Completed projects and reports

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://elibrary2.sugarresearch.com.au/handle/11079/13840

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

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 26

Management strategies for rhyparida in southern Queensland : SRDC final report BSS236
(BSES, 2002) Fischer, TWA; Allsopp, PG
Larvae of rhyparida beetles bore into the bases of newly ratooning shoots, causing dead hearts. Very minor damage will kill 'surplus' shoots. More intense damage appears to set plant growth back and cause some yield loss. Prolonged attack will kill all shoots and kill the stool, leaving large gaps and necessitating replanting. No insecticide is registered for control of the pest and the efficacy of cultural controls is unknown.The project developed a better understanding of the phenology of Rhyparida nitida ? this species has a one-year life cycle with extended oviposition over summer, slow development of small larvae during autumn and winter, and more rapid development of larger larvae during spring. The extended oviposition means that each generation has individuals of widely varying ages.Extension of outcomes to stakeholders took place through grower discussion groups, on-farm participatory trials, and newsletters.
Adoption of an optimal season length for increased industry profitability : SRDC Final report BSS264
(BSES, 2007) Di Bella, LP; Cristaudo, A; Wood, AW
The project aimed to maximise commercial cane sugar (CCS), sugar yields (TSPH) and industry profitability in the Herbert region by exploiting regional variation in CCS, soil moisture and trafficability. There is significant potential to increase total sugar production, and individual grower and district CCS through better management of harvesting scheduling.
Chlorotic streak disease of sugarcane : SRDC final report BSS243
(BSES, 2002) Magarey, RC
Chlorotic streak is a disease recognised since 1929 and is widespread through the cane growing countries of the world. Despite considerable research, particularly in the 1940-1970 period, the causal agent of the disease is still unknown. The disease is systemic and affects germination and crop yield. It is widespread through Queensland being favoured by high rainfall and/or poor drainage. The worst affected areas are the high rainfall wet tropics and poorly drained areas in other districts. This three-year project was initiated to gain a better understanding of the effects of the disease on yield; to screen commercial varieties for resistance; to research the distribution in parts of the Burdekin River Irrigation Area (BRIA); and to attempt to identify the causal agent. Yield loss trials were planted in the Tully and Herbert districts in 2000. Varieties ranging from resistant to susceptible were included to determine the relationship between resistance and yield loss. Plant crop harvests in 2001 revealed losses of up to 60% when crops planted with stalks showing diseased symptoms were compared with crops established with stalks exhibiting no symptoms. Yield effects therefore can be dramatic with the disease. Even some resistant canes suffered significant losses, suggesting farmers should obtain the cleanest planting material they can to establish new crops. One resistant variety (Q162) suffered negligible losses. Germination was slowed, and reduced overall, by chlorotic streak disease (CSD) with the main effect being on tonnes cane/ha rather than ccs (sugar content was largely unaffected by CSD). There was a significant relationship between varietal resistance and yield (r-squared 0.56) in the Herbert trial suggesting there is a correlation between resistance and yield. Surveys of the Invicta, Pioneer, Kalamia and Inkerman mill areas revealed the presence of a greater level of CSD than known previously. The greatest level of disease was found in Q127 though other varieties were also diseased. There was a link between irrigation water source and the area affected by the disease. Where channel water was used, higher disease levels resulted compared to fields irrigated with bore water. This is not surprising because drainage water from infested fields is known to carry the causal agent and channel water contains some drainage water. Transmission studies using hydroponics were commenced to provide suitable root material for molecular assay research into the causal agent. However, no disease transmission occurred and it is postulated that a soil-borne vector may be needed to aid transmission. PhD studies at the University of Adelaide have focused on light and electron microscopy, and molecular methods of pathogen detection. This project finishes in 2003 but so far no agents have been associated with diseased material.
Monitoring cane at the mill to improve nitrogen management on the farm : final report CTA029
(SRDC, 2002) Keating, BA; Biggs, IM; Webster, AJ
The project originally had a third objective, namely to “Develop promising leads in rapid and cost effective analyses of N compounds in the mill juice stream to a “proof-of-concept” stage.” Instrumentation issues and industry developments with respect to installation on on-line NIR infrastructure meant that this third objective was transferred to the project CTA045, which is on going. Objective 1 was addressed via laboratory analyses of cane sourced from a wide range of experimental studies in different seasons at a range of sites, involving variation in N fertiliser inputs, sugarcane varieties, irrigation inputs, and other agronomic variables. Objective 2 was addressed via a series of grower-managed on-farm trials in which N fertiliser inputs were varied above and below the grower’s “normal” management and the results were interpreted in relation to additional information obtained from soil analyses and amino-N analyses of the cane at harvest time.
Improving CCS in the wet tropics via block-specific monitoring of nitrogen in cane delivered to the mill : final report CTA045
(SRDC, 2003) Keating, BA; Webster, AJ; Biggs, M
This project seeks to implement a scheme for monitoring the nitrogen status of all cane crops in a wet tropics mill district and aims to work with growers in the use of this information to improve CCS and reduce the risks associated with the overuse of nitrogen fertiliser.
BSS249 : Preparedness for borer incursion : Summary of effectiveness of Tebufenozide for control of sugarcane stemborers
(BSES, 2001) Allsopp, PG
