Soil and tissue tests to predict the sulfur requirements of canola in south-western Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Brennan ◽  
M. D. A. Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
S Deficiency ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
Tissue Test

The sulfur (S) requirements of canola (Brassica napus L.) grown in rotation with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) in south-western Australia are not known. This study, involving 59 experiments, was conducted from 1993 to 2003 to determine soil and tissue test values for canola grain production below which S deficiency is likely. Extraction of S from soil using 0.25 mol KCl/L at 40°C (KCl-40 procedure) for the top 10 cm of soil is the standard soil test for S in the region. We measured KCl-40 values for soil samples collected at soil depths of 0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm and related the values to canola grain yield responses to applied fertiliser S measured at the end of the growing season. Total S measured in dried shoots at about 90 days after sowing (DAS) was related to shoot yields at 90 DAS and grain yields. In addition, the concentration of oil in canola grain was measured to see if applications of S affected oil concentrations. Soil test S was higher in the subsoil than in the top 10 cm of soil at about half the sites comprising sandy duplex soils with larger capacities to sorb sulfate in the subsoil. Significant grain yield responses to applied S occurred for soil test values <7 mg/kg to 30 cm. At many sites when soil test S was <7 mg/kg in the top 10 cm of soil, shoots showed grain yield responses to applied S, but canola roots eventually accessed sufficient S in the subsoil for grain production, so that no grain yield responses to applied fertiliser S occurred. Therefore, tissue test values for dried shoots at 90 DAS poorly predicted S deficiency for grain production. Responses of shoots and grain to applied S occurred for S concentrations in shoots <4 g/kg. We conclude that shallow soil tests and early tissue testing may both overestimate the magnitude of an S deficiency for grain production of canola grown in sandy WA soils. Deeper soil tests need to be seriously considered. Applications of fertiliser S mostly had no consistent effect on concentrations of oil in canola grain.

Soil and tissue tests to predict the potassium requirements of canola in south-western Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 675 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Brennan ◽  
M. D. A. Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Triticum Aestivum ◽  
Brassica Napus ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
Soil Test K ◽  
Yield Responses

The predominantly sandy soils of south-western Australia have become potassium (K) deficient for spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production due to the removal of K from soil in grain and hay. The K requirements of canola (rape, Brassica napus L.) grown in rotation with wheat on these soils are not known and were determined in the study reported here. Seed (grain) yield increases (responses) of canola to applications of fertiliser K occurred at sites where Colwell soil test K values (top 10 cm of soil) were <60 mg/kg soil. Grain yield responses to applied K occurred when concentrations of K in dried shoots were <45 g/kg for young plants 7 and 10 weeks after sowing and <35 g/kg for 18 weeks after sowing. Application of fertiliser K had no significant effects on either oil or K concentrations in grain.

Influence of potassium and nitrogen fertiliser on yield, oil and protein concentration of canola (Brassica napus L.) grain harvested in south-western Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 976 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Brennan ◽  
M. D. A. Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Brassica Napus ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
Yield Responses

Most soils used for agriculture in south-western Australia are sandy and are now deficient in both potassium (K) and nitrogen (N) for cereal and canola (oilseed rape; Brassica napus L.) grain production. However, the effect of applying different levels of both fertiliser K and N on grain yields of these crops is not known. We report results of 10 field experiments, conducted on sandy soils in the region, to measure the effects of applying both K and N on canola grain yields and concentration of oil and protein in grain. Four levels of K (0–60 kg K/ha as potassium chloride) and four levels of N (0–138 kg N/ha as urea) were applied. Significant grain yield responses to applied N occurred in all experiments for the nil-K treatment and each level of K applied, with responses increasing as more N was applied. For all levels of N applied, significant grain yield responses occurred when up to 30 kg K/ha was applied, with no further significant grain yield responses occurring when 60 kg K/ha was applied. The K × N interaction was always significant for grain production. Application of K had no effect on the concentration of oil and protein in grain. Application of N consistently decreased concentration of oil and increased concentration of protein in grain. The K × N interaction was not significant for concentration of oil or protein in grain, but application of up to 30 kg K/ha significantly increased canola grain and so oil yields (concentration of oil in grain multiplied by grain yield). Our results are likely to be relevant for all acidic to neutral sandy soils worldwide used for growing canola crops.

