Strategies to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from nitrogen fertiliser applied to dryland sorghum. Part 1. Effects on crop production and gross margins - Tamworth
2014 - 2015
Important note
The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (July 2016). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that the information upon which they rely is up to date and to check the currency of the information with the appropriate officer of NSW Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development or the user’s independent adviser. The product trade names in this publication are supplied on the understanding that no preference between equivalent products is intended and that the inclusion of a product name does not imply endorsement by the department over any equivalent product from another manufacturer. Recognising that some of the information in this document is provided by third parties, the State of New South Wales, the author and the publisher take no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of any information included in the document provided by third parties.
To investe options for reducing nitrous oxide emissions from dryland summer grain cropping in northern NSW.
Key messages
Fertiliser nitrogen (N) rates should be tailored to suit paddock history and soil mineral N levels at sowing.
Sorghum yields without N fertiliser, although high in a favourable season, were still well below those achieved using additional N fertiliser.
At Tamworth, in-season rainfall ideally suited a split-N application strategy resulting in the highest yields.
At Breeza, drier conditions meant that neither split N application nor slowrelease N products boosted grain yields above those reached using urea all applied at sowing.
Gross margins for most alternative N strategies were greater than that achieved when no N was applied.
Lead research organisation
Department of Primary Industries NSW
Host research organisation
N/A
Trial funding source
GRDC DAN00129
Related program
NANORP Filling the Research Gap
Acknowledgments
This project was funded by NSW DPI and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture as part project DAN00129: NANORP Filling the Research Gap. Many thanks to Helen Squires, Mandy Holland, and Peter Sanson for assistance with field sampling and measurements, and the Tamworth cereal agronomy team for assistance with crop agronomy. Thanks also to Incitec Pivot Fertilisers Ltd for the supply of Entec®, NV®, and the polymer-coated urea (not currently a commercial product).
Trial results Effect of treatments on gross margin at Tamworth
#
Treatment 1
Gross margin ($/ha)
1
█
(sorg) 0N
1441
2
█
(sorg)
120N
2112
3
█
(soy) 0N
1763
4
█
(soy) 40N
2185
5
█
(sorg)
40N + 80N split
2432
Gross margin $/ha
Trial results Effects of treatments on grain yield and protein at Breeza
#
Treatment 1
Protein (%)
Grain yield (t/ha)
1
█
100%
Urea
8.7
7.15
2
█
100% Entec
9.1
6.58
3
█
100% Polymer
9.4
7.13
4
█
33% Urea/67% Entec
8.4
6.61
5
█
33% Urea/67% Polymer
9.2
6.15
6
█
33% Urea/33% Entec/33% Polymer
8.7
6.92
7
█
33% Urea + 67% Urea
9.2
6.66
8
█
33% Entec + 67% Urea
9.1
5.85
9
█
33% Polymer + 67% Urea
8.7
6.83
10
█
33% Urea + 67% NV
8.8
6.83
11
█
33% Entec + 67% NV
9.2
6.66
12
█
33% Polymer + 67% NV
9
6.85
13
█
Nil
6.4
5.25
Grain yield t/ha
Protein %
Trial results Effects of treatments on gross margin at Breeza
#
Treatment 1
Gross margin ($/ha)
1
█
Nil
1050
2
█
100% Urea
1412
3
█
100% Entec
1241
4
█
33%
Urea/67% Entec
1258
5
█
33% Urea
+ 67% Urea
1289
6
█
33% Entec
+ 67% Urea
1078
7
█
33% Urea
+ 67% NV
1324
8
█
33% Entec + 67% NV
1272
Gross margin $/ha
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.
Tamworth Agricultural Institute NSW
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.
