Availability of N from cereal stubble: 15N trial summary 2014 - 2016

2014 - 2016

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Claire Browne (BCG)
Vadakattu Gupta (BCG)
Therese McBeath (CSIRO)
Year(s) 2014 - 2016
Contributor Birchip Cropping Group
Trial location(s) Horsham, VIC
Further information View external link
Availability of N from cereal stubble: 15N trial summary 2014 - 2016 locations
Aims

To determine the amount and availability of N from wheat stubble under varying stubble management practices over three cropping seasons.

Key messages
  • Cereal stubble contributes only a small percentage of the nitrogen requirement for a following cereal crop (2 to 11% of N from 2014 wheat stubble was taken up by 2015 and 2016 crops).
  • Urea fertiliser nitrogen use efficiency of the 2014 wheat crop was 35%.
  • The 2015 drought reduced the influence of stubble management treatments on nitrogen cycling, yield and carry over effects on microbial activity.
Lead research organisation Birchip Cropping Group
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC BWD00024,CSP00186
Related program Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble
Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the GRDC as part of the ‘Maintaining profitable farming systems in retained stubble – Component 1 project’ (BWD00024) and (CSP00186).


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Stubble: Management
Trial type
Trial design

Horsham 2014

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
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Pesticide Not specified

Horsham 2015

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
Insecticide Not specified
Fungicide Not specified
Pesticide Not specified

Horsham 2016

Sowing machinery

Knife points, press wheels, 30cm row spacing

Sow date 2014: 22 May, 2015: 1 June, 2016: 18 May
Harvest date 2014: 29 November, 2015: 16 November, 2016: 22 December
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

Varied year to year

Herbicide

All pests, diseases and instecticides were managed as to best practice.

Insecticide

All pests, diseases and instecticides were managed as to best practice.

Fungicide

All pests, diseases and instecticides were managed as to best practice.

Pesticide

All pests, diseases and instecticides were managed as to best practice.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Effects of treatment

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha) Protein (%) Pre sowing soil nitrogen (kg N/ha)
1 No Stubble 5.5 10.3 84
2 Standing 5.7 10.7 104
3 Surface 5.3 10.8 81
4 Incorporated 5.3 10.8 62

Grain yield t/ha


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Pre sowing soil nitrogen kg N/ha


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Protein %


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Trial results Year results

# Treatment 1
GSR rainfall (mm) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 2014 206 1.9
2 2015 125 0.4
3 2016 393 5.3

Grain yield t/ha


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GSR rainfall mm


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Horsham, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Horsham, VIC Vertosol
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 Horsham VIC
2016 268.2mm
2015 235.9mm
2014 219.2mm
2013 222.3mm
2012 234.3mm
2011 265.9mm
2010 280.9mm
2009 263.0mm
2008 224.5mm
2007 252.5mm
2006 267.9mm
2005 320.3mm
2004 320.5mm
2003 414.3mm
2002 447.0mm
2001 522.9mm
2000 628.5mm
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.

Horsham 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

2016 trial report



Trial last modified: 28-11-2019 15:20pm AEST