A sampling strategy to assess banana crops for damage by Radopholus similis and Pratylenchus goodeyi

The economic threshold of burrowing (Radopholus similis) and lesion nematode (Pratylenchus goodeyi) on banana may be used to determine whether it is economic to apply nematicide. However, to use such a threshold, a sampling strategy is essential to determine the severity of root damage caused by the nematode. Ten banana crops in south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales and 10 in northern Queensland were sampled several times over several years to determine the disease index (percentage cortical root damage caused by R. similis and P. goodeyi) and nematode populations in roots. The negative binomial distribution and Taylor’s power law analysis were used to determine the relationship between the mean and variance of the disease index and nematode populations. Taylor’s power law gave the better fit, and was therefore used to determine fixed-precision stop lines for sequential sampling for precision at 20–30% for disease index and 20–40% for nematode populations. Twenty samples per crop were sufficient to achieve 25% precision when assessing nematode infestations using disease index but only 40% precision when using nematode populations

Integrasi Pembelajaran Kanji dengan Pembelajaran Sakubun untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Menulis

Research aims to find the influence of strategies used in intermediate kanji learning, i.e. in a more applicative class using kanji, on middle kanji and composition class (sakubun). Research viewed and compared the influence of students\u27 mark in Intermediate Kanji with their mark in Sakubun. The questionnaire used in this research was the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) consisting of 50 questions associated with types of strategy to learn kanji. The result obtained using T-test and correlation test was the students\u27 mark in kanji affected their mark in Sakubun. The relationship is the higher mark in kanji, the higher mark in Sakubun. As a conclusion, student essay writing ability is affected by the numbers of kanji remembered and used by students

Integrated crop production of bananas in Indonesia and Australia

This project aimed at developing science-based disease management approaches of banana wilts, with emphasis on Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), to improve productivity and profitability of bananas thereby improving livelihoods of banana growers in Indonesia and Australia. The research activities focused on two major areas. One focused on identifying and adapting known Integrated Pest and Disease Management practices (IPM) through integration with cropping systems approaches. The second focus area was to carry out strategic studies to further build knowledge and capacity that would improve abilities to formulate and implement sound IPM tactics. These included basic and applied studies to better understand the underlying basis of host-pathogen interactions, as in the case of soil-supression in Foc epidemics; and studies on host-pathogen interactions as influenced by virulence of various strains of the pathogen against different Musa cultivars. These research activities aimed to fill in knowledge gaps for developing more efficient disease management strategie

Integrated management of Fusarium wilt of bananas in the Philippines and Australia

This project aimed to improve the long-term management of Fusarium wilt and the livelihoods of smallholders and communities dependent on export Cavendish bananas production. Fusarium wilt is the biggest threat to the Philippines’ substantial Cavendish bananas export industry, impacting the trade and livelihoods of smallholder banana producers. About 10% of the land currently used for export production in Mindanao is infected with Fusarium wilt, which is continuing to spread, with differing degrees of severity. The export industry could be wiped out in as little as five years if Fusarium wilt of bananas is not controlled in Mindanao. This would disrupt the livelihoods of up to 300,000 families. This project aimed to develop techniques to limit Fusarium wilt losses to smallholder Cavendish production in Davao del Norte and Ladyfinger production in Australia; evaluate the effectiveness of integrated crop management approaches in enabling commercial banana production where Fusarium wilt is present; and determine barriers to adoption of systems to suppress Fusarium wilt in banana production

Banana root and soil health project - Australia

The banana plant forms an adventitious root system that is dependent on soil physical, chemical and biological properties to function efficiently. A pot experiment demonstrated that increasing soil compaction was able to significantly reduce the weight of banana roots and shoots. However, in the presence of Radopholus similis the effects of soil compaction were obscured, due to the significant reduction in root weight caused by the nematode. The use of a basic set of soil quality indicators that can be readily used by farmers, was linked to soil nematode indicators to determine relationships between soil properties. In a survey of banana fields in North Queensland, different diameter root classes were affected differently by changing soil properties. Banana roots greater than 5 mm diameter were positively correlated with aggregate stability and negatively correlated with soil bulk density. Banana roots less than 1 mm were positively correlated with electrical conductivity. Specific interactions between soil properties become apparent as crop production systems become more uniform. This allows farmers to prioritise management options to improve the most deficient soil health indicators. The addition of organic amendments is one possible method of correcting degrading soils. The use of amendments with high carbon contents, such as grass hay, banana trash and lucerne hay, were able to significantly suppress R. similis in the roots of banana plants relative to untreated soil. Due to banana production being located near environmentally sensitive areas there is an increasing need to monitor and modify soil management practices. However, this needs to be linked with a framework that allows the integration of all soil components with a system to allow continual improvement in soil management to allow banana production to have minimal impact on the surrounding environment

Development of key soil health indicators for the Australian banana industry

To improve the sustainability and environmental accountability of the banana industry there is a need to develop a set of soil health indicators that integrate physical, chemical and biological soil properties. These indicators would allow banana growers, extension and research workers to improve soil health management practices. To determine changes in soil properties due to the cultivation of bananas, a paired site survey was conducted comparing soil properties under conventional banana systems to less intensively managed vegetation systems, such as pastures and forest. Measurements were made on physical, chemical and biological soil properties at seven locations in tropical and sub-tropical banana producing areas. Soil nematode community composition was used as a bioindicator of the biological properties of the soil. Soils under conventional banana production tended to have a greater soil bulk density, with less soil organic carbon (C) (both total C and labile C), greater exchangeable cations, higher extractable P, greater numbers of plant-parasitic nematodes and less nematode diversity, relative to less intensively managed plant systems. The organic banana production systems at two locations had greater labile C, relative to conventional banana systems, but there was no significant change in nematode community composition. There were significant interactions between physical, chemical and nematode community measurements in the soil, particularly with soil C measurements, confirming the need for a holistic set of indicators to aid soil management. There was no single indicator of soil health for the Australian banana industry, but a set of soil health indicators, which would allow the measurement of soil improvements should include: bulk density, soil C, pH, EC, total N, extractable P, ECEC and soil nematode community structure

Subtropical Banana Information Kit. Agrilink, your growing guide to better farming guide

Each Agrilink kit has been designed to be both comprehensive and practical. As the kits are arranged to answer questions of increasing complexity, they are useful references for both new and experienced producers of specific crops. Agrilink integrates the technology of horticultural production with the management of horticultural enterprises. REPRINT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ! For updated information please call 13 25 23 or visit the website www.daf.qld.gov.au This publication has been reprinted as a digital book without any changes to the content published in 2004. We advise readers to take particular note of the areas most likely to be out-of-date and so requiring further research: see detailed information on first page of the kit. Even with these limitations we believe this information kit provides important and valuable information for intending and existing growers. This publication was last revised in 2004. The information is not current and the accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed by the State of Queensland. This information has been made available to assist users to identify issues involved in the production of subtropical bananas. This information is not to be used or relied upon by users for any purpose which may expose the user or any other person to loss or damage. Users should conduct their own inquiries and rely on their own independent professional advice. While every care has been taken in preparing this publication, the State of Queensland accepts no responsibility for decisions or actions taken as a result of any data, information, statement or advice, expressed or implied, contained in this publication