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290 results found
  • GRDC releases new ‘bible’ to help grain growers get soil management right
    Soil and Nutrition, 14 Apr 2023
    GRDC releases new ‘bible’ to help grain growers get soil management right

    Not getting soil management right could be costing some Queensland and New South Wales grain growers more than $1000 per hectare per year in yield losses according to new research.

  • $3.5M national project to examine ways to boost soil organic matter
    Soil and Nutrition, 11 Apr 2023
    $3.5M national project to examine ways to boost soil organic matter

    An innovative new $3.5 million farming system project is underway to investigate how Australian grain growers could increase the level of their soil organic matter and return carbon to the soil.

  • Soil testing a good idea after relentless wet
    Soil and Nutrition, 08 Mar 2023
    Soil testing a good idea after relentless wet

    With potentially high nutrient losses across the flood-affected GRDC northern region, plus a couple of years of above-average nitrogen removal by crops, soil testing is a good option to help assess soil nitrogen levels ahead of the coming winter crop

  • Calculating the nitrogen benefit from legume crops
    Soil and Nutrition, 02 Mar 2023
    Calculating the nitrogen benefit from legume crops

    Declining soil organic nitrogen and recent increases in nitrogen fertiliser prices have focused attention on the potential value of legume crops as a nitrogen source. The value of legume nitrogen benefits can be significant at over $200 per hectare when urea prices are $1200 per tonne.

  • Solving the mysteries of plant protein composition
    Soil and Nutrition, 01 Mar 2023
    Solving the mysteries of plant protein composition

    A new study is looking at the impact of nitrogen application timing, not just on total grain protein in wheat, but also on protein composition. Nitrogen recycling in the leaves and grain and genetic variation in current varieties may also play a role in final protein composition.

  • Learning to machine better nitrogen decisions
    Soil and Nutrition, 28 Feb 2023
    Learning to machine better nitrogen decisions

    Field trials have demonstrated that a machine learning model can make better nitrogen fertiliser recommendations than agronomic models, but, surprisingly, the one critical element of success was the on-farm trial strips that enabled the model to get the range of data it needed to calibrate itself.

  • Fertiliser decisions are critical after a big season
    Soil and Nutrition, 27 Feb 2023
    Fertiliser decisions are critical after a big season

    For growers lucky enough to have reaped the rewards of good conditions in 2022, nitrogen supply can be a limiting factor going into the next season. It is important to ‘take a look under the hood’ and make sure the nutritional engine in each paddock has everything it needs to hum to perfection in 2023.

  • Weighing nitrogen fertiliser options in an uncertain future
    Soil and Nutrition, 26 Feb 2023
    Weighing nitrogen fertiliser options in an uncertain future

    Estimating in-season nitrogen demand based on estimated target yield is highly dependent on seasonal influences. A spreadsheet using simple nitrogen budgeting enables a potential rate to be evaluated against each possible seasonal outcome to better demonstrate the relative risk and reward.

  • Nitrogen price remains secondary to yield and protein targets
    Soil and Nutrition, 25 Feb 2023
    Nitrogen price remains secondary to yield and protein targets

    Recent nitrogen price hikes have focused debate on input costs. But calculations show that agronomically recommended fertiliser rates can still be profitable even when urea prices triple. Replacing depleted soil nitrogen stores is also vitally important, particularly after high-yielding seasons.

  • Advanced genetic techniques target protein and yield
    Soil and Nutrition, 24 Feb 2023
    Advanced genetic techniques target protein and yield

    Genetic material targeting the elusive combination of improved wheat yield and grain protein content has been identified using advanced analysis of plant traits. The genes, which control multiple processes within the plant, will be made available to Australian breeding companies.

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