Potassium strategies

2014
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons

Trial details

Researcher(s) Angus McAlpine (CSBP)
Year(s) 2014
Contributor Liebe Group
Trial location(s) East Carnamah, WA
Potassium strategies locations
Aims

To compare K fertiliser strategies and to investigate the effect of K supply on N.

Key messages
  • There was no response to topdressed muriate of potash but a 0.3 t/ha response to K banded in K-Till Extra.
  • Nitrogen (N) use efficiency was maximised with K-Till Extra.
  • Potassium (K) was a more limiting nutrient than N.
  • Dry conditions frequently experienced in the Wheatbelt limit the effectiveness of topdressed K.
Lead research organisation CSBP
Host research organisation N/A
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

The Tremlett Family for hosting the 2014 trial on their farm.

Ryan Guthrie, Rowan Maddern and James Easton from CSBP Field Research.

For further information, contact Angus McAlpine
angus.mcalpine@csbp.com.au


Other trial partners Not specified
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

East Carnamah 2014

Sow rate or Target density 64 kg/ha Mace Wheat
Sowing machinery

Not specified

Sow date 8 May 2014 08/05/2014
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 2.5m x 20m
Plot replication 3
Herbicide

07/05/2014: 1 L/ha Roundup (Farmer)

08/05/2014: 2 L/ha Treflan

Insecticide

08/05/2014: 300 mL/ha Lorsban

Fungicide

29/07/2014: 300 mL/ha Folicur

Other trial notes

This trial demonstrated the value of K banded in the NPK product K-Till Extra. There was a 0.3 t/ha response to K supplied by K-Till Extra and no response to up to 80 kg/ha MoP topdressed. The absence of a response to topdressed MoP was potentially the result of it being trapped in the inter-row after seeding, and/or post application rainfall events not being substantial enough to allow movement into the root zone.

The response to N was only 0.2 t/ha and not profitable as K was the more limiting nutrient. Despite additional N being unprofitable, N use efficiency was highest where 100 kg/ha K-Till Extra was used. This indicates that improved K uptake from K-Till Extra increased the crop’s capacity to access N.

An economic analysis of the different K strategies showed that 100 kg/ha K-Till Extra was about $100/ha more profitable than topdressing 40 kg/ha MoP.

The trial clearly highlighted that fertiliser

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Treatment 3
Treatment 4
Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 10.3 1.36
2 89 Big Phos 10.9 1.48
3 50 Flexi-N 85 Agstar Extra 65 Flexi-N 11.1 1.64
4 54 Flexi-N 100 K-Till Extra 65 Flexi-N 11.1 1.97
5 54 Flexi-N 100 K-Till Extra + 18 MoP 65 Flexi-N 11.2 1.8
6 40 MoP 50 Flexi-N 85 Agstar Extra 65 Flexi-N 11.6 1.61
7 80 MoP 89 Big Phos 9.8 1.41
8 80 MoP 50 Flexi-N 85 Agstar Extra 65 Flexi-N 11.4 1.62

Grain yield t/ha


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Protein %


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
East Carnamah, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
East Carnamah, WA 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 East Carnamah WA
2014 363.3mm
2013 385.1mm
2012 373.1mm
2011 379.5mm
2010 350.5mm
2009 362.5mm
2008 369.7mm
2007 338.8mm
2006 381.9mm
2005 397.7mm
2004 395.7mm
2003 372.7mm
2002 338.2mm
2001 345.9mm
2000 389.2mm
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

East Carnamah WA 2014


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 208mm

Derived climate information

East Carnamah 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 report and links

2014 trial report



Trial last modified: 11-12-2019 10:32am AEST