• Summary of   experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.7 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (71-66 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 29 -33 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (3.63 t/ha); Seed yield (1.2 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.4 % N) or N in the seed (3.55 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (42.5) or on oil yield (500 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.7 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of   experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.6 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (55 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 23 -27 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (3.4 t/ha); Seed yield (1.43 t/ha) or N % in DM (2.9 % N) or N in the seed (4.0 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (40.0) or on oil yield (540 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.6 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of 2 experiments

• Soil extractable B was 0.4 mg/kg.

• Plant B concentrations 20 -23 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (4.76 t/ha); Seed yield (1.23 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.2 % N) or N in the seed (4%).

• B had no effect on %oil (44.8) or on oil yield (580 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.4 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of   experiment

• Soil extractable B was 0.4 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (56 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 15 -18 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (5.1 t/ha); Seed yield (1.73 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.4 % N) or N in the seed (3.45 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (44.52) or on oil yield (775 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.7 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of  2 experiments

• Soil extractable B was 0.8 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (70-65 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 31 -36 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (3.0 t/ha); Seed yield (1.02 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.3 % N) or N in the seed (3.6 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (41.9) or on oil yield (420 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.8 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of  2 experiments

• Soil extractable B was 0.7 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by B fertiliser (59-56 plants/m2)

• Plant B concentrations 26 -30 mg/kg.

• B fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (2.0 t/ha); Seed yield (1.55 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.43 % N) or N in the seed (3.6 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (41.9) or on oil yield (650 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.7 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Summary of 1 year.
• Cu fertiliser previously drilled with wheat appeared more availalble  than current drilled.
• CuSulfate @ 5.5  kg/ha gave maximum dry matter yield.
• Zn & Mo basalled for clover growth.
• Cu  at 5.5 kg Cu sulfate gave maximum yield of barley in year 2..
• Copper deficiency of wheat, barley and poor clover growth has been recorded by many farmers.
•  

• Plants grown in small pots containing Mn deficient calcareous (pH 8.5, 80% CaCO3) sand collected from Wangary, S.A with 0-50 ppm added Mn in growth room at 15°C.
• Plants harvested at approx. 4 weeks (early tillering). Also 30 wheat cultivars were screened at Wangary using plant breeders' plots (4 rows x 5 m) with a split plot application of foliar MnSO (1 kg/ha ).
• Effects of seed soaking were evaluated for wheat and barley by soaking for 6 h with 1.5% MnSO4 prior to sowing.
• Without Mn, all cultivars showed no differences in growth and Mn uptake at 4 weeks (pots) but significant differences at 8 weeks in the field. With Mn supplied either in soil or on seed large cultivar differences were apparent at 4 weeks.
• Conclude that use of Mn efficient varieties coupled with a suitable seed Mn content will lessen the need for Mn fertilisers.

• Just 50 kg DAP/ha knife point drilled with 70 kg/ha wheat seed is enough to reduce wheat plant  establishment.
• Wheat fertilised with DAP with seed yielded 0.5 t/ha (20%) less than wheat with DAP placed below seed in 2016.
• The addition of 35 kg urea/ha below the seed overcame the yield penalty in the DAP-with-seed plots, suggesting access to N was a driver.

• Just 50 kg DAP/ha knife point drilled with 70 kg/ha wheat seed is enough to reduce wheat plant establishment
• Wheat fertilised with DAP with seed yielded 0.5 t/ha (20%) less than wheat with DAP placed below seed in 2016. 
• The addition of 35 kg urea/ha below the seed overcame the yield penalty in the DAP-with-seed plots, suggesting access to N was a driver.

• Our results suggest shifting investment from nutrients to lime and cultivation and maintaining profit in the first year for the 2 sites we ran is a feasible proposition.  However, this is dependent on the soil constraints and existing soil fertility.  In this trial, it appears that the cultivation response was driven by an increase in the mineralisation rate of organic matter. The incorporation of lime did not provide any yield benefit; while the rotary spader provided adequate mixing of the lime this had no impact on growth because soil pH was already above target levels.  The yield benefit from cultivation was enough to offset the cost of the cultivation and most of the lime application, and the net margin in the year of application could be improved by reducing fertiliser rates.
•  

• Summary of  2 experiments

• Soil extractable Cu was 0.23 mg/kg.

• Plant density were not effected by Cu or N fertiliser (29-36 plants/m of row2)

• Plant B concentrations 26 -30 mg/kg.

• Cu fertiliser had no effect on seedling density; September Dry matter (DM) (2.0 t/ha); Seed yield (1.55 t/ha) or N % in DM (3.43 % N) or N in the seed (3.6 %).

• B had no effect on %oil (41.9) or on oil yield (650 kg/ha).

