Mid-row banding of Nitrogen to improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce fertiliser applications in cropping systems.

2020 - 2021
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Nathan Dovey
Contact email dan.fay@scfarmers.org.au
Contact phone 0498278177
Year(s) 2020 - 2021
Contributor Stirlings to Coast Farmers
Trial location(s) Kendenup, WA
South Stirlings, WA
Mid-row banding of Nitrogen to improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce fertiliser applications in cropping systems. locations
Aims

The trials aim was to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of mid-row banding (MRB) nitrogen, to improve N use efficiency and yields.

The trial involved both a small plot trial at South Stirlings and a broadacre site at Kendenup. 

The broadscale trial contained two treatments where 125kg/ha of Urea was applied at seeding. Treatment one was via MRB, treatment two was via top-dressing.

The small plot trial contained 6 treatments, which had a N application seeding and at tillering. Treatment 1, MRB 125kg/ha Urea at seeding & MRB 100L/ha of flexi N at tillering. Treatment 2, MRB 125kg/ha Urea at seeding & Top-dressing 100L/ha of Flexi N at tillering. Treatment 3, Top-dressing 125kg/ha Urea at seeding & MRB 100L/ha of flexi N at tillering. Treatment 4, Top-dressing 125kg/ha Urea at seeding & Top-dressing 100L/ha of Flexi N at tillering. Treatment 5, nil Urea at seeding, & MRB 100L/ha of flexi N at tillering. Treatment 6, Nil Urea & Top-dressing 100L/ha of Flexi N at tillering. 

Key messages

MRB in combination with topdressing was the most effective treatment for improving of NUE and yield

The small plot trial resulted in improved yields and NUE resulting from midrow banding, whilst the broadacre trial did not produce significant differences.

Higher wheat yields were achieved for some of the N treatments that included mid-row banding on N at South Stirlings, however, the same results were not seen at Kendenup.

At South Stirlings the combination of mid-row banding applications of N yielded significantly higher than the other treatments.

MRB of N at both seeding and tillering yielded significantly less than both combinations of mid-row banding and top dressing. 

At South Stirlings the two highest yielding treatments resulted from a combination of MRB and topdressing. These treatments also resulted in the greatest NUE. 

Lead research organisation Stirlings to Coast Farmers
Host research organisation Stirlings to Coast Farmers
Trial funding source NLP
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: Application Method
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Unreplicated

Kendenup 2020

Sow rate or Target density 120kg/ha
Sowing machinery

12m Seeding Bar

Sow date 8 June 2020
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 110m x 12m
Plot replication 3
Plot blocking The blocks were partitioned in a way to ensure similar growing conditions.
Plot randomisation The plots were randomised
Fertiliser

160kg of starter ferterliser K-Till Extra.

This was a broadscale trial with two replicated and randomised treatments.

Treatment 1: 125kg/ha of Urea was applied at seeding via MRB.

Treatment 2: 125 kg/ha of Urea was applied the day after seeding top-dressing.

Kendenup 2021

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
Plot blocking Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified

South Stirlings 2020

Sow rate or Target density 125 kg/ha
Sowing machinery

2.8m plot seeder.

Sow date 8 June 2020
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 4.8m x 15m
Plot replication 3
Plot blocking Plots were laid out to ensure similar growing conditions.
Plot randomisation The plots were randomised
Fertiliser

 

100kg/ha of starter fert was applied, across all plots. 

This small plot trial contained 6 treatments with 3 replications, which had a N application seeding and at tillering.

Treatment 1, MRB 125kg/ha Urea at seeding & MRB 100L/ha of flexi N at tillering.

Treatment 2, MRB 125kg/ha Urea at seeding & Top-dressing 100L/ha of Flexi N at tillering.

Treatment 3, Top-dressing 125kg/ha Urea at seeding & MRB 100L/ha of flexi N at tillering.

Treatment 4, Top-dressing 125kg/ha Urea at seeding & Top-dressing 100L/ha of Flexi N at tillering.

Treatment 5, nil Urea at seeding, & MRB 100L/ha of flexi N at tillering.

Treatment 6, Nil Urea & Top-dressing 100L/ha of Flexi N at tillering. 

South Stirlings 2021

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
Plot blocking Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Kendenup 2020 Wheat Yield

# Treatment 1
Growing season Trial site Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Mid-row banded 2020 Kendenup (WA) 3.01
2 Top-Dressed 2020 Kendenup (WA) 3

Grain yield t/ha


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Trial results Kendenup Wheat Protein %

# Treatment 1
Growing season Trial site Protein (%)
1 Mid-row banded 2020 Kendenup (WA) 11.4
2 Top-Dressed 2020 Kendenup (WA) 11.6

Protein %


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Trial results South Stirlings Wheat Yields

# Treatment 1
Growing season Trial site Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Nil Urea + Top-dressed Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 2.91
2 Nil Urea + Banded Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 3.25
3 Top-dressed Urea + Top-dressed Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 3.46
4 Top-dressed Urea + Banded Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 3.9
5 Banded Urea +Top-dressed Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 3.79
6 Banded Urea + Banded Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 3.43

Grain yield t/ha


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Trial results South Stirlings Wheat Protein %

# Treatment 1
Growing season Trial site Protein (%)
1 Nil Urea + Top-dressed Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 9.73
2 Nil Urea + Banded Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 9.63
3 Top-dressed Urea + Top-dressed Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 10.07
4 Top-dressed Urea + Banded Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 10.17
5 Banded Urea + Top-dressed Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 10.07
6 Banded Urea+ Banded Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 10.23

Protein %


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Trial results South Stirlings Average NDVI recorded 11-8-2020

# Treatment 1
Growing season Trial site NDVI (.)
1 Nil Urea + Top-dressed Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 0.39
2 Nil Urea + MRB Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 0.39
3 Top-dressed Urea + Top-dressed Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 0.42
4 Top-dressed Urea + MRB Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 0.44
5 MRB Urea + Top-dressed Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 0.45
6 MRB Urea + MRB Flexi-N 2020 South Stirlings (WA) 0.41

NDVI .


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Trial results Kendednup Average NDVI recorded 12-8-2020

# Treatment 1
Growing season Trial site NDVI (.)
1 Mid-row banded 2020 Kendenup (WA) 0.436
2 Topdressed 2020 Kendenup (WA) 0.444

NDVI .


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Kendenup, WA Not specified
South Stirlings, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Kendenup, WA Sodosol
South Stirlings, WA Podosol
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.

Kendenup WA

South Stirlings WA

Kendenup WA

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South Stirlings 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

Mid-Row Banding Trial Results



Trial last modified: 17-05-2023 12:33pm AEST