DAFF Nitrogen Trials
Silkwood - Mossman
2014
N Trials based on four principles
1. 6ES rate v Grower rate (higher) – 5 trials
2. 6ES rate v Block Yield Potential rate (lower) – 1 trial
3. N rates after legumes – 2 trials
4. Controlled Release Urea (Agrocote 50:50) – 2 trials
Is there a difference?????
1. Actual difference
Plot 1 – 83 Tc/ha
Plot 2 – 86 Tc/ha
11.3 CCS
11.2 CCS
9.38 Ts/ha
9.63 Ts/ha
Plot 2 fertiliser response is the best……. OR IS IT???
2. Analysis of Variance
Statistics to give 95% confidence difference is due to
fertiliser
p > 0.05 – no significant difference
p < 0.05 – 95% sure difference due to fertiliser
1. 6ES v Grower rate (higher)
Freshwater (2 treatments x 4 reps)
Averages
2013
N rate
KgN/ha
130
160
Averages
Tc/Ha
CCS
Ts/ha
82
81
p = 0.70
11.6
11.2
p = 0.09
9.49
9.02
p = 0.05
2014
N rate
KgN/ha
No significant difference
Freshwater (3 treatments x 4 reps)
Averages
2014
Rate
130
160
190
Tc/ha
98
96
102
p=0.367
CCS
12.08
12.04
11.95
p=0.688
No significant difference
Ts/ha
11.9
11.6
12.2
p=0.559
130
160
Tc/Ha
CCS
96
12.8
100
12.7
p = 0.069 p=0.738
Ts/ha
12.3
12.7
p=0.117
160N
130N
6ES v Grower rate – Freshwater (no visible difference)
Mossman (2 treatments x 4 replicates)
Averages
N rate
Tc/ha
CCS
Ts/ha
130
83.3
11.37
9.5
160
83.1
11.37
9.4
p=0.906
p=1
p=0.559
No significant difference
Mossman (2 treatments x 4 replicates)
6ES v Block Potential Rate
Treatment
Tc/ha
CCS
Ts/ha
100
80
11.8
9.4
140
78
12
9.4
140
82
11.6
9.5
No statistics – train derailed & data lost
Bellenden Ker (2 treatments x 4 replicates)
Averages
2014
N rate
Tc/Ha
CCS
Ts/ha
120
79
10.80
8.5
150
80
10.60
8.4
KgN/ha
No statistics – 3 plots lost
South Johnstone (3 treatments x 3 replicates)
6ES v 6ES minus mud vs. Grower Rate
Rate
Tc/ha
CCS
Ts/ha
70
77
15.1
11.7
110
65
15.7
10.2
140
68
15.6
10.7
p=0.066
No significant difference
p=0.238
p=0.283
N rates after Legumes
Aloomba – 4 T/ha Dry Matter (DM) soybean crop
(3 treatments x 4 replicates)
Averages
0N
50N
100N
Tc/ha
84
90
92
p=0.005
CCS
14.94
14.89
14.84
p=0.763
Ts/ha
12.5
13.4
13.7
p=0.01
100N
Significant difference for Tc/ha and Ts/ha
0N
Economic Analysis
ANALYSIS
Treatment 1 (50N)
Yield (t/ha)
CCS
Net Revenue ($/ha)
Treatment 2 (100N)
Treatment 3 (0N)
91
14.89
$3,932
91
14.89
$3,932
84
14.89
$3,616
$3,184
$3,184
$2,928
Fertiliser @ Plant ($/kg)
Rate @ Plant (kg/ha)
Fertiliser Topdress ($/kg)
Rate Topdress (kg/ha)
FORM Topress ($/ha)
0.86
444.6
0.86
444.6
0.68
125
12
1.01
220
0.72
160
12
Fertiliser ($/ha)
$382
$479
$349
$2,801
$2,704
$97
$2,578
$223
Revenue less Harvest Cost ($/ha)
Revenue less harvest and fertiliser ($/ha)
In this trial, 50 kgN/ha improves profitability of almost $100/ha over the
other treatments with no loss of cane production ($400/T sugar price),
Sensitivity
Revenue less harvest and fertiliser ($/ha)
@ different sugar prices
Sugar Price ($/tn)
280
320
360
400
440
480
Treatment 1 - 50N
$1,371
$1,728
$2,086
$2,444
$2,801
$3,159
Treatment 2 - 100N
$1,274
$1,631
$1,989
$2,347
$2,704
$3,062
Treatment 3 - 0N
$1,263
$1,591
$1,920
$2,249
$2,578
$2,907
At high sugar price, the grower makes more applying 100N than Zero N.
At low sugar price, grower profitability is not affected.
Innisfail – 7 T/ha DM soybean crop
No visible difference during crop growth.
N Rate
Tc/ha
CCS
Ts/ha
0
84
15.83
13.4
30
95
15.17
14.4
90
91
15.67
14.3
p=0.046
p=0.219
p=0.304
90N
Significant difference for Tc/ha
0N/ha was significantly lower.
No significant difference
for Ts/ha
0N
Controlled Release Agrocote 50:50 trials
Freshwater (3 rates x 2 products x 3 reps)
Three rates - 80, 120 and 160 kgN/ha
Two Products Agrocote 50:50 (CR + Urea)
Standard Urea
Tc/ha
Main effect Fert – p=0.903
Main effect Rate – p=0.696
Interaction of Fert and Rate – p=0.746
Ts/ha
Main effect Fert – p=0.752
Main effect Rate – p=0.890
Interaction of Fert and Rate – p=0.960
Averages
U80
Tc/ha
95
CCS
11.22
Ts/ha
10.7
U120
U160
95
99
11.65
11.07
11.0
11.0
CR80
CR120
CR160
93
98
96
11.78
11.16
11.67
11.0
10.9
11.2
CCS
Main effect Fert – p=0.102
Main effect Rate – p=0.617
Interaction of Fert and Rate – p=0.020
No significant difference
Silkwood (3 rates x 2 products x 3 reps)
Three rates - 80, 120 and 160 kgN/ha
Two Products - Agrocote 50:50 (CR + Urea)
Standard urea
Tc/ha
Averages
U80
U120
U160
Tc/ha
82.71
84.86
82.66
CCS
12.67
12.55
12.53
Ts/ha
10.48
10.65
10.36
CR80
CR120
CR160
86.88
84.04
86.88
12.70
12.60
12.57
11.03
10.59
10.92
Main effect Fert – p=0.126
Main effect Rate – p=0.979
Interaction of Fert and Rate – p=0.337
Ts/ha
Main effect Fert – p=0.120
Main effect Rate – p=0.846
Interaction of Fert and Rate – p=0.409
CCS
Main effect Fert – p=0.529
Main effect Rate – p=0.202
Interaction of Fert and Rate – p=0.991
No significant difference
CR at Freshwater (L) and Silkwood (R)
Conclusions
1. No significant difference in trials with 6ES vs Grower
Rate. (Tc/ha, CCS or Ts/ha)
2. Lower yield of cane and sugar in Zero N treatment
after 4T/ha DM soybeans
3. No significant difference in trials with Controlled
Release products vs Urea between rates or products