annual field day - the australian ginger industry …...prj-008964 extension, education and...
TRANSCRIPT
Annual Field Day
6th July 2017
Australian Ginger Growers Workshop & Field Day
Cooroy Sports Complex, Mary River Rd, Cooroy Qld 4563.
Thursday 6th July 2017
Program
8.30am Welcome, issues, outlines Rob Abbas & Shane Templeton
8.40am Industry Levy Progress/Management/Programs Duncan Farquhar RIRDC
8.50am Industry Production Figures Jason Keating, QDAF
9.00am Release of Soil Health poster and document Dr Tony Pattison, QDAF
9.20am Improving Ginger Tissue Culture project Sharon Hamill, QDAF
9.40am Improving Fusarium resilience in ginger TC Dr Liz Aitken
9.55am Organic amendment trial results Zane Nicholls, QDAF
10.05am Nematode Research Project Jenny Cobon, QDAF
10.20am Food Safety Anthony Jackson C&S
10.30am Product Review - Bundaberg Brewed Drinks David Andrews
10.45am Morning Tea middle session inside.
11.10am Industry web site introduction and access Katrina Keating
11.25am Precision Agriculture project Ian Layden/Vanderfields
11. 40am The Benefits of Compost Pam Pittaway
11.55am Ginger Tissue Culture systems. Wide Bay Seedlings
12.10pm Diesel pumping systems efficiency Peter Chadband
12.25pm EPPRD Levy Bruce Duncan
12.35pm Lunch afternoon session outside.
1.30pm Levy Payers’ Meeting
1.40pm Supplier displays.
3.00pm Drinks outside.
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Ginger Program Presentation to the Australian Ginger Growers Workshop & Field Day
Cooroy Sports complex. Mary River Rd, Cooroy Qld,4563.
Thursday 6th July 2017
Duncan Farquhar RIRDC Program Manager
RIRDC Programs RIRDC programs are focused on four arenas
• People and leadership
• National challenges and opportunities
• Growing profitability
• Emerging Industries
The Ginger program is managed alongside our other levy paying industries (e.g Rice, Chicken Meat, Buffalo,
Tea Tree, Kangaroo, Export Fodder, Thoroughbred Horses). There are also opportunities for Ginger in
connecting with other RIRDC programs and across RDC’s.
Industry Levies Forward budgets for the Ginger R&D levy are set at $150K per annum. The Emergency Plant Pest levy is set to
zero until an issue occurs where this response is required. Discussions about a Marketing levy for the Ginger
industry concluded that a voluntary system was more appropriate at this point given the balance between
administrative cost and freeloader risk.
Good result from last 5 years $1,261,500 delivered strong returns Agtrans conducted an evaluation of the cost:benefit of the Ginger R&D program. The analysis revealed
benefits outweighing costs by between 8 and 19.1 times. This is a very strong result. The detail of this analysis
can be found in the full report available on the RIRDC publications page at
https://rirdc.infoservices.com.au/items/16-077 The program had the following general focus areas;
• Phythium soft rot and other integrated management projects
• Biosecurity Plan
• Best Practice Supply Chain Management
• Market assessments
• Extension and communication
• Tissue Culture for clean planting material
These specific projects were included in the evaluation.
Project ID Project Name PRJ-008167 Development of an Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Ginger Industry PRJ-008308 Improved Tissue Culture Production of Ginger Clean Planting Material PRJ-008338 Extension and Education Officer - Ginger Industry PRJ-008343 Controlling Pythium in Ginger: Phase 2 PRJ-008385 Ginger Tech Support and Minor Use (MUP renewals) PRJ-008410 Assessment of Pythium Diversity in Ginger PRJ-008532 Improving Soil Health to Suppress Soilborne Diseases of Ginger PRJ-008862 Understanding the Domestic Market for Australian Ginger PRJ-008962 Technical Support, Extension and Minor Use Development for the Ginger Industry PRJ-008964 Extension, Education and Communication of R&D for the Australian Ginger Industry PRJ-009626 Induced Pythium and Fusarium Resistance in Ginger PRJ-009664 Health Benefits of Ginger: a Review of the Peer Reviewed Scientific Literature PRJ-009665 Global Ginger Market Assessment - Opportunities for Australian Ginger Products PRJ-009666 Best Practice Supply Chain Management Information for the Ginger Industry PRJ-010078 Determining Pathogenicity and Methyl Bromide Control of Ginger Nematodes PRJ-010162 Regional Ginger Extension Program (R-GEP) PRJ-010391 Ginger Strategic Plan and R&D Priorities
Ongoing projects include Improved Tissue Culture Production. RIRDC have requested a new extension project
be developed for consideration.
New 5 year plan The new 5 year plan has the following objectives.
Objective Proposed Allocation 2017 - 2022
1:Drive on-farm productivity – disease management,
innovative technology and certified seed
50%
2: Lift the demand for Australian ginger – brand and market
research
20%
3: Encourage industry engagement – extension,
communication, leaders and partners
30%
The full plan is available from the RIRDC publications page at https://rirdc.infoservices.com.au/items/17-021
Panel selection process RIRDC are seeking nominations for the Ginger RD&E Advisory Panel. Please see link for details
http://www.rirdc.gov.au/news/2017/06/23/positions-vacant-ginger-rd-e-advisory-panel
GVP and production for the Australian Ginger Industry 2016-17 Jason Keating, QDAF
IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH TO SUPPRESS SOIL BORNE DISEASES OF
GINGER
Tony Pattison1, Jenny Cobon1, Zane Nicholls1, Rob Abbas2 and Mike Smith1
1Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; 2Rob Abbas Consulting Pty. Ltd.
