scholarly journals Agronomic responses of grain sorghum to DMPP-treated urea on contrasting soil types in north-eastern Australia

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Lester ◽  
Michael J. Bell ◽  
Kerry L. Bell ◽  
Massimiliano De Antoni Migliorati ◽  
Clemens Scheer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitor ◽  
Grain Sorghum ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitors ◽  
Available N ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern

Grain sorghum grown in north-eastern Australia’s cropping region increasingly requires nitrogen (N) fertiliser to supplement the soil available N supply. The rates of N required can be high when fallows between crop seasons are short (higher cropping intensities) and when yield potentials are high. Fertiliser N is typically applied before or at crop sowing and is vulnerable to environmental loss in the period between application and significant crop N demand due to potentially intense rainfall events in the summer-dominant rainfall environment. Nitrification inhibitors added to urea can reduce certain gaseous loss pathways but the agronomic efficacy of these products has not been explored. Urea and urea coated with the nitrification inhibitor DMPP (3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate) were compared in sorghum crops grown at five research sites over consecutive summer sorghum growing seasons in south-east Queensland. Products were compared in terms of crop responses in dry matter, N uptake and grain yield, with DMPP found to produce only subtle increases on grain yield. There was no effect on dry matter or N uptake. Outcomes suggest any advantages from use of DMPP in this region are most significant in situations where higher fertiliser application rates (>80kgN/ha) are required.

Crop and microbial responses to the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) in Mediterranean wheat-cropping systems

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliott G. Duncan ◽  
Cathryn A. O’Sullivan ◽  
Margaret M. Roper ◽  
Mark B. Peoples ◽  
Karen Treble ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitor ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitors ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Soil Mineral Nitrogen ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
N Accumulation

Nitrification inhibitors (NIs) such as 3,4,-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), are used to suppress the abundance of ammonia-oxidising micro-organisms responsible for nitrification. In agriculture, NIs are used to retain soil mineral nitrogen (N) as ammonium to minimise the risk of losses of N from agricultural soils. It is currently unclear whether DMPP-induced nitrification inhibition can prevent losses of N from the light soils prevalent across the main rain-fed cropping regions of Western Australia, or whether it can improve the productivity or N uptake by broadacre crops such as wheat. Herein, we report on a series of glasshouse and field studies that examined the effect of applications of DMPP in conjunction with urea (as ENTEC urea; Incitec Pivot, Melbourne, Vic., Australia) on: (1) soil nitrification rates; (2) the abundance of ammonia-oxidising bacteria and archaea (AOB and AOA respectively); and (3) wheat performance (grain yield, protein content and N accumulation). A glasshouse study demonstrated that DMPP inhibited nitrification (for up to ~40 days after application) and reduced the abundance of AOB (by 50%), but had no effect on AOA abundance, wheat grain yield or protein content at any fertiliser N rate. Across six field experiments, DMPP also limited nitrification rates and reduced AOB abundance for approximately the first 40 days after application. However, by the end of the growing season, DMPP use had not increased soil mineral N resources or impaired AOB abundance compared with urea-only applications. In addition, DMPP had no effect on AOA abundance in any trial and did not improve crop performance in most trials.

Forage and grain yield of grazed or defoliated spring and winter cereals in a winter-dominant, low-rainfall environment

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison. J. Frischke ◽  
James R. Hunt ◽  
Dannielle K. McMillan ◽  
Claire J. Browne
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Cereal Crops ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Winter Cereals ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Grain Yield And Quality

In the Mallee region of north-western Victoria, Australia, there is very little grazing of crops that are intended for grain production. The success of dual-purpose crops in other regions in south-eastern Australia with higher and more evenly distributed rainfall has driven interest in assessing the performance of dual-purpose cereals in the region. Five experiments were established in five consecutive years (2009–13) in the southern Mallee to measure the forage production and grain yield and quality response in wheat and barley to grazing by sheep or mechanical defoliation. The first three experiments focused on spring cultivars sown from late April to June, and the last two on winter cultivars planted from late February to early March. Cereal crops provided early and nutritious feed for livestock, with earlier sowing increasing the amount of dry matter available for winter grazing, and barley consistently produced more dry matter at the time of grazing or defoliation than wheat. However, the grain-production response of cereals to grazing or defoliation was variable and unpredictable. Effects on yield varied from –0.7 to +0.6 t/ha, with most site × year × cultivar combinations neutral (23) or negative (14), and few positive (2). Changes in grain protein were generally consistent with yield dilution effects. Defoliation increased the percentage of screenings (grains passing a 2-mm sieve) in three of five experiments. Given the risk of reduced grain yield and quality found in this study, and the importance of grain income in determining farm profitability in the region, it is unlikely that dual-purpose use of current cereal cultivars will become widespread under existing grazing management guidelines for dual-purpose crops (i.e. that cereal crops can be safely grazed once anchored, until Zadoks growth stage Z30, without grain yield penalty). It was demonstrated that early-sown winter wheat cultivars could produce more dry matter for grazing (0.4–0.5 t/ha) than later sown spring wheat and barley cultivars popular in the region (0.03–0.21 t/ha), and development of regionally adapted winter cultivars may facilitate adoption of dual-purpose cereals on mixed farms.

