Management strategies for improved productivity and reduced nitrous oxide emissions

2014 - 2015
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Peter Hooper (Hart)
Sarah Noack (Hart)
Nick Poole (Hart)
Stuart Sherriff (Precision Agriculture Australia)
Michael Straight (Hart)
Sam Trengove (FAR)
Tracey Wylie (FAR)
Year(s) 2014 - 2015
Contributor Hart Field Site Group
Trial location(s) Hart, SA
Management strategies for improved productivity and reduced nitrous oxide emissions locations
Aims

To measure and demonstrate on-farm strategies that can reduce nitrous oxide by trialling four key practices:

  • Use of legumes in the cropping rotation;
  • Application of nitrogen fertiliser at key stem elongation growth stages;
  • The use of precision farming tools to better measure N mineralisation;
  • Use of nitrification inhibitors.
Key messages
  • The nitrogen application strategy that maximised grain yield was not always the same strategy to minimise nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions.
  • While nitrogen applied at GS31 maximised wheat yield following field pea it produced 10 times higher emissions compared to the same application at seeding.
  • The pattern and concentration of N2O emissions were similar for wheat following field pea or canola.
Lead research organisation Hart Field Site Group
Host research organisation Hart Field Site Group
Trial funding source Department of Agriculture AOTGR2-0015
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the department of Agriculture for funding this research project as part of Action on The Ground (AOTGR2-0015). We also gratefully acknowledge Rob Wandel for hosting and managing the trial on his property.

 


Other trial partners The Foundation for Arable Research Australia and Precision Agriculture Australia
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Wheat Oilseed: Canola Grain Legume: Field peas
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
  • Fertiliser: Rate
  • Fertiliser: Timing
  • Fertiliser: Type
Trial type
Trial design

Hart 2014 Wheat

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

Hart 2014 Canola

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

Hart 2014 Field peas

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

Hart 2015 Field peas

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

Hart 2015 Wheat

Sow date 3 May 2015
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 9.0m x 16.5m
Plot replication 4
Fertiliser
  • Urea/DAP (22:15) @ 81 kg /ha at seeding (18 kg N/ha)
  • All in-season N applications as specified in trial report

Hart 2015 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

@T1: GS32 @T2: GS39 @T3: GS65 @T4: GS99
# Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha) Screenings (%) Test weight (kg/hL) Nitrogen uptake (kg N/ha) Nitrogen uptake (kg N/ha) Nitrogen uptake (kg N/ha) Nitrogen uptake (kg N/ha)
1 Canola previous crop Nil 11.6 2.76 2.1 77.4 29 44 46 92
1 Canola previous crop 40 kg N/ha @ GS31 12.2 3.05 3.2 76.6 33 47 61 73
1 Canola previous crop 80 kg N/ha @ GS31 13.2 3.1 4.8 74.1 38 44 75 115
1 Canola previous crop 80 kg N/ha IBS 12.3 3.05 2.9 77.2 34 52 66 95
1 Canola previous crop 80 kg N/ha @ GS31 + inhibitor 13.6 3.3 5.8 74.6 37 54 84 106
2 Canola previous crop 53 kg N/ha split @ GS30, 32, 45 12.4 3.19 3.8 75.8 31 50 63 103
2 Field pea previous crop Nil 11.4 3.85 1.3 79.7 52 66 83 61
2 Field pea previous crop 40 kg N/ha @ GS31 12.1 4.31 1.8 78.7 48 73 86 67
2 Field pea previous crop 80 kg N/ha @ GS31 13 4.4 1.8 78 50 79 104 77
2 Field pea previous crop 80 kg N/ha IBS 12.4 4.15 1.4 79.5 53 80 91 66
3 Field pea previous crop 80 kg N/ha @ GS31 + inhibitor 13 4.21 1.7 78.9 51 78 94 96
3 Field pea previous crop 53 kg N/ha split @ GS30, 32, 45 12.8 4.13 1.4 78.9 51 76 98 71
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Grain yield t/ha


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Nitrogen uptake kg N/ha


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Test weight kg/hL


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Hart, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Hart, SA Chromosol
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 Hart SA
2015 597.6mm
2014 638.6mm
2013 622.8mm
2012 654.6mm
2011 683.8mm
2010 686.7mm
2009 669.9mm
2008 633.9mm
2007 649.9mm
2006 651.2mm
2005 675.4mm
2004 633.0mm
2003 652.2mm
2002 649.4mm
2001 674.5mm
2000 625.6mm
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.

Hart SA

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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: 06-08-2019 07:54am AEST