Long term effects of rotation, tillage and stubble management on wheat production in southern NSW

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
DP Heenan ◽  
AC Taylor ◽  
BR Cullis ◽  
WJ Lill

A long term field experiment began in 1979 at Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., to compare the sustainability of a range of rotation, tillage and stubble management systems on a red earth. This paper reports yield, yield components and grain protein of wheat for 1979-90. Rotations considered were alternating lupin-wheat (LW), lupin-wheat-wheat (LWW), continuous wheat (WW) with and without N fertilizer (100 kg N/ha), and alternating sub-clover-wheat (CW). Soil N supply at the start of the experiment was high following many years of sub-clover based pasture. From 1979 to 1983, there was a negative grain yield response to N fertilizer and no response to a legume in rotation except in the drought of 1982 when low yields were recorded from LW. Thereafter, a positive grain yield response was usually produced to N fertilizer in WW rotations, until 1989 and 1990, when these crops displayed aluminium toxicity sym ptoms. Overall, average grain yields from legume rotations were higher than WW with added N fertilizer. Since 1983, LW rotations consistently produced higher mean grain yields than CW, but mean grain protein and total N uptake were lower. Yields and N uptake by the second wheat crop in a LWW rotation indicated little carryover of benefits from the lupins. Slightly higher mean grain yield and harvest index, but lower mean grain protein, were produced by direct drilling, compared with cultivation before sowing, following lupins or sub-clover. However, retaining stubble rather than burning in autumn consistently reduced grain yields. There was no evidence that early burial of wheat stubble following summer rain, rather than incorporation in autumn, improved grain yield or total N uptake. The build-up of giant brome grass and diseases, particularly where stubble was retained and crops direct-drilled, casts some doubt on the long term sustainability of these short term rotations in this environment.

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (111) ◽  
pp. 424 ◽  
Author(s):  
WM Strong

Eighteen fertilizer trials, each with five levels of nitrogen (N) and three levels of phosphorus (PI, were conducted on black earth soils of the Darling Downs to establish optimal economic rates of N fertilizer in commercial, irrigated wheat crops. The optimal economic rate of N with a fertilizer: wheat price ratio (kg N: kg grain) of 5:l, the yield response of 100 kg/ha of applied N, the yield without fertilizer, and the yield with fertilizer not limiting were calculated from derived yield response relations at each site. A multi-variate regression procedure was used to determine which soil or crop management factors significantly influenced the rate of N needed to optimize wheat yield. Delay in planting after June 1 and the level of residual mineral N in the soil at planting had strong negative effects on the response to fertilizer and the optimal rate of fertilizer required. The results indicate that yields of irrigated wheat may be below the economic optimum because of sub-optimal applications of N. Other soil and management factors such as available soil P and number of irrigations also affected grain yield. At 1 3 sites low protein wheat (< 1 1.4�1~) was produced with all but the highest two rates of N fertilizer and at two sites even the highest rate produced low protein wheat. The effect of N fertilizer applied at planting on grain protein concentration was changed by the yield response to the fertilizer application. Grain protein concentration was curvilinearly related (R2 = 0.81) to relative grain yield (yield as a proportion of the maximum yield); grain protein was at its minimum at a relative yield of 0.5. Although heavy rates of N fertilizer at planting increased grain protein concentration on a few sites, usually these applications led to an inefficient use of N fertilizer; apparent incorporation of fertilizer N into grain decreased with increasing rate of fertilizer.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey C. Anderson ◽  
Shahab Pathan ◽  
James Easton ◽  
David J. M. Hall ◽  
Rajesh Sharma

Surface (0–10 cm) and subsoil (soil layers below 10 cm) acidity and resulting aluminum (Al) toxicity reduce crop grain yields. In South Western Australia (SWA), these constraints affect 14.2 million hectares or 53% of the agricultural area. Both lime (L, CaCO3) and gypsum (G, CaSO4) application can decrease the toxic effect of Al, leading to an increase in crop grain yields. Within the region, it is unclear if G alone or the combined use of L and G has a role in alleviating soil acidity in SWA, due to low sulfate S (SO4–S) sorption properties of the soil. We present results from three experiments located in the eastern wheatbelt of SWA, which examined the short-term (ST, 2 growing seasons), medium-term (MT, 3 growing seasons), and long-term (LT, 7 growing seasons over 10 years) effects of L and G on grain yield and plant nutrient concentrations. Despite the rapid leaching of SO4–S and no self-liming impact, it was profitable to apply G, due to the significant ST grain yield responses. The grain yield response to G developed even following relatively dry years, but declined over time due to SO4–S leaching. At the LT experimental site had received no previous L application, whereas, at the ST and MT sites, L had been applied by the grower over the previous 5–10 years. For the LT site, the most profitable treatment for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield, was the combined application of 4 t L ha−1 with 2 t G ha−1. At this site, the 0–10 cm soil pHCaCl2 was 4.6, and AlCaCl2 was greater than 2.5 mg kg−1 in the 10–30 cm soil layer. In contrast, at the ST and MT sites, the pHCaCl2 of 0–10 cm soil layer was ≥5.5; it was only profitable to apply G to the MT site where the soil compaction constraint had been removed by deep ripping. The use of L increases soil pHCaCl2, resulting in the improved availability of anions, phosphorus (P) in the LT and molybdenum (Mo) at all sampling times, but reduced availability of cations zinc (Zn) in the LT and manganese (Mn) at all sampling. The application of G reduced Mo concentrations, due to the high SO4–S content of the soil.


