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 grubbclc@bigpond.com

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