Seasonal effects of strategic stubble treatments on nitrogen response in wheat in CWFS districts

2014
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) John Small (CWFS)
Year(s) 2014
Contributor Central West Farming Systems
Trial location(s) Alectown, NSW
Gunning Gap, NSW
Lake Cargelligo, NSW
Tullamore, NSW
Ungarie, NSW
Seasonal effects of strategic stubble treatments on nitrogen response in wheat in CWFS districts locations
Aims

CWFS are conducting trials at its regional sites that - investigate the impact of different stubble treatments imposed towards the end of the fallow have on nitrogen response (applied as urea) in wheat yield and quality - evaluate the widely used advisor/farmer benchmark of 20 kg actual N required per tonne of expected yield.

Key messages

• During 2014 stubble treatments imposed late in fallow generally had no impact on N response. • During 2014 generally farmers in the absence of frost or unusual rainfall events during the season were able to reliably predict final yield before sowing. Where a site was N responsive, an N fertilizer rate of 20kg actual nitrogen/ha/per tonne of expected yield produced the most profitable result. • During 2014 split N applications only improved yield and protein at Nyngan which experienced a well above average growing season rainfall. • During 2014 split N applications would have possibly reduced risk at two sites, Lake Cargelligo and Ungarie where a decision not to apply the final 1/3 topdressing may have been made due to soil moisture and rainfall outlook. • The benchmark of 20kg/ha of actual N per tonne of expected grain yield assumes unrealistic N recover rates from soil and fertilizer but never the less it continues to be a widely used “number” during the commercial decision making process to topdress crops.

Lead research organisation Grains Research and Development Corporation
Host research organisation Central West Farming Systems
Trial funding source GRDC CWF00018
Related program Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble
Acknowledgments

CWFS would like to acknowledge the support provided by the co-operating farmers, without their in-kind support the trials would not have been possible. The help from Matt McRae, Walkers Ag N Vet, Forbes at the Gunning Gap site, Greg Brooke, NSW DPI at The Nyngan site and Scott Boyd, GOA, Dubbo at the Tullamore site is also acknowledged. The authors also thanks Neil Fettell for his support in compiling this report.


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Stubble: Management
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Blocked

Alectown 2014

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Soil amelioration Not specified
Other trial notes

Cultivation treatment imposed with offset discs. Stubble conditions at 9 April was 100mm high standing stubble in the 2013 crop rows, ground between the rows was generally bare. Available N to 120cm across the repilcates varied from 33 to 53kg/ha. 0-10cm Cowell P values varied from 31 to 44 across the replicates with the 10-30cm varying from 6 to 8. Predicta B tests for crown rot rated the 3 replicates differently 1 replicate at high risk, 1 at low risk and 1 below detectables levels.&l

Gunning Gap 2014

Sow rate or Target density 35kg/ha
Sow date 14 May 2014
Harvest date 20 November 2014
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication 3
Fertiliser

63kg/ha MAP fertilizer into moist seedbed.

Soil amelioration

14/3/2014: Stubble treatments imposed. Burning treatment were difficult to impose due to lack of ground cover due to baling. In a commerical situation the paddock would not have been able to carry a fire at this time.

Other trial notes

Cultivation treatment imposed with offset discs. Stubble conditions at 9 April was 100mm high standing stubble in the 2013 crop rows, ground between the rows was generally bare. Available N to 120cm across the repilcates varied from 33 to 53kg/ha. 0-10cm Cowell P values varied from 31 to 44 across the replicates with the 10-30cm varying from 6 to 8. Predicta B tests for crown rot rated the 3 replicates differently 1 replicate at high risk, 1 at low risk and 1 below detectables levels.&l

Lake Cargelligo 2014

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Soil amelioration Not specified
Other trial notes

Cultivation treatment imposed with offset discs. Stubble conditions at 9 April was 100mm high standing stubble in the 2013 crop rows, ground between the rows was generally bare. Available N to 120cm across the repilcates varied from 33 to 53kg/ha. 0-10cm Cowell P values varied from 31 to 44 across the replicates with the 10-30cm varying from 6 to 8. Predicta B tests for crown rot rated the 3 replicates differently 1 replicate at high risk, 1 at low risk and 1 below detectables levels.&l

Tullamore 2014

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Soil amelioration Not specified
Other trial notes

Cultivation treatment imposed with offset discs. Stubble conditions at 9 April was 100mm high standing stubble in the 2013 crop rows, ground between the rows was generally bare. Available N to 120cm across the repilcates varied from 33 to 53kg/ha. 0-10cm Cowell P values varied from 31 to 44 across the replicates with the 10-30cm varying from 6 to 8. Predicta B tests for crown rot rated the 3 replicates differently 1 replicate at high risk, 1 at low risk and 1 below detectables levels.&l

Ungarie 2014

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Soil amelioration Not specified
Other trial notes

Cultivation treatment imposed with offset discs. Stubble conditions at 9 April was 100mm high standing stubble in the 2013 crop rows, ground between the rows was generally bare. Available N to 120cm across the repilcates varied from 33 to 53kg/ha. 0-10cm Cowell P values varied from 31 to 44 across the replicates with the 10-30cm varying from 6 to 8. Predicta B tests for crown rot rated the 3 replicates differently 1 replicate at high risk, 1 at low risk and 1 below detectables levels.&l

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Alectown, NSW Not specified
Gunning Gap, NSW Clay loam
Lake Cargelligo, NSW Not specified
Tullamore, NSW Not specified
Ungarie, NSW Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Alectown, NSW Kandosol
Gunning Gap, NSW Sodosol
Lake Cargelligo, NSW Sodosol
Tullamore, NSW Sodosol
Ungarie, NSW Kandosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Alectown NSW Gunning Gap NSW Lake Cargelligo NSW Tullamore NSW Ungarie NSW
2014 585.6mm209.8mm209.8mm552.4mm569.1mm
2013 588.9mm207.7mm207.7mm575.4mm578.1mm
2012 600.7mm250.7mm250.7mm580.6mm610.2mm
2011 620.9mm324.5mm324.5mm583.9mm604.2mm
2010 628.2mm408.5mm408.5mm618.1mm642.6mm
2009 614.4mm408.1mm408.1mm596.7mm599.2mm
2008 617.1mm430.9mm430.9mm595.8mm596.5mm
2007 599.7mm444.9mm444.9mm586.5mm502.8mm
2006 594.6mm442.5mm442.5mm575.8mm535.7mm
2005 620.1mm470.6mm470.6mm599.0mm577.3mm
2004 589.4mm456.3mm456.3mm613.7mm524.9mm
2003 594.5mm438.1mm438.1mm591.6mm494.3mm
2002 599.7mm400.8mm400.8mm587.0mm409.1mm
2001 599.4mm415.7mm415.7mm594.7mm398.2mm
2000 588.6mm466.5mm466.5mm553.7mm408.9mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Alectown NSW

Gunning Gap NSW

Lake Cargelligo NSW

Tullamore NSW

Ungarie NSW

Alectown NSW

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Gunning Gap NSW

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Lake Cargelligo NSW

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Tullamore NSW

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Ungarie NSW

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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2014 trial report



Trial last modified: 28-08-2019 11:02am AEST