Researcher(s) |
Nick Poole Darcy Warren |
---|---|
Year(s) | 2021 |
Contributor | Field Applied Research (FAR) Australia |
Trial location(s) |
Wallendbeen, NSW
|
To assess the value of higher nutrition input (N, P, K & S) for wheat in the growing season.
Individual objectives specific to the trials were:
- To assess the value of additional nutrients in the growing crop (set up as small plots at the HYC Research sites).
- To assess the value of adding increased P and K when targeting higher yield potential rather than N alone.
There was no yield response in winter feed wheat cv RGT Accroc to additional nutrient input above the standard N input of 168kg N/ha, which included a standard of 120kg/ha MAP at sowing (12N, 24P) despite yields of 9.5-10t/ha.
The average yield of the trial in RGT Accroc was 9.47t/ha compared to 7.83t/ha in the milling wheat Rockstar trial (in surrounding commercial crop).
Protein levels in the zero N plots (control) were significantly increased from 9.5% to 11.7 – 12.0% with the additional nutrients, but the increases were not associated with higher grain yields above standard nutrition (168N, 24P) in the feed wheat RGT
Accroc.
With the farm crop milling wheat trial in Rockstar additional nutrition increased both yield and protein, even though protein was over %12.6.
On average, protein levels were higher in the milling wheat Rockstar (13.6%) compared to the feed wheat RGT Accroc (11.3%).
At harvest there were increased head numbers and dry matter production associated with greater nutrition input (cv RGT Accroc – feed wheat) but this did not lead to increased grain yield.
There was no effect of additional nutrition on harvest index (data not presented), however the milling wheat Rockstar had higher harvest index (40.5%) compared to the feed wheat RGT Accroc (34.2%).
The unfertilised crop of RGT Accroc had a N offtake in the grain of 129kg N/ha based on 7.74t/ha and 1.66% N in the grain (9.5% protein). If it is assumed that 25% of the N at harvest is in the straw and chaff then the unfertilised crop would have removed
approximately 172kg N//ha of which 59.3 kg N/ha was recorded in the soil core on 29th July (0-60cm) with 12kg N/ha provided by the MAP.
This residual fertility in the farming system would explain why the standard nutrition control removed 242kg N/ha in the canopy (based on the same calculations) when only 168kg N/ha was applied as fertiliser.
Sown: 20 April 2021
Harvested: 5 January 2022
Rotation position: 1st Cereal after canola 2020
Soil type and management: Red clay loam – Kelly chained over summer
Lead research organisation |
Field Applied Research (FAR) Australia |
---|---|
Host research organisation | N/A |
Trial funding source | GRDC FAR2004-002SAX |
Related program |
FAR Hyper Yielding Crops 2020-2022 |
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 rate or Target density | 180 seeds/m2 (150 plants/m2 target) |
---|---|
Sow date | 20 April 2021 |
Harvest date | 5 January 2022 |
Plot size | Not specified |
Plot replication | Not specified |
Fertiliser |
Please see report for treatment details |
Fungicide |
Please see report for treatment details |
Seed treatment | Please see report for details |
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.