Production & postharvest

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development contributes to the productivity, profitability and sustainability of plant-based agriculture. From broad scale dryland cropping systems to intensive irrigated production, we work with industry and business to address challenges in plant production through research and development, knowledge transfer and government policy settings.

Articles

  • When different fruits and vegetables are stored together, one foodstuff may be tainted by odours given off by another.

  • The storage life of fresh fruit and vegetables varies with type, variety and pre-harvest conditions.

  • Manganese deficiency is most often seen on well drained neutral or calcareous soils but heavy fertiliser usage can induce it in other soils, particularly after heavy applications of lime.

  • Growing strawberries as a commercial crop needs attention to detail to achieve the best results. The information below summarises advice on growing strawberries as recommended in Western Australia.

  • Good postharvest cooling and storage allow product to be stored and shipped to distant markets and meet consumer requirements.

  • Scheduling irrigation for tomatoes based on crop factors and evaporation, combined with soil moisture monitoring to confirm irrigation effectiveness, will result in more efficient watering.

  • Rates of plant establishment over the strawberry industry are variable.  Some growers are losing almost half on some parts of their properties.

  • Evaporation-based scheduling is part of a systematic approach to efficient irrigation that considers plant and environmental factors to determine crop water requirements.

  • It is difficult to provide prescriptive guidelines for strawberry irrigation given the wide range of planting configurations and irrigation layouts.

  • Strawberries are grown mostly as an annual crop in Western Australia.

Filter by search

Filter by topic