Completed projects and reports

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Sugar Research Australia, Sugar Research Development Corporation and BSES reports from completed research projects and papers.

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Nitrogen accumulation in biomass and its partitioning in sugar cane grown in the Burdekin : ASSCT peer-reviewed paper
(ASSCT, 2016) Connellan, JF; Deutschenbaur
Nitrogen is a key component of metabolic processes in plants and due to its mobile nature in soils is often a limiting factor in achieving maximum yield in commercial sugarcane crops grown in Australia. Demand for N depends upon a crop’s yield potential which is determined by climate, crop age and class and management practices (Muchow and Robertson, 1994). Determining the correct amount of nitrogen required to achieve maximum cane yield while minimising losses to the environment is a difficult task; however developing a basic understanding of nitrogen accumulation in biomass and the rate at which it accumulates will provide useful insights for agronomists, industry advisors and farmers. There have been few studies into the accumulation of nitrogen in the above-ground biomass of sugarcane in Australia. Wood et al. (1996) investigated the accumulation of N in the above ground biomass of two cultivars (Q117, Q138) and confirmed earlier findings from work in South Africa conducted by Thompson (1988), that most of the N was taken up in the first six months following planting/ratooning. In a recent review, Bell et al. (2014) reported that greater than 90% of the total above-ground N uptake occurs in the 200 day period after planting/ratooning. Few studies have been conducted into the accumulation of nitrogen in below ground biomass (roots and stool) of sugarcane in Australia. Bell et al. (2014), summarised the limited data collected to date and suggested that N in stool and root accumulates at about 20 kg N/ha/year while a further 10 kg N/ha/year accumulates in root material down to 60 cm. The objective of this study was to gain an insight into nitrogen accumulation in the above and below ground biomass of sugarcane and its partitioning in crops grown under irrigation in the Lower Burdekin region of Australia.
Adopting systems approaches to water and nutrient management for future cane production in the Burdekin SRDC Research Project CSE020 final report
(2008) Thorburn, P
There is concern about environmental impacts of cropping in catchments of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, especially losses of nitrogen (N) and herbicides from cropping systems. Sugarcane production in the Burdekin region in the dry tropics stands out from other crops/regions because, (1) it is fully irrigated, which may enhance the losses of any chemicals from farms, and (2) it has the highest N fertiliser application rates of any sugarcane producing region in Australia. There are few measurements of N and/or herbicide losses from sugarcane production, especially fully irrigated production. More complete information is needed to evaluate, develop and underpin the adoption of management practices to reduce environmental impacts of sugarcane production. Four streams of work were undertaken to provide this information: Monitoring water quality leaving sugarcane farms. Demonstrating water quality and productivity benefits of farm management practices. Harnessing the information from these two components to describe and classify management practice systems typical of past, current and future ‘best practice’, and estimate the water quality, productivity and economic benefits of these systems. Communicating results of these activities widely within and beyond the region. Water, N and herbicide losses were measured at three sites in different parts of the Burdekin region, covering a range of soil types and irrigation managements. The experimental data were then used to parameterise the APSIM-Sugarcane cropping systems model, and then used to infill missing data and develop complete water and N balances for each of the three crops measured at the sites. N losses in runoff were relatively small, being less than 10 kg N ha-1 crop-1. Herbicide losses were similar to those measured previously. More N was lost via deep drainage than runoff at all sites, even those with slowly permeable soils. The results were consistent with the known ground water nitrate contamination issues in the region.
Develop and assess adaptability of different row spacings for harvester fronts : SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project final report
(2007) Linton, J
Cutting different row widths is a piece of cake this season for a Home Hill cane harvester contractor. This project allowed an easy change of harvester front’s widths by the pull of a lever from 1.52m to 1.83m rows, which eliminates the headache of cutting different row spacing on the farms in this group. A change to BSES spirals were also a part of this project - this in conjunction with hydraulically adjustable rams created a robust and easy to operate system to meet all the requirements of the project. The outcome has paved the way to improve adoption of a new farming system, which incorporates minimum tillage, controlled traffic, 1.83m row spacing and reduced inputs to maximize the triple bottom line.
