterranean basin at least 8000 years ago. Adaptation to various environments has been assisted through selection and cross-breeding for traits that contribute to high and stable yield since that time. Improvements in crop management aimed at improving yield and grain quality probably developed more slowly but the rate of change has accelerated in recent decades. Many studies have shown that the contribution to increased yield from improved management has been about double that from breeding. Both processes have proceeded in parallel, although possibly at different rates in some periods, and positive interactions between breeding and management have been responsible for greater improvements than by either process alone. In southern Australia, management of the wheat crop has focused on improvement of yield and grain quality over the last century. Adaptation has come to be equated with profitability and, recently, with long-term economic and biological viability of the production system. Early emphases on water conservation through the use of bare fallow, crop nutrition through the use of fertilisers, crop rotation with legumes, and mechanisation, have been replaced by, or supplemented with, extensive use of herbicides for weed management, reduced tillage, earlier sowing, retention of crop residues, and the use of ‘break’ crops, largely for management of root diseases. Yields from rainfed wheat crops in Western Australia have doubled since the late 1980s and water-use efficiency has also doubled. The percentage of the crop in Western Australia that qualifies for premium payments for quality has increased 3–4 fold since 1990. Both these trends have been underpinned by the gradual elimination or management of the factors that have been identified as limiting grain yield, grain quality, or long-term viability of the cropping system.
23
Anderson, WK, and WR Smith. "Increasing wheat yields in a high rainfall area of Western Australia." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 30, no. 5 (1990): 607. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9900607.
Abstract:
Average commercial wheat yields in the southern, high rainfall area of Western Australia have seldom exceeded 1.5 t/ha and wheat is not widely grown. However, the average annual rainfall and length of growing season (>400 mm and >6 months) are conducive to much larger yields. Thirteen factorial experiments with mid and long season cultivars (Aroona and Osprey), 2 levels of applied nitrogen (N) (40 and 80 kg N/ha), 2 seed rates (50 and 100 kg/ha) and with or without fungicide were conducted at 8 sites over 2 seasons. The experiment was done to investigate combinations of cultivar and agronomic practices suitable for increased wheat production in long season environments in Western Australia. Largest grain yields (>4 t/ha) were obtained where wheat followed a grass-free break crop, and the mid season cultivar was used with 80 kg N/ha and 100 kg/ha of seed. Increases due to cultivar and seed rate were more consistent than those due to N, and increases from application of fungicide were less consistent. It is suggested that the optimal wheat production 'package' will include sowing in May in rotation with a grass-free break crop, seed rate of about 100 kg/ha and, when all other factors are optimal, N rates of over 40 kg/ha. The greatest yield increases were associated with the sites where wheat followed a grass-free crop. Increases due to other factors were relatively smaller. Hectolitre weight and percentage of small grain (<2 mm) often reached levels that would have entailed downgrading in commercial deliveries. However, in the most productive crops where root and leaf diseases were minimal, these quality parameters were seldom deficient and grain protein contents exceeded 10% at yields of up to 4 t/ha.
24
Bracho-Mujica, G., P. T. Hayman, V. O. Sadras, and B. Ostendorf. "A method for simulating risk profiles of wheat yield in data-sparse conditions." Journal of Agricultural Science 158, no. 10 (December 2020): 833–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859621000253.
Abstract:
AbstractProcess-based crop models are a robust approach to assess climate impacts on crop productivity and long-term viability of cropping systems. However, these models require high-quality climate data that cannot always be met. To overcome this issue, the current research tested a simple method for scaling daily data and extrapolating long-term risk profiles of modelled crop yields. An extreme situation was tested, in which high-quality weather data was only available at one single location (reference site: Snowtown, South Australia, 33.78°S, 138.21°E), and limited weather data was available for 49 study sites within the Australian grain belt (spanning from 26.67 to 38.02°S of latitude, and 115.44 to 151.85°E of longitude). Daily weather data were perturbed with a delta factor calculated as the difference between averaged climate data from the reference site and the study sites. Risk profiles were built using a step-wise combination of adjustments from the most simple (adjusted series of precipitation only) to the most detailed (adjusted series of precipitation, temperatures and solar radiation), and a variable record length (from 10 to 100 years). The simplest adjustment and shortest record length produced bias of modelled yield grain risk profiles between −10 and 10% in 41% of the sites, which increased to 86% of the study sites with the most detailed adjustment and longest record (100 years). Results indicate that the quality of the extrapolation of risk profiles was more sensitive to the number of adjustments applied rather than the record length per se.
25
Borghi, B., M. Corbellini, M. Ciaffi, D. Lafiandra, Ede Stefanis, D. Sgrulletta, G. Boggini, Ndi Fonzo, Stefanis E. De, and Fonzo N. Di. "Effect of heat shock during grain filling on grain quality of bread and durum wheats." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 46, no. 7 (1995): 1365. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar9951365.
Abstract:
In southern Europe the Mediterranean climate is responsible for the remarkable variability in both yield and quality from year to year and also from location to location, but it offers also a unique opportunity for the production of high-quality wheats which are deficient in the European Economic Community. This study was conducted to determine the role of the fluctuation of temperatures during grain filling on the rheological properties of bread and durum wheats (Triticum aestivum and Triticum turgidum) as evaluated with a Chopin alveograph. During the 1991-92 season, four cultivars of bread and durum wheat were grown in several locations scattered along the Italian peninsula and the island of Sicily. In each location different temperature profiles were imposed during grain filling by anticipating or delaying sowing date or by covering the plots with plastic tunnels. Viscoelastic properties, evaluated by the variations in W, P and L alveograph parameters were significantly affected by the imposed treatments. In presence of a long period of temperature in the range of 30-35�C a dough 'strengthening' effect was observed, while frequent episodes of daily maximum temperatures above 35�C led to a dough 'weakening' effect. These results observed both in durum and bread wheat confirm those firstly detected on bread wheat in Australia in areas charcterized by a Mediterranean-like climate. The practical relevance of these effects differs in the two species: an increase of dough strength is considered detrimental in breadmaking quality, while it exerts a positive effect in pastamaking quality.
26
Richards, R. A., J. R. Hunt, J. A. Kirkegaard, and J. B. Passioura. "Yield improvement and adaptation of wheat to water-limited environments in Australia—a case study." Crop and Pasture Science 65, no. 7 (2014): 676. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp13426.
