The University of Western Australia
Dr Kenneth Flower
Lecturer
Contact details
| Address | School of Plant Biology The University of Western Australia (M084) 35 Stirling Highway CRAWLEY WA 6009 Australia |
|---|---|
| Phone | 6488 4576 |
| Fax | 6488 1108 |
| ken.flower@uwa.edu.au |
Location
Room 1146, Agriculture Central Wing Building, Crawley campus
Key research
- Production Agronomy and Farming Systems
- • Conservation farming/no-till systems
- • Agronomy and cropping systems
- • Precision agriculture
- • Water use efficiency
- • Weed control
- • Crop and livestock integration
- • Agricultural decision support systems
Major research interests
- Cropping systems
Qualifications
BSc(Agric) Natal, MSc DIC PhD Lond.
Roles, responsibilities and expertise
Farming systems research, improving no-till systems, carbon sequestration through no-till, crop rotations, herbicide efficacy in no-till systems, cover crops, crop residue management, crop nutrition.
Languages
English
Teaching
Currently teach third year course: Rainfed Cropping Systems SCIE3312)
Current projects
I am currently managing a long term no-till farming systems project along with the West Australian No-Tillage Farmers Association (WANTFA). The aim of this Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) funded project is to improve the quality of no-tillage through the development of a high residue, diverse rotation farming system. This system includes controlled traffic to minimise the effects of compaction and increase cropping efficiencies. The project has two 20 ha sites, one on yellow sand at Mingenew with the Mingenew Irwin Grower Group and the other on red sandy clay loam at the College of Agriculture Cunderdin. Measurements include soil biological, chemical and physical parameters as well as the water balance (done by CSIRO). The effects of the different systems on weeds, insects, diseases and nematodes are being measured by our collaborators, including the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, Curtin University and CSIRO.
I am also assessing the long term effects of different stubble management techniques (Stubble - retain standing, retain mow, rake and remove (hay), burn and incorporate) on the soil and yield and quality of different rotation crops.
Cover crops can be used to increase soil cover in the rotation. Other uses for cover crops are, depending on the plant species, nitrogen fixation, weed control and as a break crop. I am working with WANTFA in screening different cover crops and assessing the effect on subsequent cash crops.
I am also assessing the long term effects of different stubble management techniques (Stubble - retain standing, retain mow, rake and remove (hay), burn and incorporate) on the soil and yield and quality of different rotation crops.
Cover crops can be used to increase soil cover in the rotation. Other uses for cover crops are, depending on the plant species, nitrogen fixation, weed control and as a break crop. I am working with WANTFA in screening different cover crops and assessing the effect on subsequent cash crops.
Research profile
