CSIRO crop trials

Farming: crop management

CSIRO research is helping farmers better manage their crops.

  • 1 December 2005 | Updated 14 October 2011

CSIRO is studying the influence of management practices including crop sequence, nitrogen fertiliser application, and tillage and stubble management on:

  • nutrients
  • water use
  • disease incidence in crops.

We are also incorporating this information into crop decision-support tools.

CSIRO has released maNage Wheat which is a computer program developed specifically for dryland wheat growers in Victoria and southern NSW.

This program enables farmers to estimate the effect of different amounts of nitrogen fertiliser on yield and protein levels under a range of weather and soil conditions.

CSIRO is also part of a team from Australia and the Philippines which has found that brassica species such as radish, mustard or broccoli can be used as green manure to 'biofumigate' crops. This helps to reduce yield losses from Bacterial Wilt which is a major pathogen of vegetables in tropical farming.

Current field trials in the Philippines and North Queensland are examining ways of making biofumigation practical and effective for developing countries.

Related scientific papers