Abstract:
The improvement in grain yield of wheat throughout Australia through both breeding and management has been impressive. Averaged across all farms, there has been an approximate doubling of yield per unit area since ~1940. This has occurred across a broad range of environments with different rainfall patterns. Interestingly, the gain in the driest years (9 kg ha–1 year–1 or 0.81% year–1) has been proportionally greater than in the most favourable years (13.2 kg ha–1 year–1 or 0.61% per year) when expressed as yield relative to 2012. These data from all farms suggest that further yield progress is likely, and evidence is presented that improved management practices alone could double this rate of progress. The yield increases achieved have been without any known compromise in grain quality or disease resistance. As expected, improvements have come from both changed management and from better genetics, as well as from the synergy between them. Yield improvements due to changed management have been dramatic and are easiest to quantify, whereas those from breeding have been important but more subtle. The management practices responsible have largely been driven by advances in mechanisation that enable direct seeding, more timely and flexible sowing and nutrient management, and improved weed and pest control, many of which have been facilitated by improved crop sequences with grain legumes and oilseeds that improve water- and nutrient-use efficiency. Most of the yield improvements from breeding in Australia have come from conventional breeding approaches where selection is almost solely for grain yield (together with grain quality and disease resistance). Improvements have primarily been through increased harvest index (HI), although aboveground biomass has also been important. We discuss future opportunities to further increase Australian rainfed wheat yields. An important one is earlier planting, which increases resource capture. This will require knowledge of the genes regulating phenological development so that flowering still occurs at the optimum time; appropriate modifications to sowing arrangements and nutrient management will also be required. To improve yield potential, we propose a focus on physiological traits that increase biomass and HI and suggest that there may be more scope to improve biomass than HI. In addition, there are likely to be important opportunities to combine novel management practices with new breeding traits to capture the synergy possible from variety × management interactions. Finally, we comment on research aimed at adapting agriculture to climate change.
27
Turuspekov, Yerlan, Joerg Plieske, Martin Ganal, Eduard Akhunov, and Saule Abugalieva. "Phylogenetic analysis of wheat cultivars in Kazakhstan based on the wheat 90 K single nucleotide polymorphism array." Plant Genetic Resources 15, no. 1 (July 30, 2015): 29–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1479262115000325.
Abstract:
The recent introduction of Illumina single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays is an important step towards comprehensive genome-wide studies of genetic diversity in wheat. In this study, 90 cultivars of hexaploid spring wheat growing in Kazakhstan were genotyped using the high-density wheat 90 K Illumina SNP array. The analysis allowed the identification of 30,288 polymorphic SNPs. A subset of 3541 high-quality SNPs were used for a comparison of 690 wheat accessions representing landraces and varieties, including those from Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Kazakhstan, USA and other parts of the world. Phylogenetic analysis showed a clear separation of wheat cultivars according to their geographic origin. In the phylogenetic tree, accessions from Kazakhstan and the USA formed two neighbouring clusters with a common node, and they were distinct from accessions from other regions of the world, including Europe. The results provide important new insights into the genetic relationships between diverse wheat accessions.
28
French, R. J., R. S. Malik, and M. Seymour. "Crop-sequence effects on productivity in a wheat-based cropping system at Wongan Hills, Western Australia." Crop and Pasture Science 66, no. 6 (2015): 580. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp14262.
Abstract:
Western Australian grain production is dominated by wheat, but growing wheat continually in unbroken sequences leads to increasing problems with soil nutrient depletion, root and leaf disease build-up, high weed burdens, and possibly other less well-defined production constraints. These can adversely affect both production and grain quality. Including breaks in the crop sequence in the form of break crops, pasture, or fallow can reduce these problems, but these breaks can be expensive to implement, in terms of both direct cost and forgone revenue. It is therefore critical to predict the response of subsequent wheat crops to a break in order to choose crop sequences rationally. We conducted a 4-year experiment at Wongan Hills, Western Australia, evaluating how wheat productivity in a wheat-based cropping sequence is affected by including wheat, barley, lupins, triazine-tolerant and Roundup Ready® canola, oaten hay, volunteer pasture, serradella pasture, and chemical fallow. Wheat yield responded positively to fallow, lupins, oaten hay, volunteer pastures and serradella but not to barley or canola when compared with continuous wheat. Responses depended on seasonal conditions; in a dry year, a very large response occurred after fallow but not after lupin or serradella, whereas in a wetter year, there were large responses after these crops. Fallowing, cutting hay, crop-topping lupins, and spray-topping volunteer and serradella pasture all reduced seedset of annual ryegrass dramatically, and reduced weed competition was a major contributor to the observed break crop responses. Nitrogen fixation by lupins and serradella and water storage by fallow in a dry year were also important, but soilborne diseases did not contribute to wheat yield responses. Some yield responses persisted for at least 3 years, and the contribution of effects of weed competition to yield responses increased over this time. These results emphasise the importance of understanding which productivity constraints are present in a cropping system at a given time when deciding whether a break is necessary and which is the most appropriate break. The results also emphasise the importance of managing the wheat crop after a break to maximise the response and its longevity.
29
Eagles, H. A., Karen Cane, Marie Appelbee, Haydn Kuchel, R. F. Eastwood, and P. J. Martin. "The storage protein activator gene Spa-B1 and grain quality traits in southern Australian wheat breeding programs." Crop and Pasture Science 63, no. 4 (2012): 311. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp12055.
Abstract:
Grain quality is an important determinant of market value of wheat in southern Australia and in many other parts of the world. Identification of the genes that influence grain quality traits and estimation of effects of alleles of these genes can improve the effectiveness of wheat breeding. An efficient method for estimating the effects of alleles of recently discovered genes is to use mixed-model analyses in large plant breeding datasets that have already been characterised for previously known genes. We used this method to estimate the effects of two alleles of Spa-B1, a storage protein activator gene that is linked to Glu-B1, on grain quality traits. Alleles of the two genes tracked together as haplotypes for generations, but recombination events were identified. These recombination events were used to enhance confidence in identification of the alleles. The effects of the alleles of Spa-B1 were small and statistically not significant for all of the grain quality traits in our population.
30
Latta, R. A. "Performance of spring cereal genotypes under defoliation on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia." Crop and Pasture Science 66, no. 4 (2015): 301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp14026.
Abstract:
In mixed cropping and livestock dryland farming systems in southern Australia, grazing of cereals during their vegetative 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 impact of defoliation on the grain production of cereals in the Eyre Peninsula region of South Australia. The comparative dry matter production and grain yield of wheat, barley and oats cultivars, with and without defoliation, at a range of growth stages were measured in four experiments over three growing seasons, two of which were water-deficient. The barley varieties evaluated produced up to twice the dry matter of the wheat or oats cultivars to the time of defoliation. Mowing following stem elongation more than halved grain yield (1.9 to 0.9 t ha–1) relative to no defoliation in an early-maturing variety, but with less reduction in later maturing varieties. Defoliation before stem elongation in two seasons of very low growing-season rainfall (<100 mm) caused no or very little loss in grain yields, which were generally <1 t ha–1. A long-season winter wheat produced similar grain yields irrespective of defoliation and timing, but with no yield advantage over the defoliated spring cereals. The results suggest opportunities to incorporate the grazing of cereals to fill a winter feed-gap in the low-rainfall zone of southern Australia.
