To determine the impact of N and K supply on yield and quality, on ameliorated non-wetting soils in the Geraldton Port Zone.
To determine the most effective way to apply nutrients (granular, banded, top dressed or liquid) on non-wetting soils after amelioration, in the Geraldton Port Zone.
Key messages
Cultivation will often see improved yields in the first two seasons, particularly on lighter soils.
The 2018 season saw 409 mm of growing season rainfall (GSR) resulting in a significant response to nitrogen (N) and a response to a residual high potassium (K) applied in 2017.
In soils deficient in K (below 40-50mg/kg) at 0-10 cm, application of higher rates of top dressed K to take advantage of the residual benefits across seasons could be considered.
Lead research organisation
Liebe Group
Host research organisation
N/A
Trial funding source
GRDC LIE00010-A
Related program
N/A
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the Broun family for hosting this site at their Eneabba property. The Liebe Group would also like to acknowledge the project team, including Stephen Davies (DPIRD) and James Easton (CSBP) who helped design this trial and Andrew Van Burgel (DPIRD) for statistical analysis. Thanks are also extended to the field team at Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Geraldton, for implementation, management and harvesting of this trial.
This project has been supported by the GRDC investment LIE00010-A Best bet management for ameliorated non-wetting soils of the Geraldton Port Zone.
Peer review: Dr Frances Hoyle, University of Western Australia
Trial results Implemented nutrient treatments for 2018
#
Treatment 1
Banded (kg/ha)
Banded (L/ha)
Rosette (L/ha)
N (mg/kg)
P (mg/kg)
K (mg/kg)
Budding (L/ha)
1
█
Std N No K
85 Agstar Extra
50 Flexi N
80 Flexi N
70
12
0
2
█
Std N Std K
100 K-Till Extra
50 Flexi N
80 Flexi N
70
12
11
3
█
Liquid K
85 Agstar Extra
117 Flexi NK
80 Flexi N
70
12
11
4
█
Std N High K
100 K-Till Extra/28
50 Flexi N
80 Flexi N
70
12
25
5
█
No N
62 Big Phos/51 MoP
50 Flexi N
0
12
25
6
█
Low N
100 K-Till Extra/28
50 Flexi N
31
12
25
7
█
High N
100 K-Till Extra/28
50 Flexi N
80 Flexi N
100
12
25
71 Flexi N
8
█
High N No K
85 Agstar Extra
50 Flexi N
80 Flexi N
100
12
0
71 Flexi N
9
█
Residual High K
85 Agstar Extra
80 Flexi N
70
12
0
Trial results Soil test results Treatment 1, Eneabba, 26th March 2018
#
Treatment 1
Organic carbon (%)
Colwell phosphorus (mg/kg)
Water droplet penetration time (seconds)
pH CaCl2 (pH)
Electrical conductivity (dS/m)
NH4 (mg/kg)
NO3 (mg/kg)
Depth (cm)
Colwell Potassium (mg/kg)
PBI (unit)
MED (unit)
1
█
Standard N, No K
0.57
9.5
6.8
6.2
0.072
1
19
0-10
20
7.5
0
2
█
Standard N, No K
0.69
10
5.9
0.039
1
11
10-20
17
8.6
3
█
Standard N, No K
0.42
12.5
5.6
0.022
1
6
20-30
15
8.6
4
█
Standard N, No K
4.9
30-40
24
5
█
Standard N, No K
5
40-50
24
Colwell phosphorus mg/kg
Electrical conductivity dS/m
NH4 mg/kg
NO3 mg/kg