• Soil extractable B Hot CaCl2 of 0.7 was adequate

  Care needs to be taken on use of borax fertilizer as toxicity was induced in canola with 0.34 to 1 kg B ha−1(3-10 kg borax ha−1) at sowing depressing seed yield, mostly by decreasing plant density. Rather than making general recommendation for B fertilizer application based on 0.01M CaCl2 soil extractable B, soil and plant analysis should be used to diagnose B deficiency and B fertilizer use limited to calcium borate or foliar borax rather than soil-applied borax on low B sands.

• Boron not required

• Rosalind (fast maturity) had the highest grain yield at all rates of applied nitrogen.
• Higher lodging at higher nitrogen rates reduced yield response to applied nitrogen in Compass, Commander and scope CL
• High spring rainfall and mild growng conditions resulted in high yields and full use of applied nitrogen

• There was no significant interaction between sowing time and phosphorus (P) in response in 2014 and 2015.
• Both sites and years responded positively to P fertiliser with 10kg P/ha achieving a relative yield of 88% and 97% in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
• Further research is required to determine if winter canola requires less applied P than slow spring phenology types (due to teh longer vegetative phase to accumulate biomass by flowering. 

• The variety Beckom sown on 5 May yielded highest (5.67 t/ha).
• Grain yield reductions up to 4t/ha occured when varieties were not sown at the correct time (due to flowering throughout August - September frost events).
• Greatest yield losses occured when quick maturing varieties were sown early rather than longer season varieties sown late.
• Winter wheats and very long springs spring wheats performed better in 2015 than 2014, presumably due to less aphid pressure (BYDV) in 2015. 
• Grain yield was maximised when winter wheats were sown early (mid-April) or mid to mid-fast varieties were sown in teh first week of May. If spring conditions had been favourable, the winter whaets may have outperformed the mid to mid-fast varities when sown in late May.
• Screening increased as sowing was delayed. 

• The combination of extra stored water (20mm) and early sowing (17 April) resulted in the highest grain yield in this experiment.
• Early sowing without extra stored water gave a higher yield than late sowing (4 May), regardless of teh irrigation treatment at the later sowing date.
• The extra grain yield from early sowing and irrigation was due to increased biomass accumulation and imprved harvest index.
• Oil concentration was low overall, but was higher from the early sowing (33.6%) than th elater sowing (30.5%).

• Three field trials assessed the relative effectiveness of a range of products for correcting zinc deficiency in wheat.
• These trials were conducted during the 1996 growing season and were located in representative areas of the Lower Eyre Peninsula and Lower North regions of SA and the Wimmera of Vic.
• They were predicted to be Zn deficient but moderate responses to Zn fertilisers were recorded at only the two SA sites.
• Responses to Zn in grain yield at these two sites were too small to assess any relative differences between fertiliser sources but assessments of dry matter production and Zn uptake during the season allowed some relative comparisons to be made.
• The technique of spraying a zinc sulphate solution onto the soil surface and incorporating prior to seeding was the most effective technique at supplying Zn to the wheat crop under the conditions of these trials.
• Under the conditions of the trials reported here there was no clear evidence that DAP sources of Zn enriched fertilisers were less effective than MAP sources.
• However, the behaviour of these two different product types was not tested under severe Zn deficiency conditions.

In this trial, there has been a positive response to phosphorus fertiliser applied at 9kg/ha at sowing and a positive response to nitrogen fertiliser applied at 20kg/ha. There has been a negative response to applied nitrogen both at sowing and top-dressing at higher than 20kg N/ha rates, which can be attributed to low growing season rainfall (GSR), which has occurred through prolonged periods over the course of the trial.

Note Predecimal. However, all data are converted to for application kg/ha &

grain yield kg/ha.

Atleast 8 kg of bluestone (Cu sulfate) required for first year.

Application of 1 to 1.5 kg Zn oxide to red sandy earths, yellow earthy sands and leached grey sands is a "safe" policy.

 

• Several sites where the main soil is grey sand over a yellow gravelly sandy loam {Altas of Australian Soils sheet 5; CSIRO Division of Soils).
• Neither Cu nor Zn applied alone gave increase grain yield.
• Increased grain yield resulted where Cu & Zn were applied together
• Application of greater than 2.75 - 5.5 kg bluestone (Cu sulfate] and about 1.5 -2.0 kg Zinc oxide drilled with a cereal crop gave maximum yields
• Aerophos treatements with low Zn content showed extrememly low grain yield compared to super; illustrating the value of Zn in plain super.

• 15 acid soils from 8 soil groups were used to examine the effects of lime yields and phosphorus uptake white clover in relation to changes in exchangeable and soluble phosphorus, manganese and aluminium. There were yield responses to lime in 8 soils, 6 of which occurred only in the absence of phosphate and 2 only in the presence of phosphate.
• Clover only responded to lime when it contained more than 100 ppm manganese.
• Clover failed to respond to lime when it contains less than 80 ppm manganese, regardless of the lime effect soil phosphorus.