Issue: Declining soil fertility and biological soil health represent a major threat to sustainable ginger
production. To remain competitive ginger growers have intensified crop production to supply growing
markets, but have typically failed to replenish organic matter adequately. Ginger growers have
consequently experienced falling yields and increased problems with soil borne pathogens that are
symptomatic of declining soil health.
Soil Management Recommendations: Current soil management recommendations for increased
pathogen suppressiveness are mainly based on increasing organic inputs to the soil, reducing
disturbances such as tillage, and diversifying crop rotation. To successfully enhance soil
suppressiveness, it is necessary to understand how farming practices can improve key indicators of soil
health as they relate to increased biodiversity of the soil ecosystem. These indicators include measures
of nematode communities in the soil, microbial enzyme analysis, as well as physical and chemical soil
components that were correlated with disease suppression and high yield.
The key areas where ginger growers can improve their soil health are:
• Improve Soil Organic Carbon Levels: Organic carbon improvement is most cost effectively
achieved through the use of break or fallow cropping. Fallow cropping not only allows for a
change in species to eliminate host specific species of pest or disease, but provides the ability to
improve soil structure, improve the biodiversity of soil microorganisms, and build organic carbon
at faster rates than importing organic carbon sources. Ginger growers who have been serious about
summer and winter fallow crops prior to planting ginger have clearly seen the benefits of building
organic carbon and soil health.
• Reduction in Tillage Operations: The maintenance of soil carbon is all about reducing soil tillage
methods that destroy organic matter. Always mulched, always incorporated but only rotary hoed
once before planting. The use of bedded systems maintains compaction to wheel tracks only.
A good summer fallow of
sorghum, mulched down
2-3 times before planting
ginger, has the ability to
supply 20-25 tonnes of
organic carbon per Ha.
• Drainage Improvements: The ability for a soil to drain following heavy rain is critical in
maintaining healthy soils. When soils become saturated for long periods they have low oxygen
levels that cause beneficial organisms to die. The key to maintenance of oxygen in soils is simple:
organic carbon, effective drainage and lack of soil compaction.
• Increased Use of Mulches and Composts: Our industry has had success in controlling soil borne
pathogens of ginger where fallowing, fallow cropping, drainage improvements and the use of
biologically active composts and controlled release fertilisers are utilised. This improves soil health
through building of beneficial microorganisms, while reducing death of these beneficials from
acidic fertiliser use and lack of oxygen in the soil profile.
• Farm Quarantine: Farm quarantine involves exclusion, which in turn is about restricting
movement of soil and infested planting material between blocks and between farms. This is critical
when dealing with soil borne pathogens.
• Utilise Technology: We need to be familiar with and use technology to our benefit. Soil and tissue
testing, precision farm mapping and irrigation management are key to success. Attention to
technology management will ensure you achieve a reputation for yield and quality.
Good soil health means high yield
and good quality ginger
Good drainage ensures
soils do not remain
saturated thereby
preventing pathogens
such as Pythium myriotylum from causing
serious crop losses.
For more information:
RIRDC publication 17/004:
“Improving Soil Health to Suppress Soil Borne Diseases of Ginger”
available from the RIRDC website
www.rirdc.gov.au
Innovative improved method using tissue culture to produce clean ginger planting material-
Sharon Hamill, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
The first field trial comparing the new ‘plug’ method to conventional rhizome was harvested September 2016.
It has shown to be superior in production of rhizome than conventional ways that ginger tissue culture has
been used in the past.
The new method has potential to be cheaper, faster, use less
potting mix, allows for thousands more plants to be produced in
same space as plants grown in bags. Production from ‘plugs’
reached same as or better than conventional rhizome production
in first year of plant growth compared to old tissue culture
method which still doesn’t match control after 2 years. Canton
plugs had significantly higher yield than control in first year field
trial.
05
1015202530
Control Qld Jan Qldsenesced
plug
Qld Febsenesced
2nd gener.
Qld Marchsenesced
2nd gener.
Qld 2ndgeneration
4% TC
Mar Qldplug
Senesced
Qld 2ndgeneration
8% TC
TC Plant Qld6%
TC plant qld8%
Total Rhizome wt (Kg) from 10 ginger 'Queensland' plants grown in field for 12 months
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Jan Cantonsenesced plug
Control Canton Canton 2ndgeneration 4%
Tc
Canton 2ndgeneration TC
8%
Mar Cantonplug Senesced
TC plant Canton6%
TC plant Canton8%
Total Rhizome wt. (Kg) from 10 Ginger 'Canton' plants grown in field for 12 months
Further field trials are needed to optimise the product and understand how it performs under different
seasons. A second trial was planted last September 2016 comparing tissue culture plants grown into ‘plugs’ at
either Maroochy Research Facility or the commercial nursery. So far the MRF ‘plugs’ germinated faster
followed by nursery produced plugs and ‘plugs’ were much faster than conventional rhizome.