31
Anderson, W. K., G. B. Crosbie, and W. J. Lambe. "Production practices in Western Australia for wheats suitable for white, salted noodles." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 48, no. 1 (1997): 49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/a95133.
Abstract:
Wheat cultivars acceptable for the Noodle wheat segregation in Western Australia were compared with cultivars suitable for the Australian Standard White (ASW) grade over the period 1989–93. Yield and grain quality responses to sowing time, nitrogen fertiliser, soil type, and cropping history were examined to determine management practices most likely to result in wheat grain suitable for the production of white, salted noodles. Thirty experiments were conducted in the 300–450 mm average annual rainfall zone between Three Springs in the north (approx. 29° 30′S) and Newdegate in the south (approx. 33°10′S). The ASW cultivars, Spear, Kulin, and Reeves, outyielded the Noodle cultivars, Gamenya and Eradu, by 8–10% on average, but the yield difference was less at later sowings. The optimum sowing time was early May for most cultivars. The new cultivars, Cadoux (Noodle) and Tammin (potential Noodle, but classiffied General Purpose), tested in 1992 and 1993 in 12 experiments showed an optimum sowing time of late May, as did other midseason cultivars. Grain yields of May-sown crops were increased by 13 kg for every 1 kg of nitrogen applied, compared with 3 : 1 for June-sown crops. Previous legume history of the site and grass weed control in the crop also influenced the grain protein percentage. It was concluded that adoption of production guidelines that include sowing at, or near, the break of the season with about 40 kg/ha of nitrogen fertiliser, a rotation that includes 2-3 years of legume crop or pasture in the previous 5 years, and adequate grass weed control will result in an excellent chance (>80%) of producing grain proteins within the receival standards for the Noodle grade. Flour swelling volume (FSV), an indicator of noodle eating quality, was negatively correlated (not always significantly at P = 0·05) with grain protein percentage in 7 out of 8 experiments. FSV values were larger from sites located in the south of the study area and this appeared to be independent of protein and time-of-sowing effects. Small grain sievings (<2 mm) were increased by sowing after the end of May, especially in the longer season cultivars.
32
Koning, Frits. "Adverse Effects of Wheat Gluten." Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 67, Suppl. 2 (2015): 7–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000440989.
Abstract:
Man began to consume cereals approximately 10,000 years ago when hunter-gatherers settled in the fertile golden crescent in the Middle East. Gluten has been an integral part of the Western type of diet ever since, and wheat consumption is also common in the Middle East, parts of India and China as well as Australia and Africa. In fact, the food supply in the world heavily depends on the availability of cereal-based food products, with wheat being one of the largest crops in the world. Part of this is due to the unique properties of wheat gluten, which has a high nutritional value and is crucial for the preparation of high-quality dough. In the last 10 years, however, wheat and gluten have received much negative attention. Many believe that it is inherently bad for our health and try to avoid consumption of gluten-containing cereals; a gluten-low lifestyle so to speak. This is fueled by a series of popular publications like Wheat Belly; Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health. However, in reality, there is only one condition where gluten is definitively the culprit: celiac disease (CD), affecting approximately 1% of the population in the Western world. Here, I describe the complexity of the cereals from which gluten is derived, the special properties of gluten which make it so widely used in the food industry, the basis for its toxicity in CD patients and the potential for the development of safe gluten and alternatives to the gluten-free diet.
33
Brennan, R. F., and M. D. A. Bolland. "Comparing the nitrogen and phosphorus requirements of canola and wheat for grain yield and quality." Crop and Pasture Science 60, no. 6 (2009): 566. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp08401.
Abstract:
Canola (oilseed rape, Brassica napus L.) is now grown in rotation with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on the predominantly sandy soils of south-western Australia. For both crop species, fertiliser nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) need to be applied for profitable grain production. The fertiliser N requirements have been determined separately for canola or wheat when adequate P was applied. By contrast, the fertiliser P requirements of the 2 species have been compared in the same experiment when adequate N was applied and showed that canola consistently required ~25–60% less P than wheat to produce 90% of the maximum grain yield. We report results of a field experiment conducted at 7 sites from 2000 to 2003 in the region to compare grain yield responses of canola and wheat to application of N and P in the same experiment. Four levels of N (0–138 kg N/ha as urea [46% N]) and 6 levels of P (0–40 kg P/ha as superphosphate [9.1%P]) were applied. Significant grain yield responses to applied N and P occurred for both crop species at all sites of the experiment, and the N × P interaction for grain production was always significant. To produce 90% of the maximum grain yield, canola required ~40% more N (range 16–75%) than wheat, and ~25% less P (range 12–43%) than wheat. For both crop species at 7 sites, applying increasing levels of N had no significant effect on the level of P required for 90% of maximum grain yield, although at 1 site the level of P required to achieve the target yield for both crop species when no N was applied (nil-N treatment) was significantly lower than for the other 3 treatments treated with N. For both crop species at all 7 sites, applying increasing levels of P increased the level of N required for 90% of the maximum grain yield. Fertiliser P had no significant effect on protein concentration in canola and wheat grain, and oil concentration in canola grain. As found in previous studies, application of increasing levels of N decreased oil concentration while increasing protein concentration in canola grain, and increased protein concentration in wheat grain. The N × P interaction was not significant for protein or oil concentration in grain. Protein concentrations in canola grain were about double those found in wheat grain.
34
Chan, K. Y., and D. P. Heenan. "Earthworm population dynamics under conservation tillage systems in south-eastern Australia." Soil Research 44, no. 4 (2006): 425. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr05144.
Abstract:
Changes in earthworm abundance, biomass, and diversity were monitored under a range of tillage and stubble management practices in a wheat/alternative crop rotation over 5 years on a Sodosol (Alfisol) in southern New South Wales, Australia. There were 3 tillage and 2 stubble management practices in a completely randomised block design with 3 replications. The 3 tillage treatments were no-tillage (NT), 1 tillage pass (1T), and 3 tillage passes (3T). Stubble management practices were stubble retained (sr) and stubble burnt (sb). Positive responses of earthworm abundance and biomass to stubble retention (>2-fold increase) were evident in the second year and to both stubble and tillage in the third year. In the latter, abundance in NT/sr was 6.6 times that found under 3T/sb (239 v. 36/m2). Higher earthworm abundance in NT/sr compared with 3T/sb prevailed for the remaining duration of the experiment. However, a drastic decline in total population (to a mean of 31/m2) was observed in the fourth year in all the treatments and this was followed by further decline to a mean abundance of 4/m2 in the fifth year. The drastic decline in abundance was also accompanied by a shift in earthworm species composition. The earthworm population was originally dominated by the exotic Lumbrid, Aporrectodea trapezoides (Lumbricidae) (~100% in composition), but by the fifth year, Microscolex dubious (Acanthodrilidae) was the dominant species, making up 75% of the earthworm population in NT/sr. Improvement in soil quality as detected in the fifth year under a conservation tillage system compared with a conventional system included higher transmitting macropores, higher labile carbon, and water-stable aggregation. The reason for the decline in earthworm abundance was not clear but was unlikely related to changes in soil quality, wheat yield, and rainfall. Instead, we suggest that it was related to the changes in insecticide applications during the course of the experiment. The study highlights the importance of judicious use of chemicals in farming systems if earthworm presence is to be encouraged.
