Central West Farming Systems are conducting a nitrogen response trial at a variety of regional sites. The trials are investigating the impacts of different stubble treatments (imposed late in fallow) on nitrogen response, wheat yield and quality. The trials will allow CWFS to evaluate any interaction between pre-sowing stubble treatments and the timing of top dressing. During the year of 2015 these trials were conducted at 4 locations Mumbil Creek, Weethalle, Tottenham and Wirrinya.
The trial is 12 ranges, 3 rows and consists of three replicates. The three primary stubble treatments include standing, burnt and cultivated treatments. This year Suntop was sown at a rate of 35kg/ha and 40kg/ha of MAP was also applied to all treatments to assure that phosphorous wasn’t the limiting factor.
At each site the 3 treatments were developed based upon the cooperating farmers yield expectations for the site. Each treatment represented a different application timing for urea top dressing based on 20kg of N per tonne of expected yield/ha. This rate is a commonly used farmer/adviser benchmark across the region.
The treatments included
- All urea applied at sowing.
- A 50/50 split upfront and at Z21
- Split three ways upfront,Z21 and Z30
This trial was conducted in 2015 and the report for the trial is now available within the members only section of the CWFS website. If you would like to access the CWFS trial report archive you can call Julie Low on 02 68951015 or fill on the contact form on the website, which can be accessed by the link below.