Following a search of the literature and discussions with entomologists in Papua New Guinea and Louisiana, tebufenozide (Mimic?, Confirm? or RH-5992) was identified as a potential highly useful candidate insecticide for emergency use in Australia following an incursion of a stemborer.Tebufenozide is an ecdysone agonist that acts by binding to the ecdysone receptor protein. The moulting process of treated insects is lethally accelerated. It is non-phytotoxic and shows little negative effect on populations of stemborer parasites and other beneficial insects. It is registered for use in USA against Diatraea saccharalis and is used successfully in Papua New Guinea against Sesamia grisescens.Data included in this report demonstrate the effectiveness of tebufenozide against these two stemborer species and its minimal effects on beneficials. Data are also included on the chemical composition of the compound, its physico-chemical properties, toxicology and environmental fate.
Efficient use of water resources in sugar production; optimising the use of limited water under supplementary irrigation
(2000) Inman-Bamber, NG; Robertson, MJ; Muchow, RC; Wood, AW; Wegener, MK; Spillman, MF
About 60% of sugar produced in Australia depends on irrigation. In some regions, production would be impossible without irrigation; in others, irrigation is used to supplement rainfall. It can improve production and reduce risks in the more variable rainfall environments. The whole subject of supplementary irrigation has taken on a new focus in recent years as termsof- trade for cane growers continue to deteriorate, and as pressure mounts for more efficient management of a scarce national resource. Best practice with limited water, however, depends on complex biophysical and economic factors as well as sensitive off-site impacts. From a biophysical point of view, questions arise as to the probability of achieving the desired irrigation responses in the various regions and seasons, and the extent to which this is affected by crop water requirements at various stages and by variety and soil type. From a management point of view, the questions concern source of the water, the amounts available, and the best crop type and block on which to apply it. Finally, from an economic point of view, the questions concern the interactions between the above factors and the size of the investment required, the likely price of cane, and the probability of achieving sustained profitability from the investment during its lifetime. The aim of this project, therefore, was to address this complexity by developing and applying a generic methodology for assessing the payoffs of supplementary irrigation, taking account of the above factors.
Utilising available technology to better manage yield variability within blocks : SRA Grower Group Innovation Project final report
(2008) Blackburn, L
The specific aim of this project was to gain information on the different layers of information collected at a block level to allow site specific crop management. The Blackburn Brothers have also investigated the farm economic within the fallow period by introducing fallow options like peanuts. Blackburn Brothers have collected a number of different layers of information such as: Satellite imagery, EM Mapping “soil”, Yield Mapping, soil analysis and leaf analysis, from the information collected, management of the nutrient applied, the gross margins achieved, all have allowed for better decision making that have improved the bottom line. A replicated strip trial site was established and determined that there was no significant difference between the peanut fallow and bare fallow in the plant cane crop while the economics determined that the peanut fallow achieved $1147.22 per hectare more than the bare fallow. Within these two treatments two nitrogen rates were utilised 45kg / ha and 150 kg / ha with no significant difference achieved. The results achieved by utilising available technology to better manage yield variability within blocks has been adopted over the total farming area (470 ha) by the confidence achieved by conducting this project. The group has also now undertaken that complete record keeping will be utilised and this will lead to better management decisions to be made at a block level.
Chicory herbicide trial : final report 2212
(BSES, 2002) Collins, J
Chicory is currently a commercially cultivated root crop mainly grown in Belgium. Small areas of Chicory for Whitlof production are grown in Australia mainly in the state of Victoria. The objective of this project was to identify potential herbicides for controlling a broad range of weed species found in Bundaberg District. Currently in Australia Trifluralin is the only herbicide registered for use on Chicory in Victoria. This project was conducted with the cooperation of the Queensland Department of Primary Industry. The herbicide treatments were applied to an area of a irrigation trial conducted on the Department of Primary Industry's research farm, Ashfield Road, Bundaberg. Herbicides were selected according to the spectrum of weeds controlled and the probability of crop damage. All the herbicides used were currently registered in Australia for the control of certain weeds in other crops. Crop damager and weed control were assessed to identify suitable herbicides.
Adoption of an optimal season length for increased profitability; findings from the 2006 'maximising profitability in the Herbert sugar industry workshop' : Final report BSS264
(2006) Di Bella, LP
In 2003, the Herbert sugar industry established an industry working team to investigate ways to manage the harvest and processing of larger crops and investigate methods of increasing industry profitability. In 2004 SRDC funded the BSS264 adoption of an optimal season length for increased profitability project. The project aims are to maximise CCS, sugar yields and industry profitability in the Herbert region by exploiting regional variation in CCS, soil moisture and trafficability. The project was also funded to develop economic models, SugarMax and Rainrisk models specific to the Herbert region. In 2005, SRDC funded the Herbert industry study tour of Southern Africa to investigate the season length issues and farm management systems. This report presents the findings from an industry workshop conducted within BSS264.

Completed projects and reports

Browse

Filters

Advanced Search

Filter by

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results