issue 158, may june 2022
This page shows the articles in issue 158, may june 2022 of GroundCover. As articles are developed and published online, the list below will grow until all articles are available.
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High-residue systems may increase crown rot risk
Issue 158, May-June 2022 - 06 Jun 2022Plant pathologists encourage planning, particularly by those with stripper fronts, to mitigate the risk of crop losses to the disease Fusarium crown rot
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Soil carbon farming a poor fit for the grains industry
Issue 158, May-June 2022 - 04 Jun 2022Healthy soils prove more valuable for the productivity boost they provide compared to farming soil carbon to trade as offsets for greenhouse gas emissions
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Nitrogen still offers bang for buck, despite climbing costs
Issue 158, May-June 2022 - 03 Jun 2022Rising fertiliser costs may lead many to rethink nutrient plans, but analysis shows nitrogen use is still economically sound in many situations
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Beneficial insects spring back after fire
Issue 158, May-June 2022 - 01 Jun 2022An unprecedented study of the impact of bushfires within southern farming systems has delivered some surprising results and new knowledge to inform future post-fire management strategies. The study was conducted by AgXtra on fire grounds on the lower Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island in South Australia, where the 2019-20 bushfires burned about 10,400 hectares of cropping land.
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Australian grain a good fit in a low-carbon future
Issue 158, May-June 2022 - 01 Jun 2022Many efforts to assess greenhouse gas emissions from grain production have failed to target the whole sector or to account for Australian condition and practices. This has been corrected with the release of a GRDC-commissioned report by CSIRO
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Is there a tactical role for summer cropping in southern WA?
Issue 158, May-June 2022 - 31 May 2022With seasonal rainfall becoming erratic, rainfall events more severe and waterlogging proving a challenge in southern Western Australian cropping systems, a new look is being taken at the role of summer crops. Overseen by Stirlings to Coast Farmers a collaborative project is evaluating the agronomic role of summer grain and forage crops together with analysing their economics.
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Summer crops’ potential to lift system sustainability
Issue 158, May-June 2022 - 30 May 2022With rainfall events becoming more intense and waterlogging more prevalent in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia, summer sowing options are being revisited. Jolene and Peter Daniel see many benefits of summer cropping as they also increase plant diversity and production system sustainability. They have been hosting a demonstration site overseen by Stirlings to Coast Farmers investigating the tactical role and economics of summer crops.
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New green fertiliser sources
Issue 158, May-June 2022 - 29 May 2022Alternative methods to produce fertiliser products are under development in Australia and stand to deliver benefits both in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fixing disruptions to global supply chains
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Assessing gaseous nitrogen loss from WA crop systems
Issue 158, May-June 2022 - 28 May 2022Shortfalls in crop productivity resulting from gaseous losses of nitrogen fertilisers from WA cropping systems are under examination by a team of SoilsWest researchers based at The University of Western Australia. The aim of the research is ultimately to provide recommendations to growers for increasing crop productivity by reducing gaseous nitrogen fertiliser losses.
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Are bacteria a part of the frost puzzle?
Issue 158, May-June 2022 - 27 May 2022Frost is a complex constraint on crop production, inflicted primarily by severe weather conditions, but a new look is being taken using state-of-the art techniques at the potential role of ice nucleating bacteria. If research can confirm the part these bacteria may play it may provide new tools for growers to manage frost.