| Researcher(s) |
Kate Finger James Hunt |
|---|---|
| Contact email | James@bcg.org.au |
| Year(s) | 2022 |
| Contributor | Birchip Cropping Group |
| Trial location(s) |
Longerenong, VIC
|
The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’ to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint, losses) in diverse soil types in the MRZ.
| Lead research organisation |
Birchip Cropping Group |
|---|---|
| Host research organisation | N/A |
| Trial funding source | GRDC BWD2204-002RTX |
| Related program | N/A |
| Acknowledgments | N/A |
| Other trial partners | Not specified |
| Crop type | Cereal (Grain): Wheat |
|---|---|
| Treatment type(s) |
|
| Trial type | Experimental |
| Trial design | Randomised,Replicated,Blocked |
| Sow date | 24 May 2022 |
|---|---|
| Harvest date | 23 December 2022 |
| Trial design method | RCBD Randomised Complete Block Design |
| Plot size | Not specified |
| Plot replication | 4 |
| Psuedoreplication | N |
| Plot blocking | yes |
| Plot randomisation | Y |
| Other trial notes |
Studies suggest Nitrogen (N) supply is still the single largest contributor to the water limited yield gap in wheat (Armstrong et al., 2019 and 2021; Hochman and Horan, 2018; Sadras and Angus, 2006), and the high proportion (~30%) of wheat with low grain protein, provides further evidence that yield is being limited by N supply (Sandral et al., 2018; GrainCorp report, 2015/16). Growers are currently using N crop demand (i.e. yield potential) to estimate N supply and inform tactical N application. This has a high level of uncertainty associated with it due to error associated with prediction of August to October rainfall. This trial aims to compare 'N banking targets' (and respective N budget scenarios) to traditional N crop demand driven strategies' to establish potential profits and risks associated with both. This site was selected to represent a typical vertosol of the Victorian Wimmera region. |
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.