At Hart, higher N-fertiliser rate (180 and 240 kg N/ha) produced lower grain yields compared to lower N rates (0, 60 and 120 kg N/ha).

• Zinc oxide fertilisers had lower solubility and dissolution than zinc sulphates.
• Zinc oxide was as effective as zinc sulphate if it was mixed with the soil but not when banded near the seed.
• Zinc sulphate would be preferable to zinc oxide in no-till systems where fertiliser is banded.

Although the N2O emissions did not seem to correlate with the rate of N fertilizer applied the demonstration did clearly show that despite extremely wet conditions at and soon after application N2O emissions are still relatively low (less than 10%) compared to irrigation sites. These emissions are likely to be well above average in this soil and rainfall indicating the emissions from N2O in these cropping systems is relatively insignificant. The demonstration will be conducted again in 2014 using several rates of Non a single soil type to get a clearerpicture of the variation in emissions.

• Trial work with Southern Farming Systems over the past four years has demonstrated significant improvements in nitrogen efficiency from applying ENTEC treated urea to wheat crops, compared to untreated urea.
• The experiment this year showed no response to nitrogen, but did highlight some important tools for predicting the liklihood of nitrogen response.

• The trial showed up to a five-fold increase in dry matter at DC41 when 20 kg/ha of phosphorus was applied. This translated into a doubling of yield, despite waterlogging and stripe rust at the site.
• A low rate of P (5 kg/ha) did not provide a statistically significant yield response while higher rates (10 and 20 kg/ha) did.
• Soils continue to be highly responsirve to phosphorus even at higher Colwell P levels.
• There is some evidence of adequate phosphorus nutrition improving grain quality (screenings) through earlier maturity.

• Phosphorus rates of 10 and 20 kg/ha applied in various straight, compound, coated and liquid fertiliser forms were not found to result in any significant responses in grain yield or quality.
• Results were impacted by the failure to control a population of herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass at this trial site using both pre- and post-em herbicide options, resulting in a high variability between plot measurement.

A fertiliser additive was applied to standing stubble and compared with untreated stubble. The fertiliser additive was applied with and without a sticker or molasses. There was no significant difference in the amount of stubble dry matter remaining after 6 months i.e. the rate of stubble breakdown was comparable between all treatments. Similarly there were no consistent effects on feed and chemical
characteristics. Addition of nutrients and molasses did not improve intake by grazing sheep.

A combination of fertiliser inputs and irrigation can rapidly breakdownincorporated cereal stubble and allow sowing 4 weeks later. Getting the balance of fertiliser, in particular N rates, to ensure rapid breakdown, but creating neither N deficiency or excessive N remains elusive.

Measuring soil organic carbon following incorporation is giving mixed results as to the ability to increase soil OC via incorporation with fertiliser

Burning the stubble gave greater yield and oil content

There has been widespread use of continuous cereal in the Mallee over the past decade, and with many drought years throughout this period fertiliser inputs have generally been greater than crop demand. As a consequence, soil phosphoruslevels are often well above the critical level. By identifying soils and conditions where continuous cereal systems perform best and where inputs can be most effectively targeted, there is an opportunity to reduce input costs and increase profitability. This trial used PA methods to identify soil types for targeted soil sampling to achieve a greater understanding of soil phosphorus levels in different soil zones. Yield mapping was then used to identify if and where fertiliser applied to the crop impacted grain yield.

Application of DAP fertiliser at time of sowing improves yield in barley. Application of additional nitrogen lifts yields further, and improves protein levels in the grain. Results suggest efficiencies in nitrogen application can be achieved with placement in the root zone compared to surface application. Further work needs to be undertaken to better understand the process. 

• Zinc was applied at four rates as either zinc sulphate (35% Zn), zinc oxide (83% Zn), zinc oxysulphate (18% Zn) or as granulock STZ (20.4% P, 2.5% Zn).
• Dry matter yield, tissue Zn concentration and plant Zn uptake were measured. Co-granulated zinc oxide and MAP (ST-Z) produced the dry matter response similar to zinc sulphate, with zinc oxysulphate and zinc oxide producing similar but lower yields.
• It is proposed that the difference in effectiveness between STZ (zinc oxide based) and zinc oxide is as a result of a synergistic effect between the close proximity of the P and Zn in each particle rather than any change in chemical composition during manufacture.
• The mechanism for enhanced Zn uptake with STZ may be a result of root proliferation around P concentrations aiding Zn uptake.