Legumes intercropped with spring barley contribute to increased biomass production and carry-over effects

2011 ◽  
Vol 150 (5) ◽  
pp. 584-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. PAPPA ◽  
R. M. REES ◽  
R. L. WALKER ◽  
J. A. BADDELEY ◽  
C. A. WATSON
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Above Ground Biomass ◽  
Ground Biomass ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Sole Crop ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Grain Crop ◽  
Carry Over

SUMMARYIntercropping systems that include legumes can provide symbiotically fixed nitrogen (N) and potentially increase yield through improved resource use efficiency. The aims of the present study were: (a) to evaluate the effects of different legumes (species and varieties) and barley on grain yield, dry matter production and N uptake of the intercrop treatments compared with the associated cereal sole crop; (b) to assess the effects on the yields of the next grain crop and (c) to determine the accumulation of N in shoots of the crops in a low-input rotation. An experiment was established near Edinburgh, UK, consisting of 12 hydrologically isolated plots. Treatments were a spring barley (Hordeum vulgare cvar Westminster) sole crop and intercrops of barley/white clover (Trifolium repens cvar Alice) and barley/pea (Pisum sativum cvar Zero4 or cvar Nitouche) in 2006. All the plots were sown with spring oats (Avena sativa cvar Firth) in 2007 and perennial ryegrass in 2008. No fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides were used at any stage of the experiment. Above-ground biomass (barley, clover, pea, oat and ryegrass) and grain yields (barley, pea and oat) were measured at key stages during the growing seasons of 2006, 2007 and 2008; land equivalent ratio (LER) was measured only in 2006. At harvest, the total above-ground biomass of barley intercropped with clover (4·56 t biomass/ha) and barley intercropped with pea cvar Zero4 (4·49 t biomass/ha) were significantly different from the barley sole crop (3·05 t biomass/ha; P<0·05). The grain yield of the barley (2006) intercropped with clover (3·36 t grain/ha) was significantly greater than that in the other treatments (P<0·01). The accumulation of N in barley was low in 2006, but significantly higher (P<0·05) in the oat grown the following year on the same plots. The present study demonstrates for the first time that intercrops can affect the grain yield and N uptake of the following crop (spring oats) in a rotation. Differences were also linked to the contrasting legume species and cultivars present in the previous year's intercrop. Legume choice is essential to optimize the plant productivity in intercropping designs. Cultivars chosen for intercropping purposes must take into account the effects upon the growth of the partner crop/s as well as to the following crop, including environmental factors.

Enhanced nitrogen management strategies for winter wheat production in the Canadian prairies

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 683-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.L. Beres ◽  
R.J. Graf ◽  
R.B. Irvine ◽  
J.T. O’Donovan ◽  
K.N. Harker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitor ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitors ◽  
Side Band ◽  
Application Method

To address knowledge gaps around enhanced efficiency urea fertilizer efficacy for nitrogen (N) management, a study was designed to improve integrated nutrient management systems for western Canadian winter wheat producers. Three factors were included in Experiment 1: (i) urea type [urea, urea + urease inhibitor—Agrotain®; urea + urease and nitrification inhibitor—SuperU®, polymer-coated urea—Environmentally Smart Nitrogen® (ESN®), and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN)], (ii) application method (side-band vs. spring-broadcast vs. 50% side-band: 50% spring-broadcast), and (iii) cultivar (AC Radiant hard red winter wheat vs. CDC Ptarmigan soft white winter wheat). The Agrotain® and CDC Ptarmigan treatments were removed in Experiment 2 to allow for additional application methods: (i) fall side-band, (ii) 50% side-band — 50% late fall broadcast, (iii) 50% side-band — 50% early spring broadcast, (iv) 50% side-band — 50% mid-spring broadcast, and (v) 50% side-band — 50% late spring broadcast. CDC Ptarmigan produced superior grain yield and N utilization over AC Radiant. Grain yield and protein content were influenced by N form and application method. Split applications of N usually provided the maximum yield and protein, particularly with Agrotain® or SuperU®. An exception to the poor fall-application results was the SuperU® treatments, which produced similar yield to the highest-yielding treatments. The results suggest that split applications of N might be most efficient for yield and protein optimization when combined with an enhanced efficiency urea product, particularly with urease or urease + nitrification inhibitors, and if the majority of N is applied in spring.

