Management of nutrition after rotary cultivation of a non-wetting soil in the Geraldton Port Zone - Marchagee

2018
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Stephen Davies (DPIRD)
James Easton (CSBP)
Alana Hartley (Liebe)
Year(s) 2018
Contributor Liebe Group
Trial location(s) , WA
Related trials
Management of nutrition after rotary cultivation of a non-wetting soil in the Geraldton Port Zone - Marchagee locations
Aims
  • To quantify the impact of nitrogen and potassium fertiliser on wheat yield and quality, after mouldboard ploughing 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
  • A high application of potassium (K), 25 kg/ha and standard nitrogen (N) rates, 70 kg/ha improved wheat yield and grain quality up to 0.47 t/ha on mould boarded deep sand.
  • In the presence of adequate potassium (> 40-50 mg/kg), in favourable seasons, wheat can respond to the application of N) fertiliser, resulting in high yield and protein. Where K is limited, returns from N are likely to be poor.
  • The results indicate that a higher rate of K than banding 11 kg/ha K can lead to a significant increase in yield and profitability.
     
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 Hunt family for hosting this site at their Marchagee property. The Liebe Group would also like to acknowledge the project team, including Stephen Davies (DPIRD) and James Easton (CSBP) who assisted with the development of the trial design and interpretation of results. Thanks are also extended to Andrew Van Burgel (DPIRD for statistical analysis and support and 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 GRD 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
 


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Improvement
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

2018

Sow rate or Target density Scepter 70 kg/ha
Sow date 5 April 2019
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 1.54m x 20m
Plot replication 4
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Implemented trial design

# Treatment 1
Potassium (kg/ha) Banded (kg/ha) Nitrogen application (Z23) (L/ha) Applied nitrogen (kg N/ha) Phosphorus (kg/ha) Banded (L/ha) Nitrogen application (Z32) (L/ha)
1 Std N No K 12 85 Agstar Extra 83 Flexi N 70 0 50 Flexi N
2 Std N Std K 12 100 K-Till Extra 83 Flexi N 70 11 50 Flexi N
3 Liquid K 12 85 Agstar Extra 83 Flexi N 70 11 117 Flexi NK
4 Std N High K 12 100 K-Till Extra/28 83 Flexi N 70 25 50 Flexi N
5 No N 12 62 Big Phos/51 MoP 0 25
6 Low N 12 100 K-Till Extra/28 31 25 50 Flexi N
7 High N 12 100 K-Till Extra/28 83 Flexi N 100 25 50 Flexi N 71 Flexi N
8 High N No K 12 85 Agstar Extra 83 Flexi N 100 0 54 Flexi N 71 Flexi N
9 Residual Very High K 12 85 Agstar Extra 83 Flexi N 70 99 54 Flexi N

Applied nitrogen kg N/ha


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Phosphorus kg/ha


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Potassium kg/ha


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Trial results Soil test results Treatment 1, Marchagee, 19th March 2018

# Treatment 1
PBI (unit) Colwell phosphorus (mg/kg) pH CaCl2 (pH) NH4 (mg/kg) Depth (cm) Colwell Potassium (mg/kg) MED (unit) Organic carbon (%) Water droplet penetration time (seconds) Electrical conductivity (dS/m) NO3 (mg/kg)
1 Std N No K 11.5 28 5.3 2 0-10 21 0 0.58 0 0.047 18
2 Std N No K 12.9 22 4.9 <1 10-20 19 0.55 0.028 9
3 Std N No K 10.5 24 4.5 <1 20-30 17 0.32 0.017 3
4 Std N No K 27 4.7 30-40 12
5 Std N No K 23 4.7 40-50 4

Colwell phosphorus mg/kg


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Electrical conductivity dS/m


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NH4 mg/kg


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NO3 mg/kg


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Organic carbon %


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pH CaCl2 pH


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Water droplet penetration time seconds


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Trial results Soil test results Treatment 9, Marchagee, 19th March 2018