(i) The most significant outcome from these trials was the very strong effect of increasing grain protein. In nearly all cases, the higher rate of 50kgN/ha had a more significant effect, as did delaying the timing until GS55. (ii) There were no differences between product type and rate had a small effect. (iii) The higher rate of 50kgN/ha had a higher yield than 25kgN/ha. (iv) For the majority of sites, the key timing that influenced yield was GS39. This timing is slightly later than previously thought suitable for applying N for yield, with GS32 being the recognised standard. The data needs to be interpreted with the 2013 season in mind because a tighter finish in spring could mean plant uptake of late applied N would be limited.

Application of metconazole to canola resulted in a reduction in plant height but in this trial there was no effect on grain yield. Tebuconazole had no effect on plant height or final yield. In seasons where excess vegetative growth is a problem increases in grain yield following treatment could be expected through improved harvest efficiency (less lodging and/or redirection of plant assimilates to the grain).

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

In this survey, 76% of the paddocks had a Colwell P greater than 20mg/kg.

Removal of subsoil compaction by deep ripping resulted in a 370 kg/ha (45%) yield benefit with spading giving an additional benefit of 12% (100 kg/ha) and mouldboard ploughing 39% (320 kg/ha) compared with the deep ripping treatment. Higher biomass and increased head density in the cultivation treatments are indicative of improved nutrient access and effcient use of available water through the season. Water use efficiency was 4.9 kg/ha/mm of growing season rainfall for the control treatment compared with 7.1 kg/ha/mm for ripped, 7.6 kg/ha/mm for spaded and 8.9 kg/ha/mm for mouldboard ploughing. Recent research is showing that nutrient availability is improved when top soil is buried by spading or mouldboard 
ploughing because nutrients become concentrated in the rootzone and less suscpetible to soil drying from evaporation, which can be the case when majority of the nutrients are on the soil surface, (Davies et al, 2012).

• On average the wide row lupins yielded 115kg/ha higher than the narrow lupins.
• Simazine damage was very pronounced in this particular crop. However, damage in the wider rows appeared to be much less than that in the narrow rows.
• The same seeding and fertiliser rates were used for both treatments which made changing the bar over relatively quick.

Sumemr fallow efficiencies at these sites were generally found to be within the range of 20 to 30%.

Zinc should be applied every three to four years as part of the normal fertiliser program when cropping in the Mallee and Wimmera.

• An advanced breeding line (AF07125) has been developed with improved resistance to CLS.
• There was no CLS in the trial, and the fungicide amended fertiliser (Impact-in-furrow) provided no additional benefits in terms of grain yield.
• Disease levels were low, and grain yield was high, averaging 4.3t/ha across the trial.
• The potential release AF07125 was the highest yielding variety, outyielding Farah and Nura by 5%

• Adding phosphorus (P) did not significantly increase yield or seed weight in the varieties PBA WardaA and PBA NasmaA.
• PBA NasmaA produced greater yield and seed size than PBA WardaA.

Conclusions:

In this experiment, additional P did not increase yield, however, on a lower P site, a positive response to P might occur. The reduction in yield caused by adding N might be due to reduced nodulation in N-treated plots, although nodulation was not measured in this trial. The greater yield and seed size of PBA NasmaA compared with PBA WardaA supports other experimental data.

• Where phosphorus (P) was applied in-furrow with seed, increasing P fertiliser rate to 20 kg/ha (227 kg/ha single superphosphate) reduced plant establishment by ~12% compared to where no P was applied. P application in-furrow with seed did not affect establishment at rates up to 10 kg/ha.
• There was no effect of P application on establishment where it was broadcast in front of the seeder and incorporated by sowing (IBS).
• The application of 5 kg/ha P (57 kg/ha single superphosphate) increased yield by 0.3 t/ha compared to nil P, but there was no further yield increase with higher P rates.
• There was no difference in yield between the P application treatments, either incorporated by sowing (IBS) or placed in-furrow with seed.

• PBA Samira was damaged by Intercept, with damage including stunting, chlorosis and coupled leaves
• Double the rate of standard rhizobia and the new acid tolerant strain improved root nodulation compared to the recommended rate of the standard strain
• Fertiliser rate impacted on lodging only, with standard rate of P standing up  slightly more
• All treatments achieved excellent yields >2.5 t/ha
• PBA Bendoc looked better all year and out yielded PBA Samira for all herbicide treatments

New acid-tolerant rhizobia strains can increase nodulation of faba beans on acid soil. However, sustained ability of faba beans to fix atmospheric nitrogen strongly depends on appropriate lime programs. Inoculating faba beans with peat inoculants significantly increased nodulation compared to the controls that were not inoculated.

Applying inoculant at sowing has proven to be beneficial to early season crop vigour in faba bean production. Adequate phosphorus fertiliser increased early season crop vigour, biomass and grain yields. Applying 75 kg/ha MAP to faba bean at sowing doubled biomass production compared to faba bean being sown with no fertiliser, at Strawberry Hill in 2019.

