Sampling represents a major milestone in the two-year GRDC investment, using soil and plant testing data to better inform nutrient management and optimise fertiliser investments for grain growers in the southern region.
The project, which is being led by Agronomy Solutions in conjunction with Australian Precision Agriculture Laboratory, CSIRO, Landmark, Hart Field-Site Group and AgCommunicators, aims to improve nutrient management best practice through the increased use of soil testing and providing grain growers in the southern cropping region with the ability to make more effective and profitable nutrient management decisions.
GRDC southern soils and nutrition manager Stephen Loss said the project would quantify the benefits to growers of adopting soil and plant testing to inform their fertiliser decisions.
‘‘The rates of soil testing in the southern region are lower than other regions, particularly Western Australia, and we think there’s an opportunity for growers to save on fertiliser inputs where their residual soil nutrient levels are high,’’ Dr Loss said.
‘‘In many cases there is also upside in putting on more nitrogen than what is customary to achieve higher yields, higher returns and better grain protein, especially in favourable seasons.
‘‘We are working with agronomists and private consultants, helping to take soil samples and then interpreting results and providing recommendations for the growers.
‘‘We will set up strip trials in paddocks, comparing the fertiliser recommendations made from the soil test results (informed rate) against an uninformed rate (grower practice/knowledge), a nil rate (to validate a response or non-response) and potentially a high yield-limiting rate.’’
As part of the project, 100 participating growers and agronomists will be provided with accredited soil sampling and analysis, interpretation of results and fertiliser recommendations for six paddocks a year.
Growers are required to plant the paddocks to wheat in the project year, before selecting two production zones within that paddock for experimentation. A one-hectare area will then be chosen within the production zone for soil sampling.
Analysis will allow for the identification of potential nutrient yield limiters and other constraints such as soil acidity, with results supplied to project agronomists to provide recommendations to growers.
Crop walks are expected to be held later this year, depending on seasonal conditions, with the aim to show nutrient responses at the end of tillering, growth stage 30. In addition, further workshops will be held later in 2019.