2016 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. ROQUES ◽  
D. R. KINDRED ◽  
S. CLARKE

SUMMARYTriticale has a reputation for performing well on poor soils, under drought and with reduced inputs, but there has been little investigation of its performance on the better yielding soils dominated by wheat production. The present paper reports 16 field experiments comparing wheat and triticale yield responses to nitrogen (N) fertilizer on high-yielding soils in the UK in harvest years 2009–2014. Each experiment included at least two wheat and at least two triticale varieties, grown at five or six N fertilizer rates from 0 to at least 260 kg N/ha. Linear plus exponential curves were fitted to describe the yield response to N and to calculate economically optimal N rates. Normal type curves with depletion were used to describe protein responses to N. Whole crop samples from selected treatments were taken prior to harvest to measure crop biomass, harvest index, crop N content and yield components. At commercial N rates, mean triticale yield was higher than the mean wheat yield at 13 out of 16 sites; the mean yield advantage of triticale was 0·53 t/ha in the first cereal position and 1·26 t/ha in the second cereal position. Optimal N requirement varied with variety at ten of the 16 sites, but there was no consistent difference between the optimal N rates of wheat and triticale. Triticale grain had lower protein content and lower specific weight than wheat grain. Triticale typically showed higher biomass and straw yields, lower harvest index and higher total N uptake than wheat. Consequently, triticale had higher N uptake efficiency and higher N use efficiency. Based on this study, current N fertilizer recommendations for triticale in the UK are too low, as are national statistics and expectations of triticale yields. The implications of these findings for arable cropping and cereals markets in the UK and Northern Europe are discussed, and the changes which would need to occur to allow triticale to fulfil a role in achieving sustainable intensification are explored.


1982 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. V. Widdowson ◽  
J. F. Jenkyn ◽  
A. Penny

SUMMARYExperiments with spring barley at Saxmundham, in each year from 1975 to 1978, compared two varieties (Julia v Wing), two amounts of granular N-fertilizer (50 v 100kg N/ha) and two times of applying it (seed bed v top-dressing), a liquid N-fertilizer spray (0 v 50 kg N/ha), mildew fungicides (with and without) and a rust fungicide (with and without), in factorial combination (26).Leaf diseases were assessed and grain weighed and analysed for % N each year. Thousand-grain weights were measured in 1977 and 1978.Yields were small in 1975 and 1976 because little rain fell in summer, but larger in 1977 and 1978, years with average rainfall.Mildew was most severe in 1975 and least in 1978, brown rust most severe in 1975 and 1978 and practically absent in 1976. Granular N-fertilizer was best applied to the seed bed in all years, whether or not leaf diseases were controlled. Late sprays of liquid N-fertilizer increased yield less than equivalent amounts of seed-bed N, but increased % N in grain more. However, because they also decreased grain size, less of the N applied as a liquid was recovered by grain than was recovered from granules given earlier. The mildew fungicides increased yields by ca. 0·25 t/ha in 1975 and 1977, but decreased them in 1976. They had little or no effect on % N in grain, but increased grain size in 1977. The rust fungicide, benodanil, increased grain yields each year and especially in 1978 (0·37 t/ha). It had no effect on grain % N, but consistently increased grain size and so enhanced grain yield and N uptake.


2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 519-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Potarzycki ◽  
W. Grzebisz

Actual yields of maize harvested by farmers are at level much below attainable yield potential of currently cultivated varieties. Among many growth factors zinc was recognized as one of main limiting factors of maize crop growth and yielding. This hypothesis has been verified within a three-year field study, where zinc fertilizer was applied to maize plants at the 5<sup>th</sup> leaf stage. Maize crop responded significantly to zinc foliar application in two of three years of study. The optimal rate of zinc foliar spray for achieving significant grain yield response was in the range from 1.0 to 1.5 kg Zn/ha. Grain yield increase was circa 18% (mean of three years) as compared to the treatment fertilized only with NPK. Plants fertilized with 1.0 kg Zn/ha significantly increased both total N uptake and grain yield. Yield forming effect of zinc fertilizer revealed via improvement of yield structure elements. The number of kernels per plant showed the highest response (+17.8% as compared to the NPK plot) and simultaneously the highest dependence on N uptake (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.79). For this particular zinc treatment, however, the length of cob can also be applied as a component of yield structure significantly shaping the final grain yield.