Tissue culture produced ‘plugs’ germinated earlier than conventional rhizome but are shorter. The current trial
will be harvested to compare differences. The work in the next couple of years will focus on adapting this
system to commercial production for high volume to produce a quality but cost effective product. There will
be a learning curve to ensure that the tissue culture ‘plugs’ can be produced commercially to best suit the
grower. Some commercial issues have already be identified this year that hope to be overcome in 2018.
0.00%
19.00%
66%
92%99% 100%
0.00% 0.00% 0%
46%
77%
98%
0.00% 0.00% 0% 2%
43%
86%
0.00%3.00%
24%
65%
96%100%
0.00% 0.00%3%
36%
73%
88%
0% 0% 0% 0%
35%
79%
0.00%
20.00%
40.00%
60.00%
80.00%
100.00%
120.00%Germination over time for 'plugs' compared to rhizome for Canton and
QLDMRF Q plug
Nursery Q plug
Q rhizome
MRF C plug
Nursery C plug
C rhizome
Elizabeth Aitken, Andrea Matthews and Duy Phu Le
School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland (St Lucia)
The group at UQ is working with Sharon Hamill (Qld DAF) to investigate the effects of tissue culture
on the susceptibility of ginger to Fusarium wilt. With tissue culture derived-plants, we have the benefit
of knowing that they are disease free but the process of going through tissue culture may render the
subsequent plants more susceptible when they do encounter Fusarium in the field. If this is the case
we then need to know how to improve the resilience of tissue culture derived plants.
We also need to check how varied the Fusarium is in the field and whether the Fusarium normally
associated with ginger can be influenced by other strains of Fusarium including those pathogenic on
other crops, particularly those used in rotation with ginger.
Comparison of tissue culture and non-tissue culture derived ginger to Fusarium susceptibility. In glasshouse trials, Fusarium-infested millet was inoculated onto ginger plants that had been
previously subjected to the following treatments before being placed in the glasshouse:
1) plants derived from tissue culture and maintained entirely in glasshouse conditions;
2) tissue culture derived plants that had been placed in the field for 6 months;
3) rhizomes taken directly from the field (i.e. no tissue culture).
Four months after inoculation all plants (12) derived from tissue culture were heavily diseased;
whereas those that were initially taken from tissue culture and then placed in the field had some
disease (4 out of 12 showed minor symptoms). The plants growing from field rhizome were the least
diseased with only minor symptoms on two out of 12 plants
Comparison of Fusarium oxysporum isolates obtained from ginger
Comparison was made between 15 isolates of Fusarium oxysporum collected from diseased ginger
rhizomes from four different locations in SE Qld. All isolates were shown to be F. oxysporum based
on DNA sequence analysis using published protocols for PCR amplification of the TEF gene. When
screened with the University of Queensland PCR primers specific for the SIX 7, SIX9, SIX 10 and SIX
12 genes, twelve of the isolates were positive. This was consistent with our previous studies and
indicative of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi (Foz). The DNA of three isolates that were
associated with a mild soft rot of the rhizome was negative for the SIX gene assay. Pathogenicity
tests were carried out on ginger rhizomes and of the 12 isolates identified by the SIX gene assay to
be Foz, 11 produced typical Fusarium lesions. Whereas the three isolates that did not possess the
SIX genes produced only very small lesions on the rhizomes.
Further isolates are being assembled of Fusarium oxypsorum from ginger tissue both with symptoms
and without as well as from the roots of other crop plants and weeds growing in the vicinity. This will
form part of Andrea Matthews’ PhD studies (see below)
Effects of endophyte supplementation in reducing Fusarium wilt Putative endophytic bacterial isolates and isolates of non-pathogenic Fusarium spp have been
obtained from healthy rhizomes of ginger. Initial studies showed that some bacterial isolates did
cause supressed growth of Fusarium oxypsorum f.sp. zingiberi (Foz) when assessed in dual culture
plate assays. More recently, we have found that two of the endophytic bacteria isolated from the roots
of ginger plants (as opposed to the rhizomes) showed a very strong growth inhibition on Fusarium in
dual culture assays (see below).
Growth of Foz (central in each plate) in dual cultures challenged with endophytic bacteria. The plate on
the bottom right shows a very strong inhibition on the growth of Foz due to the presence of a bacterial
strain obtained from healthy ginger roots.
The potential of these endophytes to supress Foz in ginger is currently being assessed in pot trials.
PhD Studies
Andrea Matthews is researching Fusarium species in ginger for her PhD. In particular, the research is concentrating on the diversity of fusarium species in and around the rhizosphere, looking at both pathogenic and non-pathogenic species. We know that Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. zingiberi is the species that causes fusarium yellows of ginger, but little is known about any other Fusarium species that also grow in association with ginger. The influence of previous crops and the impact of the fusarium from these crops on the subsequent ginger crop is of particular interest. For example, the ability of ginger plants to successfully establish in the field may be heavily influenced by the combination of fusarium and non-pathogenic species present in the soil from previous ginger and non-ginger crops. This research will also try to find beneficial fusarium, bacterial or other species that have the potential to improve the establishment of tissue culture derived or previous crop derived ginger in the field. Initial studies have been concentrating on understanding the diversity of fusarium found growing in ginger rhizomes and the influence of the previous crop. During this study, several bacterial strains have been isolated from apparently healthy ginger. Two of these bacterial strains have shown promise in laboratory trials to have the potential to inhibit the growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. zingiberi.
