Researcher(s) |
Darren Hughes |
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Year(s) | 2021 - 2022 |
Contributor | Laconik |
Trial location(s) |
Mt Walker,
Arrino, WA Bencubbin, WA Binnu, WA Bodallin, WA Bonnie Rock, WA Carnamah, WA Dulyalbin, WA Kalannie, WA Latham, WA Mingenew, WA Mukinbudin, WA Mullewa, WA Nungarin, WA Wialki, WA Yelbeni, WA Yuna, WA |
To determine if N applied in 2021, carries over into 2022, and has a positive grain yield and economic benefit.
This project was established to determine the grain yield and economic benefits of carryover N after frosted crops. The results show that, on average, there was a 500 kg/ha yield penalty for cereals and a $84/ha economic loss.
To maximise grain yield and economic returns in 2022, crops needed N, relying on N to carryover from 2021 was not sufficient to meet crop demands. Growers and agronomists should not rely on N after frosted crops to carryover and deliver a grain yield or economic benefit to the following crop.
The theory that N applied to crops that get frosted is stored in the soil was not supported by the soil test results from this project. Soil N was well below desired levels across all depths sampled. Growers and agronomists should be aware of this when making fertiliser decisions for 2023.
The conclusions from this project need to be considered in the context that they have been determined based on one year of field trials conducted in 2022.
Lead research organisation |
Laconik |
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Host research organisation | N/A |
Trial funding source | GRDC LAK2202-001SAX |
Related program | N/A |
Acknowledgments | N/A |
Other trial partners | Not specified |
Crop type | Cereal (Grain): Barley |
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Treatment type(s) |
|
Trial type | Experimental |
Trial design | Randomised,Replicated |
Sow date | Not specified |
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Harvest date | Not specified |
Plot size | Not specified |
Plot replication | Not specified |
Psuedoreplication | Not specified |
Other trial notes |
Twenty growers (10 each from Geraldton and Kwinana East port zones) established 40 farm scale trials (2 trials/farm, one paddock=1 trial) to measure the impact of carryover N. There were 32 trials in wheat, four in barley and four in canola. The Laconik Combine™ trial design randomly locates a ‘swarm’ of replicates across the paddock (Image 1). Individual plots were 50m long x 36m wide. The number of replicates per trial was governed by the paddock size and ranged from 10 to 35. Each grower was provided with a prescription containing the trial design uploaded to the variable rate controller in the machine (boomspray, cultivar bar or fertiliser spreader); as the machine went across the paddock, different rates of N fertiliser were applied. Each replicate contained four treatments arranged in a square, Treatment 1 – Nil N (green plots in Image 1), Treatment 2 - half grower rate N fertiliser (red plots in Image 1), Treatment 3 – grower rate of N fertiliser (yellow plots in Image 1) and Treatment 4 – twice the grower rate of N fertiliser (pink plots in Image 1). Treatment 1 – Nil N is the treatment against which other treatments have been compared to measure the impact of carryover N from 2021. It was not possible to have an accurate Nil N treatment because N can be found mixed with other fertilisers. Therefore, all efforts were made to minimise the amount of N applied in Treatment 1. |
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.