Estimating your crop nitrogen requirements will assist in developing an accurate fertiliser strategy to support financial and agronomic efficiencies in production. Important components include estimating yield potential, estimating crop nitrogen requirements and matching the two.
Over the years, a range of tools have been developed to estimate yield potential including the French and Schultz equation (1984), the 2006 Sadras and Angus formula (which is the formula used in Yield Prophet Lite®) and the crop modelling product, Yield Prophet® which is available via subscription.
More recently, research conducted by Harries et al. produced an estimate (2022) based on water use (WU) calculations and factors derived from analysis of commercial crops in Western Australia to determine water limited potential yield (PY ). It is calculated as the best yield an environment can produce with the best cultivar, best management practices and with high water use efficiency. Once calculated for your crop, it should be considered a yield benchmark to aim for.
N & P Soil test interpreation fact sheet (4)
