To assess the value of higher nutrition input (N, P, K & S) for wheat in the growing season and as an “N bank” for the following 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) and for the following crop (mirror image trial set up in the host farmer’s surrounding paddock).
- To assess the value of adding increased P, K, and S when targeting higher yield potential rather than N alone.

ï‚· There was a significant response to N application in the trial with a 2.41t/ha yield increase associated with a 200kg N/ha application applied in three splits.
ï‚· 200kg N/ha produced a crop canopy of 23t/ha dry matter
ï‚· There was no significant increase in yield over and above 200N or from the application of additional P and S, although grain protein continued to increase up to 291N the highest rate of nitrogen fertiliser applied.

ï‚· The unfertilised crop (100 MAP only at sowing) resulted in a 9.37t/ha crop and 8.9% grain protein.
ï‚· Based on the N concentration in the grain the N offtake in the grain alone was approximately 146kg N/ha. If 25% of the N typically resides in the straw and chaff at harvest, then crop uptake in the unfertilised plot was approximately 195kg N/ha.
ï‚· On this basis of soil N available in May (103N) and 10N from the MAP it would indicate 82kg N/ha from mineralisation.
ï‚· Increasing grain protein did not increase crop canopy size beyond 23.8t/ha dry matter at harvest. Application of 291N produced significantly lower yields than 204N and 252N applied.
ï‚· Although grain protein increased with higher N fertiliser input screenings gradually increased with test weight and thousand seed weight showing a decreasing trend.

Sown: 29 April 2021
Harvested: 20 January 2022 – 4 February 2022
Rotation position: 1st cereal following Poppies
Soil Type: Chromosol