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SCIENCE FOR TOMORROW:
DEVELOPMENTS
Computer model helps lift wood yields
Scientists have developed a
computer model that will help forest
managers increase the yield and
profitability of wood production.
The model — developed by
researchers from Ensis (the research
joint venture between CSIRO and New
Zealand’s Scion) — uses the findings of
a study into applying fertiliser to
thinned radiata pine forests aged
15–35 years. It is based on data from
experiments carried out during 12
years at 16 sites in the ‘Green Triangle’
area in South Australia and Victoria.
The computer model predicts the
growth response and profitability of
different rates, forms and application
scenarios for nitrogen and phosphorus
fertiliser. The goal is to help forest
managers maximise wood production
or profit. Although simple to use, the
system is underpinned by a detailed
scientific understanding of the key
processes influencing soil nutrient
supply and how this drives tree growth.
Inputs for the model include basic
information such as stocking, age,
volume and site quality while outputs
include graphs of annual or
Timber tool: Scientists have developed
a modelling tool that can help increase
forest yields.
cumulative response, harvest yield,
actual and discounted fertiliser costs
and indications of harvest revenues.
Results from the research
underpinning the new model found
growth during six years on plots
fertilised with both nitrogen and
phosphorous increased by 8–28 cubic
metres per hectare, compared with
unfertilised plots. An economic
analysis showed this translated to
returns on investment from –2 per
cent to 39% as a result of the
increase in tree size which, in turn,
boosted the volume and unit value
of the wood produced.
Ensis scientist Barrie May, who
helped develop the decision support
system, said the model gave forest
managers a simple, user-friendly
tool to rapidly and automatically
identify the optimum fertiliser
strategy for a particular site as well
as a method to compare relative
growth responses and profitability
across multiple sites.
He said the model could help
forest managers increase fertiliser
efficiency substantially by
allowing them to target the most
responsive stands for fertiliser
application and select site-specific
regimes to maximise wood
production or profitability. The
model is yet to be tested outside
the Green Triangle but Dr May is
confident many of its predictive
capabilities will be transferable,
with appropriate customisation.
CONTACT Barrie May
(08) 8724 2992
(08) 8724 2996
[email protected]
New livestock dietary guidelines released
Results of the latest research on the
nutritional needs of grazing animals
have been included in a comprehensive
book that will help many farmers to
manage their livestock better.
The book includes new dietary
guidelines for Australian grazing
animals. Since 1990, a set of
‘Australian Feeding Standards’ has
guided decisions about the nutrition of
grazing animals. These standards are
the equivalent of the dietary guidelines
used in human nutrition and dietetics.
Scientists Mike Freer and Hugh
Dove from CSIRO and John Nolan from
the University of New England have
revised the guidelines and the latest
standards have been released in a
new book, Nutrient Requirements of
Domesticated Ruminants.
The book incorporates the results of
the latest research on the energy,
protein, mineral, vitamin and water
This article has been reproduced with permission from Farming Ahead.
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Rice might hold
key to rust battle
Measuring up: Cotton samples are
prepared for testing with the new
Cottonscan technology.
Breakthrough in
measuring fibres
Rust focus: Scientists are hoping to
find rust resistance genes in rice and
transfer them to wheat.
New technology developed by
CSIRO researchers will help the
cotton industry grade fibre more
accurately and cost-efficiently.
Clues to controlling the
devastating wheat disease rust
might be hidden in the only
cereal crop that is not affected
by it — rice.
CSIRO Textile and Fibre
Technology scientists have
developed an instrument that
more precisely measures the
‘fineness’ of ginned cotton fibres.
Rusts (leaf, stem and stripe)
regularly cause millions of dollars
of losses to grain growing
enterprises throughout Australia
through reduced crop yields.
Geoff Naylor said the
development of the ‘Cottonscan’
technology brought the cotton
industry significantly closer to
meeting a longstanding commercial
challenge. Fine fibres were needed
to make high-premium lightweight
fabrics but until now the industry’s
ability to grade fibre accurately in a
cost-efficient way had presented a
major problem, Dr Naylor said.
CSIRO Plant Industry scientist
Michael Ayliffe is examining
whether rice’s immunity to rust
can be transferred to wheat.
Preliminary research by his
team indicates that wheat rust can
invade rice leaves but is stopped
before it causes the disease.
This type of resistance is called
‘non-host resistance’ and might be
due to the physical structure of
the plant, how the plant functions,
its genes, or a combination of
these factors.
The model plant Arabidopsis
has non-host resistance to another
cereal disease — barley powdery
mildew. Research shows genetic
control of this resistance might
involve only three genes.
requirements of ruminant livestock
and their responses to changes in
feed quantity and quality. It has a
particular application to grazing
animals but is equally applicable to
animals in feedlots or drought yards.
The book also incorporates the
latest technology, directing readers
to computer-based decision support
tools and spreadsheet programs
that help them to apply the
nutrient requirement data.
Livestock advisers, veterinarians,
feed manufacturers and animal
nutrition researchers can also use
the book, which is available
through www.publish.csiro.au or by
contacting 1300 788 000.
Evidence from one of Dr Ayliffe’s
trials shows that different rice
varieties allow different amounts of
rust growth — supporting the idea
there is a genetic basis to rice’s
rust resistance.
CONTACT Michael Freer
(02) 6246 5312
(02) 6246 5000
[email protected]
CONTACT Michael Ayliffe
(02) 6246 5221
(02) 6246 5000
[email protected]
20 Farming Ahead December 2007 No. 191 www.farmingahead.com.au
Dr Ayliffe and his team are
hoping to identify genes that block
rust disease in rice. Having the
complete genome sequence of rice
allows their experiments to move
forward rapidly.
If rust resistance genes in rice
are found there might be
opportunities to transfer these
genes to wheat and other cereals
to provide them with long-lasting,
effective resistance to rust.
Cottonscan will benefit cotton
growers and the textile industry by
enabling high-quality fine cotton to
— be correctly graded and valued by
the market. Additionally, an
accurate knowledge of the fineness
of cotton is expected to increase the
productivity and profitability of the
spinning sector of the textile industry.
Now patented by CSIRO,
Cottonscan weighs and counts a
sample of short fragments of fibre,
then calculates the average fibre
weight-per-unit-length, or
‘fineness’, using modern optics and
high-speed computer-based image
analysis methods. Following a trial
involving CSIRO, the Australian
Cotton Research Institute and
Auscott Ltd, the instrument has
been proved to measure cotton
fineness precisely.
Dr Naylor said during further
tests CSIRO validated Cottonscan by
measuring a large set of
scientifically calibrated cottons from
the United States. The new
technology was able to duplicate
several years of work by American
researchers in a matter of minutes.
The Cotton Research and
Development Corporation helped
fund this research.
CONTACT Geoff Naylor
(03) 5246 4046
(03) 5246 4057
[email protected]