Optimising timing and rate of nitrogen applications in waterlogging conditions

2018 - 2019
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Nathan Dovey
Contact email phillip.mackie@scfarmers.org.au
Contact phone 0437120891
Year(s) 2018 - 2019
Contributor Stirlings to Coast Farmers
Trial location(s) Frankland, WA
Muradup, WA
Optimising timing and rate of nitrogen applications in waterlogging conditions locations
Aims

To enable growers to make timely and efficient nitrogen decisions in the Albany and Esperance port zones by having a rule of thumb around the cost/benefit of feeding N to crops on waterlogged soils.

Key messages
  • The ‘farmer practice’ strategy ultimately ended up being the best nitrogen strategy for the 2019 season. The crop responded to the applied n up front after good rainfall and resulted in a 5.43 tonne yield and achieved a good return on investment.
  • It is likely the crops in 2019 achieved its water limiting yield potential due to the dry finish; therefore, more nitrogen did not improve yield.
  • Despite the treatments that received additional N achieving a higher wheat grade, the cost of applying the N in a season with decile 8 pricing, actually reduced profits.
  • Growers remain interested in this research and would like to see further results from tactical N applications, especially in wet years and more waterlogged conditions.
Lead research organisation Stirlings to Coast Farmers
Host research organisation Stirlings to Coast Farmers
Trial funding source GRDC 9176138
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments N/A
Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Rate
  • Fertiliser: Timing
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Frankland 2018

Sow rate or Target density 100 kg/ha
Sow date 7 June 2018
Harvest date 7/01/2019 and 4/01/2019
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

Sowing: 105kg/ha Macrofertil, 20kg MOP.

Nil

  • Nil

NAppl1

  • 80kg/ha-05/07
  • 70kg/ha-17/08
  • N rate and timing as per grower application

NAppl2

  • 100 kg/ha-08/07
  • 100kg/ha-15/08
  • 100 kg/ha N after each water logging event/s

NAppl3

  • 110kg/ha-05/07
  • 130kg/ha-17/08
  • N to feed rainfall limited potential of crop according to crop phenology

NAppl4

  • 110kg/ha-08/07
  • 130kg/ha-15/08
  • N to feeN to feed rainfall limited potential of crop after each water logging

Frankland 2019

Sow rate or Target density 120 kg/ha
Sow date 29 May 2019
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

Sowing: 110kg/ha of MAP and Mn and 20kg/ha of MOP.

In season: 

  • Control (100kg/ha)
  • Farmer Practice (100kg and 130kg/ha)
  • Split Application (100kg, 65kg & 65kg/ha)
  • High N (100kg, 130kg, 65kg and 65kg/ha).

The fourth application of the High N treatment was unable to be applied due to the dry seasonal conditions during the 2019 growing season. The first application was on 14th June, second on 29th July, and the third and final applications were on 19th August 2019.

Muradup 2018

Sow rate or Target density 90 kg/ha
Sow date 21 May 2018
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

Sowing: 100kg of Agstar Cu, Zn, Mn and 25kg MOP

In season:

Nil

  • Nil

NAppl1

  • 200kg/ha-24/08
  • N rate and timing as per grower application

NAppl2

  • 100 kg/ha-01/09
  • 100 kg/ha N after each water logging event/s

NAppl3

  • 165kg/ha-24/08
  • 55kg/ha-01/10
  • N to feed rainfall limited potential of crop according to crop phenology

NAppl4

  • 165kg/ha-24/08
  • 55kg/ha -01/09
  • N to feed rainfall limited potential of crop after each water logging event/s 

Muradup 2019

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
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Nitrogen timing and rate treatment yield in 2018 at Muradup Optimising Nitrogen trial – nil: 0kg/ha NApp1: grower timing and rate, NApp2: 100kg after each waterlogging event, NApp3: feed rainfall limited potential of crop, NApp4: feed rainfall limit

# Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 NAPPL1 Rep 1 2.86
2 NAPPL1 Rep 2 2.77
3 NAPPL1 Rep 3 2.09
4 Nil Rep 1 1.45
5 Nil Rep 2 2.09
6 Nil Rep 3 2.05
7 NAPPL2 Rep 1 1.64
8 NAPPL2 Rep 2 1.91
9 NAPPL2 Rep 3 2.68
10 NAPPL3 Rep 1 3.18
11 NAPPL3 Rep 2 3.09
12 NAPPL3 Rep 3 3.05
13 NAPPL4 Rep 1 3.41
14 NAPPL4 Rep 2 3.36
15 NAPPL4 Rep 3 2.95