Comparing the nitrogen and phosphorus requirements of canola and wheat for grain yield and quality

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 566 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Brennan ◽  
M. D. A. Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Wheat Grain ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Oil Concentration ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
Yield Responses

Canola (oilseed rape, Brassica napus L.) is now grown in rotation with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on the predominantly sandy soils of south-western Australia. For both crop species, fertiliser nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) need to be applied for profitable grain production. The fertiliser N requirements have been determined separately for canola or wheat when adequate P was applied. By contrast, the fertiliser P requirements of the 2 species have been compared in the same experiment when adequate N was applied and showed that canola consistently required ~25–60% less P than wheat to produce 90% of the maximum grain yield. We report results of a field experiment conducted at 7 sites from 2000 to 2003 in the region to compare grain yield responses of canola and wheat to application of N and P in the same experiment. Four levels of N (0–138 kg N/ha as urea [46% N]) and 6 levels of P (0–40 kg P/ha as superphosphate [9.1%P]) were applied. Significant grain yield responses to applied N and P occurred for both crop species at all sites of the experiment, and the N × P interaction for grain production was always significant. To produce 90% of the maximum grain yield, canola required ~40% more N (range 16–75%) than wheat, and ~25% less P (range 12–43%) than wheat. For both crop species at 7 sites, applying increasing levels of N had no significant effect on the level of P required for 90% of maximum grain yield, although at 1 site the level of P required to achieve the target yield for both crop species when no N was applied (nil-N treatment) was significantly lower than for the other 3 treatments treated with N. For both crop species at all 7 sites, applying increasing levels of P increased the level of N required for 90% of the maximum grain yield. Fertiliser P had no significant effect on protein concentration in canola and wheat grain, and oil concentration in canola grain. As found in previous studies, application of increasing levels of N decreased oil concentration while increasing protein concentration in canola grain, and increased protein concentration in wheat grain. The N × P interaction was not significant for protein or oil concentration in grain. Protein concentrations in canola grain were about double those found in wheat grain.

Effect of fertiliser phosphorus and nitrogen on the concentrations of oil and protein in grain and the grain yield of canola (Brassica napus L.) grown in south-western Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 984 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Brennan ◽  
M. D. A. Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Brassica Napus ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
Single Superphosphate ◽  
P Deficiency ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Soil P Testing

The effect of fertiliser phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) on seed (grain) yield and concentration of oil and protein in grain of canola (oil-seed rape; Brassica napus L.) was measured in two field experiments undertaken at eight sites from 1993–2005 in south-western Australia, on soils deficient in P and N. Six rates of P (0–40 kg P/ha as single superphosphate) and four rates of N (0–138 kg N/ha as urea) were applied. Significant grain yield increases (responses) to applied P occurred in both experiments and these responses increased as rates of applied N increased. For grain production, the P × N interaction was significant in all eight years and locations of the two experiments. Application of P had no effect on concentration of oil and protein in grain. Application of N always decreased the concentration of oil and increased the concentration of protein in grain. For canola grain production in the region, responses to applied N always occur whereas responses to applied P are rare, but if soil P testing indicates likely P deficiency, both P and N fertiliser need to be applied.

Grain yield responses of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) to applications of fertiliser phosphorus and zinc.

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 849 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. A. Bolland ◽  
K. H. M. Siddique ◽  
R. F. Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Vicia Faba ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Faba Bean ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Alkaline Soils ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Vicia Faba L ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
Zinc Fertiliser