1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 635 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Birch ◽  
S. Fukai ◽  
I. J. Broad

The effect of nitrogen application on the grain yield and grain protein concentration of barley was studied in 13 field trials covering a wide range of soil N conditions over 4 years at locations in south-eastern Queensland. The main objectives of the study were to quantify the response of barley to N application rate over a range of environmental conditions, and to explain the response in terms of soil mineral N, total N uptake, and N distribution in the plants. Barley made efficient use of N (60 kg grain/kg N) until grain yield reached 90% of maximum yield. Grain protein concentration did not increase to levels unacceptable for malting purposes until grain yield exceeded 85–90% of maximum yield. Nitrogen harvest index was generally high (above 0·75), and did not decrease until the total N supply exceeded that necessary for maximum grain yield. Rates of application of N for malting barley should be determined on the basis of soil analysis (nitrate-N) to 1 m depth and 90% of expected maximum grain yield, assuming that 17 kg N is taken up per tonne of grain produced. It can further be assumed that the crop makes full use of the nitrate N to 1 m present at planting, provided the soil is moist to 1 m. A framework relating grain yield to total N uptake, N harvest index, and grain N concentration is presented. Further, total N uptake of fertilised barley is related to N uptake without fertiliser, fertiliser application rate, and apparent N recovery. The findings reported here will be useful in the development of barley simulation models and decision support packages that can be used to aid N management.


Soil Research ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 289 ◽  
Author(s):  
SA Hossain ◽  
WM Strong ◽  
SA Waring ◽  
RC Dalal ◽  
EJ Weston

Mineral nitrogen release following legume-based cropping systems for restoring the fertility of a Vertisol and the yield response and N uptake of subsequent wheat crops was studied. Legume phases of pastures, including a 4 year grass+legume ley, and lucerne and medic leys (~1 year) were terminated in October 1988 or 1989 and rotated with wheat. Chickpea-wheat rotations matched those of lucerne and medic leys. Mineral N accumulations during a subsequent fallow period were determined by core sampling to 1.5 m in October, February and May. Grain yield and N uptake of wheat enabled comparisons of the fertility restorative effects of the various systems relative to continuous wheat cropping. Averaged for two fallow periods, increases in mineral N down to 1.2 m depth were 93, 91, 68, and 37 kg/ha following grass+legume, lucerne and medic leys, and chickpea, respectively, compared with the continuous wheat treatment. Wheat yields were generally lower in 1989 (1.85–2.88 t/ha) than in 1990 (2.08–3.59 t/ha) following all leys and crops due to seasonal conditions. There was a grain yield increase of 0.11 and 0.52 t/ha in 1989 and 1.23 and 1.26 t/ha in 1990 following lucerne and medic leys, respectively and 0.85 t/ha in 1990 following a 4 year grass+legume ley. Following chickpea there was a yield increase of 0.81 and 1.36 t/ha in 1989 and 1990 respectively. Nitrogen uptake by wheat was increased by 40 and 49 kg/ha in 1989 and 48 and 58 kg/ha in 1990 following lucerne and medic leys respectively and 63 kg/ha in 1990 following a 4 year grass+legume ley. Following chickpea N uptake by wheat was increased by 27 and 32 kg/ha in 1989 and 1990 respectively. Grain protein concentration of wheat was substantially higher following all pasture leys (11.7–15.8%) than following wheat (8.0–9.4%) or chickpea (9.4–10.1%). Therefore, there was substantial evidence of the effectiveness of pasture leys in soil fertility restoration, as reflected in mineral N, yield response and N uptake by subsequent wheat crops.


1970 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Ataur Rahman ◽  
MAZ Sarker ◽  
MF Amin ◽  
AHS Jahan ◽  
MM Akhter

