Nitrogen Use Efficiency Trial – influence of rate (Kerang)

2020

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Damian Jones
Ben Morris
Nick Poole
Tom Price
Year(s) 2020
Contributor Field Applied Research (FAR) Australia
Trial location(s) Kerang, VIC
Nitrogen Use Efficiency Trial – influence of rate (Kerang) locations
Aims

To evaluate nitrogen use efficiency in grain maize under different rates of applied N fertiliser applied as pre drill urea (46% N) prior to a standard fertigation (230N) with an overhead lateral.

Key messages
  • The highest machine harvested yield achieved was 16.42 t/ha with the applied N rate of 560 kg N/ha, however this was not statistically different to the yield where 240 kg N/ha was applied.
  • Yield plateaued beyond the ‘240 kg N/ha’ treatment (16.18t/ha), mirroring the 2019/20 results which produced a similar N applied optimum.
  • Where no N fertiliser was applied the yield was 9.70 t/ha with a dry matter of 21.8t/ha at harvest compared to 16.18t/ha and 35.79t/ha for the optimum N rate of 240kg N/ha.
  • The N offtake at harvest revealed an average N content of approximately 188-448kg N/ha in the crop with the 240N treatment giving an offtake of 395kg N/ha with 58% of the N in the grain.
  • Increasing N rate from 240kg to 560kg N/ha applied did not significantly increase dry matter present at harvest, although there is evidence of additional N content in the dry matter above 240kg N/ha.
  • Soil N prior to sowing and watering up was 32 kg N/ha (0 – 60cm). One month after sowing and wetting up this figure had risen to 107kg N/ha.
  • The nil N treatment contained a total N content of 188 kg N/ha at harvest, suggesting in-crop mineralisation through the course of the season resulted in 156 kg N/ha released.
  • In-crop mineralisation in the 2020/21 season was lower than in 2019/20 (241kg N/ha) but still contributed a significant portion of the crop N budget.
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

Kerang 2020

Sow date 3 November 2020
Harvest date 20 May 2021
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

Please find treatment information in Table 1 on the first page of the attached trial report.

 

Other trial notes

Previous crop: Grass dominant pasture
Variety: Pioneer Hybrid 1756
Irrigation Type: Border check surface irrigation

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
Kerang, VIC Grey clay
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Kerang, VIC Vertosol
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.

Kerang VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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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

2020 trial report



Trial last modified: 17-03-2022 09:59am AEST