EUF-analysis of tea soils of Southern India and tea productivity

The relationship between EUF extractable nutrients and conventional soil test extractable nutrients in the acid soils of Southern India on one hand and that between EUF values and tea productivity on the other are described. Close correlation exists between EUF-NO3–N at 20°C and CuSO4–Ag2SO4-extractable NO3–N (r=0.98***), EUF-Norg and Morgan's reagent extractable NH4–N (r=0.97***), total EUF-N and CuSO4–Ag2SO4-extractable NO3–N plus Morgan's reagent NH4–N (r=0.96***), EUF-P at 20°C and modified Bray II-P (r=0.93***) and EUF-P at 20°C plus that at 80°C and modified Bray II-P (r=0.91***). The EUF-K at 20°C shows close correlation with NH4OAc–K (r=0.80***), Ag-thiourea-K (r=0.86***) and Morgan's reagent-K (r=0.84***) whereas the EUF-K at 80°C shows close correlation with the difference in K contents of NH4OAc–K and Ag-thiourea-K (r=0.92***) or of NH4OAc–K and Morgan's reagent-K (r=0.93***) and fixed NH4–N (r=0.89***). EUF-Ca, EUF-Mg and EUF-Mn do not show any relationship with conventional soil test values. Tea productivity is strongly associated with EUF-N and EUF-P extracted at 20°C.

Sustaining productivity of tropical red snappers using new monitoring and reference points

OBJECTIVES: 1. Analyse current monitoring and logbook data sets, as well as survey and other information,to establish whether these data provide sufficient power to develop critical indicators of fishery performance. 2. Provide a risk analysis that examines the use of age structure and catch rate information for development of critical indicators, and response rules for those criteria, in the absence of other fishery information. 3. Develop a monitoring program that uses commercial vessels from the fishery to provide independent data.

Increase water use efficiency and productivity, and reduce energy and water usage and costs, of dairy and fodder enterprises, to reduce costs of milk production

Increase water use efficiency and productivity, and reduce energy and water usage and costs, of dairy and fodder enterprises, to reduce costs of milk production.

Feeding to increase productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Feeding to increase productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Kangaroo bacteria to reduce methane emissions and increase productivity

Using kangaroo bacteria to reduce emissions of methane and increase productivity.

Demonstrating recovery of pasture productivity, Mulga Lands - Bollon, South West Queensland

Pasture recovery PDS, Mulga lands.

Sustainable productivity improvements in allium and solanaceous vegetable crops in Indonesia and sub-tropical Australia

The most important vegetable crops grown in Indonesia, and particularly lowland coastal production, are the true shallot and chilli. These crops are usually grown in rotation with rice but are far more valuable crops and are increasingly in high demand. They offer an opportunity for small farmers to generate extra income, increase farm profitability and shift away from subsistence production. However, the yield and profitability of shallot and chilli production is severely limited by a range of agronomic constraints. This project aims towards raising the productivity of allium (shallot and garlic) and chilli/capsicum cropping systems. The methodology will include a benchmarking survey and review of grower practices. This will be supplemented with physical surveys of crops for disease incidence and efficiency of fertiliser use. Once surveys are completed in Indonesia and the important pathogens identified, recommendations can be made for disease management. This will include review of chemical usage in Indonesia and Australia to provide best management guidelines for the application of insecticides, fungicides and other chemicals.

Improving productivity of rundown sown grass pastures

Project with MLA to implement recommendations from "Review of productivity decline in sown grass pasture".

ACIAR Productivity and profitability enhancing tropical pulses in Indonesia and Australia

The project aims at improving the productivity and profitability of mung beans, soy beans and peanuts.

Maize germplasm enhancement and productivity improvement for tropical Australia

Maize productivity improvement for tropical and subtropical Australia.

Productivity and marketing enhancement for peanut in Papua New Guinea and Australia

Enhance productivity of peanuts in Papua New Guinea and Australia. Also the application of remote sensing technologies to enhance profitability in peanut systems.

Development of a productivity asessment toll for native spotted gum forest on private land based on estimates of forest growth on Crown land.

Reliable estimates of forest productivity are essential for improved predictions of timber yields for the private native spotted gum resource in southern Qld and northern NSW. The aim of this research was to estimate the potential productivity of native spotted gum forests on private land by making use of available inventory data collated from Qld and northern NSW for spotted gum forest on Crown land (i.e. state forests). We measured a range of site-related factors to determine their relative importance in predicting productivity of spotted gum forest. While measures such as stand height and height-diameter relationships are known to be useful predictors of productivity, we aimed to determine productivity for a site where this information was not available. Through estimation of stand growth rates we developed a spotted gum productivity assessment tool (SPAT) for use by landholders and extension officers. We aimed to develop a tool to allow private landholders to see the benefits of maintaining their timber resource. This paper summarises the information used to develop the SPAT with a particular focus on forest growth relationships.

Selection of Corymbia citriodora for pulp productivity

Evaluation of a series of spotted gum (Corymbia citirodora) progeny trials, established in the subtropical region of Queensland, Australia, was undertaken to provide information for the development of advanced-generation breeding populations suitable for pulp production. Measurements of growth at two ages were combined with assessments of wood density and pulp yield from a selected sample of provenances to provide comparisons between provenances, to generate genetic parameter estimates and to predict genetic gain potential. Although growth at this age was moderate relative to other eucalypts, the near-infrared predictions of average wood density of 756 kg m(-3) and pulp yield of 55% indicate the species has considerable potential as a pulpwood crop. A pulp productivity breeding objective was used to identify production populations using a range of selection trait weightings to determine potential genetic gain for pulp productivity. Genetic parameters indicated (1) levels of genetic control were moderate for all traits and higher for wood property traits, (2) genetic improvements could be achieved by selection among and within provenances with greater levels of improvement available from selection within populations, (3) genotype by environment interactions were negligible, (4) genetic correlations between traits were favourable, and (5) selection of volume production alone would maximise improvements in pulp productivity.

Carbon Capture and Productivity of Plantation Forests in North-eastern Australia

Approximately 130,000 ha of hardwood plantations have been established in north-eastern Australia in the last 15 years. As a result of poor taxa selection approximately 25,000 ha have failed due to drought, pest and disease or extreme weather events (drought and cyclones). Given the predicted impacts of climate change in north-eastern Australia (reduced rainfall, increased temperatures and an increase in extreme weather conditions, particularly drought, storms and cyclones), selection of the right taxa for plantation development is even more critical as the taxon planted needs to be able to perform well under the environments experienced at planting as well as those that may develop over in 30 years time as a result of changing climate.