Implementation of improved sugarcane farming systems in the Clare area, Burdekin District, North Queensland : SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project Final report
(2007) Hatch, P
The MIG was interested to quantify the benefits of moving from their current 1.52m row configuration to a row configuration that better matches tractors, harvesters and haulage equipment using GPS technology. As a result of conducting this project, the MIG has confidence that preformed beds will improve their long term sustainability and profitability by reducing input costs compared to the current system, at least for the plant crop. In particular, significant opportunities to reduce: •land preparation costs, from $265/ha in the conventional practice down to $131/ha, •general growing costs, from $209/ha down to $108/ha, and •irrigation costs, from $394/ha down to approximately $305/ha, appear to exist. In total, differences of at least $300/ha saving can be made by moving from the conventional system to the preformed mound system (see Appendix 1 for more detail). As a result, all members of MIG have moved over to planting into preformed beds; however some members of MIG prefer 1.52m singles over duals on 2.0m centres. The group recognises that during the course of the project, several errors were made with the trial design; in particular there was no planting of the 1.52m conventional practice with the mound planted systems, no replication of treatments, and fertiliser rates were not the same in each treatment. This has been a great learning experience for the group, which is now better placed to conduct future on-farm research.
Environmental factors affecting Adelina in the Burdekin region : final report CE004
(BSES, 2003) Dall, D; Logan, D
The project aimed to determine why the canegrub pathogen Adelina does not infect a significant proportion of the canegrub population in the Burdekin Delta area. It examined the effect of physical characteristics of soil (pH, sodicity and composition) and three other environmental parameters (temperature, relative humidity and compaction) on retention of oocyst infectivity for larvae over periods corresponding to one and two cycles of grub infestation of crops in the field. In addition, the project raced the establishment and persistence of Adelina infection in two experimentally inoculated field plots in the Burdekin canegrowing area. A ‘sentinel larva’-based bioassay that allows examination of the effect of various environmental factors on the retention of infectivity of Adelina was developed. Results of such a bioaasay showed no differences between the three types of soils tested, despite one soil coming from a region where the pathogen is very common (Bambaroo), and another from a region where it is quite rare (Burdekin Delta). The test did clearly show that drying conditions can be highly detrimental to retention of infectivity of the pathogen. Extrapolation from these results would suggest that field locations where there are prolonged periods of dry soil conditions would be at a relative disadvantage as regards maintenance of high levels of the pathogen in grub populations. Under field conditions in the Burdekin, Adelina did survive at levels sufficient to cause infection in the following generation of canegrubs in some areas and in one of two years; in the other plots and year, there was no subsequent infection. These results thus show that while oocysts of protozoan pathogens such as Adelina have robust external walls, they are, nevertheless, susceptible to the influence of adverse environmental conditions. Under field conditions, where exposure to any potential inoculum is likely to be more transient, the influence of an adverse environmental factor is even more acute. Improved understanding of the physical tolerances of the infective stages of Adelina has assisted in the design of crop-management strategies that maximise the impact of the pathogen on canegrub populations. These strategies have been incorporated into the GrubPlan program that has been successful in reducing the impact of greyback canegrub.
Optimal plot size and replication for testing clones in early stages of selection : SRDC final report CSR017
(1998) Jackson, P; McRae, TA
The aim of CSRO 17 was to identifY optimal plot design, replication and selection criteria for testing and selecting clones in small plots in early stages of selection in sugarcane breeding programs. Problems associated with the use of small plots are well known in field experimentation. This is particularly so in variety selection trials where measurements in small plots are subject to possible bias due to competition effects when there are significant differences in height between genotypes being compared. In sugarcane breeding programs, small, single row or two row plots are usually used extensively for the first two stages of selection within seedling populations. The reasons for this include the desire to screen large populations of clones within available resource constraints to identifY rare, elite recombinants, and the necessity to bulk up planting material from original seedlings before planting to larger plots. Given the level of resources usually devoted to early stage selection trials, it is important that optimal procedures are used so that selection is effective and efficient. The overall approach used in the project was to obtain estimates of key genetic parameters from field experimentation and then to use these to predict gains from selection among relatively unselected clonal populations in sugarcane breeding programs using different selection options. The clones used in this study were representative of those directly derived from hybridisation in two different sugarcane breeding programs, and were unbiased by any previous selection. As such, the genetic parameters are useful for other studies that may simulate and assess different options for selection from the first stages of selection in sugarcane breeding programs.