• Grain yields were low and variable in 2018 due to low soil pH at the site, and waterlogging that occurred during winter. The removal of molybdenum from the fertiliser significantly reduced plant vigor and grain yield. However, due to the high soil variability results should be treated with caution. 
   

• Soil amelioration, particularly liming with incorporation to depth, increases break crop options.
• Faba beans can be successfully grown on light soil types if pH is managed.
• Subsequent nitrogen fertiliser programs should take account of residual N to optimise the benefits of pulse crops.

• Applying Nodulator granular inoculant at recommended rates led to a significant increase in nodulation, compared to the untreated plots, but did not increase yield.
• Increasing the rate of Nodulator to double or triple the recommended rate had no additional effect on nodulation, compared to the standard rate.
• Applying nitrogen fertiliser (40kg N/ha) at sowing had no negative effect on subsequent nodulation and increased grain yield by 0.96 - 1.39 t/ha compared to treatments where no nitrogen was applied, however the more variable nature of the trial meant that the
advantage not statistically significant.
• Applying nitrogen at pod set increased grain yield by 0.22 – 0.65 t/ha compared to treatments where no nitrogen was applied, however again this yield advantage was not statistically significant.
• Although there were no significant differences between dry matter and nitrogen offtake at flowering, there was a trend for more dry matter and nitrogen in the dry matter at flowering where nitrogen had been applied at sowing.

• Both cultivars showed a similar yield response to increasing plant population with no advantage in yield from plant populations above approximately 20 plants/m2, but significant reductions in yield associated with populations of 15 plants/m2.
• Establishment rate for the different seed rates in the trial averaged 77% with 10-36 seeds/m2 producing 8 – 27 plants/m2
• Fiesta had slightly higher biomass at early flowering but moisture stress had begun to affect the trial. Optimum yields were associated with crop canopy harvest dry matters of 11-12t/ha.
• Water use efficiency was 16.1 kg/mm

• Under surface irrigation faba yields exceeded 7t/ha with a significant interaction between plant population (seedrate) and cultivar.
• Fiesta achieved its highest yields at only 17plants/m2 whereas PBA Amberley had an optimum of 27 plants/m2.
• However, the results indicate more severe consequences of dropping too low (15-20 plants or below) with plant population in faba beans vs higher plant populations 25-30 plants/m2. irrespective of cultivar.
• Establishment rate for the trial averaged 89% with decreasing establishment at higher seed rates.
• Biomass increased as seeding rate increased at early flowering, but there was no influence on harvest biomass from plant population.

• A seeding rate of 18 seeds/m2 (17 plants/m2) was sufficient to achieve the highest yield with
Fiesta .
• Water use efficiency was 14.1 kg/mm

• The Making Better Fertiliser Decisions for Cropping Systems in Australia (BFDC) database allows us to search for soil test calibrations for four macronutrients across a range of crops, soils types, regions and time spans.
• As an example, the critical range for soil test P (Colwell) for wheat grown in red chromosols in NSW has increased under minimum-tillage management.

Cu greatly increased yield fro 560 kg/ha to 1570 kg/ha.  Grain yield and analyses of tops of wheat showed large granules greatly reduced the effectiveness of Cu incorporated into them, the effect being more marked at the lower granule number provided by the 100 kg/ha super mix compared with the 200 kg/ha. Doubling the rate of Cu applied by doubling the Cu concentration in the granule had little effect on Cu uptake and failed to ovecome the restrictivew effect of large granules. It is the number of granules in the root zone of the wheat plants that is critical for adequate uptake of Cu and that large granulated "wet mixed" Cu superphosphate mixtures are unsatisfactory Cu fertilisers.

In general oxide source was equal to or superior to the sulfate source in wet mixes. In dry mixes in the same trial Cu oxide was only 66 % as effective as the sulfate.

Shallow placement was miuch less effective than placing Cu fertiliser at 5 cm or more. Cu foliar at 0.54 kg cu/ha applied at 6 weeks after seeding gave highest yield.

It was concluded that application methods that reduce the number of CXu particles available for root copntact greatly reduce the effectuiveness of Cu fertiliser.

 

Cu greatly increased yield fro 560 kg/ha to 1570 kg/ha.  Copper was applied as copper sulfate at 6.6 kg/ha.

Highlights of the results are:

(a) preseeding cultivations after drilling the Cu in 1979 markedly increased Cu uptake;

(b) medium sized Cu-OSP was inferior ti fine granule size

(c) the effects of granule size & 1979 pre-seeding cultivations were not reflected in 1980 Cu uptakes.  The effectiveness of the treatments which were relatively ineffective in 1980 as those treatments which were most effective in 1979

(d) Cu drilled with the seed in 1980 was much less effective than all Cu treatments applied the previous year

(e) although all grades of Cu-OSP drilled with the seed in 1980 were relatively ineffective compared with that applied the previous year, the inclusion of 15% fine material with 85% medium material increased Cu uptake from the fertiliser by 40%, 50% fine material increased Cu uptake from fertiliser by 80%.

