Monitoring the performance of nitrogen application to wheat under full stubble retention

2015

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Peter Hooper (Hart Field-Site Group)
Sarah Noack (Riverine Plains)
Nick Poole (FAR Australia)
Cassandra Schefe (Riverine Plains)
Michael Straight (FAR Australia)
Sam Trengove (SPAA)
Tracey Wylie (FAR Australia)
Year(s) 2015
Contributor Riverine Plains
Trial location(s) Dookie, VIC
Yarrawonga, VIC
Monitoring the performance of nitrogen application to wheat under full stubble retention locations
Aims

To monitor the performance of nitrogen application to wheat under full stubble retention.

Key messages
  • At both Yarrawonga and Dooke, Victoria, there was no yield response to nitrogen application, with yields of 4.34 and 3.88t/ha respectively.
  • Although there was no yield response, there was a significantly higher dry matter (DM) production and greater nitrogen offtake as a result of applying nitrogen at both sites.
  • The maximum nitrogen offtake in the unfertilised crops at both sites equated (approximately) to the level of available nitrogen at the start of the season during April (assessed 0-60cm).
  • The normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) response assessed at first node stage (GS31) and the subsequent divergence of NDVI suggested that both sites would benefit from additonal nitrogen; however, late moisture stress and high temperatures compromised any potential yield response.
  • The NDVI canopy scores taken at Dookie during October 2015 from the 120kg N/ha plots clearly show are more rapid senescence than unfertilised crops (control) or those crops fertilised with 60 kg N/ha.
Lead research organisation Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC
Related program Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble
Acknowledgments

Thanks to the farmer co-operators, the Inchbold Family (Yarrawonga, Vic).


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

Method

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

Dookie 2015

Sow date 19 May 2015
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Herbicide

host farmer paddock management

Insecticide

host farmer paddock management

Fungicide

host farmer paddock management

Other trial notes Not specified

Dookie 2015

Sow date 19 May 2015
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Herbicide

host farmer paddock management

Insecticide

host farmer paddock management

Fungicide

host farmer paddock management

Other trial notes Not specified

Yarrawonga 2015

Sow date 22 April 2015
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Herbicide

host farmer paddock management

Insecticide

host farmer paddock management

Fungicide

host farmer paddock management

Other trial notes

GSR (Apr-Oct)

Yarrawonga 2015

Sow date 22 April 2015
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Herbicide

host farmer paddock management

Insecticide

host farmer paddock management

Fungicide

host farmer paddock management

Other trial notes Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Effect of nitrogen rate on grain yield, protein, screening and hectolitre weight at Yarrawonga in 2015

# Treatment 1
Hectolitre weight (kg/hL) Screenings (%) Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 0kg N/ha 78 7.3 8.6 4.34
2 60kg N/ha 78.4 11.1 11.2 4.45
3 120kg N/ha 75.9 19.8 14.1 4.23

Grain yield t/ha


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Hectolitre weight kg/hL


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Trial results Effect of nitrogen timing on grain yield, protein, screening and hectolitre weight at Yarrawonga in 2015

# Hectolitre weight (kg/hL) Screenings (%) Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 N @ Z00 and Z30 77.5 12.4 11.2 4.39
2 N @ Z30 and Z33 77.3 13 11.4 4.29

Grain yield t/ha


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Hectolitre weight kg/hL


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Trial results Effect of nitrogen rate on grain yield, protein, screening and hectolitre weight at Dookie in 2015

# Hectolitre weight (kg/hL) Screenings (%) Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 0kg N/ha 84.2 4.2 10.2 3.93
2 60kg N/ha 82.8 4.9 11.9 3.96
3 120kg N/ha 81.5 7.2 13.2 3.57

Grain yield t/ha


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Hectolitre weight kg/hL


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Trial results Effect of nitrogen timing on grain yield, protein, screening and hectolitre weight at Dookie in 2015

# Hectolitre weight (kg/hL) Screenings (%) Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 N @ Z00 and Z30 82.8 5.4 12 3.9
2 N @ Z30 and Z33 83 5.4 11.5 3.9

Grain yield t/ha


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Hectolitre weight kg/hL


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Dookie, VIC Not specified
Yarrawonga, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Dookie, VIC Sodosol
Yarrawonga, 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 Dookie VIC Yarrawonga VIC
2015 153.8mm597.1mm
2014 168.0mm586.7mm
2013 169.5mm573.0mm
2012 202.6mm589.8mm
2011 236.0mm592.9mm
2010 251.3mm605.2mm
2009 194.9mm562.9mm
2008 248.4mm560.4mm
2007 238.2mm538.8mm
2006 267.3mm557.8mm
2005 304.7mm583.2mm
2004 298.6mm557.7mm
2003 350.4mm547.9mm
2002 334.5mm524.2mm
2001 388.8mm511.4mm
2000 413.1mm461.9mm
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

Dookie VIC 2015


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 386mm

Dookie VIC 2015


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 386mm

Yarrawonga VIC 2015


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 266mm

Yarrawonga VIC 2015


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 266mm

Derived climate information

Dookie VIC

Yarrawonga VIC

Dookie VIC

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Yarrawonga VIC

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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



Trial last modified: 28-11-2019 11:22am AEST