| GRDC (CFG2) Research Project Overview |
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| Monday, 02 December 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Financial year | $2001-02 | $2002-03 | $2003-04 | $2004-05 | $2005-06 | $ Other years | Total $ GRDC |
| Total GRDC $ Requested (calculated from budget page(s) excluding GST) | $91 600 | $79 400 | $69 000 | $240 000 | |||
Summarise the equity calculations for the share of total project intellectual property (IP), licensing and / or royalty income. Agency breakdown and claims for pre-existing IP need to be justified in the Explanatory Notes Section at the rear of this form. For projects with a commercial focus, the GRDC may decline to make a marginal investment where the share offered is less than 20%. If not completed the GRDC will assume its share is 100%. |
GRDC's share =
76.97% | ||||||
| Aims | 1. (PA) To increase the input to output ratio for our
farming system. 2. (PA) To use farmer scale machinery to evaluate the benefits of zone management farming on a range of soil types over a three year period. 3. (PA) To collaborate with and add value to research in precision agriculture being undertaken by CSIRO and the Dept. of Agriculture. 4. (ENDO) To evaluate selected actinomycete endophytes for the biocontrol of fungal diseases under field conditions. 5. (ENDO) To evaluate selected actinomycete endophytes for the growth promotion of cereal crops under field conditions. |
| Expected outputs | 1. (PA) Four case studies showing where zone management
principles have been applied, and the economic ramifications of zone farming over a 3 year period. 2. (PA) A check list to assist farmers to calculate where an investment in zone management is most likely to generate a profit. 3. (ENDO) Development of actinomycete endophyte inoculants to control root pathogens of wheat in the field. 4. (ENDO) Development of actinomycete endophyte inoculants effective in increasing wheat yields in disease-free soils. |
| Expected outcome (benefits) |
(PA) Over the three years, farmers will gain a better
understanding of the principles of P.A. and how it may be used to improve their
farming practices. Improvements in PA interpretive skills will be gained by
farmers and researchers from agribusiness, CSIRO and Dept of Ag. |
2. Overview
Precision Farming for Profit and
Sustainability
Within the Corrigin farm improvement group (C.FIG) a number of farmers have been utilising precision agriculture (P.A.) technology to produce yield maps of their farms. These yield maps have consistently revealed a great deal of variation in crop yield within paddocks. Farmers now have yield maps for up to 5 years, incorporating a range of seasons and crop rotations.
To date, this yield data has been poorly utilised and has provided little benefit to these participating farmers. This is because the interpretation of the yield maps and the associated management strategies have not been developed.
Some farmers within the group are considering adopting variable rate technology in order to try and capitalise on the within paddock yield variability, however it is not clear how or if this investment will provide benefits to the farm business.
We intend to undertake farm scale research to demonstrate if and where, zone management farming will provide an economic benefit to the farmer.
The research will be undertaken by the Corrigin Farm improvement group members with assistance from a research consultant as well as collaborating with researchers from CSIRO and the Dept. of Agriculture. This collaborative approach will ensure scientific principals are followed and the latest technology is utilised.
The precision agriculture projects planned by the Dept. of Agriculture and those already being undertaken by CSIRO on Corrigin Farm improvement group members properties will compliment our research and spin-offs are likely to result. This approach to precision agricultural research will ensure grower participation in the research, development and extension of the outcomes, resulting in quicker adoption of research findings.
Beneficial Endophytes
This project proposal builds on an existing project 'Plant-associated microorganisms for improved grain production' (CSP295) funded by the GRDC due to finish in June 2002. This laboratory-based project is studying the impact of bacteria located inside the plant (endophytes) on plant growth and disease resistance.
Endophytes have an advantage over other bacteria in the soil because they are protected within the plant from adverse environmental conditions (lack of moisture, adverse temperatures and competition from other soil microorganisms) and have a ready supply of food from the plant. The group of bacteria targeted (actinomycetes) is known to produce both antifungal and growth promoting compounds.
Cereal plants were surveyed across the wheat belt and nearly 300 actinomycetes were isolated from within plant roots. (58 isolates were obtained from Valema Farms, Corrigin). These bacterial isolates are currently being tested for the ability to promote plant growth and suppress disease in laboratory and glasshouse trials. So far, of the 61 isolates tested in the glasshouse, 53% resulted in significant plant growth promotion (shoot and /or root mass) up to 37% (P<0.05). 4% resulted in significant suppression of Rhizoctonia up to 35% (P<0.05). Collaborators (Assoc Prof Chris Franco at Flinders University SA) have measured significant plant growth promotion and disease suppression in similar glasshouse trials in South Australia. They have already commenced field trials.
In this proposal we are seeking funding to determine if endophytes, that resulted in plant growth promotion and/or disease suppression in the glasshouse trials, also provide yield increases under field conditions.| < Prev | Next > |
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