35
Bason, ML, S. Zounis, JA Ronalds, and CW Wrigley. "Segregating red and white wheat visually and with a tristimulus colour meter." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 46, no. 1 (1995): 89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar9950089.
Abstract:
With red-grained wheat now being grown in Australia in some places, there is a need to segregate it from white grain at the silo to avoid loss of milling and end-use quality. The Minolta tristimulus colour meter and visual inspection have been assessed as possible means to facilitate this segregation. Using only reflected light for sample illumination, 86% of a restricted sample set were correctly classified visually, and 95% of all samples using the Minolta meter. These values were increased to up to 99% in both cases by additionally using transmitted light to illuminate the samples. Thus both the Minolta and visual methods that included alternate use of both illuminant sources provided good segregation of red and white wheat samples. Sample transillumination was particularly helpful for classifying vitreous white grain, and also red grain that had been bleached by rain.
36
Hulugalle, N. R., P. C. Entwistle, F. Scott, and J. Kahl. "Rotation crops for irrigated cotton in a medium-fine, self-mulching, grey Vertosol." Soil Research 39, no. 2 (2001): 317. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr00035.
Abstract:
Many cotton growers sow rotation crops after irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), assuming that they will improve soil quality and maintain profitability of cotton. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most common rotation crop, although more recently, legumes such as faba bean (Vicia Faba L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) have come into favour. This paper reports data on soil quality (organic C, nitrate-N, soil structure), yield (cotton lint and rotation crop grain yield, fibre quality), economic returns (gross margins/ha, gross margins/ML irrigation water), and management constraints from an experiment conducted from 1993 to 1998 near Wee Waa, north-western New South Wales, Australia. The soil is a medium-fine, self-mulching, grey Vertosol. The cropping sequences used were cotton followed by N-fertilised wheat (urea at 140 kg N/ha in 1993; 120 kg N/ha thereafter), unfertilised wheat, and unfertilised grain legumes (chickpea in 1993; faba bean thereafter), which were either harvested or the grain incorporated during land preparation. Soil organic C in the 0—0.6 m depth was not affected by the rotation crop, although variations occurred between times of sampling. Regression analysis indicated that there had been no net gain or loss of organic C between June 1993 and October 1998. Sowing leguminous rotation crops increased nitrate-N values. A net increase in root-zone nitrate-N reserves occurred with time (from June 1993 to October 1998) with all rotation crops. Soil compaction (measured as specific volume of oven-dried soil) was lower with wheat by October 1998. A net decrease in soil compaction occurred in the surface 0.15 m with all rotation crops between 1993 and 1998, whereas it increased in the 0.15–0.60 m depth. Cotton lint yield and quality, and gross margins/ha and gross margins/ML, were always higher where wheat was sown, with highest gross margins occurring when N fertiliser was applied. Applying N fertiliser to wheat did not significantly increase cotton lint yield and fibre quality, but increased gross margins of the cotton–wheat sequence due to higher wheat yield and protein percentage. Lint yield and fibre quality were decreased by sowing leguminous rotation crops. Management constraints such as lack of effective herbicides, insect damage, harvesting damage, and availability of suitable marketing options were greater with legumes than with wheat. Overall, wheat was a better rotation crop than grain legumes for irrigated cotton.
37
Newell, Matthew T., and Richard C. Hayes. "An initial investigation of forage production and feed quality of perennial wheat derivatives." Crop and Pasture Science 68, no. 12 (2017): 1141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp16405.
Abstract:
Perennial cereals may offer a novel forage source in mixed farming enterprises while improving the sustainability of grain farming. There has been limited analysis of the quality of this forage type and its likely value to mixed grazing/cropping farming systems. This study evaluated the biomass and grain production of four wheat × wheatgrass hybrid experimental lines under four simulated grazing regimes; nil defoliation (grain only; D0), defoliate once (D1), defoliate twice (D2) and defoliate twice followed by a simulated hay cut (D3), and compared performance to a winter wheat, Wedgetail, and the perennial grass Thinopyrum intermedium. Early biomass production of the perennial entries was significantly less than Wedgetail (P = 0.01). Grain yield from Wedgetail was generally higher (P < 0.001) than all other lines. As defoliation frequency increased, the comparative difference in grain yield between Wedgetail and the hybrid entries decreased, with lines OK7211542 and 11955 exceeding the grain yield of Wedgetail in the D3 treatment. Cumulative annual biomass production of the hybrid lines exceeded that of Wedgetail, though the seasonal production differed markedly. Generally there was limited decline in perennial plant population between April and December in both years of the experiment. Defoliation had little impact on perennial plant survival; however, none of the hybrids could sustain a significant plant population beyond the second summer of the experiment. Yield declines of the hybrid entries was due to increasing plant mortality, rather than a predisposed yield limitation of the germplasm, as all hybrid entries either maintained or increased their grain yield on a per plant basis. In contrast, the perennial grass maintained a constant population for the duration of the experiment. Dry matter digestibility and energy content of all forages tested were high, averaging 80.2% and 13.3 MJ ME/kg DM, respectively. Crude protein was higher (P < 0.001) in Th. intermedium and the hybrid entries with 62% and 25% more crude protein than Wedgetail, respectively. All cereals had very high potassium : sodium and low calcium : phosphorus ratios, which indicated the need to provide mineral supplements to grazing animals to maintain growth rates and manage animal health disorders, similar to conventional grazing cereals. This paper discusses the role perennial cereals could play in a sustainable expansion of the cropping zone in south-eastern Australia.
38
Shackley, BJ, and WK Anderson. "Responses of wheat cultivars to time of sowing in the southern wheatbelt of Western Australia." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35, no. 5 (1995): 579. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9950579.
