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Jeff McCormick
PhD Student
School School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Location Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
Phone 02 6933 2749
Fax
Email jmccormick@csu.edu.au
Project
Dual purpose canola - prospects and possibilities
Summary
Dual purpose crops can be grazed by stock during the vegetative stage and later harvested for an economic grain yield. Winter wheat varieties have been successfully used as a dual purpose crop. Gross margins have been raised by providing valuable feed in the winter time while obtaining comparative yields to un-grazed crops. This research is being undertaken in collaboration with Dr John Kirkegaard (CSIRO) to determine whether the same opportunities exist in canola. Dual purpose canola could benefit the farmer by increasing farm flexibility and improving gross margins. Recent preliminary studies have demonstrated a potential role for dual purpose canola and in contrast to cereals little is known about how canola responds to grazing. To determine the feasibility of dual purpose canola a thorough understanding of the defoliation effect on growth and development are essential for predicting potential yields. The work includes field and glasshouse experiments with a focus on regrowth after defoliation, the relationship between biomass at flowering and final yield, and determining the grazing effects on flowering date.
Supervisors
Dr Jim Virgona, Dr John Kirkegard, Dr Guy McMullen
Funding source
Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship