Summary of timing and rate of N for lower rainfall canola

2012 - 2014

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Mark Seymour
Year(s) 2012 - 2014
Contributor Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Trial location(s) Cunderdin, WA
Eradu, WA
Grass Patch, WA
Holt Rock, WA
Katanning, WA
Merredin, WA
Ogilvie, WA
Salmon Gums, WA
West Dalwallinu, WA
Wittenoom Hills, WA
Wongan Hills, WA
Summary of timing and rate of N for lower rainfall canola locations
Aims

Assess the response of canola to N and to determine if the timing of N could be delayed in WA until later in the growing season

Key messages

Canola yields in low and medium rainfall regions of south-western Australia are inherently low and variable.  We have shown that although N fertilisation increases the yield of canola, the yield increases are often relatively low.  Nitrogen also reduces the concentration of oil in the seed of canola and the rate of decrease can be rapid in low rainfall areas. 

The combined effect of N on yield and oil, along with the current payment structure for high oil canola, results in uncertain economic returns from N fertilisation in low to medium rainfall areas. 

We found that 90% of maximum gross margin was achieved at an average nitrogen rate of 17 kg N/ha, and the first 10 kg N/ha gave a return on investment in N greater than $1.50 per $1 in 80% of occurrences (experiments x variety combinations).  The next 20 kg N/ha applied gave a return on investment in N of $1.25 for every $1 spent on N in 80% of occurrences, and further increases were most likely to breakeven. 

We have shown that while farmers should continue to plan to apply N onto canola within the first eight weeks, delaying top-up N until 12 weeks after sowing – when the canola crop is near flowering, is a viable second option which provides some level of risk management for canola growers in low and medium rainfall areas in south-western Australia.

Lead research organisation Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC DAW00227
Related program N/A
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”. 


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

Method

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

Cunderdin 2012

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

Cunderdin 2013

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Cunderdin 2014

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Eradu 2012

Sow date Not specified
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Eradu 2013

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Eradu 2014

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Grass Patch 2012

Sow date Not specified
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Grass Patch 2013

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Grass Patch 2014

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Holt Rock 2012

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Holt Rock 2013

Sow date Not specified
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Holt Rock 2014

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Katanning 2012

Sow date Not specified
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Katanning 2013

Sow date Not specified
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Katanning 2014

Sow date Not specified
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Merredin 2012

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
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Merredin 2013

Sow date Not specified
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Merredin 2014

Sow date Not specified
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Ogilvie 2012

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
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Ogilvie 2013

Sow date Not specified
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Ogilvie 2014

Sow date Not specified
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Salmon Gums 2012

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
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Salmon Gums 2013

Sow date Not specified
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Salmon Gums 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
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West Dalwallinu 2012

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

West Dalwallinu 2013

Sow date Not specified
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West Dalwallinu 2014

Sow date Not specified
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Wittenoom Hills 2012

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

Wittenoom Hills 2013

Sow date Not specified
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Wittenoom Hills 2014

Sow date Not specified
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Wongan Hills 2012

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
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Wongan Hills 2013

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

Wongan Hills 2014

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
Cunderdin, WA Not specified
Eradu, WA Not specified
Grass Patch, WA Not specified
Holt Rock, WA Not specified
Katanning, WA Not specified
Merredin, WA Not specified
Ogilvie, WA Not specified
Salmon Gums, WA Not specified
West Dalwallinu, WA Not specified
Wittenoom Hills, WA Not specified
Wongan Hills, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Cunderdin, WA Sodosol
Eradu, WA Tenosol
Grass Patch, WA Sodosol
Holt Rock, WA Kandosol
Katanning, WA Sodosol
Merredin, WA Sodosol
Ogilvie, WA Chromosol
Salmon Gums, WA Calcarosol
West Dalwallinu, WA Kandosol
Wittenoom Hills, WA Sodosol
Wongan Hills, 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 Cunderdin WA Eradu WA Grass Patch WA Holt Rock WA Katanning WA Merredin WA Ogilvie WA Salmon Gums WA West Dalwallinu WA Wittenoom Hills WA Wongan Hills WA
2014 199.8mm183.8mm513.2mm177.8mm471.1mm321.7mm123.3mm477.1mm340.4mm587.6mm135.1mm
2013 232.8mm196.9mm529.0mm224.8mm519.8mm352.6mm114.2mm480.6mm380.7mm605.5mm172.3mm
2012 211.9mm188.0mm516.4mm237.9mm519.1mm335.9mm97.6mm457.7mm394.8mm606.6mm177.1mm
2011 193.5mm234.4mm509.1mm177.6mm499.7mm329.4mm166.9mm420.1mm386.8mm566.5mm171.1mm
2010 169.6mm180.8mm504.4mm138.7mm449.1mm278.1mm104.1mm436.5mm363.5mm555.1mm144.5mm
2009 219.9mm186.6mm512.1mm212.9mm504.3mm334.6mm111.1mm471.7mm391.4mm599.3mm180.4mm
2008 208.0mm218.4mm522.7mm172.3mm460.3mm316.3mm156.9mm459.1mm404.2mm591.7mm194.3mm
2007 195.1mm167.0mm510.2mm154.0mm444.5mm301.9mm96.1mm459.6mm350.1mm603.3mm151.2mm
2006 214.2mm169.2mm514.1mm231.3mm472.2mm360.6mm113.6mm452.2mm347.7mm592.1mm163.5mm
2005 168.3mm187.7mm506.8mm199.1mm512.1mm311.7mm131.0mm444.3mm321.0mm576.3mm153.2mm
2004 184.5mm173.7mm508.7mm215.5mm490.4mm330.6mm110.7mm464.4mm316.0mm604.0mm175.3mm
2003 207.6mm180.0mm533.2mm226.4mm460.7mm342.4mm132.0mm483.4mm336.2mm626.4mm176.1mm
2002 153.7mm161.8mm495.8mm141.3mm461.3mm300.5mm116.2mm450.9mm288.1mm566.1mm121.6mm
2001 159.6mm135.5mm515.7mm163.6mm436.8mm327.5mm117.6mm437.4mm314.6mm548.1mm144.8mm
2000 240.3mm203.5mm519.9mm257.7mm483.6mm379.8mm164.2mm458.9mm404.3mm584.5mm210.4mm
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.

Cunderdin WA

Eradu WA

Grass Patch WA

Holt Rock WA

Katanning WA

Merredin WA

Ogilvie WA

Salmon Gums WA

West Dalwallinu WA

Wittenoom Hills WA

Wongan Hills WA

Cunderdin WA

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Eradu WA

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

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

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Katanning WA

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Merredin WA

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Ogilvie WA

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Salmon Gums WA

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West Dalwallinu WA

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

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Wongan Hills 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: 02-07-2020 14:26pm AEST