Are low fertiliser inputs a viable option for canola in low rainfall areas?

2016

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Mark Seymour (DAFWA)
Year(s) 2016
Contributor Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Trial location(s) Grass Patch, WA
Pingrup, WA
Varley, WA
Are low fertiliser inputs a viable option for canola in low rainfall areas? locations
Aims

To evaluate the response of canola to low fertiliser inputs

Key messages
  • At Grass Patch in 2016 there was no response to fertiliser applications of K, S and micro nutrients. 
  • There was a yield response to P and N.
  • Considering the costs of inputs, the lowest cost treatment which provided equal maximum gross margin was to apply only superphosphate at sowing – equivalent to 9 kg P/ha.
  • In this region farmers typically apply either superphosphate plus N or a compound fertiliser at sowing and top-up N at 4- 6 weeks after sowing.  This approach in this experiment would have had higher up front input costs, did increase yield but did not lead to higher gross margins.  But the farmer approach also is a more balanced nutrient approach, in that nutrients are replaced to balance out nutrients removed in the seed.
Lead research organisation Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC DAW00227
Related program Tactical Break Crop Agronomy
Acknowledgments
  • This trial is one of a series conducted throughout WA as part of the GRDC/DAFWA co-funded project “Tactical Break Crop Agronomy in Western Australia”. 
  • Thanks to the Esperance TSU for trial management and the Sanderson family for their continued support in providing trial sites.. 
  • Pam Burgess (DAFWA. Esperance) provided technical assistance to ensure all treatments and measurements occurred in a timely and accurate fashion.

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 Randomised,Replicated

Grass Patch 2016

Sow rate or Target density Target density of 30 plants/m²
Sowing machinery

Coneseeder with knife points and press wheels, capacity to deep band of topdress fertiliser in one pass whilst sowing seed as per treatment requirements

Sow date 28 April 2016
Harvest date 8 October 2016
Plot size 20m x 1.54m
Plot replication 4
Fertiliser

As per treatments listed in attached report.

Herbicide

27 April 2016 - pre-sowing sprayed @ 2.5L/ha of Sprayseed

28 April 2016 - pre-sowing sprayed @ 1.1L/ha Atrazine IBS

28 April 2016 - pre-sowing sprayed @1L/ha Treflan

5 July 2016 -post-emergent sprayed @ 0.5% Uptake

5 July 2016 -post-emergent sprayed @ 0.1L/ha Verdict 520

16 August 2016 - post-emergent pathways

16 August 2016 - post-emergent sprayed @ 2L/ha Roundup Ultra pathways

27 October 2016 - post-emergent sprayed @ 0.1% wetter

27 October 2016 - post-emergent sprayed @ 3L/ha Reglone

Fungicide

Seed treated with Maxim Xl and Cruiser Opti.

Seed treatment Seed treated with Maxim Xl and Cruiser Opti
Tillage knife points

Pingrup 2016

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Seed treatment Not specified
Tillage Not specified

Varley 2016

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Seed treatment Not specified
Tillage Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Treatment 3
Grain yield (t/ha) Gross margin ($/ha)
1 No fertiliser Nil 0.87 327
2 Superphosphate Nil 0.96 345
3 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing Nil 0.98 347
4 No fertiliser at sowing plus 400 kg Gypsum/ha Nil 0.94 358
5 No fertiliser at sowing plus 100 kg MOP/ha Nil 0.88 261
6 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing + 400 Gypsum/ha Nil 1.03 362
7 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing + 400 Gypsum/ha + 100 MOP/ha Nil 1.06 303
8 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing + 400 Gypsum/ha + 100 MOP/ha + Micro sprays Nil 1 260
9 No fertiliser 15N 0.94 340
10 Superphosphate 15N 1 344
11 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing 15N 1.14 409
12 No fertiliser at sowing plus 400 kg Gypsum/ha 15N 0.92 320
13 No fertiliser at sowing plus 100 kg MOP/ha 15N 0.9 245
14 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing + 400 Gypsum/ha 15N 1.15 407
15 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing + 400 Gypsum/ha + 100 MOP/ha 15N 1.06 285
16 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing + 400 Gypsum/ha + 100 MOP/ha + Micro sprays 15N 1.05 265
17 No fertiliser Nil 15N 1.02 393
18 Superphosphate Nil 15N 1 338
19 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing Nil 15N 1.18 438
20 No fertiliser at sowing plus 400 kg Gypsum/ha Nil 15N 1.02 374
21 No fertiliser at sowing plus 100 kg MOP/ha Nil 15N 0.98 292
22 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing + 400 Gypsum/ha Nil 15N 1.14 395
23 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing + 400 Gypsum/ha + 100 MOP/ha Nil 15N 1.15 336
24 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing + 400 Gypsum/ha + 100 MOP/ha + Micro sprays Nil 15N 1.11 301
25 No fertiliser 15N 15N 1.05 381
26 Superphosphate 15N 15N 1.01 321
27 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing 15N 15N 1.16 399
28 No fertiliser at sowing plus 400 kg Gypsum/ha 15N 15N 1.07 373
29 No fertiliser at sowing plus 100 kg MOP/ha 15N 15N 0.97 264
30 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing + 400 Gypsum/ha 15N 15N 1.3 460
31 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing + 400 Gypsum/ha + 100 MOP/ha 15N 15N 1.19 336
32 Superphosphate + 10 kg N/ha at sowing + 400 Gypsum/ha + 100 MOP/ha + Micro sprays 15N 15N 1.11 268

Grain yield t/ha


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Gross margin $/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
Grass Patch, WA 0 - 10cm Scaddan loam 5.40 0.15 23.00 140.00 21.00 0.92
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Grass Patch, WA Sandy loam
Pingrup, WA Not specified
Varley, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Grass Patch, WA Sodosol
Pingrup, WA Sodosol
Varley, 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 Grass Patch WA Pingrup WA Varley WA
2016 522.6mm407.3mm318.5mm
2015 522.3mm343.8mm280.3mm
2014 513.2mm327.5mm253.4mm
2013 529.0mm353.7mm296.1mm
2012 516.4mm394.5mm299.3mm
2011 509.1mm344.6mm246.0mm
2010 504.4mm323.3mm208.2mm
2009 512.1mm361.5mm276.4mm
2008 522.7mm352.7mm263.4mm
2007 510.2mm343.2mm249.6mm
2006 514.1mm413.3mm295.9mm
2005 506.8mm375.8mm247.5mm
2004 508.7mm351.0mm285.9mm
2003 533.2mm351.3mm314.2mm
2002 495.8mm343.4mm245.1mm
2001 515.7mm357.2mm280.1mm
2000 519.9mm413.7mm356.1mm
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

Grass Patch WA 2016


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 347mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 246mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 396mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 258mm

Derived climate information

Grass Patch WA

Pingrup WA

Varley WA

Grass Patch WA

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

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Varley WA

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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: 05-12-2019 15:04pm AEST