A suite of nutrition trials are being carried out across the region as part of the GRDC More Profit from Crop Nutrition (MPCN) initiative.
One of the research projects, which began in 2013, aims to explore the potential benefits of tactical foliar P (phosphorus) applications, with the aim to improve P use efficiency and improve grain yields.
Crop demand for phosphorus (P) varies according to in-season rainfall. With the cost of P fertilisers rising, so increases the economic risk to growers, particularly as climate variability is also increasing.
Responding to this, researchers involved in the MPCN initiative, are investigating the potential benefits of adding phosphorus to cropping paddocks in-season. Traditionally phosphorus, which is understood to be quite immobile once it is in the soil, is applied at sowing so as to give the seed immediate access to it, helping germination, emergence and early growth. This research is seeking to understand if tactical foliar application of P would be equally beneficial. This would allow the grower to reduce the amount invested in P fertiliser at the start of the season, particularly in areas or paddocks where P was only marginally limiting, and enable them to better respond to the season and crop demand.
The team from Adelaide University and CSIRO (Courtney A. E. Peirce, Evelina Facelli, Therese M. McBeath and Mike J. McLaughlin) carried out research field trials in South Australia in 2014 and also monitored multiple replicated trial strips in farmer paddocks at Nhill and Natimuk, with another demonstration strip at Dimboola.
Results from the research under controlled conditions have so far shown that wheat that is severely deficient in P, will struggle to take up foliar P applied to the leaf. However, wheat marginally deficient in P, responded to some formulations of foliar P with increased P uptake and yield.
With some formulations of foliar P and adjuvant looking to be promising from work carried out in 2014, the 2015 work will have specific attention focused on these treatments for field testing.
This season, replicated trials will be completed at Keith and Pinery (SA), to look again at the influence of foliar P on crop growth, and potential yield benefits.
A crop walk will be held later in the season to discuss the findings of the research.
Other trials across Victoria funded by the GRDC More Profit from Crop Nutrition initiative focus on the objective of better matching inputs to meet crop demand, while minimising nutrient losses, and nitrogen response curves, and the interaction of nitrogen with phosphorus.
This MPCN initiative aims to increase productivity through effective use of fertilisers whilst maximising profitability, through a range of communications, and events. BCG along with all MPCN project partners, will aim to further promote better nutrition practices to the agricultural community.
For further information about the MPCN initiative, including events being rolled out in your region, phone Alli Elliott at BCG on (03) 5492 2787.