Assessing barley (Hordeum vulgare) response to clipping in the semi-arid Mediterranean climate

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
M. K. J. El-Shatnawi ◽  
N. I. Haddad
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Yield Components ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Grain Weight ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Pot Trials ◽  
Tiller Density ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
1000 Grain Weight

Greenhouse pot trials and field experiments were carried out under rain-fed condition in north-eastern Jordan during 1997–98 and 1998–99 growing seasons, to test 3 barley genotypes for their suitability for both forage and grain production. The varieties Rehani and ACSAD176 produced higher forage yields than Rum. In the field, clipping reduced subsequent grain yield per plant by about 18%, lowering grain weight of the main spike from 2.3�g in the control to 1.8 g in the clipped plants. Clipping increased tiller density of barley plants in the field. Decreases in grain yield following clipping could also be attributed to reductions in the number of grains per spike. Clipping decreased the number of grains per spike by about 9% by reducing the number of spikelets per spike. Cutting reduced 1000-grain weight by about 9%. Clipping induced changes in the relative importance of yield components influencing subsequent grain yield. The yield components reduced by clipping were the most important contributors to loss of grain yield.

Electromagnetic induction sensing of soil identifies constraints to the crop yields of north-eastern Australia

Soil Research ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. P. Dang ◽  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
M. J. Pringle ◽  
A. J. W. Biggs ◽  
S. Darr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Electromagnetic Induction ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Soil Constraints ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
On Farm

Salinity, sodicity, acidity, and phytotoxic concentrations of chloride (Cl–) in soil are major constraints to crop production in many soils of north-eastern Australia. Soil constraints vary both spatially across the landscape and vertically within the soil profile. Identification of the spatial variability of these constraints will allow farmers to tune management to the potential of the land, which will, in turn, bring economic benefit. For three cropping fields in Australia’s northern grains region, we used electromagnetic induction with an EM38, which measures apparent electrical conductivity of the soil (ECa) and soil sampling to identify potential management classes. Soil Cl– and soluble Na+ concentrations, EC of the saturated extract (ECse), and soil moisture were the principal determinants of the variation of ECa, measured both at the drained upper limit of moisture (UL) and at the lower limit (LL) of moisture extracted by the crop. Grain yield showed a strong negative relation with ECa at both UL and LL, although it was stronger for the latter. We arrive at a framework to estimate the monetary value of site-specific management options, through: (i) identification of potential management classes formed from ECa at LL; (ii) measurement of soil attributes generally associated with soil constraints in the region; (iii) grain yield monitoring; and (iv) simple on-farm experiments. Simple on-farm experiments suggested that, for constrained areas, matching fertiliser application to realistic yield potential, coupled to gypsum amelioration, could potentially benefit growers by AU$14–46/ha.year (fertiliser) and $207/ha.3 years (gypsum).

Effect of seed source and seed phosphorus content on the growth and yield of wheat in north-eastern Victoria

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. F. Burnett ◽  
P. J. Newton ◽  
D. R. Coventry
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Seed Source ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Dry Matter Production ◽  
Early Seedling Growth ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
P Content ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Early Seedling

Summary. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed was grown at 2 locations differing in phosphorus (P) status (low and high) in north-eastern Victoria (36°S, 146°E), with applied superphosphate (kg P/ha: 0, 12, 24, 100 and 200), to produce seed of different P content. This seed was used in field and glasshouse experiments in 1993 and 1994 to investigate the effects of seed source and P content on the growth and yield of wheat. Wheat seed grown at the low P status site was smaller than seed grown at the high P status site, irrespective of the amount of applied P. Seed from the low P status site produced less early dry matter in both field and glasshouse experiments in 1993, but there was no effect of seed source on grain yield in either experiment. High seed P content either had no effect or reduced seedling emergence in the field experiments. In the glasshouse, low P content in seed from the low P status site resulted in reduced emergence. Increases in dry matter production and grain yield with higher seed P content were only observed in the drought season of 1994. Application of P resulted in increased emergence, dry matter production and grain yield at most seed P content levels but there were no significant interactions between seed P content and applied P. Application of N did not affect dry matter production in either year, but increased grain protein in both years and grain yield in 1993. Seed from low P status environments can affect early seedling growth but in average growing seasons, or in glasshouse conditions, wheat growth compensates so that differences in grain yield are not observed. However, in order to avoid risk of poor early seedling growth and possible yield penalties when the crop is stressed, wheat seed should be collected from adequate soil P status sites.

