ScienceNetwork WA

RESEARCHERS say an increasing amount of land in Western Australia is being managed for environmental conservation, however mining companies are the single largest lease holder of what was previously pastoral land.

UWA scientists are spearheading lab research on behalf of the Livestock Methane Research Cluster into ways to measure and reduce methane emissions from livestock in northern Australia.

WESTERN Australian researchers are investigating whether sequestering carbon in soils to stop greenhouse gases may actually be increasing nitrous oxide emissions, which are nearly 300 times more damaging than carbon dioxide.

A NEW study has shown reducing rates of herbicide use on annual ryegrass may lead to increases in herbicide resistance affecting Australian crops.

WESTERN Australian Department of Agriculture and Food researcher Richard Fennessy is investigating the nuances of the ‘cold soak’ process on the quality of West Australian reds.

MURDOCH University researchers are researching a solutions to possible environmental management problems stemming from inland saline aquaculture.

THE Frank Wise Institute of Tropical Agricultural Research, near Kununurra, is maintaining sugar cane stock in anticipation of new orders.

RESEARCH by UWA scientists into a type of soil fungus that affects strawberry production has revealed new genetic groups of the bug linked to root disease in strawberries never before in the world.

FARMERS, emergency service agencies and agriculture students are benefitting from the rollout of 70 new weather stations across the south-west by the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA).

MURDOCH University scientists have spearheaded international research into creating pest resistant varieties of wheat and barley crops which could be available to Australian grain growers as early as May 2014.