SRDC Research Project final report Irrigation runoff event monitoring
(2006) Hesp, C
A major concern of the Burdekin irrigated sugarcane growing industry is the impact of nutrient runoff on the waterways and the surrounding environment. In line with the current Commonwealth and State Government’s Reef Water Quality Plan and the NRM regional plans, growers expressed the desire to evaluate the current situation to be able to address these concerns. This project was designed to enable growers to monitor runoff from their paddocks when irrigating and to assess the resulting. A trailer was designed and fitted with a solar power ISCO Avalanche refrigerated pumping sampler. It was designed to be a mobile unit that could easily be moved to any site within the MAFIA grower group area. The intention has been to make this unit available to any other grower group within the Burdekin area. During this project a number of training days were held and information disseminated to other grower groups through presentations at regional field days and workshops. Event sampling was carried out by growers in the MAFIA group which they then paid to have tested for nitrate concentrations. This information allowed growers to assess nitrate concentrations in runoff from irrigation of plant cane and discussions about the results were carried out with the members. Although a good wet season this year has limited the number of irrigation events available to monitoring. Great interest was expressed in further use of the sampling trailer to compare different fertiliser application methods and bedding practices to evaluate best management practices. The fact that the MAFIA group paid to have a consultant test the water samples shows their commitment to the success of the project and ongoing use of the water sampling trailer. A baseline survey was carried out at the start of the project and a follow up survey was done at the end of the project. Even with the weather constraints this year there has been an indication from these surveys that over 50% of growers in the group have made recent changes to their irrigation practices as a result of this project. It has provided the MAFIA members with degree of ownership of their runoff issues. This has highlight to an already aware group the extent of runoff and possible future investigations in improvement of irrigation practices. There has been a perceivable increase in the confidence of growers in the group about the validity of the sample data collated as it directly relevant to them.
WATW? : Iterim and final report CGH001
(Sugar Research and Development Corporation (SRDC), 2007) Kaurila, S
The primary issue that the WATW? Project addressed was lack of representation of women across all sugar industry sectors, noticeable to all observers, including Government Census 2004. This lack of women’s perspective, and particular skills, often in research, negotiation and networking, has been a factor in some of the thorniest issues which beset the industry: Inward looking, overly politicised, and protectionist. So, the particular perspective and thinking that women may bring to a meeting, a project, and decision making in general, has been lacking, and the industry suffers accordingly.
Evaluating alternative irrigation for a greener future
(2011) Hesp, C
The potential agronomic and environmental benefits of green cane harvesting and trash blanketing, the ongoing issues of nutrients and pesticides threatening the Great Barrier Reef, the rising ground water levels in the area, and water use efficiency issues, prompted the progressive MAFIA grower group to conceptualise a project to trial alternative irrigation systems and compare them with the conventional furrow irrigation system. A lateral move irrigation system was established on the Hesp property, in the Mulgrave farming area in the Burdekin, to irrigate sugarcane throughout a full 4 year crop cycle. This system was compared to conventional furrow and, on a nearby property, a drip irrigation system. The sites were extensively instrumented to measure parameters that would enable the water and nutrient balance to be monitored on the furrow and lateral move irrigated fields. Importantly, an intensive economic analysis was conducted to provide a guide to the economic evaluation of the three systems. Overall the results of the trial indicated that it was indeed possible to grow large sugarcane crops under the lateral move and drip irrigation systems, and that these crops could be subsequently harvested green. It was shown that the lateral move and drip systems also provided opportunity for improved water use efficiency over the furrow irrigation system and that the subsequent flow on benefits from this was reduced loss of nutrients via deep drainage and irrigation runoff. The economic evaluation, using actual inputs costs from the trial sites, show that the furrow and lateral move had similar operating costs which were significantly less than the drip system. However, it should be pointed out that this economic study looked at the adoption of a new irrigation system versus an existing furrow irrigation system. If the analysis was to examine a greenfield investment comparison, then the economic results could significantly change because of the extra capital investment required to establish a furrow irrigation system. In this analysis, environmental benefits resulting from improved water, nutrient and pesticide use are not accounted for in dollar terms, but if included would recognise the value of more efficient farming systems. While every effort was made to provide reliable information from this study, constraints associated with conducting the trial, within an existing “whole of farm” operation, meant that it should be considered more as a pilot study rather than a rigorous scientific trial. For this reason care should be taken in extrapolating the data from this study to other properties or areas where different circumstances and constraints could alter the perspective significantly.
A review of institutional arrangements in the Burdekin irrigation area with a view to managing sustainable farming practices in the region : SRDC Final report CG018
(2007) Danzi, E
In the late 1980’s the Burdekin dam commenced operation and resulted in a large area of land being cleared and converted to irrigation. This influx of water has caused the groundwater level to rise alarmingly over the past 20 years from its previous level typically 10 to 15 meters below the surface to around 0.5m in some places in 2009. This is an alarming increase and if not rectified and reversed quickly will lead to significant crop losses and is likely to render some land unviable for farming in the next 5 years.

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