Timing of nitrogen for canola grown in the lower rainfall areas of Western Australia

2014
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Mark Seymour (DAFWA)
Sally Sprigg (DAFWA)
Year(s) 2014
Contributor Liebe Group
Trial location(s) Buntine, WA
Timing of nitrogen for canola grown in the lower rainfall areas of Western Australia locations
Aims

To investigate the nitrogen rate and time of application response of canola varieties to yield and oil content of Triazine Tolerant (TT) and Roundup Ready (RR) hybrids in comparison with open-pollinated (OP) types to:

  1. Provide growers in lower rainfall environments with guidelines on times of application to maximise grain and oil yields.
  2. Determine if the management of hybrid canola nutrition is different to that of OP varieties due to different responses to N rates and timing.
Key messages
  • We observed no significant differences in grain yield (GY) between any treatments due to low yield potential and reasonable soil nitrogen (N) levels at seeding.
  • Timing of N application had no effect on GY. This is consistent with last years’ results at Wubin.
  • Canola oil percentage decreased as N rate increased. High rates of N reduced oil significantly, consistent with last year at Wubin.
  • The higher the rate of N the more rapidly oil percentage reduced, consistent with last year at Wubin.
  • Gross margins (GM) decreased as N rates increased; all GM figures are negative due to poor GY, however, Sturt performed better than Pioneer 43Y23RR due to the higher seed costs associated with Roundup Ready (RR) seed.
Lead research organisation Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC
Trial funding source DAFWA
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments
  • GRDC and DAFWA for funding this project.
  • Ross Fitzsimons for hosting the trial and the Liebe Group, especially Elly Wainwright.
  • Mark Seymour, Senior Research Officer, Bob French, Senior Research Officer, Raj Malik, Research Officer, and Martin Harries, Research Officer, DAFWA.
  • Shari Dougall and Bruce Thorpe, DAFWA Wongan Hills Research Station Unit (RSU).
  • Andy Sutherland and Allen Randall, DAFWA.

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

Method

Crop type Oilseed: Canola
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Rate
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Buntine 2014

Sow rate or Target density 2.4 kg/ha Sturt and 1.5 kg/ha Pioneer 43Y23RR
Sow date 1 May 2014
Harvest date 13 October 2014
Plot size 22m x 1.54m
Plot replication 3
Fertiliser

01/05/2014: 80 kg/ha Macropro Plus banded, 22 kg/ha Urea top-dressed 

27/06/2014: Urea (8wk treatments)

24/07/2014: Urea (12wk treatments)

Herbicide

01/05/2014: 1.5 L/ha Trifluralin, 2 L/ha Spray.Seed 250

20/05/2014: 900 g/ha Roundup Ready on RR treatments

21/05/2014: 2.2 kg/ha Atrazine on TT treatments, 1% Spray Oil

11/06/2014: 500 mL/ha Clethodim, 1% Hasten

06/10/2014: 3 L/ha Reglone, 1% Wetter

Insecticide

01/05/2014: 100 mL/ha Bifenthrin

06/06/2014: 0.85 mL/ha Dimethoate

03/09/2014: 300 mL/ha Dominex (Insecticide)

Other trial notes

Paper reviewed by: Bob French, Senior Research Officer, DAFWA

Contact

Sally Sprigg, DAFWA

sally.sprigg@agric.wa.gov.au

(08) 9081 3153

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Sturt Yield (t/ha) Pioneer 43Y23RR Yield (t/ha) Mean yield (t/ha)
1 Nil 361 491 426
2 8N seeding 440 537 489
3 18N seeding 440 551 496
4 30N in 8 weeks 454 644 549
5 50N in 8 weeks 435 514 475
6 70N in 8 weeks 444 569 507
7 18N seeding and 12N 12WAS 398 574 486
8 18N seeding and 32N 12WAS 394 588 491
9 18N seeding and 52N 12WAS 421 574 498
10 30N in 8 weeks and 10N 12WAS 454 560 507
11 30N in 8 weeks and 20N 12WAS 417 583 500
12 30N in 8 weeks and 40N 12WAS 458 523 491

Mean yield t/ha


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Pioneer 43Y23RR Yield t/ha


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Sturt Yield t/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Site Depth Type pH EC P K N A OC CAT
Buntine, WA 0 - 10cm Sand over gravel 5.60 0.05
Buntine, WA 10 - 20cm Sand over gravel 5.50
Buntine, WA 20 - 30cm Sand over gravel 4.70
Buntine, WA 30 - 40cm Sand over gravel 5.70
Buntine, WA 40 - 50cm Sand over gravel 6.10
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Buntine, WA Sand over gravel
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Buntine, WA 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 Buntine WA
2014 297.9mm
2013 318.6mm
2012 312.3mm
2011 308.2mm
2010 270.6mm
2009 300.9mm
2008 321.0mm
2007 247.4mm
2006 291.0mm
2005 295.9mm
2004 281.4mm
2003 272.9mm
2002 223.1mm
2001 255.5mm
2000 316.9mm
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

Buntine WA 2014


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 136mm

Derived climate information

Buntine 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 last modified: 25-05-2020 10:25am AEST