With many crops now sown, we thought it was timely to revisit members research results that will assist in planning and management decisions for the season ahead.
During the decile 10 season that was 2016, an economic analysis of fertiliser application on wheat sown at the Warmur main site identified that the most economical nitrogen rate was 80 kg N/ha, with a return of $2.68 per dollar investment.
Table 1. Partial gross margins on applying additional nitrogen. Stats: P<0.001, LSD=62, CV=5.9%
Not only was applying 80kg N/ha was the most economical, it was also sufficient to meet crop requirements. Increasing the rate to 120N kg/ha had a lower return on investment, at $1.92 as a partial gross margin.
The principle of right nutrient source/product, right rate, right time and right place still applies for ongoing agricultural sustainability. This is especially important, as without many of these nutrients vital applications do not occur during plant growth.
A wheat crop requires nitrogen for chorophyll production for photosynthesis, and phosphorus for root development, vigour and cell divison. Sulphur is imperative for cellular structure and zinc is vital for chlorophyll and carbohydrate production.
For comprehensive results check out the article online or on page 107 of the 2016 BCG Season Research Results.
