Impact of fertiliser on wheat emergence under dry conditions

2019

Research organisaton
Funding source
South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT)

Trial details

Researcher(s) Amanda Cook
Contact email Amanda.cook@sa.gov.au
Contact phone 0427270154
Year(s) 2019
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Cungena, SA
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA
Streaky Bay, SA
Related trials
Impact of fertiliser on wheat emergence under dry conditions locations
Aims

With larger seeding programs, increased summer weed control to conserve soil moisture and more variable autumn rainfall patterns, more growers Australia-wide are moving toward dry sowing.

On upper Eyre Peninsula in 2017 and 2018, seed was placed in the soil for many weeks with limited soil moisture, some seed still germinated but the delayed plant emergence often resulted in a lower plant establishment. This raised questions by growers about the soil factors which reduce germination and establishment.

This article summarises a pot trial which assessed the impact of DAP placement on wheat establishment on three different soil types; a red loam (Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC)) and two grey calcareous soils (Streaky Bay and Cungena).

 

Key messages
  • Eleven days after seeding, emergence in Minnipa and Cungena soils was higher with no fertiliser or with all the DAP banded below the seed row, compared to DAP placed with the seed or split.
  • Emergence was most affected by the presence of DAP in the Streaky Bay soil, least in the Minnipa soil and Cungena soil was intermediate.
  • Shoot weights decreased where DAP was placed in the seed row and this occurred in all soil types. The soil EC (salinity) was higher with DAP placed in the seed row.
  • Fertiliser toxicity may be reducing wheat emergence on grey calcareous soils, even at quite low application rates of DAP at 30 kg/ha.

 

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT)
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This research was funded by SAGIT through the ‘Improving the early management of dry sown cereal crops’ (S419). Sincere thanks to SAGIT and their extremely valuable input into regional South Australian research and researchers. Thank you to Ian Richter, Katrina Brands, Steve Jeffs and Bradley Hutchings for their help with the experiment.


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Application Method
  • Soil Properties: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Cungena 2019

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

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2019

Sow rate or Target density 60kg/ha
Sowing machinery

Small plot seeder 

Sow date 16 May 2019 16 May 2019
Harvest date 3 July 2019
Plot size 5m x 1.5m
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

DAP 

Streaky Bay 2019

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser 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
Cungena, SA Not specified
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Red loam
Streaky Bay, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Cungena, SA Calcarosol
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Calcarosol
Streaky Bay, SA
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 Cungena SA Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA Streaky Bay SA
2019 129.1mm299.2mm94.7mm
2018 148.0mm317.5mm105.3mm
2017 148.0mm364.0mm110.0mm
2016 146.9mm332.8mm123.8mm
2015 109.6mm297.6mm94.2mm
2014 146.9mm359.2mm119.5mm
2013 126.1mm293.9mm104.9mm
2012 118.2mm327.9mm99.4mm
2011 147.6mm370.8mm122.5mm
2010 142.4mm361.5mm108.5mm
2009 158.1mm368.6mm120.8mm
2008 126.1mm286.4mm103.0mm
2007 109.4mm291.5mm82.1mm
2006 141.9mm325.4mm94.0mm
2005 133.9mm292.1mm105.3mm
2004 134.2mm289.8mm107.8mm
2003 132.8mm302.0mm111.2mm
2002 106.0mm301.6mm96.4mm
2001 124.7mm343.8mm101.9mm
2000 129.5mm351.6mm105.1mm
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.

Cungena SA

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA

Streaky Bay SA

Cungena SA

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Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA

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Streaky Bay 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

2019 trial report



Trial last modified: 19-05-2023 14:36pm AEST