Are farmers in low rainfall cropping regions under-fertilising with nitrogen? A Mallee risk analysis

2011

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Lisa Brennan (CSIRO)
Rick Llewellyn (CSIRO)
Therese McBeath (CSIRO)
Marta Monjardino (CSIRO)
Year(s) 2011
Contributor CSIRO - Ecosystems Science
Trial location(s) Karoonda, SA
Are farmers in low rainfall cropping regions under-fertilising with nitrogen? A Mallee risk analysis locations
Aims

To identify the most profitable rate of nitrogen (N) fertiliser presents a challenge to dryland farmers.

Key messages
  • There are opportunities to increase profit with increased N input in sandy Mallee soils. However, the risk aversion of the land manager is an important consideration. The use of probability graphs at different levels of risk aversion can support decision making and practice change.
Lead research organisation CSIRO - Ecosystems Science
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC CSA020
Related program Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems
Acknowledgments
  • We are grateful to Peter Hooper and Jeff Braun for their review of our N management analysis, and for the provision of field trial data to enable model validation.
  • Thanks to the Loller family for their ongoing support of our research efforts at Karoonda. Thanks to Nigel Wilhelm and Sarah Noack for useful comments on this article.
  • Thanks to the GRDC project CSA020 for funding this work.

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

Method

Crop type Other: Not specified
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Application Method
Trial type Article/commentary
Trial design Not applicable

Karoonda 2011

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication 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
Karoonda, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Karoonda, SA Calcarosol
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 Karoonda SA
2011 276.9mm
2010 238.4mm
2009 183.8mm
2008 170.9mm
2007 195.6mm
2006 201.1mm
2005 234.8mm
2004 189.3mm
2003 197.3mm
2002 162.2mm
2001 176.9mm
2000 228.7mm
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.

Karoonda 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 report and links

2011 trial report



Trial last modified: 14-05-2023 08:18am AEST