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

2017

Research organisation

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	Article/commentary
Trial design	Not applicable

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	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

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

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
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000

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