NEWSLETTER ARTICLE: NSW DPI SUMMER CROP FIELD DAY

The field day looked at a range of trials in different summer crops that are being conducted at the Leeton Field Station.

Rice trials

Bert Collard, rice breeder at NSW DPI gave an overview of the Rice breeding partnership and what this program involves in terms measuring and collecting data, the selection process and development of pure seed. There is a massive amount of data that needs to be collated and managed each year in order to be able to select new varieties, and the use of molecular marking is helping to speed up and streamline the selection process. The major objectives of the breeding program is quality, followed by improving cold tolerance and water use efficiency of varieties.

You will be able to hear from Peter Snell, rice breeder, NSW DPI at our upcoming Rice Industry Field day held at RRAPL on what new varieties are in the pipeline.

Brian Dunn, Research agronomist, NSW DPI spoke on improving water productivity with a trial that compares conventional drill, delayed permanent water and aerobic rice. Nitrogen management is being investigated to improve the growth of aerobic rice. Currently, the aerobic rice trial site has been flushed 21 times this season to ensure there is no moisture stress. Results will be available at the end of the season.

Brian also gave an update on the NDRE imagery taken this season on 10’000ha of rice and investigations are continuing on improving the accuracy of PI N uptake algorithm to predict N uptake on a commercial scale.

You will also hear more Brian Dunn on his remote sensing trial at the upcoming field day. 

Soybeans & mungbeans back on the radar as a late crop option

Tony Napier and Mat Dunn gave an update on the soybean breeding program.  Soybean is suitable to late sowing, has low input costs and has the added benefit of nitrogen fixation and offering a disease break. Both spoke favorably of the latest variety Burrunjuck, that offers good yield, high protein, resistant to shattering and lodging and is suitable for the human market with a clear hilum.

NSW DPI are beginning to also trial mungbeans as an alternative very short (90 days) crop option.

However, grower discussion on the day make it clear that you need to have found a market before planting and that you should lower your expectations on receiving the highest grade contract price, as there are many specifications that it needs to pass to meet the human consumption market. Further, because of the short duration of the crop, you have to make sure you have everything prepared and adequate nutrition available as it was too difficult to play catch ups with such a short growth period.