Thorburn, P.J., Biggs, J.S., Skocaj, D., Schroeder, B.L., Sexton, J., and Everingham, Y. (2018) Crop size and sugarcane nitrogen fertiliser requirements: Is there a link? In: Proceedings of the 40th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (40) pp. 210-218. From: ASSCT 2018: 40th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 17-20 April 2018, Mackay, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

The Australian sugarcane industry is under pressure to reduce nitrogen (N) fertiliser applications and hence N losses to the environment. One pathway suggested to reduce N applications is to match yield targets in N fertiliser recommendations to the yields achieved by farmers. This seems a sensible strategy: smaller crops generally grown by farmers (relative to current yield targets) 'should' need less N. Is it really that simple? We collated over 150 N response curves for ratoon crops from past experiments to investigate the amount of N (Nopt) needed to achieve 95% of maximum sugarcane yield (Y95). There was little correlation between Y95 and Nopt. For example, low yields (e.g. <50 t/ha) occurred at both low (<50 kg/ha) and high (>200 kg/ha) Nopt values. The low correlation was also seen in individual experiments and thus the results were not an artefact of amalgamating data from different locations. At one experiment, for example, across five years the N requirement varied three-fold. Given that soil and management were consistent across the years, the variation showed the climatic influence on N requirement. The results also showed that there was variation among sites and crops in both yield potential and the amount of N required to grow a tonne of cane. Rather than trying to improve N recommendations by changing concepts around target yields, we suggest it would be more beneficial to develop ways to predict Nopt directly. We simulated N responses with the APSIM model for one of the better characterised experiments in the database and derived Nopt from the response curves. Simulated Nopt was generally within the range of Nopt at the experiment. We conclude that direct prediction of Nopt through application the APSIM model, in combination with seasonal climate forecasts could be the basis of a future decision support system to define optimum N rates.

Item ID:	60354
Item Type:	Conference Item (Research - E1)
ISSN:	0726-0822
Keywords:	Nitrogen Use Efficiency, District Yield Potential, Environmental Nitrogen Losses, SIX EASY STEPS, APSIM
Related URLs:	https://www.assct.com.au/
Sensitivity Note:	Data for this paper is not available to the public
Funders:	Sugar Research Australia (SRA), James Cook University
Projects and Grants:	SRA 2015/075
Date Deposited:	11 Sep 2019 01:23
FoR Codes:	30 AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND FOOD SCIENCES > 3002 Agriculture, land and farm management > 300207 Agricultural systems analysis and modelling @ 80% 49 MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES > 4905 Statistics > 490501 Applied statistics @ 20%
SEO Codes:	82 PLANT PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 8203 Industrial Crops > 820304 Sugar @ 100%
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