Organic carbon %
pH CaCl2 pH
Water droplet penetration time seconds
Trial results Soil test results Treatment 9, Eneabba, 26th March 2018
#
Treatment 1
Organic carbon (%)
Colwell phosphorus (mg/kg)
Water droplet penetration time (seconds)
pH CaCl2 (pH)
Electrical conductivity (dS/m)
NH4 (mg/kg)
NO3 (mg/kg)
Depth (cm)
Colwell Potassium (mg/kg)
PBI (unit)
MED (unit)
1
█
Residual High K
0.57
10
6.8
6.2
0.072
1
14
0-10
34
7.5
0
2
█
Residual High K
0.69
8
6.1
0.039
<1
9
10-20
30
8.6
3
█
Residual High K
0.42
12
5.4
0.022
1
3
20-30
18
8.6
4
█
Residual High K
4.9
30-40
19
5
█
Residual High K
5
40-50
25
Colwell phosphorus mg/kg
Electrical conductivity dS/m
NH4 mg/kg
NO3 mg/kg
Organic carbon %
pH CaCl2 pH
Water droplet penetration time seconds
Trial results Impact of fertiliser management strategy on 2018 Canola yield
#
Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha)
Applied nitrogen (kg N/ha)
Potassium (kg/ha)
1
█
Std N No K
1.06ab
70
0
2
█
Std N Std K
1.14bc
70
11
3
█
Liquid K
1.06ab
70
11
4
█
Std N High K
1.11ab
70
25
5
█
No N
0.91a
0
25
6
█
Low N
0.93ab
31
25
7
█
High N
1.32cd
100
25
8
█
High N No K
1.32cd
100
0
9
█
Residual High K
1.36cd
70
Residual
Grain yield t/ha
Applied nitrogen kg N/ha
Potassium kg/ha
Trial results Impact of fertiliser management strategy on 2018 Canola oil % (ranked lowest to highest)
#
Treatment 1
Oil (%)
Applied nitrogen (kg N/ha)
Potassium (kg/ha)
1
█
Std N No K
44.7ab
70
0
2
█
Std N Std K
45.4abc
70
11
3
█
Liquid K
44.4a
70
11
4
█
Std N High K
45.6bc
70
25
5
█
No N
44.6ab
0
25
6
█
Low N
44.4a
31
25
7
█
High N
46.0c
100
25
8
█
High N No K
45.7bc
100
0
9
█
Residual High K
44.9abc
70
Residual
Applied nitrogen kg N/ha
Oil %
Potassium kg/ha
Trial results Gross margin analysis by treatment
#
Treatment 1
Gross margin ($/ha)
Oil (%)
Grain yield (t/ha)
Gross return ($/ha)
Applied nitrogen (kg N/ha)
Potassium (kg/ha)
Phosphorus (kg/ha)
Banded (kg/ha)
Banded (L/ha)
Rosette (L/ha)
Budding (L/ha)
1
█
Std N No K
416
44.7
1.06
574
70
12
0
85 Agstar Extra
50 Flexi N
80 Flexi N
2
█
Std N Std K
447
45.4
1.14
621
70
12
11
100 K-Till Extra
50 Flexi N
80 Flexi N
3
█
Liquid K
388
44.4
1.06
571
70
12
11
85 Agstar Extra
117 Flexi NK
80 Flexi N
4
█
Std N High K
417
45.6
1.11
610
70
12
25
100 K-Till Extra/28
50 Flexi N
80 Flexi N
5
█
No N
418
44.6
0.91
489
0
12
25
62 Big Phos/51 MoP
50 Flexi N
6
█
Low N
367
44.4
0.93
503
31
12
25
100 K-Till Extra/28
50 Flexi N
80 Flexi N
7
█
High N
487
46
1.32
729
100
12
25
100 K-Till Extra/28
54 Flexi N
80 Flexi N
71 Flexi N
8
█
High N No K
508
45.7
1.33
718
100
12
0
85 Agstar Extra
54 Flexi N
80 Flexi N
71 Flexi N
9
█
Residual High K
448
44.9
1.36
739
70
12
Residual
85 Agstar Extra
80 Flexi N
Grain yield t/ha
Applied nitrogen kg N/ha
Gross margin $/ha
Gross return $/ha
Oil %
Phosphorus kg/ha
Potassium kg/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.
Eneabba WA
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.