The effect of ammonium sulphate treated with a nitrification inhibitor, and calcium nitrate, on growth and N-uptake of spring wheat, ryegrass and kale

1970 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. D. Spratt ◽  
J. K. R. Gasser
Keyword(s):  
Ammonium Sulphate ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitor ◽  
Calcium Nitrate ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Wheat Grain

SUMMARYWheat, ryegrass and kale were grown with ammonium sulphate (treated with a nitrification inhibitor) or calcium nitrate supplying 50 and 100 lb N/acre, and without fertilizer-N. Plants were sampled at various stages, dry weights measured, percentage N determined and N uptakes calculated.Initially wheat and ryegrass grew better and took up more N with ammonium fertilizer than with nitrate. Final yields of dry matter did not differ between forms. Kale produced more dry matter with calcium nitrate than with ammonium sulphate. All crops produced more dry matter with fertilizer-N than without. Fertilized crops contained greatest weights of N 109 days after sowing, when wheat and ryegrass had more with ammonium than with nitrate and kale had less. The 50 lb N/acre as calcium nitrate produced the most wheat grain/lb of fertilizer-N.During the period when growth and N uptake were fastest, wheat grew faster with ammonium than with nitrate, ryegrass grew similarly with both forms, and kale faster with nitrate; wheat and ryegrass took up N faster from ammonium sulphate and kale from calcium nitrate.Mature wheat recovered 58% of the fertilizer-N from calcium nitrate and 43% from ammonium sulphate. After 21 weeks of growth, kale recovered more N from calcium nitrate (50%) than from ammonium sulphate (24%), whereas grass recovered about 40% from each.

The Field Performance of Induced Uniculm Grain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in South-east Queensland, Australia

1986 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Fukai ◽  
C. J. Liwa ◽  
C. W. L. Henderson ◽  
B. B. Maharjan ◽  
R. C. Hermus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Root Development ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Flag Leaf ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Grain Sorghum ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Stages Of Growth ◽  
Dry Conditions

SUMMARYReduction of leaf area in sorghum without tillers (uniculm sorghum) might result in conservation of water at early stages of growth and hence in stability of grain yield under dry conditions. In two experiments in south-east Queensland, Australia, tillers were removed by hand to examine the growth of uniculm sorghum. Tiller removal promoted root development at the flag leaf stage but significantly reduced shoot dry matter and lowered grain yield by about 20% in a wet season. The saving in soil water as a result of tiller removal was relatively small but statistically significant.

Fertiliser N and P applications on two Vertosols in north-eastern Australia. 2. Grain P concentration and P removal in grain from two long-term experiments

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 218 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Lester ◽  
Colin J. Birch ◽  
Chris W. Dowling
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Winter Cereal ◽  
P Concentration ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Legume Crops ◽  
Fertiliser Application ◽  
P Removal

Within north-eastern Australia’s grain-production region there are few reports outlining nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertiliser effects on grain P concentration and P removal in grain. Two long-term N × P fertiliser experiments with different cultivation durations were conducted, one at ‘Colonsay’ on the Darling Downs in southern Queensland (commencing 1985 after 40 years of cultivation), and the other at ‘Myling’ on the north-west plains of New South Wales (commencing 1996 after 9 years of cultivation). Applications of N and P fertiliser independently influenced both grain P concentration and P removal for a range of summer and winter cereal and legume crops. Generally, if N fertiliser application increased grain yield, the grain P concentration decreased as grain yield increased; however, if grain yield did not respond to N fertiliser, grain P concentration was unaffected. P fertiliser applications typically increased grain P concentration. Wheat and barley grain P concentrations were generally higher in this subtropical region than reported values from temperate regions in Australia. Grain sorghum values were similar to those from subtropical areas overseas, but were greater than reported values from more tropical production zones. Mungbean and chickpea grain P concentrations were consistent with other reported values. Experimental results indicated grain P concentrations for estimating grain P removal in the northern grains region of 3400 mg/kg for sorghum, 3500 mg/kg for wheat and barley, and 4000–4500 mg/kg for mungbean. At both sites, grain P removal was greater with summer and winter cereals than with legume crops. Larger grain yields with N fertiliser application had the largest influence on grain P removal at the Colonsay site, with an additional 23.3 kg P/ha removed from plots with 80 kg N/ha applied compared with nil N over 5 analysed crops from 1998 to 2003. Grain P removal was 20.9, 17.1, and 19.7 kg P/ha in the 3 sorghum crops at this site in this period. Thus, application of P at 10 kg P/ha.crop for this 5-crop study period did not replace P removed. In the predominantly winter-cropped Myling experiment with a shorter duration of cultivation and smaller N fertiliser response, cumulative removal was more influenced by P fertiliser, with 10 kg fertiliser P/ha.crop generally sufficient to provide replacement P. These results support findings of negative P balances recently reported for grain production in this region and suggest a need for further investigation into the implications of a continuing negative P balance on the sustainability of grain production.

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