Abstract:
Experiments were conducted at 4 locations on an east-west transect in the 300-500 mm average annual rainfall zone in the southern wheatbelt of Western Australia, to determine whether promising crossbreds differ from existing wheat cultivars in their response to time of sowing. Nine cultivars and 2 crossbreds were examined at 3 sowing dates each year, ranging from late April to early July 1989, 1990, and 1991. Grain yield, grain quality (protein, hectolitre weight, grain weight, small grain sievings), crop development, and soil and weather variables were measured. The average decrease in grain yield with delay in sowing after early May was 20 kg/ha.day. All existing wheat cultivars and new crossbreds examined produced their highest yields when sown in early May. Yield decline for the crossbreds and cultivars was almost linear after early May; however, the rate of decline could not be entirely predicted from a knowledge of the crossbreds' maturities. Spear, the cultivar with longest maturity, was one of the highest yielding cultivars when sown in early May or June. The yields of the 2 shortest season cultivars, Kulin and Gutha, were only comparable to the yield of Spear when sown in June. Therefore, in the southern wheatbelt of Western Australia, we do not advise retaining a number of cultivars to suit a range of sowing times. The optimum flowering periods over the 3 seasons were 17 September-7 October in the medium rainfall zone of the southern wheatbelt and 3 September- 23 September in the low rainfall area at the most easterly location, reflecting the importance of terminal drought. There is still a risk of frost damage to wheat crops in about 1 year in 3 for the periods estimated. Therefore some risk of yield loss from frost damage must be accepted if yields are to be maximised.
39
Lemerle, Deirdre, David J. Luckett, Eric A. Koetz, Trent Potter, and Hanwen Wu. "Seeding rate and cultivar effects on canola (Brassica napus) competition with volunteer wheat (Triticum aestivum)." Crop and Pasture Science 67, no. 8 (2016): 857. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp16159.
Abstract:
Canola (Brassica napus L.) is an important rotational crop in the temperate cropping zone of southern Australia. Herbicide-resistant weeds are rapidly spreading and reducing canola grain yield and quality. Crop competition is a useful tool for reducing weed costs and dependence on herbicides, and retarding the spread of herbicide resistance. The potential interaction of canola seeding rate and cultivar for weed management has not been quantified in Australia. A field experiment was conducted in three environments to examine the impact of two contrasting canola cultivars (a low vigour type and a high vigour hybrid) at four seeding rates (10–100 plants/m2) on volunteer wheat (~50 plants/m2). Significant but variable effects of crop seeding rate, cultivar and weed were detected on canola density and grain yield, and on the suppression of volunteer wheat. The canola hybrids suppressed volunteer wheat more than the less vigorous cultivars in all the experiments. There was no benefit of increasing canola seeding rate above the normally recommended rate of 40 plants/m2 for weed suppression. The seed production of volunteer wheat on average doubled when canola density dropped from 40 to 10 plants/m2. Treatment effects on canola grain yield losses from weeds were less than those on weed suppression. The grain yield of both cultivars was reduced between 30% and 40% with weeds at a canola density of 40 plants/m2 and plateaued above this density in weedy conditions. Maintaining canola plant establishment and using competitive cultivars is critical to avoiding weed seedbank replenishment, and reducing canola yield losses from weed competition.
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Hulugalle, N. R., and F. Scott. "A review of the changes in soil quality and profitability accomplished by sowing rotation crops after cotton in Australian Vertosols from 1970 to 2006." Soil Research 46, no. 2 (2008): 173. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr07077.
Abstract:
In agricultural systems, soil quality is thought of in terms of productive land that can maintain or increase farm profitability, as well as conserving soil resources so that future farming generations can make a living. Management practices which can modify soil quality include tillage systems and crop rotations. A major proportion of Australian cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is grown on Vertosols (~75%), of which almost 80% is irrigated. These soils have high clay contents (40–80 g/100 g) and strong shrink–swell capacities, but are frequently sodic at depth and prone to deterioration in soil physical quality if incorrectly managed. Due to extensive yield losses caused by widespread deterioration of soil structure and declining fertility associated with tillage, trafficking, and picking under wet conditions during the middle and late 1970s, a major research program was initiated with the objective of developing soil management systems which could improve cotton yields while concurrently ameliorating and maintaining soil structure and fertility. An outcome of this research was the identification of cotton–winter crop sequences sown in a 1 : 1 rotation as being able to sustain lint yields while at the same time maintaining soil physical quality and minimising fertility decline. Consequently, today, a large proportion (~75%) of Australian cotton is grown in rotation with winter cereals such as wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), or legumes such as faba bean (Vicia faba L.). A second phase of research on cotton rotations in Vertosols was initiated during the early 1990s with the main objective of identifying sustainable cotton–rotation crop sequences; viz. crop sequences which maintained and improved soil quality, minimised disease incidence, facilitated soil organic carbon sequestration, and maximised economic returns and cotton water use efficiency in the major commercial cotton-growing regions of Australia. The objective of this review was to summarise the key findings of both these phases of Australian research with respect to soil quality and profitability, and identify future areas of for research. Wheat rotation crops under irrigated and dryland conditions and in a range of climates where cotton is grown can improve soil quality indicators such as subsoil structure, salinity, and sodicity under irrigated and dryland conditions, while leguminous crops can increase available nitrogen by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, and by reducing N volatilisation and leaching losses. Soil organic carbon in most locations has decreased with time, although the rate of decrease may be reduced by sowing crop sequences that return about 2 kg/m2.crop cycle of residues to the soil, minimising tillage and optimising N inputs. Although the beneficial effects of soil biodiversity on quality of soil are claimed to be many, except for a few studies on soil macrofauna such as ants, conclusive field-based evidence to demonstrate this has not been forthcoming with respect to cotton rotations. In general, lowest average lint yields per hectare were with cotton monoculture. The cotton–wheat systems generally returned higher average gross margins/ML irrigation water than cotton monoculture and other rotation crops. This indicates that where irrigation water, rather than land, is the limiting resource, cotton–wheat systems would be more profitable. Recently, the addition of vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) to the cotton–wheat system has further improved average cotton yields and profitability. Profitability of cotton–wheat sequences varies with the relative price of cotton to wheat. In comparison with cotton monoculture, cotton–rotation crop sequences may be more resilient to price increases in fuel and fertiliser due to lower overall input costs. The profitability of cotton–rotation crop sequences such as cotton–wheat, where cotton is not sown in the same field every year, is more resilient to fluctuations in the price of cotton lint, fuel and nitrogen fertiliser. This review identified several issues with respect to cotton–rotation crop sequences where knowledge is lacking or very limited. These are: research into ‘new’ crop rotations; comparative soil quality effects of managing rotation crop stubble; machinery attachments for managing rotation crop stubble in situ in permanent bed systems; the minimum amount of crop stubble which needs to be returned per cropping cycle to increase SOC levels from present values; the relative efficacy of C3 and C4 rotation crops in relation to carbon sequestration; the interactions between soil biodiversity and soil physical and chemical quality indicators, and cotton yields; and the effects of sowing rotation crops after cotton on farm and cotton industry economic indicators such as the economic incentives for adopting new cotton rotations, farm level impacts of research and extension investments, and industry- and community/catchment-wide economic modelling of the impact of cotton research and extension activities.
