Does split-nitrogen application reduce nitrous oxide emissions from irrigated cotton compared with all nitrogen applied pre-season? - Gunnedah

2015

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Annabelle McPherson (NSW DPI)
Graeme Schwenke (NSW DPI)
Year(s) 2015
Contributor Department of Primary Industries NSW
Trial location(s) Gunnedah, NSW
Emerald, QLD
Further information View external link
Does split-nitrogen application reduce nitrous oxide emissions from irrigated cotton compared with all nitrogen applied pre-season?  - Gunnedah locations
Aims

To assess the effect that N fertiliser timing (all applied pre-planting vs pre-planting + in-crop) had on soil N2O emissions and cotton production.
 

Key messages
  • Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions at the Gunnedah site were approximately three times higher than at the Emerald site, probably because of the heavier clay soil at Gunnedah.
  • High and highly variable N2O emissions occurred at both sites during the week following the first irrigation event after the pre-planting nitrogen (N) application. There was no significant effect from the amount of N applied at pre-planting on these first emissions, nor overall at Gunnedah. At Emerald, overall N2O losses were greater from the split N treatment.
  • N2O emissions were low–negligible following the subsequent 4–5 irrigation events, except where N was water-run, which caused small and temporary increases in N2O.
  • The greatest N2O emission came from the soil above the pre-plant N fertiliser bands. More was emitted from the non-irrigated side of the plant bed, even when both sides of the bed had been fertilised (Emerald).
  • Cotton lint yield was not affected by N timing treatment, however, plant biomass was smaller and more N-concentrated from the split N treatment at Gunnedah.
  • The 2015–16 weather conditions did not favour either N-timing treatment agronomically or environmentally, but different rainfall patterns in other years may be more influential.
     
Lead research organisation Department of Primary Industries NSW
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source DPI NSW AOTG14013
Trial funding source DAWR
Related program Determining optimum nitrogen strategies for abatement of emissions for different irrigated cotton systems
Acknowledgments

These experiments were part of the project Determining optimum nitrogen strategies for abatement of emissions for different irrigated cotton systems (AOTG14013; 2013–17), with joint investment by NSW DPI and DAWR, and administered by CRDC. Thanks to Cam Geddes and Rod Smith for providing the experimental sites and for applying the N fertiliser treatments into the required plots, and to Amanda Noone and Wayne McPherson for field work at Emerald and Gunnedah, respectively. All soil and plant N analyses were carried out by Clarence Mercer at the ISO9001-accredited laboratory at Tamworth Agricultural Institute, NSW DPI.


Other trial partners Co-operator: Cam Geddes
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Other crop: Cotton
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Application Method
  • Fertiliser: Timing
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Blocked

Gunnedah 2015

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot blocking Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/802900/NNSWRR2017-web-access-fixedMar2018.pdf

Emerald 2015

Sow date 10 September 2015
Harvest date 3 February 2016
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication 3
Plot blocking Randomised complete block
Plot randomisation Yes
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/802900/NNSWRR2017-web-access-fixedMar2018.pdf

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
Gunnedah, NSW Not specified
Emerald, QLD Vertisol
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Gunnedah, NSW Sodosol
Emerald, QLD 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 Gunnedah NSW Emerald QLD
2015 40.8mm410.7mm
2014 31.3mm392.5mm
2013 75.3mm446.4mm
2012 122.9mm575.8mm
2011 67.2mm595.3mm
2010 91.3mm585.6mm
2009 21.8mm527.6mm
2008 35.8mm546.8mm
2007 31.8mm478.3mm
2006 22.3mm393.6mm
2005 54.0mm358.3mm
2004 61.3mm286.2mm
2003 135.8mm276.1mm
2002 196.3mm363.1mm
2001 354.8mm525.4mm
2000 415.6mm593.0mm
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

Emerald QLD 2015


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 401mm

Derived climate information

Gunnedah QLD

Emerald QLD

Gunnedah QLD

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

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

2015 trial report



Trial last modified: 05-06-2023 15:20pm AEST