Determining the yield and plant health benefits of organic pre-plant soil amendments in ginger
production
Zane Nicholls1, Rob Abbas2 & Mike Smith1
1 Department of Agriculture and Fisheries 2Rob Abbas Consulting Pty Ltd
Project Summary
Organic amendments have a long history as a soil conditioner and a pre-plant nutrient source in ginger
production. Current ginger research validates the use of organic amendments to improve the physical, chemical
and biological properties essential for a healthy soil to maintain or increase expected ginger yields. Importantly
it improves soil nutrition which provides a platform to increase a soils microbial diversity and capacity to
suppress pests and diseases of ginger as identified in the recent RIRDC research by Smith and Abbas (2013) and
Pattison et al. (2016).
Consumer awareness on food safety issues has initiated research into practices that would effectively serve
to reduce microbial hazards that can result in foodborne illness through raw manure use in cropping systems.
Determining the production benefits of organic pre-plant amendments is the next step towards a better
understanding of how amendments as a management option can address soil and plant health issues while
securing sustainable yields and retaining food safety. The project aims were to compare 4 pasteurised soil
amendments against the current industry practice of untreated poultry litter as a pre-plant nutrient source.
Methods
An experiment was established on an old strawberry block at Beerwah (26°52’ 28.28” S, 153°0’18.88” E) to
analyse the potential of five organic amendment treatments to deliver commercial ginger production yields.
Three of the five treatments were of equivalent nutrient inputs and guided by industry recommendations. Four
treatments employed the synthetic Polyon 100% controlled release fertiliser (CRF) to provide the main nutrition
with identical application rates (1000 kg/ha) while the fifth treatment is a 100% organic system utilising
pasteurised compost only (Table 1). The nutrient assemblage for each amendment is available in Table 3.
The experimental design involved 10 plant beds each 200 m in length. Each of the 5 randomly dispersed
treatments employed 8 replications over 40 m x 1.8 m of plant bed for a total area of 576 m2 per treatment, and
total study area of 2880 m2. The study employed 2 perimeter rows as buffers. Amendments were applied on
13th October and seed planted 17th October 2016. The harvest period 8th to 12th May aligns with the first late
harvest period (industry average 40 t /ha – DPI, 2008). Leaf, soil and plant health data collection periods were
12th January, 16th February, and 12th April 2017. The ginger variety grown for this study is Queensland.
Table 1. List of treatments and their respective fertiliser types and main nutrient inputs. The synthetic fertiliser employed in treatments 1 to 4 was a polymer coated 100% controlled release fertiliser (CRF). For reference the industry recommended nutritional requirements are; N 360 kg, P 120 kg, K 240 kg per hectare. 1 x m3 of poultry litter equals 500 kg minus 35 to 40% moisture content. Compost contains 25% moisture content.
Treatment Type of fertiliser (inputs per ha) N (kg/ha) P (kg/ha) K (kg/ha)
1. Conventional
System
Poultry bedding litter (37 m3) and
Polyon CFR (1000 kg)
486 153 289
2. Compost
Organic System
Compost (50 tonne) 382 206 225
3. Compost
Conventional
System
Compost (30 tonne) and Polyon CRF
(1000 kg)
439 164 257
4. Processed
Poultry Pellet
System
Processed poultry manure pellets (5
tonne) and Polyon CRF (1000 kg)
400 147 236
5. Compost and
Poultry Pellet
System
Processed poultry manure pellets (2.5
tonne), Compost (10 tonne), Polyon
CRF (1000 kg)
380 136 225
Yield results
The harvest period occurred 210 days after planting in early-May to determine the yield potential, and if the
four comparison treatments can deliver commercial production yields. Analysis of the results indicate there
were no significant differences between pre-plant amendment types. The best performed highest yielding
treatment was the poultry pellets, compost and CRF combination with 80.7 t/ha, while the poultry litter with
CRF treatment produced 76.53 t/ha. The order of treatments from highest to lowest is T5, T3, T4, T2 and T1
(Table 2). Importantly the complete compost system outperformed the current industry practice of raw poultry
litter by 2 t/ha. The significance of this results is reflected in the reduced cost per hectare (-$1,125) and nutrients
applied (22% less N). Comparing the trial results against industry expected average yields for the first early
harvest period all treatments were considerably above the industry average of 40 t/ha, and below the industry
average of $5,400 for nutrient inputs. Clean seed may be the biggest determining factor as the only pest
pressures observed was minor black beetle damage and occasional nematode damage noticed at harvest.
Table 2. Summary of rhizome means per treatment from May in-field harvest, 210 days after planting. The rhizome means were extrapolated to provide compatible tonnes per hectare. Input costs per hectare include delivery and are priced per tonne unless stated, Poultry litter $25 per m3, Poultry pellets $360; Compost $60; Polyon CRF $3,200. The average industry cost per hectare is $5400. + = CRF.
Treatment Yield (kg) t/ha Cost per ha
T1 (Poultry litter + ) 549.8 a 76.35 $4,125
T2 (Compost) 564.0 a 78.33 $3,000
T3 (Compost + ) 581.0 a 80.69 $5,000
T4 (Poultry pellets + ) 567.8 a 78.65 $5,000
T5 (Pellets, compost + ) 581.2 a 80.73 $4,700
Data analysis showing the rhizome yield. The least significant difference (LSD) at 0.05% for yield is 38.33 kg with 39 degrees of freedom based on 5 treatments each with 8 replicates. Means with the same subscript are not significantly different at P = 0.05 level. The average mean across treatments is 568.75 kg.