GRanules > 3 mm are much less effective than medium sized granules.

REsearch suggests that 1 kg/ha copper sulfate at early boot is required for the first crop where Cu fertiliser is applied at recommended rates.

 

• A survey was conducted in early 2010 to determine the current management practices of farmers and the average water use efficiency of farms on upper Eyre Peninsula.
• The survey will be repeated in 2013 to see if there are changes in the management practices and water use efficiency.

This study of Victorian wheat crops shows that:

• increasing the uptake of nitrogen by 50kg N/ha improves WUE by 3.4kg/mm,
• introducing a break crop increases WUE by 2.1-4.2kg/mm,
• the efficiency with which fertiliser nitrogen is taken up by wheat increases from 40 to 80% as GSR increases from 200 to 400mm,
• each 1% of OC contributes from 16kg N/ha (200mm GSR to 32kg N/ha (400mm GSR) to the uptake of nitrogen,
• at current prices for fertiliser N ($1kg/N) and for wheat ($170/t) is is still more economic to apply fertiliser N than to increase N supply by raising OC levels with pasture,
• grain protein levels tend to fall by 1% for each 100kg/ha increase in yields.

• Wheat was surprisingly tolerant of continuous flooding for nearly 4 months, yielding up to 2.8 t/ha with the best combination of nutrients tested.
• Despite the extended flooding there was a 13% response to P at a starting Colwell P of 29 mg/kg, with an economic optimum application rate of 7 kg P/ha.
• Canola was intolerant of extended flooding, producing no harvestable yield.
• In-crop application of urea shortly before flooding showed no grain yield response in wheat, while there was a negative response of 9% to applying S as in-crop sulfate of ammonia.
• Ideally in-crop applications of fertiliser should be made at least a week prior to flooding to allow time for the crop to take up the nutrients.

• Application of P fertilisers increased pasture growth and dry matter production (t/ha).
• Application of P above maintenance levels will increase soil P levels.

Sowing more than 20kg of N with seed (seeder set at 9inch spacings) resulted in seedling burn and poor crop establishment.

The success of this project continues to grow as the concept of developing useful tools to empower farmers to make changes to their practices takes hold

Many articles in this manual will help you in making better fertiliser decisions for 2005 and into the future.

• Crop nitrogen requirements should be applied at or before sowing as poor spring conditions can reduce crop responses to topdressed nitrogen.
• When drilling nitrogen with the seed, rates should not exceed 25 kg/ha (7" rowing spacing).
• Grain protein levens under 10.5% indicate crop yields are below thier optimum potential - apply additional nitrogen.

Stretegic (up-front) nitrogen was useful in a wet year, but no N rate used was high enough to anticipate the wet and cool spring at Ouyen.

• Zinc (Zn) has been shown to be a clear limiting factor in achieving maximum fertiliser response from N and P on all soils sown in the SA Operation FerTill experiment program.
• Increased wheat grain yield of 4-6% has been achieved with Zn as a coat to DAP applied in each year over 3 years.
• This clearly questions the current practice of Zn application once every 3-4 years.
• These results suggest that Zn when used in combination with higher P and application should be considered every year.
• P and Zn placement are very effective management tools to reduce the severity of Rhizoctonia spp, in crops.
• Some P and Zn placement in the seed row of cereal crops is beneficial in reducing the severity of Rhizoctonia patch by up to 50%, increasing grain yield.

It is important to remember what the primary objective of seeding equipment is. Some farmers have been disappointed in the overall performance of banding fertiliser due to poor seed placement.

• Both desi and kabuli chickpea varieties suffered severe plant establishment reductions from fertiliser placement with the seed and with increasing fertiliser rates.
• Fertiliser rates of 20 kg P/ha and above placed with the seed had a significant negative effect on grain yields.
• The dry spring conditions have compressed achieved yields to that possible from the limited water supply. Differences in plant population still negatively influenced achieved yields. Yields increased with fertiliser rate up to about 20kg/ha of P in this particular season.

• Both desi and kabuli chickpea varieties suffered severe plant establishment reductions from
  fertiliser placement with the seed and with increasing fertiliser rates.
• All amounts of fertiliser placed with the seed had a significant negative effect of kabuli grain yields.
• Desi type PBA Slasher can tolerate low rate of fertiliser with the seed.
• Yields increased with fertiliser rate up to about 20kg/ha of P in this particular season and soil type

Grain yield increased by approximately 1.0t/ha as fertiliser increased from nil to the higher rates.

