| Researcher(s) |
Tracie Bird (Gardiner (NSW DPI)) Greg Brooke (NSW DPI) |
|---|---|
| Year(s) | 2015 |
| Contributor | Department of Primary Industries NSW |
| Trial location(s) |
Trangie Agricultural Research Centre, NSW
|
| Further information | View external link |
| Related trials |
To determine the effect of N application and sowing time on the yield and grain quality of eight popular bread wheat varieties at Trangie in central NSW in 2015.
Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient wheat most needs for growth, development and yield. In recent seasons in Central West NSW there has been a significant trend towards above average yields and very low grain protein levels with more than 30% of grain receivals meeting ASW or lower specifications. Protein levels of <10.5% in a prime hard variety usually indicate that insufficient N levels have not only limited grain protein concentrations, but also yield. Soil testing for N levels before sowing remains an important budgeting tool. It is the most useful indicator within that season if additional applied N is needed to maximise yield and grain protein levels, along with starting soil water and target yield. This trial aimed to determine the effect of N application and sowing time on the yield and grain quality of eight popular bread wheat varieties at Trangie in central NSW in 2015.
Key mesages:
Conclusions:
This trial site had a high starting soil N level of 233 kg N/ha (0–120 cm) which probably contributed to declining yield with increasing rates of N application. However, protein levels still increased with increasing rates of N application, but this was most likely due to decreased grain size. Most varieties yielded almost 1 t/ha higher with TOS 1 compared with TOS 2. Sunmate and Suntop generally performed similarly at both sowing times. They were the highest yielding varieties at each sowing date, but also had lower protein achievement. Lancer and Spitfire also performed similarly at the two sowing dates and were generally lower yielding than Sunmate or Suntop at each sowing time, but obtained higher grain protein levels.
| Lead research organisation |
Department of Primary Industries NSW |
|---|---|
| Host research organisation | N/A |
| Trial funding source | GRDC DAN00129 |
| Trial funding source | DPI NSW |
| Related program |
Variety Specific Agronomy Packages for southern, central and northern NSW |
| Acknowledgments |
This research was funded by NSW DPI and GRDC under the project DAN00129: Variety specific agronomy packages for new varieties in NSW. Thanks to Gavin Melville for biometric analysis and Lizzie Smith, Paddy Steele, Sally Wright, Rachel Hayden and Jayne Jenkins for technical assistance. |
| Other trial partners | Not specified |
| Crop type | Cereal (Grain): Wheat |
|---|---|
| Treatment type(s) |
|
| Trial type | Experimental |
| Trial design | Replicated |
| Sow date | 1 May 2015 TOS 1: 1 May 2015; TOS 2: 13 May 2015 |
|---|---|
| Harvest date | 20 November 2015 TOS 1: 20 November 2015; TOS 2: 29 November 2015 |
| Plot size | Not specified |
| Plot replication | Not specified |
| Psuedoreplication | Not specified |
| Fertiliser |
80 kg/ha Trifos at sowing Nitrogen (N): 0, 20, 40, 80, 160 kg N/ha at sowing, and 40+40 (40 kg N/ha applied at both sowing and GS31). Nitrogen was applied as urea pre-drilled immediately before sowing excepting the 40 + 40 treatment, which had 40 kg N/ha pre-drilled at sowing and 40 kg N/ha top-dressed at GS31 to take advantage of suitable topdressing rain. |
| Fungicide |
Prothioconazole (210 g/L) + tebuconazole (210 g/L) at 300 mL/ha at GS32 and GS39 |
| Other trial notes |
Treatments Variety:
Nitrogen (N): 0, 20, 40, 80, 160 kg N/ha at sowing, and 40+40 (40 kg N/ha applied at both sowing and GS31). Nitrogen was applied as urea pre-drilled immediately before sowing excepting the 40 + 40 treatment, which had 40 kg N/ha pre-drilled at sowing and 40 kg N/ha top-dressed at GS31 to take advantage of suitable topdressing rain. RESULTS: Nitrogen treatments: Protein levels significantly increased with increasing N application rates across all varieties. However, grain yield significantly declined with increasing rates of nitrogen application in all varieties. There was no significant difference in yield between nitrogen applied as a split treatment of 40 + 40 (sowing: GS31) or 80 kg N/ha at sowing. There was a linear relationship between nitrogen application rate and the level of screenings (%), which increased as the N rate increased. There was no difference in screening levels between the 40 + 40 split N treatment and 80 kg N/ha at sowing except for Dart, Kiora and Suntop, which had significantly higher screenings with the 80 kg N/ha at sowing application Time of sowing Sowing time had a significant effect on grain protein, yield and screening levels (screenings data not shown) achieved by all varieties at Trangie in 2015. A two-week delay in sowing from early May to mid-May reduced yield by 1.0 t/ha, increased protein by 1.4% and increased screenings by 5.8% when averaged across the eight wheat varieties. All varieties were significantly higher yielding for TOS 1 than TOS 2, but conversely there were higher grain protein levels with TOS 2 than TOS 1
|
| Rainfall avg ann (mm) | 496.2mm |
|---|---|
| Rainfall avg gsr (mm) | 174mm |
| Rainfall trial gsr (mm) | 172mm |
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.
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Note that PBR cover is administered through the Plant Breeders’ Right Act 1994 (