Conclusions
Pasteurised organic amendments can deliver commercial production yields for the ginger industry. The cost
of production per hectare is comparable to industry practice with the additional benefits of delivering a food
safe product, and reducing the nutrient budget. The 9 month 100% controlled release fertiliser we have been
testing the past four years is demonstrating to be a successful management tool for growers, continuing to meet
crop requirements by drip feeding over the prescribed period under industry conditions and irrigation
requirements. The excellent results obtained from the organic system highlights the commercial benefits of
employing composts as the sole nutrient source. The organic treatment outperformed the conventional practice
for yield, input costs per hectare and reduced the nitrogen budget by 22%, indicating potential to grow organic
without synthetic fertilisers. Clean seed may be the biggest determining factor as the only pest pressures
observed was minor black beetle damage and occasional nematode damage identified at harvest.
The results prove that while one of the cheaper options is to apply raw poultry litter to increase your nutrient
inputs, the net benefits are outweighed by the risks to maintain a food safe product and the anticipated increase
in soil P stores from continued use.
Further work
Discussion within the project team has determined the need to further qualify the benefits of pasteurised
amendment use in commercial ginger production. The next phase of the project will continue the focus on
determining the food safety benefits of pasteurised amendment use against raw manures. The project aims to
provide a review of 5 regionally sourced pasteurised composts and their suitability for ginger production.
Table 3. Composition of each organic amendment and fertilizer type. Macronutrient results expressed as %
unless stated.
Variable Poultry litter Compost Poultry pellets Polyon CRF
TN 2.50 1.02 3.81 20.9
NO3-N 0.05 0.12
P 1.01 0.55 2.09 4.2
K 1.52 0.60 2.25 12.4
Mg 0.10 0.12 0.7 1.8
S 0.6 0.73
TC 33.7 20.4 36.0
OM 57.29 34.68
pH 7.1 7.0 6.7
CEC cmol/kg 79.7 103.23
EC mS/cm 9.89 5.81
Determining Pathogenicity and Methyl Bromide Control of Ginger Nematodes (RIRDC Project No PRJ-010078)
Jenny Cobon1, Pauline Wyatt1, Noeleen Warman1, Kerri Chandra1, Rob Abbas2 and Mike Smith1
1Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; 2Rob Abbas Consulting Pty. Ltd.
Why was the study done?
All Import Risk Assessment reports state, “Australia has general requirements for all fruit and vegetables, which
require that consignments must be free of live insects, disease symptoms, trash, contaminant seeds and other
debris on arrival in Australia” (Australian Government, 2011). During 2014-15, fresh ginger imports from Fiji
were infested with live root-knot nematodes tentatively identified as Meloidogyne arenaria. Even though
consignments were given a mandatory methyl bromide fumigation treatment (32 g/m3 methyl bromide for 3
hrs at 21°C) which was intended to eliminate the serious target nematode pest, Radopholus similis, live root-
knot nematodes were recovered from most consignments. Neither live nor dead R. similis were detected,
however, both nematode species are internal feeders on ginger and there was concern the methyl bromide was
unable to penetrate to the regions were these nematodes actively feed.
Questions were asked:
• “Are the mandated methyl bromide fumigation treatments effective in killing internal feeding plant-
parasitic nematodes in ginger rhizomes?”
• “Do these exotic forms of plant-parasitic nematodes pose a threat to the Australian ginger industry?”
Experiments were set up to answer these questions and results and key findings are discussed in the
presentation. To summarize:
Methods used
For the methyl bromide fumigation experiments, rhizomes infested with root-knot nematode were collected
from growers’ farms, labelled and placed within 6 x 10 kg cartons of ginger. Three pieces of infested ginger were
placed in each carton, one at each of the bottom left, centre and top right of each carton and the cartons,
together with another 10 cartons of “filler” ginger, were then placed within a 1 m3 fumigation chamber to occupy
approximately 35% of the chamber’s internal space. The fumigation treatments tested were 32 g/m3 methyl
bromide for 3 hrs at 22◦C, 40 g/m3 methyl bromide for 3 hrs at 17◦C and 48 g/m3 methyl bromide for 3 hrs at
12◦C (all mandated treatments). Chamber headspace samples were taken and analysed with a gas
chromatograph throughout the fumigation to certify the process.
After fumigation and venting for >24 hours, the ginger rhizomes were peeled and sliced finely and placed in a
misting chamber for 7 days to extract the nematodes and any nematode larvae. These were collected on a 38
micron sieve and counted under a microscope. The numbers of nematodes recovered from the fumigated
treatments were compared with those ginger rhizomes that were left unfumigated as controls.
A Fijian root-knot nematode (RKN) was isolated from imported ginger and live cultures were established on
tomato plants in a glasshouse containment facility at ESP. It was tentatively identified as Meloidogyne arenaria
based on morphological characteristics. Furthermore, root-knot nematodes, M. incognita and M. javanica, were
recovered from Australian ginger, while M. arenaria was recovered from banana plants from north Queensland
and maintained on tomato plants under similar conditions. Replicate pure cultures of the four species/strains
were sent to the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) for independent molecular
analysis.
