Nitrogen Use Efficiency Trial – influence of rate (Peechelba East)

2019

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Damian Jones
Ben Morris
Nick Poole
Tom Price
Michael Straight
Year(s) 2019
Contributor Field Applied Research (FAR) Australia
Trial location(s) Peechelba East, VIC
Nitrogen Use Efficiency Trial – influence of rate (Peechelba East) locations
Aims

To evaluate nitrogen use efficiency in grain maize under different rates and of applied N fertiliser applied as pre drill urea (46% N) prior to fertigation with an overhead lateral.

Key messages
  • Header grain yields averaged 18.2t/ha with no yield benefit observed from applying pre-drill urea in the trial when N was applied post sowing as fertigation.
  • In a trial with an overall dose of post sowing N of 207 kg N/ha applied via fertigation there was no significant yield increase from the earlier pre-drill N applications of between 0 – 315kg N/ha.
  • The economic optimum level of nitrogen applied was 252kg N/ha (45N pre-drill + 207kg N as fertigation).
  • No significant differences were recorded in total dry matter (DM) content at V6 or at harvest with an average DM content of 34.6t/ha.
  • The N content at harvest revealed an average N content of 462kg N/ha with a range of approximately 415-530kg N/ha in the crop, but there were no statistical differences.
  • The N offtake at harvest indicated soil mineralisation provided up to 165kg N/ha to grow the crop with lower N efficiency recorded from applied fertiliser at higher overall N rates.
  • There were no significant differences in test weight (mean 81.1) or harvest index (mean 51.7%).
Lead research organisation Field Applied Research (FAR) Australia
Host research organisation Field Applied Research (FAR) Australia
Trial funding source GRDC FAR1906-003RTX
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments N/A
Other trial partners Irrigated Cropping Council
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Maize
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Rate
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Blocked

Peechelba East 2019

Sow date 13 November 2019
Harvest date 31 May 2020
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

N t/ha pre-sow pre drill Urea (46% N): 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, 315

Post sow: Post sowing nitrogen (207 N) was applied via fertigation with applications on V4 (46N), V8 (60N), pre-tasselling (101 N) on 10 Dec, 26 Dec, 14 Jan and Jan 15


Available soil N assessed prior to sowing 33 kg N/ha

Other trial notes

Previous crop: Oaten hay
Variety: Pioneer Hybrid 1756
Irrigation Type: Overhead pivot

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
Peechelba East, VIC Loam over clay
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Peechelba East, VIC 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 Peechelba East VIC
2019 279.5mm
2018 310.8mm
2017 321.5mm
2016 380.7mm
2015 365.4mm
2014 351.5mm
2013 345.6mm
2012 353.0mm
2011 356.7mm
2010 340.4mm
2009 270.4mm
2008 295.0mm
2007 295.3mm
2006 312.1mm
2005 358.2mm
2004 334.1mm
2003 300.1mm
2002 317.6mm
2001 395.7mm
2000 389.8mm
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.

Peechelba East VIC

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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: 17-03-2022 10:00am AEST