rather than a systematic programme to
represent all the key soils and regions of
importance for each crop. Hence there
are noteworthy gaps in the coverage of
experimental records as follows:
Wheat P nutrition in the Northern Agricultural region
Wheat K nutrition in the Southern Agricultural region
Lupin K nutrition on yellow sands of the Northern Agriculture region
Lupin S nutrition in WA
Canola P nutrition in the Northern Agricultural region and
Canola N nutrition in WA
N, P, K and S for barley, oats and pulses (field pea, faba bean, chickpea, lentil) in WA
Details of other gaps and lesson learnt from the BFDC project are given in Conyers et al. (2013). Future fertiliser response trials should where possible aim to fill in the above gaps and enter the results in the BFDC National database so that on-going improvements in critical soil test values can be accessible to grain growers. Such trials should follow the minimum data set recommendations of the National BFDC project (www.bfdc.com.au). In addition for WA soils, estimation of gravel percentage in soil samples as a routinely measured soil property would improve estimation of nutrient stores available to crops. Furthermore a reporting of PBI for future P fertiliser trials would increase the utility of the data for predicting P response.
Direction of future research
The soil test –crop response relationships presented are the best available information at this time but there is evidence that N and S relationships in particular can be improved by accounting for nutrient leaching and impact of soil acidity.
The cropping systems of WA continue to evolve as new technology is implemented. Also over time there are changes in the form, distribution and availability of nutrients that can have positive or negative impacts on nutrient availability.
The soil test – crop response relationships have been mainly defined for experiments over the period 1995 – 2010. During this period minimum tillage, crop residue retention and application of lime have been widely adopted.
Soil acidity is having a large impact on root growth and nutrient availability in no-till
37 cropping of WA. For wheat, soils with acidity
limitations have lower capacity to supply P (Figure 14) and K (Figure 19). More
experiments are needed to define critical P ranges for acid soils. However, for such soils, the emphasis should probably be on lime application to correct acidity.
Acknowledgements
This work is dedicated to the late Dr Wen Chen who sadly passed away before its completion. Wen significantly contributed to this project and showed great dedication to his work even whilst seriously ill.
Photograph 15. Wen Chen in wheat paddock. The project [UMU00030] was the funded by Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Grains Research and Development Corporation and Murdoch University.
Drs Ken Peverill and the late Doug Reuter are credited with the concept of the database. This project has worked closely with the National Better Fertiliser Decisions for Crops under the supervision of Dr Simon Speirs (NSW, Department of Primary Industries). Soil profile photographs were supplied by Dennis Van Gool of DAFWA. Sulfur deficiency in canola photographs were supplied by International Plant Nutrition Institute and A Good.
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