A field experiment was conducted at the central research farm of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur for two consecutive years to verify the yield response of wheat variety Prodip to different doses and split applications of N fertilizer to determine appropriate N dose and application method for increasing NUE and grain yield of wheat. The treatments comprised of 12 combinations of three doses of nitrogen (80, 100, and 120 kg/ha) from urea, which were assigned in the main plots and four methods of N splitting viz., application of all N as basal; 2/3rd basal plus 1/3rd as top dress at crown root initiation (CR1) stage; 1/2 basal plus 1/2 as top dress at CR1 stage; and 1/3rd basal with 1/3rd as top dress at CR1 plus 1/3rd as top dress at 1st node stage which were tested in the sub plots. Higher yield was achieved from N rate of 120 kgiha applied as three equal splits of one-third as basal during final land preparation, one-third as top dressing during CR1 and the rest one-third top dressing at first node stage. The yield advantage of wheat due to N treatments was attributed to higher thousand grain weight and spikes/m2. Nitrogen content in wheat grain and straw was not affected significantly by different N treatment and their combinations, whereas plant N uptake was significantly influenced by N rate and N splitting and also due to the interaction of N rate and N splitting. Total N uptake was maximum under N rate of 120 kg/ha applied as three equal splits as 1/3rd basal with 1/3rd as top dress at CR1 plus 1/3rd as top dress at 1st node stage. Split applications of sub-optimal dose of N (80 kg/ha) resulted in negative gain in apparent NUE, but split applications, especially three split applications (1/3rd basal, 1/3rd at CR1, and 1/3rd at 1st node stage) of higher dose of N (100 and 120 kg/ha) resulted in positive gain in apparent NUE. Keywords: Wheat grain yield; nitrogen management; N uptake and NUE DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v36i2.9249 BJAR 2011; 36(2): 231-240


1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 487 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. McGhie ◽  
D. P. Heenan ◽  
D. Collins

Soil nitrogen (N), N uptake, and wheat production in relation to rotation with wheat, lupin,or subterranean clover, mulched or grazed, were examined on a red earth at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Data over 4 years (1992{95) are presented from a long-term trial commenced in 1979. The effects of the various rotations on wheat productivity changed with seasonal rainfall duringthe wheat and the previous legume growing year. Generally, low rainfall (1991 and 1994) during thelegume growing season resulted in lower N uptake, grain protein, and grain yield by wheat grown ina following season. The addition of N fertiliser (100 kg N/ha) to continuous wheat increased soil N supply, N uptake, grain yield, and grain protein. Yields from continuously cropped wheat fertilisedwith N were usually lower than those after a lupin growing season, although total soil N levels weresimilar. Subterranean clover produced higher total soil N and grain protein than lupin but yields werenormally less. Lodging and take-all diseases were higher after a growing season with subterraneanclover than after lupins and most likely reduced grain yields. Grazing, as opposed to mowing andmulching subterranean clover, increased soil total N, grain protein, and usually soil mineral N, butnot grain yield. The addition of lime at 1·5 t/ha raised the soil pH(CaCl2) (0-10 cm) of the mostacidified treatment, continuously cropped wheat fertilised with N, from 4·04 to a mean of 4·7, andincreased yields and N uptake in 1993 and 1995.


1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 363 ◽  
Author(s):  
MG Mason ◽  
IC Rowland

Burr medic (Medicago polymorpha cv. Circle Valley) at 3 sowing rates (3, 12, and 50 kg/ha), narrow leaf lupins (Lupinus angustifolius cv. Illyarrie) at 2 sowing rates (30 and 100 kg/ha, with the high rate sown early or late) and oats (Avena sativa cv. Winjardie) at 2 sowing rates (20 and 60 kg/ha, with the high rate sown early or late), were planted on a deep, infertile siliceous sand at Badgingarra in 1988, to produce residues of varying quantity and quality. Residues produced (minus seed) varied in quantity from 0.70 t/ha (medic 3 kg/ha) to 4.22 t/ha (lupins 100 kg/ha sown early) when measured in late summer. Carbon to nitrogen ratios (C/N) ranged from 37.3 to 58.5 (medic), 28.3 to 40.4 (lupins), and 78.6 to 112.0 (oats). Seed present in the residues ranged from 0.18 to 0.47 t/ha (medic) and from 0.32 to 0.57 t/ha (lupins). The ranges in C/N values were 8.3-9.3 (medic) and 9.4-10.0 (lupin). There was no grain in the oats residues. The residues were incorporated into the soil during the sowing operation of a wheat crop in 1989. Subplots of 6 rates of N as ammonium nitrate (0, 14, 27, 54, 82, and 163 kg N/ha) were included in each block. Wheat dry matter and grain yields were higher following lupins and medic than following oats, and although there were large responses to N fertiliser following all 1988 crops, the N application had little effect on the difference between oats and legumes. In the absence of N fertiliser, yields and N uptake by the 1989 wheat crop were higher following lupins than following medic, due to hardseededness of medic seeds. There were no significant differences within 1988 crop groups. There were good correlations between dry matter and grain yield of wheat without N fertiliser and C/N value of the residues. The correlations were better when seed was not included in the calculation (r2 = 0.86 and 0.80, respectively) than when the seed was included (r2 = 0.79 and 0.64). Similar correlations were obtained between dry matter and grain yields and total N content of the residues. Correlations were lower when seed was omitted (r2 = 0.64 and 0.75) than when it was included (r2 = 0.70 and 0.81). Yields decreased with increasing C/N and increased with total N content of the residues. Wheat grain N concentrations fell with the first increment of N fertiliser, which produced a large yield increase, but rose to high levels at high rates of N.


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