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Nitrogen application at stem elongation, is it worth the investment?

2018

Research organisations
Funding source
SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre South Australian Research and Development Institute
<abbr title='Grains Research and Development Corporation'>GRDC</abbr>

Trial details

Researcher(s) Fabio Arsego (SARDI)
Andrew Ware (SARDI)
Year(s) 2018
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Cummins, SA
Lock, SA
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA
Nitrogen application at stem elongation, is it worth the investment? locations
Aims

To determine whether adding extra nitrogen (N) at GS31 will bring benefits above the current standard practice of only applying nitrogen at or near sowing in three different Eyre Peninsula (EP) environments.

 

Key messages
  • At Cummins, an increase of up to 100% grain yield in wheat to 5 t/ha over the control was reached by applying 120 kg N/ha (two split applications of 60 kg/ha each at emergence and before GS31) and extra irrigation (50 mm) at GS31.
  • At Lock, up to a 19% higher grain yield to 5 t/ha was achieved compared to control by adding extra irrigation (50 mm) at GS31.
  • At Minnipa, an increase of up to 31% grain yield to 3 t/ha over the control was achieved by adding extra irrigation (50 mm) at GS31 and applying 120 kg N/ha in two split applications of 60 kg/ha at emergence and by GS31.
  • Water use efficiency (WUE) improved with N fertilisation by GS31 at Minnipa and Cummins.
  • The split application of 120 kg N by GS31 may only be a good investment in paddocks where crops with N requirements (e.g. canola) were grown in the previous season or soil N at sowing was low (less than 44 kg/ha) and with average or above average seasonal soil moisture at GS31.
Lead research organisation South Australian Research and Development Institute
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC DAS00165
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

The present project is part of the bi-lateral investment initiative between SARDI and GRDC (scope study DAS00165). Special thanks to Douglas Green, Ian Burrows and Jake Hull for providing their land for field trials in Cummins, Lock and Minnipa. Thank you to Brenton Spriggs, Sue Budarick and Katrina Brands for their collaboration with field activities.
Other trial partners Not specified
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

Cummins 2018

Sow rate or Target density Scepter, Mace, Halberd and Spear
Sow date 15 May 2018 15-05-2018
Harvest date 16 November 2018
Plot size 5m x 1.6m
Plot replication 3
Fertiliser

86 kg/ha Triple Super Phosphate

Mineral N in control treatments were 74 kg/ha for Minnipa, 61 kg/ha for Lock and 44 kg/ha for Cummins. Rainfall from sowing up to harvest was 178 mm at Minnipa, 231 mm at Lock and 288 mm at Cummins.

Treatment applications were based on extra N (two applications of 60 kg/ha each of N as urea at emergence and GS31) and water (50 mm applied at the beginning of stem elongation).
Herbicide

Boxer gold 1.5 L/ha, Avadex® 1.5 L/ha, Treflan 1.7 L/ha, Round up 2 L/ha, Hammer 100 ml/ha, Sulphate Ammonia 800 g/ha

Lock 2018

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2018

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Herbicide Not specified
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
Cummins, SA Clay loam
Lock, SA Not specified
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Cummins, SA Chromosol
Lock, SA Calcarosol
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Calcarosol
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 Cummins SA Lock SA Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA
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Climate

Cummins SA 2018

Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 423mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 314mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 361mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 288mm

Derived climate information

Cummins SA

Lock SA

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA

Cummins SA

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Lock SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA

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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

2018 trial report



Trial last modified: 08-10-2019 15:11pm AEST