Ginger was screened in two replicated pot experiments in bio-secure glasshouses at the EcoSciences Precinct
(ESP), Brisbane, and at Redlands Research Station with the four species/strains of RKN. Both experiments
included uninoculated ginger for pathogenicity comparisons, and tomato plants (cv. ‘Tiny Tim’) as the
susceptible control plants for the root-knot nematode being tested. Pathogenicity was determined by comparing
root and shoot weight (total plant weight) with the uninoculated ginger and by correlating the reproductive
factor (RF) of the nematode species with the plants’ weights.
In a final pathogenicity experiment, ginger rhizomes were collected during mid-July 2016 in Fiji that were
infested with the burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis. They were obtained from a ginger farm each in two
districts, Veikoba and Naqali. Samples were packaged in sealed bio-containers and imported under the
conditions outlined in import permit 0000643039. They were declared at Brisbane airport and transferred to a
QC3 laboratory at ESP. Meanwhile, in Australia, R. similis was recovered from two banana farms in the wet
tropics, Bartle Frere and Mundoo and two in the wet subtropics, Korora and Hopkins Creek.
R. similis was extracted from infected plant root tissue from each region and single adult females were placed
onto 10 prepared sterile carrots for multiplication. This produced sufficient numbers of nematodes to be used
for inoculum of potted plants and for future molecular and taxonomic studies.
Clean ginger ‘seed’ was obtained from containerised ginger grown in pasteurised potting mix that were first
established from tissue cultured plants. ‘Seed’ was planted into 4L pots of pasteurised standard UC mix in
September 2016. Fourteen and a half weeks after planting, on 12 December 2016, the pots were inoculated
with 1,500 motile nematodes of each nematode isolate. The experiment was replicated 14 times so that two
replications of each treatment were harvested at 12 weeks, another three replications each for week’s 16 and
17 and two replications each for weeks 20, 21 and 22. The replicates were randomly sampled. Pathogenicity was
determined by comparing root and shoot weight (total plant weight) with the uninoculated ginger and by
correlating the RF of the nematode isolates with the plants’ weights.
Results/key findings
Meloidogyne incognita was confirmed as the root-knot nematode found in fresh ginger rhizomes imported from
Fiji as identified by molecular analysis by SARDI. The fact that these nematodes were found live, within the
rhizome, suggested that the mandated methyl bromide treatment for fresh ginger imports from Fiji was
ineffective in eliminating live internal feeding plant-parasitic nematodes.
• Methyl bromide fumigation trials, in a controlled commercial fumigation facility using rhizomes infested
with Australian isolates of root-knot nematode, showed conclusively that none of the three mandated
treatments were capable of eliminating live RKNs from ginger rhizomes.
Fortunately, pathogenicity tests revealed that the Fijian isolate of M. incognita was no more pathogenic than
the Australian root-knot nematode isolates on ginger and tomato. However, pathogenicity tests with one of the
Fijian isolates of Radopholus similis (Naqali isolate) revealed it to be significantly more destructive on ginger than
any of the other isolates. In fact, the Naqali isolate was capable of killing the host plant 12 weeks after
inoculation, which is unusual for a plant-parasitic nematode. The next most aggressive isolate was again from
Fiji (Veikoba isolate), which caused high levels of damage to the rhizome, even killing some plants with shoots
collapsing and dying. The four Australian isolates ranged from those causing high levels of damage to the
rhizome (although none resulted in death of plants) to those causing negligible levels of damage to the rhizome.
• Fijian isolates of Radopholus similis are serious pathogens of ginger and pose a significant threat to the
Australian ginger industry.
Block C-East
Woodridge (WA) -
Worldview 3 Image
(30/04/2017)
D Block CE
Optimal vegetation index
Yield Forecast: 503 tones
NOTES: 1. False colour image: this includes near infrared, the brighter the red colour the more vigorous the biomass growth. 2. Classified NDVI map: the higher the NDVI value the more vigorous the biomass growth. 3. Scatter plot identifying the relationship between carrot yield and optimal vegetation index (canopy
reflectance) measured from each sample location. 4. Derived yield map using the linear algorithm presented in Figure D.
In-field sampling locations are indicated in Figure A and B
y = 114.56x + 1.10
R² = 0.69
0
20
40
60
80
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
20202020
4040404040
6060606060
808080
THE BENEFITS OF COMPOST FOR GINGER GROWERS
Pam Pittaway, Chrysalis Landscape Consultants Laidley Qld.
www.grubbclc.com.au email [email protected]
Mulch and soil conditioners as composted products
Composting is the accelerated break-down of organic matter, driven by microbes and/or soil animals. Hot or
thermophilic composting is the most rapid, but requires a large volume to retain the heat generated by feeding-
frenzied bacteria (the thermal mass). The tiny (less than a thousandth of a mm) heat-loving bacteria only thrive in
moist, fine particles providing fluid films for movement, and air-filled pores for oxygen and temperature control (wet
and well aired). Lacking teeth, microbes secrete enzymes (saliva equivalent) to rapidly dissolve sugars and
carbohydrates contained in ‘soft’, fine particles (fast food). Windrows must be constructed from a mix of large and
fine particles, and must be watered close to field capacity to drive this microbial feeding frenzy.
