Fertiliser recommendations for grain legumes in Western region with limited production area
Tender ID: 531703
Tender Details
Tender Description
As adapted pulse crop species become available for growers in regions of Western Australia, fertiliser recommendations for the major elements (Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) and Sulphur (S)) are required to maximise profitability (Speirs et al, 2013).
Following a review of WA RCSN/NGN meeting minutes and a grower survey (KAL2104-001SAX), it is clear growers are unsure of fertiliser management for ‘new to them’ pulse species, a sentiment amplified by high fertiliser prices.
Evidence of positive benefits from crop diversity and legumes in a cereal-based system means growers are eager to successfully integrate adapted pulse species into their farming system.
P.K & S will be the focus of this research. Better Fertiliser Decision for Cropping (BFDC), a database of historic fertiliser response curves, determined critical P soil test values of Colwell P between 18-30 mg/kg for pulses from approximately 20 relevant historical trials.
However, work conducted by local fertiliser companies have recently recorded significant P response in lupins above the published critical P values. Critical values are a guide only and do not account for some key soil chemical properties that impact the availability of P to the plant, such as phosphorus buffering index (PBI).
In the absence of fertiliser strategies for pulse crops, WA growers use rules of thumb, simple nutrient replacement methods or fertiliser response curves for other crops.
Refining fertiliser application for pulses represents a significant opportunity for WA growers to improve both pulse productivity and profit. Better fertiliser recommendations for pulse crops are required by Western Australian (WA) growers to capitalise on opportunities high value pulse crops represent both in their own right and for whole farm productivity and profitability.
Such information could be delivered via a simple standalone excel or online model or paper-based tools in addition to updating current fertiliser decision support tools. Data creation to underpin fertiliser response curves will use a combination of traditional means, validated with newer concepts such as paddock scale "checkerboard” or” strip” style trials and new methods of robust statistical analysis (Lacoste, M.et al 2022).
The use of paddock scale trials in combination with traditional methods can reduce the time and cost for the development of fertiliser response curves (Stefanova, K. et al 2023).
Location
New South Wales : Central West : Far North Coast : Far West : Hunter : Illawarra : Mid North Coast : Murray : New England : Orana : Riverina : Southern Highlands : Sydney
Queensland : Cairns & Far North Queensland : Gladstone : Mackay Whitsunday Region : Mount Isa & North West Region : Rockhampton : South East Queensland : South West & Darling Downs : The Central West : Townsville : Wide Bay Burnett
Victoria : Barwon South West : Gippsland : Grampians : Hume : Loddon Mallee : Melbourne
South Australia : Adelaide : Eyre & Western : Far North : Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island : Limestone Coast : Murray & Mallee : York & Mid North
Northern Territory : Big Rivers : Central Australia : East Arnhem : Greater Darwin
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania
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