• Applying MAP with the seed at sowing resulted in a 25% increase in plant emergence compared to using DAP at Piednippie.
• Applying MAP at sowing resulted in higher grain yields and better water use efficiency (WUE) in plots which had high seeding rates at Nunjikompita.
• In combination with a high seeding rate, a blend of DAP and triple super phosphate (TSP) applied at sowing at Piednippie and Nunjikompita (plus urea) resulted in grain yields which were closer to the crop yield potential than the control.

• Fertiliser trials often take a few years for the real results to become evident.

• Fertiliser trials often take a few years for the real results to become evident.

• After 3  years of no fertilizer applications in the low P sites, residual P levels have fallen by 25% and are significantly affecting productivity.
• After three years there appears to be little significant difference between the three products applied.

• After four years of no fertilizer applications, residual P levels have fallen and are significantly affecting productivity.
• Granule placement appears to be more critical in low P sites.

Fluid fertilisers available in South Australia are relatively expensive compared with the granular fertilisers available. In early 2004, DAP and MAP were available on the Upper Eyre Peninsula at a cost of about $422/tonne delivered. The unit cost of P was $1.92/kg with MAP and $2.11/kg with DAP. In this case, any N combined with the P was supplied at no extra cost, with P the major limiting nutrient.

• Significant grain yield responses to P fertiliser application occurred at the Goonumbla site.
• At Goonumbla, 25 kg P/ha significantly increased grain yield over 15 kg P/ha only when applied with starter N.
• Field peas proved very sensitive to heliothis damage at Gunning Gap and to harvest delays at Wirrinya.

Knowing phosphorous levels in the soil is critical. At low levels of nutrition, an economic response to phosphorous application will be achieved. This work is critical in determining where the nutrient response curve flattens out – allowing for improved management decisions to be made.

• X-rays of small dishes of soil to which fertiliser had been added in the centre showed that fluid forms of copper, zinc and manganese are more mobile (diffuse further) in soil compared to granular forms.

• Intake (on fertiliser) and Jockey (on seed) is current standard practice for lower EP canola and reduced Blackleg stem infection. In 2014 this practice also increased grain yield. This remains the recommended practice.
• The application method for the fungicide, either as seed treatments or in-furrow, did not increase canola yields in 2015 or 2016.
• The source of nutrients and application method, either fertiliser, in-furrow or foliar had no effect on canola yield in 2014, however further research should be undertaken in this area before final conclusions are drawn.

• Trace elements can be added to a farming system via a fluid delivery system.
• Economic responses to trace elements did not occur in non-responsive situations regardless of form of application.
• Addition of N and P to trace element fluid fertiliser did not appear to enhance trace element uptake.
• Lower cost foliar applied trace elements offer a cheaper approach to trace element application whilst still providing economic returns.

• Phosphoric acid as a liquid fertiliser resulted in 13% and 8% higher yields in 2014 and 2015 respectively at Streaky Bay, and an 8% yield increase at Warramboo in 2016 when compared to the same rate of P delivered in granular fertilisers.
• Despite the yield increases at Streaky Bay and Warramboo, the economics showed granular fertiliser had greater returns in $/ha compared to using phosphoric acid at 9 units of P.
• The guidelines for moving to the adoption of phosphoric acid as a P source exist in the Fluid Fertiliser Manual which adequately covers the principles, economics, recommendations and chemistry of adopting fluid delivery systems. The manual is available at www.fluidfertilsers.com.au.
• Knowing the responsiveness of a soil type to phosphoric acid is an important factor to consider before investing in a fluid delivery system. The responsive soil types are generally higher n calcium carbonate (greater than 25%). P source responses may also be driven by soil moisture conditions because in 2016, which had wetter seasonal conditions, phosphoric acid and granular P performed similarly in the same soil type at Streaky Bay.
• The adoption of fluid fertiliser systems to place fungicides in-furrow for rhizoctonia disease management is not recommended in this environment. The addition of fungicides showed small and variable yield advantages at Warramboo in 2014 and 2016 and Streaky Bay in 2016. Using fungicides in above average seasons the greatest yield benefit was only 0.22 t/ha with an in-furrow application with granular phosphorus and trace elements. This is lower than the benefits achieved in other regions where yield increases of up to 0.49 t/ha in wheat with split applications of fungicides were achieved. Inluding fungicides on wheat up front will increase input costs and risk over a large cropping program. 
• Large scale demonstrations by growers across Eyre Peninsula with in-furrow fungicide applications at seeding did not reduce rhizoctonia or produce yield benefits over three seasons.
• The adoption of fluid fertiliser systems will depend in growers' soil types for phosphorus responses, the existence of trace element deficiences and ease or timing of application (in-furrow at seeding) and machinery ability to deliver fluids.

• Fungicides as seed treatments or in-furrow did not increase canola yield in 2015 or 2016.
• In 2016 Intake (on fertiliser) and Jockey (on seed) which is current standard practice, lowered Blackleg stem infection, and in 2014 this treatment increased yield.