Seed (grain) yield responses of faba bean (Vicia faba L. cv. Fiord) to applications of fertiliser phosphorus (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 kg P/ha as triple superphosphate) and zinc (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 kg Zn/ha as zinc oxide) were measured in 3 field experiments conducted in 1997 and 1998 on neutral to alkaline soils in south-western Australia. Additions of fertiliser phosphorus significantly (P<0.001) increased grain yields by about 50 and 100% in 2 experiments, but in the third experiment differences in grain yield due to applications of fertiliser phosphorus were not significant (P>0.05). Increases in grain yields due to zinc fertiliser were small (<10%) and were only significant (P<0.05) in 1 experiment. This suggests the 3 sites chosen had adequate soil zinc for grain production of faba bean. In 1 experiment the increase in grain yield due to addition of phosphorus fertiliser was due to an increase in the number of pods per plant; numbers of seed per pod and mean seed weight were unaffected by additions of phosphorus and zinc fertiliser. Adding phosphorus and zinc fertiliser increased concentrations of both elements in grain, but had no effect on the concentrations of other nutrient elements (N, K, S, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Mn, Fe) measured in grain. These findings support results of a previous study in Western Australia indicating that phosphorus is the major nutrient element deficiency for grain production of faba bean in neutral to alkaline soils.

Accessibility of subsoil potassium to wheat grown on duplex soils in the south-west of Western Australia

Soil Research ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 745 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. F. Wong ◽  
N. K. Edwards ◽  
N. J. Barrow
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
The West ◽  
Fitting Procedure ◽  
South West ◽  
K Deficiency ◽  
K Concentration ◽  
Yield Responses

The B horizon of duplex soils in the wheatbelt of Western Australia is sometimes enriched with potassium (K). K supply from this source is, however, not taken into account in fertiliser recommendations based on soil tests on samples from the 0–10 cm layer. Grain yield responses of wheat to K were measured over 4 years on 10 duplex soils in the medium rainfall (400–600 mm) regions of the West Australian wheatbelt. The depth at which the texture changed markedly ranged from 25 to 75 cm. K was measured through the profile and the concentration was reduced to a single value with a weighting equation that takes account of the distribution of root length. The weights chosen by the fitting procedure discounted the K content of the subsoil severely and provided no evidence that subsoil K was important in determining yield. Furthermore, the improvement obtained by using the weighted K concentration in the 0–1 m layer compared with using the topsoil (0–10 cm) analysis was not statistically significant. K deficiency can be diagnosed in those soils using analysis of the 0–10 cm samples only.

Comparing the potassium requirements of canola and wheat

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Brennan ◽  
M. D. A. Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Critical Concentration ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
Wheat Roots ◽  
K Deficiency ◽  
K Concentration ◽  
Yield Responses

Most sandy soils used for cropping in south-western Australia are now deficient in potassium (K) due to removal of K from soil in hay and grain, and profitable grain yield responses to applied fertiliser K are commonly obtained for spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and canola (oilseed rape, Brassica napus L.). However, there are only limited data comparing the K requirements of these 2 species in the region. In a glasshouse experiment we compared the K requirements of wheat (cv. Westonia), conventional canola cv. Outback (cultivars of canola not produced by classical breeding techniques to be tolerant of specific herbicides), triazine-tolerant (TT) canola cvv. Pinnacle and Surpass 501, and imidazolinone-tolerant (IT) canola cv. Surpass 603. The following measures were used: yield of 54-day-old dried shoots and seed (grain) without added K, applied K required to produce 90% of the maximum yield of shoots and grain, K required to attain a K concentration in shoots of 30 g/kg, and K required to achieve a K content in shoots (K concentration multiplied by yield) of 40 mg/pot. We also determined for each species and cultivar the concentration of K in dried shoots that was related to 90% of the maximum grain yield, to estimate critical concentration in shoots below which K deficiency was likely to reduce grain production. All 4 canola cultivars produced similar results. Both canola and wheat produced negligible shoot yields and no grain when no K was applied. For each species and cultivar the amount of applied K required to produce 90% of the maximum yield was similar for shoots and grain, and was ~121 mg K/pot for the 4 canola cultivars and 102 mg K/pot for wheat, so ~19% more K was required for canola than for wheat. For each amount of K applied, the concentration of K in shoots was greater for canola than for wheat. The amount of applied K required to attain a K concentration of 30 g K/kg in shoots was ~96 mg K/pot for canola and 142 mg K/pot for wheat, so ~48% more K was required by wheat than by canola. The amount of K applied required to achieve a K content of 40 mg K/pot in shoots was ~46 mg K/pot for canola and 53 mg K/pot for wheat, so ~13% more applied K was required by wheat than by canola. The data suggest that canola roots were better able to obtain K from soil than wheat roots, but wheat used the K taken up more effectively than canola to produce shoots and grain. The concentration of K in dried shoots of 54-day-old plants that was related to 90% of the maximum dried shoot yield or grain was ~32 g/kg for canola and ~23 g/kg for wheat.

