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Managing micronutrient deficiencies in cropping systems of eastern Australia

This project will address these increasing concerns and speculation in a three pronged approach for all six micronutrients named in the tender (Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Fe) for all cropping regions in Australia except for those in WA. This project will liaise closely with a separate bid being prepared by Dr Ross Brennan of DAFWA to address issues in WA specifically, should that bid be successful. This project will produce clear guidelines for management of micronutrient disorders for the major crops in the southern and northern regions of GRDC based on existing knowledge which has been objectively tested for its relevance to modern cropping systems and modernised for current technologies and economic circumstances where necessary.

IPNI-2014-AUS-020

Overview Related

Managing micronutrient deficiciencies in cropping systems of eastern Australia Project Proposal and Description Many of the soils in Australia under agricultural production are very old and infertile. This infertility, if left untreated, can result in widespread and severe nutrient deficiencies, including those caused by poor supply or use of micronutrients. Read more

Year of initiation:2014
Year of completion:2017
Map:

Articles

21 May 2015

Molybdenum
It role in crops and pastures, Australia

17 Mar 2015

Boron
The role of boron

Interpretive Summary

2017

Between 2014 and 2017, a series of field experiments were undertaken to assess the effect on crop yield of multiple rates and application strategies of micronutrient fertilizers in soils deficient in the target micronutrients (copper, zinc, manganese, boron, and molybdenum). A total of 22 experiments were conducted in South Australia, Victoria, southeastern Queensland, and southern New South Wales. The results have been reported on the IPNI ANZ research project website http://research. ipni.

2016
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During 2016, another group of ten micronutrient field experiments were undertaken across southeastern Australia predominantly on wheat. There were three copper (Cu) trials, two zinc (Zn) trials, one boron (B) trial, and three manganese (Mn) trials. An additional trial with Cu applied to field beans was abandoned due to excessively wet conditions.

2015

2014 was the first field year of the GRDC-supported micronutrient project. The objective of this research is to review and revise the Zn, Mn, and Cu management guidelines that were developed in the 1970s. This review is necessary because of the profound changes to cultivation systems, crop N and P nutrition, higher yields, and more intense and diverse rotations.

2014

As a consequence of a scoping study undertaken by IPNI in 2013, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) commissioned a national program to investigate the current gaps in knowledge of micronutrient (i. e. , B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Zn) management for grain crops. Current micronutrient management packages were developed from research undertaken 20 to 40 years ago in a vastly different farming system.

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Updates & Reports

2016

Copper trial - Wheat Edillillie 2015

2016

Zinc trial - Wheat Wunkar 2015

2016

Manganese foliar trial - Wheat Streaky Bay 2014

2016

Manganese Trial -Wheat Farm Beach 2014

2016

Copper Trial - Wheat Temora 2014

2016

Zinc Trial - Wheat Harden 2014

2016

Zinc Trial Danadloo, 2015

2014

Project Description

Canola crops from Mount Arapiles

Project Leader

Nigel Wilhelm, South Australian Research and Development Institute

Project Cooperators

Ross Brennan, Department of Agriculture Western Australia
Mike Bell, Queensland Agriculture and Agrifood Alliance
Sergio Moroni, Charles Sturt University
Mark Conyers, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
Sjaan Davies, South Australian Research and Development Institute

IPNI Staff

R. M. Norton

Location

Oceania \ Australia and New Zealand \ AUS \ New South Wales \ Harden 2014

Oceania \ Australia and New Zealand \ AUS \ New South Wales \ Temora 2014

Oceania \ Australia and New Zealand \ AUS \ South Australia \ Farm Beach 2014

Oceania \ Australia and New Zealand \ AUS \ South Australia \ Streaky Bay 2014

Oceania \ Australia and New Zealand \ AUS \ New South Wales \ Harden 2015

Oceania \ Australia and New Zealand \ AUS \ South Australia \ Wunkar 2015

Oceania \ Australia and New Zealand \ AUS \ New South Wales \ Dandaloo 2015

Oceania \ Australia and New Zealand \ AUS \ Victoria \ Lower Norton 2015

Oceania \ Australia and New Zealand \ AUS \ South Australia \ Streaky Bay 2015

Oceania \ Australia and New Zealand \ AUS \ New South Wales \ Ariah Park 2015

Oceania \ Australia and New Zealand \ AUS \ South Australia \ Edillillie 2015

Topics

4r place, 4r rate, 4r source, 4r time, balanced nutrition, crop rotations, extension

Boron (B), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Zinc (Zn)