Managing nutrition in sandy soils to close the yield gap

2015

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Bill Davoren (CSIRO)
Rick Llewellyn (CSIRO)
Therese McBeath (CSIRO)
Willie Shoobridge (CSIRO)
Year(s) 2015
Contributor CSIRO - Agriculture and Food
Trial location(s) loxton, SA
Managing nutrition in sandy soils to close the yield gap locations
Aims

To assess whether 

  • constraints to productivity on sands could be managed by manipulating the nutrition package,
  • early application of N is the most profitable option,
  • Zn is a constraint to yield and if the source of Zn is important, and
  • S is a constraint to yield and if the source of S is important
Key messages
  • 40 kg N/ha applied upfront was the best yielding treatment for 2015, with the best protein results where the 40 Kg of N was applied as Urea.
  • We found that 20 kg N/ha applied as a Zn enriched Urea product achieved a yield close to 40 kg N/ha as straight urea and we plan to test this treatment again in 2016.
  • The timing and form of S application did not have any effect in 2015. 
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC MSF00003
Trial funding source CSIRO
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Peer review: Sean Mason, University of Adelaide.

Thanks to Bulla Burra for their generous support in hosting the trial, and to Robin Schaeffer, Matthew Whitney, Michael Moodie, Jeff Braun and Lou Flohr for discussions around trial design. Thanks to Colin Rivers and Ros Baird for preparing granular Zn fertilisers. Funding for this work has been from the GRDC (MSF00003) and CSIRO Agriculture


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Application Method
  • Fertiliser: Rate
  • Fertiliser: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

loxton 2015

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

10 kg P/ha as triple superphosphate

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Dry weight (anthesis) (t/ha) Grain yield (t/ha) Dry weight (first node) (t/ha) Protein (%)
1 Control 1.62 1.03 0.82 0.96
2 20N Urea @sow 2.29 1.09 1.16 1.41
3 40N Urea at sow 2.57 1.24 1.15 1.66
4 20N Zn enriched Urea @sow 2.56 1.05 1.21 1.53
5 20N Urea +4Zn Zn blend @sow 2.43 1.01 1.19 1.38
6 20N urea + Foliar Zn @ 2-3 leaves 2.42 0.96 1.16 1.39
7 20N Urea @sow + 20N Urea@G14/S22 2.54 1.16 1.23 1.61
8 20N Urea @sow + 20N Zn enriched Urea@ GS14/22 2.5 1.2 1.08 1.55
9 20N Urea @sow + 20N Urea@GS31 2.38 1.19 1.11 1.56
10 20N Urea @sow +20S gypsum pre-sow 2.44 1.15 1.13 1.29
11 20N Urea @sow +20S gypsum@ GS14/22 2.72 1.04 1.24 1.35
12 20N Urea @sow + 20N Urea@ GS14/22 +20S gypsum@ GS14/22 2.47 1.2 1.26 1.55
13 20N Urea @sow +20S/20 N SOA+ Urea@ GS14/22 3.02 1.16 1.18 1.59
14 20N Urea @sow +4 S SOA@ GS14/22 2.69 1.03 1.04 1.37

Grain yield t/ha


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Dry weight (anthesis) t/ha


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Dry weight (first node) t/ha


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Protein %


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
loxton, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
loxton, 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 loxton SA
2015 211.2mm
2014 245.1mm
2013 221.3mm
2012 276.0mm
2011 331.8mm
2010 278.3mm
2009 216.3mm
2008 216.5mm
2007 213.9mm
2006 222.8mm
2005 245.4mm
2004 200.3mm
2003 181.7mm
2002 182.0mm
2001 237.7mm
2000 251.5mm
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

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

loxton 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

2015 trial report



Trial last modified: 14-05-2023 08:12am AEST