• Fluid forms of Phosphorus such as Ammonium Polyphosphate (APP) and Phosphoric Acid have been shown to significantly increase the growth and grain yield of crops on highly calcareous soil on the Eyre Peninsula of SA compared to granular fertiliser forms such as DAP and Triple Super.
• Field trials conducted at three sites in 2003 in Victoria on alkaline soils (central and southern Mallee and Wimmera Plains) demonstrated that fluid forms of P fertiliser promoted the growth of wheat more than granular forms at all sites but this was translated to a yield response at only one site (Birchip).
• There is no reliable diagnostic tool however presently available for predicting under what circumstances fluid forms will outperform granular forms of P.
• Experimentation will continue at the same sites in 2004.

• Field trials were conducted at two sites (comprising Sodosol and Calcarosol soil types) in the southern Mallee and one in the Wimmera (Vertosol soil) to assess the responsiveness of wheat to fluid forms of phosphorus (P) fertilisers.
• Fluid P forms (APP and phosphoric acid) generally produced greater growth during vegetative stages of crop growth compared to granular forms (DAP and Triple Super) at all three sites.
• However, in a season characterised by a late break and dry conditions prior to flowering, early growth responses to P fertiliser (regardless of form) translated to grain yield responses at only one Mallee site. In contrast there was significant grain yield responses to fluid P at Dooen (Wimmera).
• At this site, fluid P forms produced 0.24 t/ha (or nearly 10%) more grain on average than granular forms at commercially applicable rates (4 to 12 kg P/ha).

• There was no significant difference in early dry matter (GS30) or grain yield from the application of P at three trial sites at Hopetoun, Sea Lake and Waitchie
• The addition of chelated Zn and Flutriafol failed to increase grain yield at any of the sites
• There was no yield difference when P was supplied either as a fluid or a granular product
• There was no increase in grain yield from the addition of P or Zn at any of the sites.

• With an average grain yield of 16.51t/ha there were no significant differences in header grain yield from varying nitrogen rate or applying liquid potassium products.
• Applying Calcium Nitrate Ca (NO3)2 caused a decrease in yield when it was combined with an additional application of pre drill 90 kg/ha of nitrogen.
• There was evidence that additional nutrients significantly interacted (p=0.044) with the overall level of N fertiliser applied with liquid calcium nitrate giving greater benefits with 230N (applied as fertigation than when N was application was increased to 320kg N/ha (predrill urea = fertigation).

At the time of first visit (30th May), plants were at ~3 leaf stage and no foliar disease was evident.  Seedling establishment showed no spatial differences, with average emergence of >100 plants / m2 in all treatments except those with triadimenol seed treatment where >20% reduction in emergence was noted.

Minimal foliar disease was evident at 7th July (~Z31) assessment, minor levels of Stagonospora nodorum (septoria nodorum blotch) (SNB) were evident in the lower canopy but severity was too low for fungicide differences to be assessed.  

Trace levels of powdery mildew (PM) were evident on stems and lowest canopy leaves of untreated plots at booting (27th July) when the second foliar spray was applied. Development of PM was slow and on 15th September (~Z69) average severity in untreated controls was <1% leaf area affected on top 3 leaves, with infection primarily restricted to Flag-2 (Table 1).

PM was also present on heads and stems at low severity at this time, however the distribution of disease, particularly on heads, was patchy across the trial making differentiating between treatments difficult. At this time only the booting foliar spray provided consistent significant reduction in incidence of powdery mildew on stems and leaves.

SNB was present at low levels throughout the season, assessments at head emergence (23rd August) showed a small but significant effect of foliar treatments (Z31 and Z45) and flutriafol and Uniform in-furrow on necrotic leaf area. Assessments 3 weeks later at Z69 indicated that flutriafol in-furrow, triadimenol seed dressing and both foliar spray timings were providing a small reduction (~8-15% leaf area) in necrosis associated with SNB infection (Table 1).

With late and patchy onset of PM, yield responses to fungicides were 0-320kg/ha, with only the flutriafol in-furrow treatment having significantly greater yield than the untreated control, this response is likely due to the reduction of SNB rather than any effect on powdery mildew. Neither foliar spray timing gave significant yield response. Reduced emergence in triadimenol treated plots resulted in a 15% yield reduction (Table 2).

At two other sites (Geraldton, Dalwallinu), where powdery mildew infection commenced during stem elongation, all tested seed dressing and in-furrow fungicides had significant impact on disease severity and incidence. At the one site (Geraldton) where powdery mildew was yield limiting, in-furrow and foliar fungicide treatments gave a significant yield response.

Delaying the onset of a stripe rust outbreak can be achieved using fungicide seed dressings or fertiliser treatments. In situations where this is beneficial such as in the Wimmera where conditions may be too wet for fungicide application late in the season, this could be a good strategy.