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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1985 - 198912000 - 20043

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    Strategic tillage to reduce soil structural degradation : SRDC final project report BSS143
    (2004) Braunack, M; McGarry, D; Magarey, RC; Garside, AL
    The project was undertaken to assess the benefits of zonal tillage, where only the crop row is cultivated and the compacted inter-row is left as a permanent traffic zone.Focus groups of growers were convened to discuss industry attitude and reasons for non-adoption of reduced tillage planting. It was largely agreed that compared to 10-15 years ago that the industry had moved to reduced tillage practices. The question the groups focused on was ?why was it necessary to cultivate the whole block, why not just cultivate the old row?. Opinion was expressed that land preparation was undertaken the way it was, generally because that is how it had always been done. Other reasons recorded were, difficult soil types relating to soil moisture at the time of tillage, run-off and erosion, cultivation was one factor that could be controlled, risk of crop failure (poor emergence, but this could also be due to poor planting material), soil-borne diseases and insect pests and the technique had not been thought about before. Benefits that were perceived included soil structure preservation, saving of time and energy. During the discussions it was learnt that innovative growers were practising a version of strategic tillage, unknown to neighbouring growers.Interest in the concept of strategic tillage was generated through these groups, to the extent that the strategy is being trialled by several growers.
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    Regional evaluation of high density planting : SRDC Final report BSS241 (revised)
    (2003) Collins, J
    This project was successful in comparing two systems: conventional 1.52-m single rows and the High Density Planting system (HDP), which consists of four rows on a 2.1-m wide bed using controlled-traffic and minimum-tillage principles.Site-replicated strip trials were used to compare the performance of the two systems under field conditions in all the major sugarcane districts of Queensland and New South Wales. A significant yield response was measured in 8 of the 21 plant-cane trials and 9 of the 15 first-ratoon trials, a further trial gave an apparent yield increase in both plant and first ratoon crops however this trial could not be statistically analysed. Where a response was measured between the two planting configurations, the HDP treatment produced an average of 39% and 20% more cane compared to the 1.52-m rows in the plant and first-ratoon crops, respectively. No difference in yield or CCS was measured between the two systems in any of the second-ratoon crops. Frequent stalk counts taken throughout crop growth and sample harvests were effective methods of monitoring the dynamics of biomass accumulation and stalk development in the trials.Poor germination in both planting configurations was a significant problem particularly in trials planted in the wet tropics in the 1999 season and it is likely that plant stands in many conventionally-planted crops are sub-optimal for cane and sugar yield. Of the seven trials planted, only one had acceptable germination. Adverse weather conditions that year also caused widespread germination failures in commercial plantings throughout this district. The stalk-count data and associated cane-yield data collected from the trials highlight the importance of good establishment. It is likely that several approaches can be taken to improving plant stands in commercial crops, including improved quality of planting material and planting systems, matching row and bed profiles to machinery and improved soil health. Unfortunately, many of the factors controlling germination are difficult to control or as yet unknown. A more scientific approach to assessing if a cane set will germinate is required.The trials in this project did not provide enough information about the performance of the HDP system over the entire crop cycle. The second-ratoon harvests showed no difference in yield between the 1.5-m rows and the HDP configurations. In the second ratoon, many of the HDP treatments appeared very gappy compared to the single rows. There is no doubt that the lack of appropriate vehicle guidance on the harvester caused some harvester navigation problems which resulted substantial stool damage. However, it is uncertain that this was the only reason for a lack of response in the second ratoon. Mechanical harvesting appears to cause substantial stool damage throughout the entire industry; methods of reducing this damage warrants further investigation.A major part of this project was the design and construction of equipment to allow management of the trials. Over the project, significant modifications were made to the harvester to improve the feeding characteristics and overall machine performance. When correctly adjusted, the bed-forming and planting equipment worked well in most soil types. The installation of a guidance system (DGPS or similar) on the harvester would have overcome the navigation problems. Considering the vast range of harvesting conditions experienced, the equipment performed extremely well.
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    Strategic tillage to reduce soil structural degradation and improve productivity : SRDC final project report BSS143
    (2002) Braunack, M; McGarry, D
    Focus groups of growers were convened to discuss industry attitude and reasons for non-adoption of reduced tillage planting. It was largely agreed that compared with ten to fifteen years ago the industry had moved to reduced tillage practices. The question the groups focused on was, why was it necessary to cultivate the whole block, why not just cultivate the old row? Opinion was expressed that land preparation was undertaken the way it was, generally because that is how it had always been done. Other reasons recorded were difficult soil types relating to soil moisture at the time of tillage; run-off and erosion; cultivation was one factor that could be controlled; risk of crop failure (poor emergence, but this could also be due to poor planting material); soil-borne diseases and insect pests; and the technique had not been thought about before. Benefits that were perceived included soil structure preservation, and saving of time and energy. During the discussions it was learnt that innovative growers were practising a version of strategic tillage, unknown to neighbouring growers.Interest in the concept of strategic tillage was generated through these groups, to the extent that the strategy is being trialed by several growers.Field trials were conducted at Tully and Bundaberg to compare conventional land preparation, where the whole area was cultivated, with strategic tillage where only the row was disturbed. Results demonstrated that reducing the number of cultivations did not compromise seedbed conditions at either site. This means that fewer tillage operations can be undertaken for the same end result. The inference is that time and energy can be conserved and that soil degradation can be minimised. Yield was not affected by a reduction in tillage for land preparation. With savings in time and energy, the costs of planting can be reduced.Monitoring of the known soil-borne disease, Pachymetra chaunorhiza, showed greater levels under the susceptible variety compared with resistant variety grown at each site. The yield of the susceptible variety was lower than that of the resistant variety. Varietal rotation is suggested to limit or minimise the effect of Pachymetra under strategic tillage. The BSES plant breeding program is providing varieties of greater resistance for the northern areas. Caution in variety selection is required in the central and southern districts to minimise the effect of Pachymetra. New varieties being released have resistance to Pachymetra. Thus varietal rotation by growers (good hygienic practice) will minimise the effect of the soil-borne disease on productivity and allay concerns about planting directly back into the old row.There was a trend for the number of earthworms to recover more rapidly under less soil disturbance. This is seen as a positive benefit in that earthworms create macroporosity which enhances water movement and aeration.It is recommended that, for the sugar industry to derive the maximum benefit of strategic tillage, a system be developed using controlled traffic principles with direct drilling of cane, and a legume crop or green manure be included in the fallow period. Such a system will improve soil health over time, resulting in a more sustainable sugar industry with less dependence on chemicals for soil pest and soil-borne disease control. This will enhance the industry's environmental image.
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    Stool eradication using minimum tillage or glyphosate and associated planting methods
    (1985) Dick, RG
    Research designed to establish practical techniques for stool destruction at the end of a crop's cycle is described. Trials conducted at the Tully Sugar Experiment Station during 1982 and 1983 have shown that glyphosate (Roundup) can kill sugarcane. The effects of various rates and methods of application of Roundup on eight varieties at four stages of growth are outlined. Cane planted by four different methods following minimum tillage operations in a trash blanket had a high percentage germination. Shoot and stalk counts at different stages of growth are tabulated.