Better fertiliser decisions for cropping systems in Australia
Introduction
The fertiliser decisions made by grain growers all start with, and rely on, knowledge of the fertility status of paddocks. Fertiliser decisions should account for the nutrient requirements of plants for growth, nutrient availability in soils, and nutrient losses that can occur during crop growth (e.g. denitrification or erosion). These factors contribute to Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) and improvements in NUE are likely to impact on the profitability of farms across Australia. Currently, fertiliser inputs comprise up to 20–30% of total variable costs associated with crop production.
The Making Better Fertiliser Decisions for Cropping Systems in Australia project (BFDC) is aimed at providing the fertiliser industry, agency staff and agribusiness advisors with knowledge and resources to improve nutrient recommendations for optimising crop production.
To produce nationally agreed soil test–crop response calibrations, the project involves substantial collaboration between the grains industry (GRDC), the fertiliser industry (Fertiliser Industry Federation of Australia, International Plant Nutrition Institute, Incitec Pivot, Summit, Megafert, and Impact Fertilisers), consultants (Back Paddock Company, Geographic Web Solutions, K I P Consultancy Services, Reuter and Associates, and Dodgshun Medlin), state and federal agencies (I&I NSW, SARDI, DEEDI QLD, DAF WA, Vic DPI, TIAR, and CSIRO), agribusiness (Landmark and Elders), and universities.
The outputs from the project will be made readily available to grain growers through the grains and fertiliser industries, state departments, CSIRO and consultants who are charged with the responsibility for information and knowledge transfer.
The objectives of this National project are to:
- Develop national and regional soil test–crop response calibrations for assessing the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) status of soils used for the production of cereal, pulse and oilseed crops.
- Develop a searchable national database of crop nutrient response trials and associated technical support documentation for availability online.
- Develop training resources and publications that communicate soil test–crop response calibrations and scientific findings to grain growers, the fertiliser industry and the scientific community through a range of media (e.g. GRDC updates, Fertcare, and peer reviewed scientific publications).
- Identify knowledge gaps for future research and development.
Resources
Contact details
Dr Simon Speirs
Project Leader – Better Fertiliser Decisions for Cropping Systems in Australia
Industry Development - Broadacre Cropping Unit
NSW Department of Industry and Investment
Pine Gully Road, Private Mail Bag, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
Phone: 02 6938 1986
Fax: 02 6938 1809
Mobile: 0428 647 787
Email: simon.speirs@industry.nsw.gov.au
Collaborators
