Researchers at the University of Queensland have unlocked the secrets to drought resistant farming and answered every farmer’s prayers.
PhD student Hannah Robinson and Dr Lee Hickey of the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) presented their findings at the Hermitage Research Facility at Warwick on Wednesday.
The research, funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation, revealed that a key gene in barley promotes narrow root growth that enables roots to extend down to water stored deep within the soil.
Dr Hickey said that encouraging extra root growth of just millimetres can pay off with significant increases in yield.
“For every additional millimetre of water accessed during the grain fill period, it translates to about 55 kilograms of grain per hectare,” Dr Hickey said.
“It’s all about maintaining yield stability across seasons. In really dry times where your crop doesn't have access to water in the profile, you’re going to suffer in terms of increased screenings, limited grain fill and even struggle to meet malt quality grades.
“Our findings mean that farmers can still produce a reasonable crop and break even or essentially profit, even in bad seasons.”
See-through pots key to research success
In a world first method clear pots were used to analyse the structure of roots four to five days after sowing.
Ms Robinson said even at this early stage the plants give a clear representation of the entire root system in the mature plant.
“It was a surprise but a very good surprise,” Ms Robinson said.
“We were hoping we’d find something but we didn't think we’d find a major gene basically controlling it (the root system) in barley.”
Dr Hickey said the gene is already present in a lot of modern barley breeding material.
“It’s not like we have to take it (the gene) from a wild species, it’s actually present in barleys that are quite well adapted and almost there in terms of being commercially available,” Dr Hickey said.
“It’s a matter of combining this gene with other characteristics like malt quality to get the best package.”
Dr Hickey said while the study was focussed on barley it is logical that the gene is common across species.
“From an evolutionary perspective, deep rooting characteristics in plants would be an advantage so it makes sense that today’s species share common genes,” Dr Hickey said.
Crop farming's future in safe hands
Dr Hickey said the findings are very promising for the future of farming in Australia.
“It got really exciting when we started seeing yield effects of up to 11 per cent in Queensland and New South Wales,” Dr Hickey said.
Ms Robinson said they are hoping to connect with farmers as early as next year to start paddock trials.
“I've developed a real passion for agriculture and these findings could really make a difference for farmers.”