Exposure to temperatures of 50 to 70 ○C for days kills off pests, pathogens and most weed seeds (disinfection:
Figure 1). A minimum of 5 turns during 3 weeks of high temperatures ensures all particles pass through the
heated core. Windrows with a high proportion of larger, less microbially accessible particles, may only need
composting for disinfection (3 weeks for the microbes to adapt, plus 3 weeks of heat exposure). The product
will be a low nutrient mulch, designed for high rate application as a thick, protective surface cover. The
Australian Standard (AS4454-2012) specifies particle size criteria for mulch (refer to Table 1), as well as for
finer soil conditioning composts.
Table 1: Particle size criteria specified by Australian Standard for composts, soil conditioners and mulches for
mulch and soil conditioners (AS4454 2012).
Particle size criteria
Coarse mulch
(% by mass)
Fine mulch
(% by mass)
Soil conditioner
(% by mass)
Particles to be retained
on a 16mm sieve
minimum of 70% maximum of 20% maximum of 20%
Particles to be retained
on a 5 mm sieve
no specification minimum of 80% no specification
Soil conditioners need months of composting for microbes to process fine, tougher organics into humus. Humus
‘conditions’ the soil by increasing the water and nutrient-holding capacity, pH buffering, and by stabilising soil
particles (improved soil structure). Microbes go for the fast food first (the heat-generating feeding frenzy),
processing the tougher, humus-forming food last. At the end of the hot active phase the 50% reduction in volume
concentrates N, P and K, increasing the fertiliser value of the soil conditioner. Humification only starts as the
compost cures (cooling phase).
Figure 1: Temperature zones in a
thermophilic compost windrow.
Organics can be disinfected by
turning the windrow 5 times to expose
pathogens and weed seeds to the lethal
temperature of the central core. The
destruction of pesticides may take
longer. Windrow height and bulk
density must be managed to maintain
the centrally heated core for the time
required.
Composted products for ginger growers
Ginger is a rainforest crop, evolving under a thick layer of leaf-litter that would have protected the rhizome from
temperature and moisture extremes. The diversity of fresh and older particles, soft and woody tissues, decaying
at different rates, would sustain a diverse soil community. Soil animals mechanically break down larger particles
into the finer, microbially processed fermentation layer, with the microbial by-product humus merging into the
subsoil to produce topsoil (Figure 2).
Mulch as a substitute for the litter layer
A single source of mulch with a uniform particle size cannot replace the diversity of the natural litter layer, and
under certain conditions may encourage Pythium rhizome rot and symphylan attack. Pythium soft rot is favoured
by wet and warm, and symphylans are attracted to warm, moist, easily degraded organic matter. A mulch layer of
uniformly fine particles will prevent drainage and air-exchange, and may heat up as microbes devour the fast food.
During this feeding frenzy microbes may draw down N and P, with the starved plants even more susceptible to
pest and disease attack.
Symphylans and pathogens are likely to be present in organic stockpiles used as mulch, so high temperature
composting for disinfection is an effective hygiene strategy. Selecting a diversity of smaller and larger particles
from soft and resilient plant tissue will provide the fast food for the heating phase, with the tougher, larger particles
improving aeration, drainage and the durability of the mulch. Ideally most of the fines should be degraded during
the disinfection phase, leaving a mix of larger particles less likely to over-supply the soil with salts such as
potassium when applied as a thick surface cover.
Cured compost as a substitute for the humus layer
Twelve to 15 weeks of active composting will degrade the fast food, with 4 to 6 weeks of curing concentrating
the humified particles and nutrients released by the stabilising microbial population. Potassium in a cured compost
is at least 80% available, with N and P released more slowly - indeed N may not be released for up to 1 year later.
Applied at a rate that complements the crop fertiliser management program and with repeat applications over
time, the humified compost will replace soil humus lost during years of tillage. Improving soil structure and
balancing the supply of immediately available and slow-release N, P and K for the developing ginger crop should
assist in managing pest and disease problems.
It is feasible to add a suitable rate of cured compost into the disinfected mulch for a single pass application to soil.
When applied at the required mulch depth, the concentration of the N, P and K supplied by the cured, soil
conditioning compost should be compatible with the nutrient management program for the crop. This will
maximise the benefits of compost for ginger growers.
Figure 2: the litter layer is a thick,
protective surface cover, with
tougher woody particles degrading
over time to produce dark brown
humus. Softer, nutrient-rich
particles degrade more rapidly,
releasing inorganic N, P and K into
the soil solution. The fine, water-
absorbing humus particles leach
down the soil profile, producing the
dark stain we know as topsoil.
Mulch is a substitute for the litter
layer, whereas cured compost is a
substitute for the humus layer.
GINGER GROWERS FIELD DAY – THE PUMP HOUSE - WORKSHOP FOLDER INFORMATION DIESEL FUEL BURN vs PUMP SELECTION
• THE IMPORTANCE OF RPM FOR PUMP EFFICIENCY & PERFORMANCE
• DIESEL MOTOR CURVES – CONTINUAL RATED POWER CURVES REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES
• FUEL BURN – COMPARISON OF THE CUMMINS 210 gramskw x 76kw divided by 1000 divided .87 = 18.34 lph to the JOHN DEERE 210 gramskw x 76kw divided by 1000 divided .87 = 18.34 lph
• PUMP SELECTION – IMPORTANCE, CAPITAL OUTLAY, ADVICE
Caterpillar Pump set The Pump House contacts: NAMBOUR – Andrew Page 0407 539 687& Michael Setch 0407 657 168 GYMPIE – Mark Hempsall 0408 060 138 & Don Naylor 0488 750 170 BEERWAH – Sean Fitzgerald 0417 003 971 & Mike Bevege 0417 624 183
EPPR BALLOT
Lunch
by
Levy Payers’ Meeting
GINGER - Product Witholding Periods.These tables are to be used in conjunction with farm calibrations. Ensure that the correct rates
and witholding periods are utilized. Note Green products controlled by AGIA.