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Mares, D. J., and A. W. Campbell. "Mapping components of flour and noodle colour in Australian wheat." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 52, no. 12 (2001): 1297. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar01048.
Abstract:
Flour and noodle colour influence the value of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and are obvious targets for breeders seeking to improve quality, end-product range, and marketability of wheat. The objective of this investigation was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with flour and noodle colour traits and with individual components of colour. One hundred and sixty-three doubled haploid lines derived from Sunco Tasman, white-grained, prime hard, and hard wheats adapted to the north-eastern region of Australia were used for the bulk of this study and were supplemented by doubled haploid populations derived from CD87 Katepwa and Cranbrook Halberd for comparisons of flour colour. Samples of Sunco Tasman, together with parental lines, were grown at Narrabri, NSW, in 1998 and 1999 and at Roma, Qld, in 1998 and used for visible light reflectance measurements of flour brightness (CIE L*) and yellowness (CIE b*), and white salted noodle (WSN) and yellow alkaline noodle (YAN) brightness, yellowness, and colour stability. Xanthophyll content and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity were measured spectrophotometrically. No consistent QTLs were identified for flour L* or initial L* of WSN and YAN. Xanthophyll content was very strongly associated with QTLs located on chromosomes 3B and 7A and these QTLs also had a major influence on flour b*, WSN b*, and YAN b*. Noodle brightness at 2, 24, and 48 h and the magnitude of change in noodle L* and b* with time were affected by QTLs on 2D, contributed by Tasman, and, to a lesser degree, 2A. The QTL on 2D was clearly associated with control of grain PPO, an enzyme implicated in darkening of Asian style noodles. QTLs located on 2B, 4B, and 5B and associated with control of grain size or flour protein content also appeared to influence a number of colour traits.
42
Anderson, WK, RJ French, and M. Seymour. "Yield responses of wheat and other crops to agronomic practices on duplex soils compared with other soils in Western Australia." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, no. 7 (1992): 963. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9920963.
Abstract:
A survey of experimental results relating crop management to grain yield was conducted for wheat and other crops on duplex and non-duplex soils in the wheatbelt of Western Australia. Increases in grain yield of wheat due to improved agronomic practices on duplex soils were almost as great as on other soils. Early sowing improved yield more on duplex soils than on other soils, but the response to applied nitrogen was more variable, possibly related to the reduced efficiency of uptake of applied nitrogen. The yield advantage for a semi-dwarf cultivar (Aroona) over a tall cultivar (Garnenya) was less (6%) on duplex soils than on other soils (29%). The optimum seed rate was 27% greater on duplex than on other soils. Increases in both grain yield and grain quality due to the application of potassium were large on 1 duplex soil. Water use efficiency in grain production was similar on duplex and other soils where seasonal water use did not exceed about 350 mm. At 1 location in the eastern wheatbelt, yields of wheat, barley, lupins and peas grown on a duplex soil were compared with yields on 2 other soils. Wheat was the most productive crop on the duplex soil, while barley yielded most on the other soils. All crops, except lupins, yielded less on the duplex soil. Experiments with 2 lupin cultivars grown on duplex and other soils on the south coast of Western Australia (average growing season rainfall >300 mm) showed that both cultivars yielded less on duplex soils, but 1 cultivar required slightly fewer plants to achieve its maximum yield on the duplex soils. This survey of experimental results in Western Australia shows that duplex soils are no less productive than other soils when results are averaged over all crops and locations. We conclude, however, that different management practices may be required to improve yields on duplex compared with other soils.
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Thomas, G. A., R. C. Dalal, E. J. Weston, K. J. Lehane, A. J. King, D. N. Orange, C. J. Holmes, and G. B. Wildermuth. "Pasture - crop rotations for sustainable production in a wheat and sheep-based farming system on a Vertosol in south-west Queensland, Australia." Animal Production Science 49, no. 8 (2009): 682. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea07170.
Abstract:
Rainfed grain production, based on winter cereals, is marginal in south-west Queensland, Australia, because of low and variable rainfall and high evapotranspiration. Also, grain yield and grain quality have decreased as soil fertility, particularly soil nitrogen supply, has declined on older cropping lands. An option for improving soil N supply is to include legume-based pastures in rotation with winter cereals. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of short-term (18 months) legume pastures (annual medics and lucerne + annual medics), and longer term (3 years) mixed grass (Bambatsi panic) and legume (lucerne + annual medics) pasture phases on sheep production and on soil water and N supply and production of subsequent wheat crops on a grey Vertosol soil. Two separate phases of annual medics and lucerne + annual medics pastures produced mean total aboveground dry matter yield of 7.10 t/ha of annual medics and 5.80 t/ha of lucerne + annual medics over the 18-month periods. For two phases of the grass + legume pastures, mean total aboveground dry matter yield was 3.95 t/ha for grass and 8.19 t/ha for legume over 3 years. Over an 18-month period, sheep bodyweight gains and fleece weights were similar for the annual medics, lucerne + annual medics and grass + legume pastures and were approximately five times greater than those from native pasture as a result of the greater stocking rate possible on the sown pastures. Greater drying of the soil profile occurred following lucerne + annual medics and grass + legume pasture phases than continuous wheat, resulting in lower soil water content at sowing of wheat crops following these pasture phases on several occasions. Mean soil nitrate-N benefits before wheat sowing in the first year following termination of the 18-month annual medics, lucerne + annual medics, and the 3-year grass + legume pasture phases were 45, 44 and 42 kg N/ha, respectively. Grain N yields and gross margins of the first wheat crops following the 18-month annual medics, lucerne + annual medics, and the 3-year grass + legume pasture phases were similar in value to continuous wheat with ~60, 80, and 40–60 kg N/ha fertiliser applied at sowing, respectively. Improvements in grain N yield and gross margin were still evident in the fifth wheat crop following annual medics and lucerne + annual medics pastures and in the third wheat crop following grass + legume pasture, compared with continuous wheat without N fertiliser addition. Total gross margins from 1996 to 2005 were 1.6–2.5 times greater for the pasture–crop rotations than continuous wheat where no N fertiliser was applied to wheat. However, gross margins were greater in continuous wheat than in pasture–crop rotations where N fertiliser was applied to target prime hard grade grain protein in wheat. The 3-year grass + legume pasture phase showed potential to improve surface soil structure and water infiltration and to reduce decline in soil organic carbon concentration at 0–0.1 m depth, compared with continuous wheat cropping and shorter-term legume pasture phases.