Soil sulfur—crop response calibration relationships and criteria for field crops grown in Australia

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey C. Anderson ◽  
Ken I. Peverill ◽  
Ross F. Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
National Database ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Sampling Depth ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
R Value

Accurate definition of the sulfur (S) soil test–crop grain yield increase (response) relationship is required before soil S test measurements can be used to if there are likely to be responses to S fertilisers. An analysis was done using the Better Fertiliser Decision for Crops (BFDC) National Database using a web application (BFDC Interrogator) to develop calibration relationships between soil S tests (KCl-40 and MCP) using a selection of sampling depths and grain relative yields (RY). Critical soil test values (CSTV) and critical soil test ranges (CSTR) were defined at RY 90%. The ability of the KCl-40 extractable S soil test to predict grain yield response to applied S fertiliser was examined for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in Western Australia (WA), New South Wales (NSW), and Victoria and canola (Brassica napus L.) grown in WA and NSW. A smaller dataset using MCPi-extractable S was also assessed. The WA-grown wheat KCl-40 S CSTV, using sampling depth to 30 cm for soil types Chromosols (Coloured), Chromosols (Sesqui-Nodular), Kandosols (Grey and Yellow), Tenosols (Brown and Yellow), and Tenosols (Grey, Sesqui-Nodular), was 2.8 mg kg–1 with an associated CSTR 2.4–3.2 mg kg–1 and a correlation coefficient (r) 0.87. Similarly, KCl-40 S CSTV was defined using sampling depth to 10 cm for these selected soil types and for wheat grown on Vertosols in NSW. The accuracy of the KCl-40 S CSTV for canola grown in WA was improved using a sampling to a depth of 30 cm instead of 10 cm for all soil types. The canola KCl-40 S CSTV using sampling depth to 30 cm for these soil types was 7.2 mg kg–1 with an associated CSTR 6.8–7.5 and an r value 0.70. A similar KCl-40 S CSTV of 7.0 mg kg–1 was defined using a sampling depth of 10 cm, but the CSTR was higher (6.4–7.7 mg kg–1) and the r value lower (0.43). A lower KCl-40 S CSTV of 3.9 mg kg–1 or 31.0 kg ha–1 using a sampling depth of 60 cm was defined for canola grown in NSW using a limited number of S-rate calibration treatment series. Both MCPi (r = 0.32) and KCl-40 (r <0.20) soil S test–NSW canola response relationships using a 0–10 cm sampling depth were weak. The wheat KCl-40 S CSTR of 2.4–3.2 mg kg–1 can be used widely on soil types where soil sulfate is not leached during the growing season. However, both the WA canola CSTR of 6.4–7.2 mg kg–1 using a sampling depth of 30 cm and NSW canola CSTR of 25–39 kg ha–1 or 3.1–4.9 mg kg–1 using a sampling depth of 60 cm can be considered in regions outside of WA and NSW.

Effect of timing and height of defoliation on the grain yield of barley, wheat, oats and canola in Western Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Seymour ◽  
Jonathan H. England ◽  
Raj Malik ◽  
David Rogers ◽  
Andrew Sutherland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
Late Autumn ◽  
Vernalisation Requirement ◽  
Spring Type

