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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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Sugar yield decline joint venture, phase 2 : SRDC Final report
    (2006) Garside, AL; Bell, MJ; Pankhurst, CE; Stirling, GR; Magarey, RC; Blair, BL; Moody, PJ; Robotham, BG; Braunack, MV; Agnew, JA
    Research in phase 2 has greatly increased our understanding of how farming systems operate, the key components of farming systems, and how they can be manipulated to provide better outcomes.
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    Final report - SRDC project BS145S : Improving sett/soil contact to enhance sugarcane establishment
    (2000) Robotham, BG
    This project had three objectives that were achieved in the following order: quantify the crop establishment practices of canegrowers within the major regions of Queensland and New South Wales; quantify the improvement in crop establishment achieved through the use of selected presswheel types and soil firming forces on the most common soil types. Provide machinery manufacturers and growers with recommendations on use of presswheels; and investigate the suitability of planting aids, such as finger harrows and in-furrow presswheels, for use on soils that exhibit surface crusting, cloddiness, etc.
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    Bioassay for comparing levels of pythium graminicola in soils
    (BSES, 1987) Croft, BJ
    In the study of any soil borne pathogen it is essential to have some technique for determining the level of the pathogen in the soil. The levels of Pythium species in soil have been measured by soil dilution plating on selective media (Dick and Ali-Shtayeh 1986. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 86(1):49-62). However species with lobulate sporangia are not frequently isolated on these media and bioassay techniques have been developed for these fungi (Stanghellini and Kronland 1985. Phytopathology 75:1242-1245). In Hawaii, pineapple roots have been used as baits in a bioassay for P. graminicola Subr. (Adair 1972. Hawaii. Plant. Rec. 58:213-240). However, considerable space is required to maintain pineapple plants and they are not always readily available. Poor Root Syndrome (PRS) of sugarcane in Queensland causes serious crop losses (Egan et al. 1984 ASSCT p 1-9). A Pachymetra sp. (formerly referred to as the root rot fungus) which rots the primary roots of the sugarcane plant, and P. graminicola which can restrict fine root development, are two pathogens consistently found in affected soils (Croft and Magarey, 1984 ASSCT Conf. p 55-61). The study of the role of P. graminicola in the sugarcane PRS in Queensland has been hampered by the lack of a means of quantifying the level of this species in soils. This paper outlines the development of a sorghum bioassay (SB) for P. graminicola using sorghum seedling roots.
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    Soil constraints to productivity improvement
    (1991) Croft, BJ; Magarey, RC; Hurney, AP; Reghenzani, JR
    Evidence from investigations into fumigation, fungicide application, fallowing and growth of sugarcane on recently cultivated soils strongly suggests that yields in established cane growing areas are being restricted by soil-borne biological factors. The yield restriction may be in the order of 20-40%. The soil-borne pathogens Pachymetra, Pythium and also nematodes probably account for a proportion of this yield loss, but other unknown deleterious microorganisms may be involved. In most cases nutrient deficiencies do not appear to be limiting growth. Zinc deficiency which has recently been identified in northern districts may be affecting growth on some soil types. Excesses of some nutrients, such as phosphorus may be interacting with other nutrients and/or soil-borne pathogens. A multi-disciplinary study of soil-borne limits to yield in sugarcane is needed to identify the major factors involved and to develop satisfactory treatments to ameliorate the problem.
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    Soil constraints to productivity improvement
    (1990) Croft, BJ; Magarey, RC; Hurney, AP; Reghenzani, JR
    Yields of most crops are known to decrease if that crop is grown continuously without fallowing or rotation with other crop species. Sugarcane has been grown continuously on many fields in Queensland for 50-100 years. As early as 1934 soil-borne factors which restricted root and shoot growth were identified in fields which had grown sugarcane for a number of years. During the 1970s nematodes were found to be causing serious losses in Bundaberg on certain soil types and a serious root disease complex known as poor root syndrome was identified in northern Queensland. During the 1980s intensive research into poor root syndrome identified the important new disease Pachymetra root rot and a number of minor fungal pathogens. Poor root syndrome has been identified in all regions of Queensland and general poor root health has been noted in all soils which have grown sugarcane for a number of years. Yield increases of 50-100% were obtained in areas severely affected by poor root syndrome in northern Queensland by soil fumigation with methyl bromide and metham sodium, and by soil solarisation. Recent experiments have recorded yield responses of 20-40% to methyl bromide fumigation in all major sugarcane regions. These experiments suggested that yield losses due to soil-borne factors may be greatly restricting yields throughout the sugar industry. Research to identify the causes of the yield losses has commenced and progress to date is summarised in this paper.
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    Extent of zinc deficiency in cane growing soils of North Queensland.
    (1993) Reghenzani, JR
    Collation and interpretation of soil analysis data has shown a strong relationship between soil type and extractable zinc. Extractable zinc in soils followed the order: metamorphic, beach ridge and granite soils < organic and alluvial soils < basaltic soils. More than 15% (18 000 ha) of north Queensland sugarcane soils from Mossman to Ingham were estimated to be at risk from zinc deficiency and associated constrained productivity. This study has identified and mapped low zinc soils and remedial action can now be taken. While alternative zinc forms applied with planting fertiliser have a role, preliminary data from this project does not support a change in the recommended application technique of zinc sulfate heptahydrate, broadcast and incorporated before planting.