RESEARCH & EVENTS
Integrated disease management update :
Mildura SmartFarm helping to understand hull rot
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Peta Faulkner ¹, Zelmari Coetzee ¹, Simone Kreidl ² and Tonya Wiechel ² Agriculture Victoria Research ¹ Mildura SmartFarm ² AgriBio Centre for AgriBiosciences , Bundoora
AGRICULTURE Victoria researchers have been busy collecting this seasons ’ hull rot data from field trials conducted at the Mildura SmartFarm as part of the Integrated disease management project AL22002 . What is the Mildura SmartFarm , and how is it utilised to benefit the almond industry ? At its core , two statistically robust plantings , representing current and future planting systems , provide state-of-the-art and fit-forpurpose research platforms for industry leaders , researchers , and technology experts aiming to integrate advanced management practices and technologies into almond production . The 4.5ha Horizon 1 ( H1 ) planting of Nonpareil , Carmel and Monterey trees , planted at 300 trees per hectare , represents the here-and-now with the objective to investigate nitrogen management in current orchard systems . Research in California has shown that restricting nitrogen inputs prior to hull split can reduce hull rot incidence and severity . The IDM team is using the H1 planting to investigate the relationship between nitrogen regimes and hull rot disease expression under Australian conditions . Agriculture Victoria researchers have just finished collecting the second season of hull rot disease assessment data . Last season ( 2022 / 2023 ) saw low disease pressure and very few strikes across the H1 platform . This season conditions have been conducive for the disease and higher numbers of hull rot strikes were observed . Preliminary data analysis showed higher nitrogen regimes resulted in higher levels of hull rot which is similar to Californian research ( Figure 1 ). A 6.5ha higher density planting known as Horizon 3 ( H3 ) was established to evaluate the design of next generation planting systems that will allow for shake-and-catch harvesting and improve
In A Nutshell - Autumn 2024 Vol 25 Issue 1
Figure 2 . Aerial view of the Horizon 3 ( H3 ) planting at the Mildura SmartFarm which is was assessed for hull rot symptoms .
resource inputs . Three Australian selffertile almond cultivars ( Vela , Carina and Almond 12 ) are grafted on commercial and growth reducing rootstocks ( Garnem , Nemaguard , Rootpac ® 40 and Rootpac ® 20 ) and planted at densities of 500 , 1000 and 2000 trees per hectare ( Figure 2 ). The H3 planting is also being assessed for hull rot disease to understand the role scion / rootstock combinations and planting density play in influencing disease . The Mildura SmartFarm aims to enhance productivity , optimise resource utilisation , mitigate environmental impacts and promote sustainable practices . This is achieved by harnessing the power of novel technologies and data analytics by incorporating groundbreaking AgTech such as the Green Atlas Cartographer ( Figure 3 ) and John Deere ’ s SmartApply Intelligent Spray Control System in the management of the research plantings . The Cartographer is a mobile sensing
Figure 1 . Effect of three nitrogen treatments ( 0.5 , 1 and 2 x ’ s optimal nitrogen concentration ) on hull rot strikes for Nonpareil on two rootstocks .
Figure 3 . Green Atlas Cartographer used for hull rot strike image capture .
platform that combines terrestrial highresolution imaging and AI assisted spatial mapping of tree traits , including tree geometry and density and yield attributes . The IDM team is using this technology to detect hull rot strikes in the canopy . This season , 100 images of hull rot strike symptoms were collected across the H1 planting to investigate the feasibility of developing an AI detection model . If successful , this technology would enable timely disease hot-spot detection and management within a season , as well as the ability to assess the effectiveness of long-term management strategies . These hot-spot maps can be used in conjunction with variable rate spray systems such as SmartApply to only apply agrichemicals to affected areas resulting in chemical savings and combatting disease resistance and contributing to increased environmental sustainability .