Variable rate nitrogen management

2011
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Nicole Dimos (SPAA)
Karen Haigh (SFS)
Andrew Whitlock (Precision Agriculture)
Year(s) 2011
Contributor Society of Precision Agriculture Australia
Trial location(s) Inverleigh, VIC
Wongan, Vic
Variable rate nitrogen management locations
Aims

To use a combination of N-rich strip and satellite imagery in canola to determine a variable rate nitrogen plan.

Key messages

Applying nitrogen on the sand soil zones has consistently delivered sound economic returns. The highest ROI achieved in the sand west zone ($123.20) and sand east zone ($37.85) was in the 115 and 130kg urea/ha treatments respectively. Applying nitrogen in the clay zone however failed to deliver an economic eturn and this has been realised in this paddock before. This trial highlighted that variable rate nitrogen is highly applicable to paddocks with high degrees of spatial variability in order to maximise yield and/or return on investment in individual paddock zones.

Lead research organisation Society of Precision Agriculture Australia
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC SPA000010
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) in cooperation with Glenelg Hopkins CMA


Other trial partners James Knight, Warakirri (cooperating farmer)
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Oilseed: Canola
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Rate
  • Soil Properties: Type
Trial type Precision agriculture
Trial design Not applicable

Inverleigh 2011

Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Other trial notes

George is certainly keen to further progress ryegrass patch management by more accurately defining these ryegrass zones.

Wongan 2011

Sowing machinery

135 ha

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

0, 65, 115 and 130 kg urea/ha and 122 L UAN/ha

Other trial notes

George is certainly keen to further progress ryegrass patch management by more accurately defining these ryegrass zones.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Warrakirri

# Treatment 1
Soil ammonium (mg/kg) Soil mineral N (kg N/ha) Soil nitrate (mg/kg) Sulphur (mg/kg)
1 Paddock P18-19 - 14 @ 40 cm depth 2.7 16.2 13.5 15.7
2 Paddock P18-19 - 38 @ 50 cm depth 3.7 23.4 19.7 16.9
3 Paddock P18-19 - 45 @ 30 cm depth 3.3 19.7 16.4 9.8

Soil ammonium mg/kg


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Soil mineral N kg N/ha


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Soil nitrate mg/kg


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Sulphur mg/kg


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Inverleigh, VIC Not specified
Wongan, Vic Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Inverleigh, VIC Sodosol
Wongan, Vic Sodosol
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 Inverleigh VIC Wongan Vic
2011 406.8mm415.8mm
2010 363.7mm437.9mm
2009 298.4mm388.2mm
2008 318.1mm399.6mm
2007 350.1mm378.0mm
2006 389.4mm393.4mm
2005 445.4mm415.6mm
2004 436.2mm413.2mm
2003 433.6mm431.0mm
2002 439.5mm437.7mm
2001 486.2mm441.5mm
2000 451.0mm448.3mm
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.

Inverleigh Vic

Wongan Vic

Inverleigh Vic

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Wongan Vic

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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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 last modified: 30-09-2019 16:12pm AEST