# Treatment 1
PBI (unit) Colwell phosphorus (mg/kg) pH CaCl2 (pH) NH4 (mg/kg) Depth (cm) Colwell Potassium (mg/kg) MED (unit) Organic carbon (%) Water droplet penetration time (seconds) Electrical conductivity (dS/m) NO3 (mg/kg)
1 Residual Very High K 9.4 68 5.2 1 0-10 25 0 0.53 0 0.044 15
2 Residual Very High K 11.9 22 5.2 <1 10-20 17 0.55 0.03 11
3 Residual Very High K 8.6 18 4.6 <1 20-30 15 0.3 0.017 4
4 Residual Very High K 19 4.4 30-40 12
5 Residual Very High K 18 4.6 40-50 4

Colwell phosphorus mg/kg


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Electrical conductivity dS/m


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NH4 mg/kg


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NO3 mg/kg


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Organic carbon %


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pH CaCl2 pH


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Water droplet penetration time seconds


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Trial results Impact of fertiliser management strategy on 2018 wheat protein (lowest to highest)

# Treatment 1
Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha) Applied nitrogen (kg N/ha) Hectolitre weight (kg/hL) Screenings (%) Grade (grade) Phosphorus (kg/ha)
1 Std N No K 11.9de 1.34a 70 11.9de 4.5bc H2 0
2 Std N Std K 1.68de 70 11.0cd 2.6a APW1 11
3 Liquid K 1.32a 70 13.3fg 5.4c AUH2 11
4 Std N High K 1.81ef 70 10.9c 2.3a APW1 25
5 No N 1.50bc 0 8.1a 3.4ab ASW1 25
6 Low N 1.60cd 31 9.5b 2.7a ASW1 25
7 High N 1.86f 100 12.5ef 2.8a H2 25
8 High N No K 1.36ab 100 13.9g 5.4c AUH2 0
9 Residual Very High K 1.72def 70 11.0cd 2.8a APW1 Residual

Grain yield t/ha


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Applied nitrogen kg N/ha


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Grade grade


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Hectolitre weight kg/hL


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Phosphorus kg/ha


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Trial results Gross margin analysis by treatment

# Treatment 1
Nitrogen application (Z23) (L/ha) Grain yield (t/ha) Gross return ($/ha) Potassium (kg/ha) Banded (kg/ha) Banded (L/ha) Nitrogen application (Z32) (L/ha) Gross margin ($/ha) Grade (grade) Applied nitrogen (kg N/ha) Phosphorus (kg/ha)
1 Std N No K 83 Flexi N 1.34 522 12 85 Agstart Extra 54 Flexi N 360 H2 70 0
2 Std N Std K 83 Flexi N 1.68 621 12 100 K-Till Extra 50 Flexi N 446 APW1 70 11
3 Liquid K 83 Flexi N 1.32 488 12 85 Agstart Extra 117 Flexi NK 305 AUH2 70 11
4 Std N High K 83 Flexi N 1.81 669 12 100 K-Till Extra/28 50 Flexi N 476 APW1 70 25
5 No N 1.5 510 12 62 Big Phos/51 MoP 439 ASW1 0 25
6 Low N 1.6 544 12 100 K-Till Extra/28 50 Flexi N 408 ASW1 31 25
7 High N 83 Flexi N 1.86 725 12 100 K-Till Extra/28 50 Flexi N 71 Flexi N 486 H2 100 25
8 High N No K 83 Flexi N 1.36 503 12 85 Agstart Extra 54 Flexi N 71 Flexi N 290 AUH2 100 0
9 Residual Very High K 83 Flexi N 1.72 636 12 85 Agstart Extra 54 Flexi N 343 APW1 70 99

Grain yield t/ha


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Applied nitrogen kg N/ha


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Grade grade


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Gross margin $/ha


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Gross return $/ha


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Phosphorus kg/ha


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Potassium kg/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
, WA Sodosol
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 WA
2018 198.2mm
2017 186.2mm
2016 219.5mm
2015 203.1mm
2014 146.5mm
2013 181.0mm
2012 175.9mm
2011 179.1mm
2010 152.4mm
2009 196.1mm
2008 233.1mm
2007 199.9mm
2006 209.5mm
2005 196.5mm
2004 199.7mm
2003 195.9mm
2002 166.1mm
2001 173.1mm
2000 257.7mm
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

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

WA

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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: 24-05-2019 17:27pm AEST