Improving the understanding of nitrogen use efficiency and soil water interactions

2015
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Laura Dorman
Debbie Gillam
Chris Pinkney
Craig Topham
Year(s) 2015
Contributor Mingenew-Irwin Group
Trial location(s) Mingenew, WA
Morawa, WA
Ogilvie, WA
Tenindewa, WA
Improving the understanding of nitrogen use efficiency and soil water interactions locations
Aims
  • To build an understanding of the current nitrogen use efficiency of four soil types in the Northern Agricultural Region of WA
  • To understand how efficiently applied nitrogen is used in the soil.
  • To educate growers and advisors on how to improve nitrogen use efficiency through a greater understanding of the soil water interactions and use this information to reduce production risk.
Key messages
  • With the current climate trending to decreased seasonal rainfall, each 1% increase in productivity is important.
  • Increases in productivity can come from increased yield, more efficient application of inputs, or more timely grain marketing.
  • Knowledge on the soil water holding properties, the time when the crop is taking up the most water from the soil and the current yield estimation models allows growers to market grain with more confidence pre harvest.
  • Tools such as Yield Prophet, iPaddock Yield, soil moisture Probes and water use efficiency models are all very useful in assisting to predict grain yields with a relatively high level of confidence when accurately set up.
  • In this project “iPaddock Yield” provided the greatest level of accuracy in predicting final grain yield on July 31st 2015. The simple French & Shultz “Broken Stick” model was very close to the accuracy of the ipaddock Yield at 77% & 74% accuracy.
  • When there is confidence in the early to mid-season yield prediction combined with accurate soil Nitrogen testing and modeling, there is a greater chance of maximizing profits from applied nitrogen.
Lead research organisation Mingenew-Irwin Group
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC MIG00015
Related program Regional Cropping Solutions Network
Acknowledgments

Thanks to the following for hosting trial sites:

  • Cosgrove Family, Mingenew
  • Morawa College of Agriculture
  • Messina Family, Mullewa
  • Cripps Family, Binnu

Other trial partners Agrarian Management
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Application Method
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Mingenew 2015

Sow date 3 May 2015
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Morawa 2015

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

Ogilvie 2015

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

Tenindewa 2015

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
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
Mingenew, WA Not specified
Morawa, WA Not specified
Ogilvie, WA Not specified
Tenindewa, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Mingenew, WA Sodosol
Morawa, WA Kandosol
Ogilvie, WA Tenosol
Tenindewa, WA Tenosol
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 Mingenew WA Morawa WA Ogilvie WA Tenindewa WA
2015 132.7mm266.3mm271.3mm335.2mm
2014 130.8mm245.7mm233.1mm280.5mm
2013 143.6mm269.3mm240.5mm279.4mm
2012 129.3mm288.6mm228.4mm298.1mm
2011 162.9mm311.2mm284.1mm373.0mm
2010 134.2mm240.4mm224.9mm272.9mm
2009 142.1mm279.0mm253.9mm290.7mm
2008 152.6mm301.9mm303.1mm333.5mm
2007 104.7mm274.7mm226.5mm258.5mm
2006 124.9mm310.2mm244.0mm276.9mm
2005 144.0mm270.2mm231.7mm298.6mm
2004 123.2mm231.4mm211.3mm276.1mm
2003 138.1mm248.0mm232.4mm270.6mm
2002 113.7mm225.9mm233.8mm273.5mm
2001 108.6mm261.2mm240.5mm256.0mm
2000 147.3mm332.5mm300.4mm322.1mm
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.

Mingenew WA

Morawa WA

Ogilvie WA

Tenindewa WA

Mingenew WA

CAUTION: Trial site locality unknown; Climate data sourced from Mingenew-Irwin Group office location
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Morawa WA

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Ogilvie WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Tenindewa WA

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 report and links

2015 trial report

2015 trial report



Trial last modified: 06-08-2019 07:54am AEST