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 […]
Keep up with the latest research information on nitrogen. The following papers and key messages were presented at the GRDC Updates across Australia in February and March 2018. Improving N efficiency using mid-row banding – Graeme Sandral Mid-row banding urea at sowing provided a higher yield and profit response in […]
In 2016, Agriculture Victoria researcher Ashley Wallace conducted mid-row banding (MRB) trials in Victoria. These were part of the GRDC/Agriculture Victoria Regional Research Agronomist program.The trials compared MRB nitrogen fertiliser in-crop to other application methods. MRB is when fertiliser is applied in concentrated bands below the surface to every second […]
A hayed-off crop can make estimating available nitrogen (N) trickier than usual. Deep N testing is the best way to assess N resources.Estimates and actual results from deep soil testing were very different in recent research by Birchip Cropping Group. After haying off there’s potential yield benefit next season from leftover […]
Do you know the fate of nitrogen (N) fertiliser that’s applied to cropping paddocks? How much ends up in the crop, soil or lost? Victorian researchers have been working with a traceable N fertiliser to find out. The standard assumption is the crop takes up half the fertiliser N in […]
Trials looking at placing nitrogen fertiliser into the soil have shown some different outcomes. In the southern region adding mid-row banding (MRB) to the crop nutrition toolkit looks interesting. A trial showed modest yield gains and better fertiliser uptake. In the northern region, rate looks more important than how nitrogen […]
Balancing legume N with fertiliser inputs can be tricky. Legumes can affect soil N dynamics in unexpected ways. For example, chickpeas grown in low N soil can fix a large amount of N. But in high N soils, chickpeas use the soil N and fix less from the atmosphere. They […]
Crops may source much of their nitrogen (N) from in-crop mineralisation (ICM) of soil organic matter. Of total crop N at harvest, an estimated average 63% came from ICM in a recent Victorian study. Total crop N includes grain, straw and roots. Root N is about 10% of grain and […]
Mid-row Banding (MRB) places nitrogen (N) fertiliser below the soil surface in every second crop inter-row. Recent research looked at using MRB for in-crop N applications. In-season N applications aim to meet a crop’s peak N demand and improve the efficiency of crop uptake. MRB can reduce some risks that […]
Many Australian grain paddocks have a nitrogen (N) deficit. Analysis by the IPNI of 2016 data collected from grain growers across the southern region found few growers were in N surplus. On average, at a paddock level 1.14 kg N is removed for each kilogram of N fertiliser applied. These calculations […]
Biserrula is proving a beneficial pasture legume for cereal crop rotations in Western Australia. This persistent annual legume can be used to rest and rehabilitate heavily cropped country, and to manage weeds. Used in pasture phases, it can leave plenty of nitrogen available for future crops, and eventually provides good grazing […]
Some significant global premiums are emerging for high protein wheat grades. These international prices are starting to flow through to domestic wheat prices. Prime hard wheat (standard is a minimum 13% protein) was recently quoted at a premium of $85/tonne over APW wheat (10.5% protein, 5% screenings, 12.5% moisture) in […]
