The effect of stubble on nitrogen tie-up and supply - the Mallee experience

2017

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Bill Davoren (CSIRO Agriculture )
Vadakattu Gupta (CSIRO Agriculture)
John Kirkegaard (CSIRO Agriculture )
Stasia Kroker (CSIRO Agriculture)
Rick Llewellyn (CSIRO Agriculture)
Therese McBeath (CSIRO Agriculture)
Alan Richardson (CSIRO Agriculture)
Willie Shoobridge (CSIRO Agriculture )
Steve Szarvas (CSIRO Agriculture)
Year(s) 2017
Contributor CSIRO - Agriculture and Food
Trial location(s) Condobolin, NSW
Kerrabee, NSW
Appila, SA
Minnipa, SA
Streaky Bay, SA
Horsham, VIC
Wongan Hills, WA
The effect of stubble on nitrogen tie-up and supply - the Mallee experience locations
Aims

To investigate the dynamics of N in stubble-retained systems. 

Key messages
  • Cereal stubble should be thought of as a source of C for microbes, not as a source of N for crops. In the Mallee under no-till systems, only 1-2% of the N requirement of wheat crops is derived from the previous wheat stubble.
  • N tie-up in cropping soils is only a temporary constraint as the immobilised N will be released through microbial turnover, generally later in the crop season in spring.
  • N tie-up by cereal residue is not just a problem following incorporation – it also occurs in surface-retained and standing-stubble systems.
  • Management of tie-up is reasonably straightforward – supply more N (5 kg N for each t/ha of cereal residue) and supply it early to avoid impacts of N tie-up on crop yield and protein.
  • Deep-banding N can improve the N uptake, yield and protein of crops, especially in stubble-retained systems.
Lead research organisation CSIRO - Agriculture and Food
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC CSP00174,CSP00186,MSF00003
Trial funding source MSF
Related program Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble
Acknowledgments

The research undertaken as part of projects funded by the GRDC, the authors would like to thank them for their continued support. We would especially like to thank Loller family (Karoonda), Darryl Moore (Horsham), O’Connor family (Harden) for the long-term use of their land for these experiments. We acknowledge the expert technical assistance provided by CSIRO staff (Mel Bullock, Tony Swan) and BCG staff (Claire Browne) and Farmlink Research (Paul Bruest, Tony Pratt, Colin Fritsch) who managed and measured the experiments. Funding was provided through GRDC Projects; CSP00174, CSP00186, MSF00003 and BWD00024.


Other trial partners MSF, BCG and Farmlink Research
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

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

Condobolin 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
Herbicide Not specified

Kerrabee 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
Herbicide Not specified

Appila 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
Herbicide Not specified

Minnipa 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
Herbicide Not specified

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
Herbicide Not specified

Horsham 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
Herbicide Not specified

Horsham 2017

Sow rate or Target density 28cm row spacing
Sowing machinery

Knife points and a dual shoot system

Sow date 24 May 2017
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser
  • All plots received a pre-sowing application equivalent to 33 kg/ha of potassium sulfate to eliminate K and S as confounding issues and 10 kg P/ha as triple superphosphate at sowing.
  • All plots received an in-crop foliar application of Cu and Mn.
Herbicide

1.5 L/ha of trifluralin pre-sowing

Wongan Hills 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
Herbicide 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
Condobolin, NSW Not specified
Kerrabee, NSW Not specified
Appila, SA Not specified
Minnipa, SA Not specified
Streaky Bay, SA Not specified
Horsham, VIC Not specified
Wongan Hills, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Condobolin, NSW Kandosol
Kerrabee, NSW Kandosol
Appila, SA Sodosol
Minnipa, SA Calcarosol
Streaky Bay, SA
Horsham, VIC Vertosol
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 Condobolin NSW Kerrabee NSW Appila SA Minnipa SA Streaky Bay SA Horsham VIC Wongan Hills WA
2017 527.7mm245.3mm333.0mm323.8mm110.0mm856.5mm348.1mm
2016 518.5mm325.7mm297.1mm315.3mm123.8mm852.2mm374.6mm
2015 450.9mm250.4mm252.1mm289.3mm94.2mm844.6mm315.0mm
2014 441.3mm230.8mm265.4mm336.5mm119.5mm838.6mm279.5mm
2013 451.3mm262.1mm294.1mm290.8mm104.9mm843.8mm324.1mm
2012 506.5mm328.7mm332.8mm330.8mm99.4mm851.0mm321.7mm
2011 464.5mm313.4mm352.5mm383.4mm122.5mm856.7mm308.3mm
2010 454.9mm385.1mm365.2mm385.3mm108.5mm858.7mm309.1mm
2009 332.6mm317.6mm308.3mm391.3mm120.8mm850.1mm341.0mm
2008 323.0mm324.1mm295.4mm330.4mm103.0mm850.5mm347.0mm
2007 276.4mm277.2mm317.9mm331.2mm82.1mm851.7mm310.0mm
2006 286.2mm239.8mm292.9mm334.5mm94.0mm840.3mm329.7mm
2005 313.1mm300.6mm313.3mm288.0mm105.3mm852.1mm316.0mm
2004 293.7mm261.3mm282.8mm296.1mm107.8mm833.5mm328.4mm
2003 263.5mm236.2mm266.0mm293.2mm111.2mm795.2mm342.3mm
2002 268.4mm224.4mm256.5mm283.3mm96.4mm733.4mm293.1mm
2001 312.2mm261.0mm311.8mm343.9mm101.9mm712.5mm317.6mm
2000 355.0mm350.3mm288.0mm389.0mm105.1mm665.7mm393.1mm
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.

Condobolin WA

Kerrabee WA

Appila WA

Minnipa WA

Streaky Bay WA

Horsham WA

Wongan Hills WA

Condobolin WA

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

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

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

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Streaky Bay WA

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

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Wongan Hills WA

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: 14-05-2023 08:15am AEST