Crop Nutrition

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Category: Pre-Plant

WATCH: Is it time to re-think P critical levels in WA?

published - 9 July 2019
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Applying phosphorus (P) to soils with seemingly adequate P stocks can boost yield. Trials in WA are showing crop response to P above critical levels. Critical levels indicate if a crop will respond to more of a certain nutrient. Above the critical level, there’s less than a 10% chance of […]

Soil carbon key to nutrient renewal

published - 8 May 2019
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Jeff Baldock, CSIRO discusses Soil Carbon Decline

  Recent research into organic soil carbon and its effect on soil nutrient levels suggests care must be taken to avoid mining nutrients from our agricultural soils. CSIRO research scientist Jeff Baldock outlined his concerns in a recent video discussion with GRDC Communities Crop Nutrition. Nitrogen (N) is being mined […]

Dig deeper to know nutrient levels

published - 27 March 2019
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Soil testing in the 0-10 cm zone has traditionally been used for phosphorus-based fertiliser recommendations. Deeper tests are often used to gauge nitrogen (N) availability, especially when mineral N has leached deeper after significant rain. But there are other nutrient and chemical constraints that can be better analysed by soil […]

Legumes provide significant N in low rainfall systems

published - 11 October 2018
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Legume break crops can provide significant fixed nitrogen (N) for subsequent cereal crops. From 2013 – 2015, Michael Moodie (Mallee Sustainable Farming) compared various legume crop productivity and N contribution in low rainfall environments. Trials were conducted in the Victorian and South Australian Mallee regions, where N is often limiting. […]

How are nutrients redistributed after windrowing?

published - 20 September 2018
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Concentrating stubble into windrowed strips affects subsequent crop production, soil testing and fertiliser decisions. Wayne Pluske (Equii), Ryan Walker ( Apal Laboratories) and John Young (Wyening Mission Farm) looked at nutrient redistribution post-harvest. They measured plant material (dry matter as t/ha) and nutrient content of canola and wheat crops. The […]

Six articles to help manage crop nutrition in the dry

published - 30 August 2018
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The dry weather will impact crop plans for this season and next. Here’s a few resources to help make crop nutrition decisions. Managing a crop: In tough conditions, crops do better with potassium What to do with a failed crop What nutrients are lost when making hay from failed crops? […]

What is the DGT Phosphorus test and when should you use it?

published - 2 August 2018
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The Diffusive Gradient in Thin-films (DGT) Phosphorus is an alternative P soil test. Colwell-P can overestimate available P on calcareous soils, and acid gravel soils. How does the DGT test work? The DGT is a cylindrical plastic device that uses an iron oxide gel as a P-sink, which attracts available […]

How much nitrogen can pulses supply to the next crop?

published - 4 July 2018
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Howard Cox, DAF QLD Growing pulses can increase soil nitrogen (N) stocks. Researchers in QLD have developed some rules of thumb to estimate pulse-N contribution to the next cereal crop. The rules apply to chickpeas and faba beans. Calculating N from pulses Good crops In a good chickpea or faba […]

How to keep bulk fertiliser deliveries safe

published - 13 June 2018
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Bulk fertiliser deliveries can cause accidents and near misses. Overhead obstacles, unsafe access, and dumped product are potential hazards. Fertiliser safety is everyone’s responsibility.  The Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) will soon be amended to reflect this. The changes mean that every party in the supply chain – not just […]

Use tissue tests to detect deficiencies

published - 21 May 2018
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Micronutrients or trace elements are an essential part of crop nutrition. They are as important as the better-known macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. This was a key message on the southern tour of the MPCN II Roadshow in August 2016. Scott and Jillian Vaessen farm at Tabbita in southern NSW. […]

New way to gauge nutrient status

published - 2 May 2018
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Nutrient Rich Strips are not new in cropping. They are used to see if there is a clear growth response to an applied nutrient. But it is often hard to quantify the response and translate it into fertiliser rate recommendations. Some fertiliser advisors are using a new tool to address […]

Give seeds the best chance in a dry start – how to avoid fertiliser burn

published - 23 April 2018
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Seeds can be damaged by fertiliser placed too close or at too high rates. Dry soils increase the risk of harm to germinating seeds from fertilisers. Take extra care with fertiliser and seed placement this year. The dry lead in to 2018 winter sowing means last year’s strategy might not […]