Tactical use of nitrogen in canola to manage risk and include break crops in northern Wimmera

Time by rate of N for canola

IPNI-2012-AUS-12

Overview

Nitrogen fertiliser is often the single biggest variable cost to canola growers in the northern Wimmera. Throughout the drought, canola was commonly dropped from the rotation in the region as it was seen as a risky crop. To counter some of this risk, some growers changed from pre-drilling all nitrogen fertiliser to splitting or deferring all nitrogen fertiliser applications. Read more

Year of initiation:2012

Year of completion:2012

Map:

Articles

18 Feb 2012	Trial Final Report Download a copy of the final trial report here
28 Jan 2012	Background, Site Description and Methods Used What we did, why we did it and how we did it.
28 Jan 2012	Results What we found
28 Jan 2012	Conclusions and Summary What we think it means
13 Sep 2011	Wallup Site September 11, 2011 Photo series taken just prior to the late topdressing.
09 Sep 2011	Wallup Ag Group Field Days Pictures from the field, September 01, 2011.
02 Sep 2011	Wallup Ag Group Field Day Photos and descriptions of treatments on September 01.
10 Aug 2011	Crop emergence and early growth
10 Aug 2011	Top Dressing Time Crop Progress as at 4th August
10 Aug 2011	Sowing the Trials Establishment of Wallup Expo trial site

Interpretive Summary

2011

A trial was undertaken to determine if N rates for canola can be reduced in the Wimmera without loss of yield. It also aimed to determine how late N can be topdressed. There was no response to a low rate of N, while 50 kg N/ha when applied at or near sowing gave a 54% yield increase, and 100 kg N/ha application raised yields a further 14%. Nitrogen rate is therefore very important, but timing—when applied even up until early flowering—had little effect.