Winter cropping in Western Australia (WA) is dominated by spring-type cereals and canola (Brassica napus L.) with no vernalisation requirement that are sown in late autumn (late April and May). With limited earlier sowing opportunities for later maturing winter-type crops in early autumn, farmers aiming to obtain some benefit from the grazing of crops (i.e. dual-purpose) must consider the grazing potential of spring types sown in late autumn. The aim of this study was to develop grazing guidelines for spring-type crops in WA that will limit the potential for grain yield losses. In order to determine the recovery response of spring-type crops to grazing intensity and timing, 59 time-of-cutting × height-of-cutting experiments were conducted throughout the south-western region of WA in 2012. Experiments were conducted on spring types of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), canola and oats (Avena sativa L.). Multi-site analysis showed that treatments simulating high-intensity ‘crash’ grazing to ground level or to a height of 5 cm reduced grain yield unless conducted early in vegetative growth before reproductive stages. Treatments simulating ‘clip’ grazing by removing only the top 5–10 cm of crop foliage reduced grain yield to a lesser extent than crash grazing, and in several instances could extend the safe cutting period past hollow stem (Zadoks growth stage 30) and/or the end of July for cereals, or past mid-July for spring canola, provided the developing reproductive parts of all crops were not damaged. On average, the amounts of biomass removed by clip grazing without yield penalty were 0.4, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.3 t ha–1 for barley, wheat, oats and canola and were similar to those removed by earlier, safe crash grazing. These represent significant amounts of forage and suggest that clip grazing of spring-type crops may be an approach suited to WA cropping and grazing systems.

Soil and tissue tests to predict pasture yield responses to applications of potassium fertiliser in high-rainfall areas of south-western Australia

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. A. Bolland ◽  
W. J. Cox ◽  
B. J. Codling
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Relative Yield ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Test Procedures ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Yield Responses

Dairy and beef pastures in the high (>800 mm annual average) rainfall areas of south-western Australia, based on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), grow on acidic to neutral deep (>40 cm) sands, up to 40 cm sand over loam or clay, or where loam or clay occur at the surface. Potassium deficiency is common, particularly for the sandy soils, requiring regular applications of fertiliser potassium for profitable pasture production. A large study was undertaken to assess 6 soil-test procedures, and tissue testing of dried herbage, as predictors of when fertiliser potassium was required for these pastures. The 100 field experiments, each conducted for 1 year, measured dried-herbage production separately for clover and ryegrass in response to applied fertiliser potassium (potassium chloride). Significant (P<0.05) increases in yield to applied potassium (yield response) were obtained in 42 experiments for clover and 6 experiments for ryegrass, indicating that grass roots were more able to access potassium from the soil than clover roots. When percentage of the maximum (relative) yield was related to soil-test potassium values for the top 10 cm of soil, the best relationships were obtained for the exchangeable (1 mol/L NH4Cl) and Colwell (0.5 mol/L NaHCO3-extracted) soil-test procedures for potassium. Both procedures accounted for about 42% of the variation for clover, 15% for ryegrass, and 32% for clover + grass. The Colwell procedure for the top 10 cm of soil is now the standard soil-test method for potassium used in Western Australia. No increases in clover yields to applied potassium were obtained for Colwell potassium at >100 mg/kg soil. There was always a clover-yield increase to applied potassium for Colwell potassium at <30 mg/kg soil. Corresponding potassium concentrations for ryegrass were >50 and <30 mg/kg soil. At potassium concentrations 30–100 mg/kg soil for clover and 30–50 mg/kg soil for ryegrass, the Colwell procedure did not reliably predict yield response, because from nil to large yield responses to applied potassium occurred. The Colwell procedure appears to extract the most labile potassium in the soil, including soluble potassium in soil solution and potassium balancing negative charge sites on soil constituents. In some soils, Colwell potassium was low indicating deficiency, yet plant roots may have accessed potassum deeper in the soil profile. Where the Colwell procedure does not reliably predict soil potassium status, tissue testing may help. The relationship between relative yield and tissue-test potassium varied markedly for different harvests in each year of the experiments, and for different experiments. For clover, the concentration of potassium in dried herbage that was related to 90% of the maximum, potassium non-limiting yield (critical potassium) was at the concentration of about 15 g/kg dried herbage for plants up to 8 weeks old, and at <10 g/kg dried herbage for plants older than 10–12 weeks. For ryegrass, there were insufficient data to provide reliable estimates of critical potassium.

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