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Amjad, M., and W. K. Anderson. "Managing yield reductions from wide row spacing in wheat." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, no. 10 (2006): 1313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea04182.
Abstract:
Experiments were conducted to investigate row spacing effects on wheat yield and grain quality and the interactions between row spacing and cultivars, plant population density, nitrogen application rate, time of sowing, fertiliser placement and row spread from 2000 to 2002 in the south coast region of Western Australia. In the experiments that were conducted following pasture or lupins, wider row spacings of 240 and 360 mm consistently reduced wheat yield and increased grain protein and small grain screenings compared with a narrow row spacing of 180 mm. Average plant numbers were reduced in the wider rows in all experiments. This result, possibly related to increased competition for water as the seeds were placed closer together in the wide rows, may also have been related to reductions in wheat grain yield. The yield decline in wider rows was lowest for the long season cultivar Camm with a May sowing in 1 experiment and at the higher N rate in another experiment. The response of Camm at wider row spacings can be partially explained by its higher dry matter production as measured in 2000 and may also help to explain the observed advantage of Camm in suppressing weed growth at all row spacings. In 2002, the row spread (seed width within the row) was varied from normal 25 mm widths to 50 and 75 mm widths. Yield was increased at the widest row spacing (360 mm) by using the wider row spreads of 50 or 75 mm. Fertiliser placement methods significantly affected plant establishment but not grain yield. Grain quality (protein percentage, small grain screenings and hectolitre weight) was reduced in wider rows in some cases or unaffected in others. This research has demonstrated that yield reductions due to wide row spacing can be minimised by using a long season cultivar when sown in May, by using adequate N fertiliser and by increasing the spread of seed across the row.
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McCormick, J. I., J. W. Paulet, L. W. Bell, M. Seymour, M. P. Ryan, and S. R. McGrath. "Dual-purpose crops: the potential to increase cattle liveweight gains in winter across southern Australia." Animal Production Science 61, no. 11 (2021): 1189. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an19231.
Abstract:
Context Dual-purpose wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.) crops have been extensively researched for grazing in Australian farming systems, with a focus on grazing by sheep. In some regions, dual-purpose crops have been grazed by cattle, but there have been reports of animal health problems. Aims This paper sought to collate all known experiments conducted throughout Australia of cattle grazing dual-purpose crops, in order to evaluate grazing management options for cattle on dual-purpose crops that result in high growth rates and good animal health outcomes. Methods There were six experiments. In Expts 1–3, cattle were grazed on wheat crops with and without available mineral supplementation of NaCl and MgO in a 1:1 ratio. In Expt 3, lime was also added to the mineral mix. In Expts 4 and 5, dual-purpose crops were grazed in combination with annual pastures to determine whether strategic use of dual-purpose crops could increase whole farm livestock productivity. In Expt 6, cattle were introduced to dual-purpose canola with different periods of adaptation (0, 4 and 7 days). Liveweight gain was monitored regularly to assess differences between adaptation treatments. Key results Liveweight gain was increased by 0–27% when cattle grazing high quality, dual-purpose wheat were provided with mineral supplement. Cattle had an initial lag in growth rate when introduced to dual-purpose canola for grazing and this was not affected by the adaptation strategy used. Cattle that experienced a shorter adaptation period achieved higher weight gains more quickly. After the lag phase, average daily gain (ADG) was ≥2 kg/head.day, with an ADG over the entire grazing period for all treatments of 1.75 kg/head.day. The effect on the farm system was determined by extending the length of the grazing period on the dual-purpose crops. Grazing periods of shorter duration did not increase overall liveweight gains compared with grazing only pasture, whereas extending the period of dual-purpose crop grazing resulted in increased cattle weights. Conclusions Cattle benefit from the addition of mineral supplements when grazing a dual-purpose wheat crop, with a response similar to that previously demonstrated in sheep. Cattle can safely graze dual-purpose canola and achieve high ADG. Inclusion of dual-purpose crops can improve overall cattle performance in the farming system. Implications The potential area for production of dual-purpose crops within the Australian mixed farming zone is large and there may be insufficient livestock numbers within the zone to utilise the potential forage production. Cattle from other regions could be introduced during autumn and winter to realise this large forage potential during a period that is commonly a feed deficit on grazing-only properties. Estimates suggest that up to two million young cattle could be supported for 60 days, increasing liveweight by 90 kg/head.
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Frischke, Alison J., James R. Hunt, Dannielle K. McMillan, and Claire J. Browne. "Forage and grain yield of grazed or defoliated spring and winter cereals in a winter-dominant, low-rainfall environment." Crop and Pasture Science 66, no. 4 (2015): 308. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp14273.
Abstract:
In the Mallee region of north-western Victoria, Australia, there is very little grazing of crops that are intended for grain production. The success of dual-purpose crops in other regions in south-eastern Australia with higher and more evenly distributed rainfall has driven interest in assessing the performance of dual-purpose cereals in the region. Five experiments were established in five consecutive years (2009–13) in the southern Mallee to measure the forage production and grain yield and quality response in wheat and barley to grazing by sheep or mechanical defoliation. The first three experiments focused on spring cultivars sown from late April to June, and the last two on winter cultivars planted from late February to early March. Cereal crops provided early and nutritious feed for livestock, with earlier sowing increasing the amount of dry matter available for winter grazing, and barley consistently produced more dry matter at the time of grazing or defoliation than wheat. However, the grain-production response of cereals to grazing or defoliation was variable and unpredictable. Effects on yield varied from –0.7 to +0.6 t/ha, with most site × year × cultivar combinations neutral (23) or negative (14), and few positive (2). Changes in grain protein were generally consistent with yield dilution effects. Defoliation increased the percentage of screenings (grains passing a 2-mm sieve) in three of five experiments. Given the risk of reduced grain yield and quality found in this study, and the importance of grain income in determining farm profitability in the region, it is unlikely that dual-purpose use of current cereal cultivars will become widespread under existing grazing management guidelines for dual-purpose crops (i.e. that cereal crops can be safely grazed once anchored, until Zadoks growth stage Z30, without grain yield penalty). It was demonstrated that early-sown winter wheat cultivars could produce more dry matter for grazing (0.4–0.5 t/ha) than later sown spring wheat and barley cultivars popular in the region (0.03–0.21 t/ha), and development of regionally adapted winter cultivars may facilitate adoption of dual-purpose cereals on mixed farms.
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CHRISTIAN, MARY P., CHRIS GRAINGER, BRIAN J. SUTHERLAND, JEFFERY J. MAYES, MURRAY C. HANNAH, and BRUCE KEFFORD. "Managing diet quality for Cheddar cheese manufacturing milk. 1. The influence of protein and energy supplements." Journal of Dairy Research 66, no. 3 (August 1999): 341–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022029999003647.
