Nitrogen response of eight wheat varieties – Coolah 2015

2015

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Aims

To determine the effect of N rate on the yield and grain quality of eight popular bread wheat varieties at Coolah in central NSW in 2015. 

Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient most required by wheat. It is essential for growth and development, and yield and grain protein levels. In recent seasons in Central West NSW there has been a significant trend towards 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 if more applied N is needed to support crop growth and to maximise yield and grain protein potential within a given season. Consideration must also be given to starting soil water and target yield. This trial aimed to determine the effect of N rate on the yield and grain quality of eight popular bread wheat varieties at Coolah in central NSW in 2015.

Key messages

Key findings:

  • This site was fairly unresponsive to nitrogen (N) application. Yield and screenings did not significantly change with increasing rates of N, but there were moderate responses in grain protein to all rates of applied N in all varieties.
  • The 40 kg N/ha at sowing + 40 kg N/ha in crop treatment had a significant increase in grain protein above the 40 kg N/ha at sowing only treatment in all varieties, but was not significantly different from the 80 kg N/ha at sowing treatment

Results:

There were moderate responses in grain protein to all rates of applied N in all varieties. The 40 kg N/ha at sowing + 40 kg N/ha in-crop treatment showed a significant increase in grain protein above the 40 kg N/ha at sowing only treatment in all varieties, but was not significantly different from the 80 kg N/ha at sowing treatment. Screening levels were low, with only Dart above 5% in some treatments. Dart, being the quickest variety in this trial, flowered and reached grain filling ahead of the other varieties, most likely causing it to be filling grain and losing green leaf during the hotter and drier part of September. The slower varieties probably benefited more from the late spring rains in this season

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 project DAN00129: Variety specific agronomy packages for new varieties in NSW. Thanks to Gavin Melville for biometric analysis and Ryan Potts, Lizzie Smith, Paddy Steele, Sally Wright and Rachel Hayden for technical assistance.


Other trial partners Co-operator: "Binnia Creek"
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

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

Coolah 2015

Sow date 13 May 2015
Harvest date 8 December 2015
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

90 kg/ha Trifos at sowing 

Insecticide

300 g/ha pirimicarb (500 g/kg) 7 October (aphids) 

Fungicide

Prothioconazole (210 g/L) + tebuconazole (210 g/L) applied at 300 mL/ha on 14 September and 7 October 

Other trial notes

Treatments

Variety:

  • Dart
  • EGA Gregory
  • Kiora
  • Lancer
  • Spitfire
  • Sunmate
  • Suntop
  • Viking

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 applied as urea, pre-drilled immediately prior to sowing, with exception of the 40 + 40 treatment which had 40 kg N/ha pre-drilled at sowing and 40 kg N/ha top dressed at GS31.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Variety
Screenings (%) Applied nitrogen (kg N/ha) Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha)
1  Dart 4.9 0 12 4.1
2   5.2 20 12.4 4.1
3   5.2 40 12.9 4.1
4   4.9 40+40 13.4 4.1
5   5.4 80 13.2 4.1
6   5.1 160 13.6 4.1
7 EGA_Gregory 2.8 0 10.8 4.4
8   3.2 20 11.3 4.4
9   3.1 40 11.7 4.5
10   2.9 40+40 12.2 4.5
11   3.3 80 12 4.5
12   3 160 12.4 4.5
13 Kiora 3.5 0 11.7 4.2
14   3.9 20 12.1 4.2
15   3.8 40 12.6 4.2
16   3.6 40+40 13.1 4.2
17   4 80 12.9 4.2
18   3.7 160 13.3 4.2
19 Lancer 2.6 0 12.7 3.8
20   2.9 20 13.1 3.8
21   2.9 40 13.6 3.8
22   2.6 40+40 14.1 3.8
23   3.1 80 13.9 3.8
24 2.8 160 14.3 3.8
25 Spitfire 2.1 0 12.6 4.2
26   2.5 20 13.1 4.2
27   2.4 40 13.5 4.2
28   2.2 40+40 14.1 4.2
29   2.6 80 13.9 4.2
30   2.3 160 14.2 4.2
31 Sunmate 3.1 0 11.2 4.3
32   3.4 20 11.7 4.3
33   3.4 40 12.1 4.3
34   3.2 40+40 12.6 4.3
35   3.6 80 12.5 4.3
36   3.3 160 12.8 4.3
37 Suntop 2.6 0 10.9 4.2
38   3 20 11.4 4.2
39   3 40 11.8 4.3
40   2.7 40+40 12.4 4.3
41   3.1 80 12.2 4.3
42   2.8 160 12.5 4.3
43 Viking 3.8 0 10.9 3.9
44   4.1 20 11.4 3.9
45   4.1 40 11.8 4
46   3.8 40+40 12.3 4
47   4.3 80 12.1 4
48   3.9 160 12.5 4
49  

Grain yield t/ha


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Applied nitrogen kg N/ha


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Coolah, NSW Black soil
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Coolah, NSW Vertosol
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 Coolah NSW
2015 467.0mm
2014 440.9mm
2013 466.3mm
2012 528.4mm
2011 503.8mm
2010 573.1mm
2009 478.8mm
2008 468.6mm
2007 405.2mm
2006 436.1mm
2005 503.5mm
2004 442.2mm
2003 435.3mm
2002 415.8mm
2001 452.2mm
2000 415.0mm
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

Coolah NSW 2015


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 595.2mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 220.8mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 228mm

Derived climate information

Coolah NSW

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: 19-10-2023 14:16pm AEST