Strategies to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from nitrogen fertiliser applied to dryland sorghum. Part 2. Nitrous oxide emissions - Tamworth

2014 - 2015

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Bruce Haigh (NSW DPI)
Graeme Schwenke (NSW DPI)
Year(s) 2014 - 2015
Contributor Department of Primary Industries NSW
Trial location(s) Breeza, NSW
Tamworth Agricultural Institute, NSW
Further information View external link
Strategies to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from nitrogen fertiliser applied to dryland sorghum. Part 2. Nitrous oxide emissions - Tamworth locations
Aims

To report on the nitrous oxide (N2O) emission results from the 2014–15 grain sorghum trials, which aimed to optimise both nitrogen (N) rate and fertiliser N release to benefit crop production and reduce N2O emissions.

Key messages
  • Fertiliser nitrogen (N) rates tailored to suit paddock history/ soil mineral N levels optimised N2O emissions.
  • At Tamworth, withholding N fertiliser on a high mineral N soil reduced N2O emissions, but did not optimise grain yield.
  • At Breeza, most strategies of urea + nitrification inhibitor, polymer-coated urea and split N application substantially reduced N2O emissions. Most alternatives produced similar grain yields to the current practice of urea all applied at sowing, so the N2O emissions intensity per tonne of grain produced was also reduced.
  • A 1:3 blend of urea + polymer-coated urea all applied at sowing, increased N2O emissions compared with the urea all at sowing treatment. The treatment also reduced grain yield, so potential slow-release treatments need to be carefully evaluated from both an N2O emissions and grain production point of view.
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 research was funded by NSW DPI and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture as part of the 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 supplying Entec®, NV®, and the polymer-coated urea (not currently a commercial product).


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Sorghum
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Application Method
Trial type
Trial design

Breeza 2014

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

Breeza 2015

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

Tamworth Agricultural Institute 2014

Sow date 28 October 2014
Harvest date 6 March 2015
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Tamworth Agricultural Institute 2015

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Grain yield and cumulative N2O emissions summary at Tamworth

# Treatment 1
Nitrous oxide emissions (g N2O/ha) Emissions intensity (g N2O/t grain) Nitrous oxide emission factor (%) Emissions reduction (%) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 sorg_0_N 87 13 - 72 7
2 sorg_+N 309 30 0.19 - 10.3
3 soy_0_n 208 25 - 33 8.3
4 soy_+N 215 21 0.02 30 10.2
5 sorg_split - - - - 11.6

Grain yield t/ha


Loading

Emissions intensity g N2O/t grain


Loading

Emissions reduction %


Loading

Nitrous oxide emission factor %


Loading

Nitrous oxide emissions g N2O/ha


Loading

Trial results Grain yield and cumulative N2O emissions summary at Breeza

# Treatment 1
Nitrous oxide emissions (g N2O/ha) Emissions intensity (g N2O/t grain) Nitrous oxide emission factor (%) Emissions reduction (%) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Treatment no. 1 133 24 - 79 5.2
2 Treatment no. 2 637 90 0.56 - 7.1
3 Treatment no. 3 228 35 0.11 64 6.6
4 Treatment no. 4 465 67 0.37 27 7.1
5 Treatment no. 5 220 32 0.1 66 6.6
6 Treatment no. 6 915 163 0.87 -44 6.1
7 Treatment no. 7 278 40 0.16 56 6.9
8 Treatment no. 8 344 52 0.23 46 6.7
9 Treatment no. 9 207 38 0.08 68 5.8
10 Treatment no. 10 214 31 0.09 67 6.8
11 Treatment no. 11 311 46 0.2 51 6.8
12 Treatment no. 11 208 31 0.08 67 6.7
13 Treatment no. 13 230 33 0.11 64 6.9

Grain yield t/ha


Loading

Emissions intensity g N2O/t grain


Loading

Emissions reduction %


Loading

Nitrous oxide emission factor %


Loading

Nitrous oxide emissions g N2O/ha


Loading
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Breeza, NSW Not specified
Tamworth Agricultural Institute, NSW Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Breeza, NSW Sodosol
Tamworth Agricultural Institute, 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 Breeza NSW Tamworth Agricultural Institute NSW
2015 397.7mm788.3mm
2014 371.0mm788.1mm
2013 385.9mm780.3mm
2012 415.5mm774.5mm
2011 414.7mm772.8mm
2010 429.5mm799.1mm
2009 388.5mm784.3mm
2008 365.5mm792.0mm
2007 359.3mm788.5mm
2006 373.1mm790.3mm
2005 376.3mm797.4mm
2004 406.5mm799.1mm
2003 402.5mm800.0mm
2002 330.7mm781.0mm
2001 349.6mm777.0mm
2000 397.9mm747.4mm
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

Loading

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.

Breeza NSW

Tamworth Agricultural Institute NSW

Breeza NSW

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

Tamworth Agricultural Institute NSW

Loading
Loading
Loading

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

2014 trial report



Trial last modified: 19-10-2023 14:18pm AEST