Abstract:
The effects of supplementing cows' diets with protein and energy on milk composition and the composition and yield of Cheddar cheese were investigated. This research addresses the problems of seasonal reduction in the capacity of cheese curds to expel moisture as observed in parts of south-eastern Australia. Milk was collected from cows offered a basal diet of silage and hay supplemented with different sources and levels of dietary protein and energy. The protein supplements were sunflower, canola, cottonseed meal and lupin, and the energy supplements were maize grain, oats, wheat and barley. This milk was used to manufacture Cheddar cheese on a pilot scale. Cheese moisture content was dependent on the source and level of dietary protein and energy. Milk from cows offered the lupin protein supplements and wheat energy supplements consistently produced cheese with a lower moisture content and moisture in fat-free matter. Milk from these supplemented diets had increased casein concentrations and higher proportions of αs2-casein than milk from the poor quality control diet. Cheese yield was directly related to the total casein concentration of milk, but was not influenced by differences in casein composition. Supplementing the cows' diets increased the inorganic P, Mg and Ca concentrations in milk. A low inorganic P concentration in milk from cows offered the control diet was caused by a low intake of dietary P. These findings showed that changes in the mineral and casein composition of milk, associated with diet, could influence the composition of Cheddar cheese.
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Nancarrow, Narelle, Mohammad Aftab, Grant Hollaway, Brendan Rodoni, and Piotr Trębicki. "Yield Losses Caused by Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus-PAV Infection in Wheat and Barley: A Three-Year Field Study in South-Eastern Australia." Microorganisms 9, no. 3 (March 19, 2021): 645. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9030645.
Abstract:
Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) is transmitted by aphids and significantly reduces the yield and quality of cereals worldwide. Four experiments investigating the effects of barley yellow dwarf virus-PAV (BYDV-PAV) infection on either wheat or barley were conducted over three years (2015, 2017, and 2018) under typical field conditions in South-Eastern Australia. Plants inoculated with BYDV-PAV using viruliferous aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi) were harvested at maturity then grain yield and yield components were measured. Compared to the non-inoculated control, virus infection severely reduced grain yield by up to 84% (1358 kg/ha) in wheat and 64% (1456 kg/ha) in barley. The yield component most affected by virus infection was grain number, which accounted for a large proportion of the yield loss. There were no significant differences between early (seedling stage) and later (early-tillering stage) infection for any of the parameters measured (plant height, biomass, yield, grain number, 1000-grain weight or grain size) for either wheat or barley. Additionally, this study provides an estimated yield loss value, or impact factor, of 0.91% (72 kg/ha) for each one percent increase in natural BYDV-PAV background infection. Yield losses varied considerably between experiments, demonstrating the important role of cultivar and environmental factors in BYDV epidemiology and highlighting the importance of conducting these experiments under varying conditions for specific cultivar–vector–virus combinations.
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BALL, B., D. MEHARRY, T. L. BOTWRIGHT ACUÑA, D. L. SHARMA, M. HAMZA, and L. J. WADE. "INCREASES IN SEED DENSITY CAN IMPROVE PLANT STAND AND INCREASE SEEDLING VIGOUR FROM SMALL SEEDS OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM)." Experimental Agriculture 47, no. 3 (April 4, 2011): 445–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0014479710001006.
Abstract:
SUMMARYEarly vigour in wheat (Triticum aestivum) is an important physiological trait to improve water-use efficiency and grain yield, especially on light soils in Mediterranean-type climates. Potential interactions for plant stand and seedling vigour between seed density and various seed quality treatments were examined for wheat grown in two experiments, conducted under controlled and field environments in Western Australia. Seed lots were graded into seed size classes and seed density fractions using saturated solutions of ammonium sulphate or sodium polytungstate. Dense seed improved plant stands or produced seedlings with greater early seedling vigour than their low-density counterparts in all three field environments. Artificial ageing reduced germination and emergence in the controlled environment. When grown in the field at Merredin, Western Australia, on the sandy soil, plant development was delayed with aged seed, and total leaf area and dry weight of plants were reduced. Fungicide application diminished total plant dry weight in sandy soils, but had a much larger detrimental effect when applied to aged and low-density seeds than normal seeds, retarding development, total leaf area and total plant dry weight. Our results indicate that an increase in seed density, particularly in small seed, can potentially improve plant stand and seedling vigour independently of seed size, and may be especially important for wheat grown on sandy soils of poor fertility and low water-holding capacity. The results also suggest consistency in seedling vigour may benefit from combined screening against small seed size and low seed density, which may also reduce the likelihood of adverse reactions to seed-applied fungicides. More attention should be paid to seed density as a valuable trait for improved reliability in plant stand and seedling vigour.
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Wu, Jason H. Y., Bruce Neal, Helen Trevena, Michelle Crino, Wendy Stuart-Smith, Kim Faulkner-Hogg, Jimmy Chun Yu Louie, and Elizabeth Dunford. "Are gluten-free foods healthier than non-gluten-free foods? An evaluation of supermarket products in Australia." British Journal of Nutrition 114, no. 3 (June 29, 2015): 448–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0007114515002056.
Abstract:
Despite tremendous growth in the consumption of gluten-free (GF) foods, there is a lack of evaluation of their nutritional profile and how they compare with non-GF foods. The present study evaluated the nutritional quality of GF and non-GF foods in core food groups, and a wide range of discretionary products in Australian supermarkets. Nutritional information on the Nutrition Information Panel was systematically obtained from all packaged foods at four large supermarkets in Sydney, Australia in 2013. Food products were classified as GF if a GF declaration appeared anywhere on the product packaging, or non-GF if they contained gluten, wheat, rye, triticale, barley, oats or spelt. The primary outcome was the ‘Health Star Rating’ (HSR: lowest score 0·5; optimal score 5), a nutrient profiling scheme endorsed by the Australian Government. Differences in the content of individual nutrients were explored in secondary analyses. A total of 3213 food products across ten food categories were included. On average, GF plain dry pasta scored nearly 0·5 stars less (P< 0·001) compared with non-GF products; however, there were no significant differences in the mean HSR for breads or ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (P≥ 0·42 for both). Relative to non-GF foods, GF products had consistently lower average protein content across all the three core food groups, in particular for pasta and breads (52 and 32 % less, P< 0·001 for both). A substantial proportion of foods in discretionary categories carried GF labels (e.g. 87 % of processed meats), and the average HSR of GF discretionary foods were not systematically superior to those of non-GF products. The consumption of GF products is unlikely to confer health benefits, unless there is clear evidence of gluten intolerance.