Grain yield t/ha


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Trial results Nitrogen timing and rate treatment yield in 2018 at Frankland Optimising Nitrogen trial – nil: 0kg/ha NApp1: grower timing and rate, NApp2: 100kg after each waterlogging event, NApp3: feed rainfall limited potential of crop, NApp4: feed rainfall lim

# Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Nil Rep 1 3.33
2 Nil Rep 2 3.19
3 Nil Rep 3 3.18
4 NAPPL1 Rep 1 3.55
5 NAPPL1 Rep 2 3.42
6 NAPPL1 Rep 3 3.48
7 NAPPL2 Rep 1 4.17
8 NAPPL2 Rep 2 3.65
9 NAPPL2 Rep 3 3.93
10 NAPPL3 Rep 1 4.21
11 NAPPL3 Rep 2 3.57
12 NAPPL3 Rep 3 3.29
13 NAPPL4 Rep 1 3.67
14 NAPPL4 Rep 2 3.57
15 NAPPL4 Rep 3 3.6

Grain yield t/ha


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Trial results 2018 Growing season rainfall data, muradup

# Treatment 1
Rainfall (mm)
1 June 80.6
2 July 82.8
3 August 80
4 September 16.2
5 October 28.8
6 Noevmber 43.4
7 December 13.4

Rainfall mm


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Trial results 2018 growing season rainfall data, Frankland

# Treatment 1
Rainfall (mm)
1 June 61.5
2 July 129.5
3 August 161.5
4 September 20
5 October 26
6 Noevmber 21
7 December 20.5

Rainfall mm


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Trial results 2019 waterlogging by nitrogen site located in Frankland at Simon Hilder's in 2019. The trial was located on a sloping paddock prone to waterlogging contrition over the previous five years. This graph displays the average wheat grain yields in (t/ha)

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Control (+100) 5.03
2 Farmer Practice (+100, +130) 5.43
3 Split (+100, +65, +65) 5.34
4 High N +65 (+100, +130, +65) 5.29

Grain yield t/ha


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Trial results The average percentages of protein, screenings, moisture and hectolitre weight (kg/hL) of the waterlogging by nitrogen treatments at the trial in Frankland 2019.

# Treatment 1
Protein (%) Moisture (%) Screenings (%) Hectolitre weight (kg/hL)
1 Control (+100kg/ha) 9.2 9.7 0.95 82.4
2 Farmer practice (+100, +130kg/ha) 9.6 9.6 0.8 81.5
3 Split (+100, +65, +65kg/ha) 10.3 9.6 0.95 81.4
4 High N (+100, +130, +65, +65kg/ha) 10.6 9.6 1.06 81.2

Hectolitre weight kg/hL


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Moisture %


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Trial results The return on investment of applied nitrogen rates to the 2019 crop to improve wheat quality. The table shows the net returns from the four nitrogen strategies

# Treatment 1
Cost ($/ha) Average net margin ($/ha) Price ($/t) Grade (grade) Total Revenue ($/ha) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Control (+100) 50 1660 340 ASW 1710 5.03
2 Farmer practice (+100, +130) 115 1730 340 ASW 1845 5.43
3 Split (+100, +65, +65) 115 1699 340 APW2 1814 5.34
4 High N (+100, +130, +65, +$65) 147.5 1660 342 APW1 1807 5.29

Grain yield t/ha


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Average net margin $/ha


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Cost $/ha


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Grade grade


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Price $/t


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Total Revenue $/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Frankland, WA Not specified
Muradup, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Frankland, WA Sodosol
Muradup, WA Chromosol
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 Frankland WA Muradup WA
2019 476.2mm300.0mm
2018 495.1mm357.1mm
2017 486.6mm356.3mm
2016 533.2mm412.7mm
2015 512.5mm341.5mm
2014 495.2mm358.5mm
2013 522.6mm364.0mm
2012 508.6mm367.6mm
2011 540.3mm364.4mm
2010 488.6mm316.1mm
2009 525.1mm397.5mm
2008 533.5mm373.3mm
2007 515.4mm331.9mm
2006 507.4mm308.6mm
2005 536.4mm381.8mm
2004 518.3mm359.0mm
2003 534.6mm333.9mm
2002 531.5mm275.4mm
2001 490.1mm294.3mm
2000 527.0mm390.2mm
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.

Frankland WA

Muradup WA

Frankland WA

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Muradup 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

2018 trial report



Trial last modified: 04-01-2023 15:53pm AEST