Fluid delivery systems and fungicides in wheat

2017

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Amanda Cook (SARDI)
Year(s) 2017
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Streaky Bay, SA
Warramboo, SA
Related trials
Fluid delivery systems and fungicides in wheat locations
Aims

To build on previous research by updating knowledge of the benefits, including disease control and nutrition, of fluid delivery systems.

Key messages
  • Phosphoric acid as a liquid fertiliser resulted in 13% and 8% higher yields in 2014 and 2015 respectively at Streaky Bay, and an 8% yield increase at Warramboo in 2016 when compared to the same rate of P delivered in granular fertilisers.
  • Despite the yield increases at Streaky Bay and Warramboo, the economics showed granular fertiliser had greater returns in $/ha compared to using phosphoric acid at 9 units of P.
  • The guidelines for moving to the adoption of phosphoric acid as a P source exist in the Fluid Fertiliser Manual which adequately covers the principles, economics, recommendations and chemistry of adopting fluid delivery systems. The manual is available at www.fluidfertilsers.com.au.
  • Knowing the responsiveness of a soil type to phosphoric acid is an important factor to consider before investing in a fluid delivery system. The responsive soil types are generally higher n calcium carbonate (greater than 25%). P source responses may also be driven by soil moisture conditions because in 2016, which had wetter seasonal conditions, phosphoric acid and granular P performed similarly in the same soil type at Streaky Bay.
  • The adoption of fluid fertiliser systems to place fungicides in-furrow for rhizoctonia disease management is not recommended in this environment. The addition of fungicides showed small and variable yield advantages at Warramboo in 2014 and 2016 and Streaky Bay in 2016. Using fungicides in above average seasons the greatest yield benefit was only 0.22 t/ha with an in-furrow application with granular phosphorus and trace elements. This is lower than the benefits achieved in other regions where yield increases of up to 0.49 t/ha in wheat with split applications of fungicides were achieved. Inluding fungicides on wheat up front will increase input costs and risk over a large cropping program. 
  • Large scale demonstrations by growers across Eyre Peninsula with in-furrow fungicide applications at seeding did not reduce rhizoctonia or produce yield benefits over three seasons.
  • The adoption of fluid fertiliser systems will depend in growers' soil types for phosphorus responses, the existence of trace element deficiences and ease or timing of application (in-furrow at seeding) and machinery ability to deliver fluids.
Lead research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source SAGIT S614
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Thank you to Darren Sampson and Luke Kelsh and families for supporting research by having trials on their properties. Thanks to Syngenta and Bayer for supplying fungicide products for the trial.


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Form
  • Fertiliser: Rate
  • Fertiliser: Type
  • Fungicide: Type
Trial type
Trial design

Streaky Bay 2017

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
Fungicide Not specified

Warramboo 2017

Sow rate or Target density 60 kg/ha Mace wheat
Sowing machinery

In the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons, three replicated trials were established (total of 9 trials), at Warramboo on a red sandy soil and two at Streaky Bay on a grey calcareous sand. Both sites had nutrition delivery treatments and fungicide application strategies. The fluid fertiliser delivery system placed fluid fertiliser approximately 3 cm below the seed at an output rate of 100 L/ha. The fluid system could also split the fluids to deliver the fungicide both below the seed at approximately 3 cm, and in the seeder furrow behind the press wheel in a band approximately 1 cm in width.

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 20m X 2m
Plot replication 3
Fertiliser

The control was 60 kg/ha of Mace wheat with 50 kg/ha of 18:20:0:0 (DAP). All phosphorus treatments were applied to the same rate of 9 kg/ha of phosphorus (P) and balanced with urea or UAN to 10 kg/ha of nitrogen (N). Manganese (Mn) was selected as the main focus trace element and a DAP fertiliser dry blend with Mn @ 1.5 kg/ha was used. Phosphoric acid and granular urea, or ammonium nitrate (UAN) were used as fluid fertiliser products to compare with granular fertilisers. Manganese sulphate was dissolved with the standard rate being 1.5 kg Mn/ha and 3 kg/ha as a high rate. 1 kg/ha Zn, as zinc sulphate and 0.2 kg/ha Cu as copper sulphate were dissolved in the standard rates of trace elements, which were also delivered as foliar applications at 4-5 leaf stage. The extra nitrogen at seeding treatment was applied as 40 kg/ha of granular urea.

Fungicide

The fungicides azoxystrobin + metalaxyl-M (Uniform), penflufen (EverGol Prime, and new formulation of EverGol Prime for fluid delivery in 2016) and sedaxane (Vibrance seed dressing) were assessed for Rhizoctonia disease suppression at different rates and in split applications. Triadimenol and flutriafol were also applied on fertiliser as treatments.

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
Streaky Bay, SA Not specified
Warramboo, SA Red sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
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 Streaky Bay SA Warramboo SA
2017 126.1mm136.1mm
2016 142.7mm123.5mm
2015 109.1mm107.3mm
2014 135.6mm147.4mm
2013 118.4mm111.4mm
2012 114.1mm121.8mm
2011 147.1mm158.5mm
2010 127.7mm146.9mm
2009 138.9mm158.6mm
2008 114.8mm114.7mm
2007 98.7mm114.2mm
2006 114.1mm128.4mm
2005 117.2mm120.1mm
2004 120.1mm106.0mm
2003 126.5mm111.2mm
2002 112.7mm112.2mm
2001 120.7mm152.5mm
2000 124.7mm156.5mm
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

Warramboo SA 2017


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 313mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 227mm

Derived climate information

Streaky Bay SA

Warramboo SA

Streaky Bay SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Warramboo SA

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

2017 trial report



Trial last modified: 08-10-2019 11:35am AEST