Product Rate/Ha W/H Period Comments
Note: Withholding period relates to the time from application to harvest.
FUNGICIDES
Bavistin/Spinflo Registration deleted. Do not use.
RidomilEC/Metalaxyl 500ml-2L/ha 28 days Permit 11719.Applied as a seed/soil drench in 50-100l/ha
Phos acid.400gm/L 5L/Ha 14 days Permit11719.directed sprays at 28 day periods. Max 4 app.
RidomilEC/Metalaxyl 500ml-2L/ha 28 days Permit11719 directed sprays at 28 day periods. Max of 3app.
Thiram/Thiragranz 2kg/ha 28 days Permit 82659 directed sprays at 28 day periods. Max 3 app.
Copper sulphate 5kg/ha nil Trace element. Fumgicidal activity additional.
HERBICIDES
Gramoxone/Sprayseed 1.2-1.6L/ha nil Knockdown of young seedlings. Add wetter.
Gylphosate 3-6L/ha nil Permit11438.General weed control,Shielded sprayer applic.
Diuron Registration deleted. Do not use.
Fusilade Forte 500ml-1L/ha 10 weeks Permit 12407 Max 2 applications per crop No wetter avoid heat.
Surflan/Simazine 4.5l+2.5kg nil Permit 14761 Preemergent application. Bare/Moist soil.
Sencor460/Lexone750 1.1/700gm/ha nil Registration deleted, new application in process.
NEMATICIDES
Metham Sodium 4-800L/ha nil Soil fumigant,do not plant for 3 weeks after application.
Rugby 100kg/ha 6 weeks Nematicide,incorporate into bed.pre plant and Dec/Jan.
Nemacur Granule. Registration deleted. Do not use.
Telone/Telone C60 450kg/ha nil Soil fumigant,do not plant for 3 weeks after application.
INSECTICIDES
Chlorpyrifos 900mL/ha N/A cutworm at emergence.
Additional permit 12409. 3L/ha applied pre-plant for symphylid control Incorporated with rotary hoe.31/12/20.
Regent 200SC 250-500mL/ha 4 weeks Per13811.Pre-Plant bed inc @500ml +2x250ml app due 08/17
Talstar 250ec 500ml-2L/ha 4 weeks Per13871.Pre-Plant bed inc @ 2L plus 2x500ml app due 08/17
Lannate/Methomyl 2l/ha 1day leaf eating catterpillars
Bacillus thuringiensis 0.5-2kg/ha 1 day PER13792. Various chewing insect pests.New permit 2018
Confidor 200sc 1.75-3L/ha N/A Permit 12716. Greenhouse Whitefly+Thrips. Max 2x.
Confidor 200sc 1.75-3L/ha Per13792 Registration deleted. Do not use.
Success Neo 200-400mL/ha 3 days PER13088.Thrips,hawk moth,Heliothus.EXP March 17
DISCLAIMER: The rates and withholding periods in this table are based on the manfacturers label and are correct
at the time of printing. No liability is accepted for any changes after this date.
It is the responsibility of the individual owner to ensure current registration.
DATE:…………………... SIGNED:………………………….. AUSTRALIAN GINGER INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.
Maximise Nutrient Availability and Uptake Foundation LM is a fertiliser biocatalyst specifically formulated for use with liquid applications (including in-furrow and injection applications with liquid fertilisers, herbicides & fungicides).
Foundation LM contains concentrated biochemistry that helps growers get more out of their applied liquid fertilisers by increasing nutrient availability and enhancing root growth and function. By converting organic nutrients into inorganic forms, Foundation LM makes nutrients more available for plant uptake and utilisation, helping to optimise yield potential and providing outstanding grower ROI. Foundation LM can also be used by growers seeking to extract nutrients locked in crop residues or trying to address soil compaction, soil salinity, and water management issues.
Product benefits are seen over a broad range of plant types, soil types, and application methods. Growers who incorporate Foundation LM into their
wildeye
SANDOWNE NEERDIE BROCCOLINI - SOIL MOISTURE SUMMED 00
Soil
Moisture
Summed Latest Reading: 12 Jun
2017 2:00 p.m.
124 mm water
across all levels
Soil Moisture Summed all levels
210 SANDOWNE NEERDIE BROCCOLINI - SOIL MOISTURE STACKED
Soil
Moisture
10cm Latest Reading:
14 Jun 201710:
CC a.
30
Thu 08 Jun 2017 09 10 11 12 13 14
SANDOWNE NEERDIE BROCCOLINI - EC STACKED 00
. EC -TOcm
SANDOWNE NEERDIE BROCCOLINI - TEMPERATURE 00
Temperature
IOcm
12 11
Tue 06 Jun 2017
Temperature
20cm
Temperature 40cm
Soil