Making Better Fertiliser Decisions for Cropping Systems in Australia (BFDC): knowledge gaps and lessons learnt
M. K. Conyers A G , M. J. Bell B , N. S. Wilhelm C , R. Bell D , R. M. Norton E and C. Walker FA NSW Department of Primary Industries, PMB, Pine Gully Road, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
B Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, PO Box 23, Kingaroy, Qld 4610, Australia.
C South Australian Research & Development Institute, GPO Box 397, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
D School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
E International Plant Nutrition Institute, 54 Florence St, Horsham, Vic. 3400, Australia.
F Incitec Pivot Fertilisers, PO Box 54, North Geelong, Vic. 3215, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: mark.conyers@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Crop and Pasture Science 64(5) 539-547 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP13068
Submitted: 19 February 2013 Accepted: 4 June 2013 Published: 22 August 2013
Abstract
Soil testing remains a most valuable tool for assessing the fertiliser requirement of crops. The relationship between soil tests (generally taken from surface soil) and relative yield (RY) response to fertiliser is subject to the influence of environment (e.g. water, temperature) and management (e.g. cultivation, sowing date). As such, the degree of precision is often low when the soil test calibration is based on a wide range of independent experiments on many soil types over many years by many different operators. Hence, the 90% RY target used in soil test interpretation is best described by a critical range (critical concentration and confidence interval) for a given soil test rather than a single critical value. The present Better Fertiliser Decisions for Crops (BFDC) National Database, and the BFDC Interrogator that interacts with the database, provide a great advance over traditional formats and experiment-specific critical values because it allows the use of filters to refine the critical range for specific agronomic conditions. However, as searches become more specific (region, soil type) the quantity of data available to estimate a critical range becomes more vulnerable to data paucity, to outliers, and to clusters of localised experiments. Hence, appropriate training of the users of this database will ensure that the strengths and limitations of the BFDC National Database and BFDC Interrogator are properly understood. Additionally, the lack of standardised metadata for sites within the database makes it generally impossible to isolate the effects on critical values of the specific management or environmental factors listed earlier, which are therefore best determined by specific studies. Finally, the database is dominated (60%) by responses of wheat to nitrogen and phosphorus, meaning that relatively few studies are available for responses by pulses (other than narrow leaf lupins) or oilseeds (other than canola), especially for potassium and sulfur. Moreover, limited data are available for current cropping systems and varieties. However, the identification of these gaps can now be used to focus future research on the crops, nutrients, soils, regions, and management practices where data are lacking. The value of metadata and the need for standardised protocols for nutrition experiments were key lessons.
Additional keywords: BFDC National Database, BFDC Interrogator, experimental protocols, fertiliser response, metadata, nutrient deficiencies, soil testing, soil test calibration.
References
ABARES (2012) ‘Australian crop report.’ (Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics and Sciences: Canberra, ACT)ABARES GRDC (2012) Physical and financial performance benchmarks. Available at: www.grdc.com.au/Research-and-Development/ABARES-GRDC-Reports
ABS (2012) Value of principal agricultural commodities produced, Australia. Preliminary, 2011–12. Catalogue No. 7501.0. Available at: www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/7501.0main+features32011-12
Anderson GC, Peverill KI, Brennan RF (2013) Soil sulfur—crop response calibration relationships and criteria for field crops grown in Australia. Crop & Pasture Science 64, 523–530.
Batten GD, Fettell NA, Mead JA, Khan MA (1999) Effect of sowing date on the uptake and utilisation of Phosphorus by wheat (cv. Osprey) grown in central New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 39, 161–170.
| Effect of sowing date on the uptake and utilisation of Phosphorus by wheat (cv. Osprey) grown in central New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bell MJ, Moody PW, Anderson GC, Strong W (2013a) Soil phosphorus—crop response calibration relationship and criteria for oilseeds, grain legumes and summer cereals crops grown in Australia. Crop & Pasture Science 64, 499–513.
Bell MJ, Strong W, Elliot D, Walker C (2013b) Soil nitrogen—crop response calibration relationships and criteria for winter cereal crops grown in Australia. Crop & Pasture Science 64, 442–460.
Bell R, Reuter DJ, Scott BJ, Sparrow L, Strong W, the late Chen W (2013c) Soil phosphorus—crop response calibration relationships and criteria for winter cereal crops grown in Australia. Crop & Pasture Science 64, 480–498.
Bertrand I, Holloway RE, Armstrong RD, McLaughlin MJ (2003) Chemical characteristics of phosphorus in alkaline soils from southern Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research 41, 61–76.
| Chemical characteristics of phosphorus in alkaline soils from southern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXitVygsrg%3D&md5=4f2659a34103e5d79b2360d9a06447caCAS |
Bolland MDA, Brennan RF (2006) Phosphorus, copper and zinc requirements of no-till wheat crops and methods of collecting soil samples for soil testing. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 1051–1059.
| Phosphorus, copper and zinc requirements of no-till wheat crops and methods of collecting soil samples for soil testing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XmsFWmsLY%3D&md5=d305acba6b80d124f0bf1bdfbcce2a25CAS |
Brennan RF, Bell MJ (2013) Soil potassium—crop response calibration relationships and criteria for field crops grown in Australia. Crop & Pasture Science 64, 514–522.
Burkitt LL, Moody PW, Gourley CJP, Hannah MC (2002) A simple phosphorus buffering index for Australian soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 40, 497–513.
| A simple phosphorus buffering index for Australian soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xks1eksL0%3D&md5=3d3daf1d520419fd9664a5a5f1aac5e5CAS |
Cornish PS (1987) Effects of direct drilling on the phosphorus uptake and fertiliser requirements of wheat. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 38, 775–790.
Dowling CW, Speirs SD (2013) An extension perspective—increasing the adoption of more reliable soil test interpretation. Crop & Pasture Science 64, 531–538.
Dyson CB, Conyers MK (2013) Methodology for online biometric analysis of soil test–crop response datasets. Crop & Pasture Science 64, 435–441.
Garcia JP, Wortmann CS, Mamo M, Drijber R, Tarkalson D (2007) One-time tillage of no-till: effects on nutrients, mycorrhizae and phosphorus uptake. Agronomy Journal 99, 1093–1103.
| One-time tillage of no-till: effects on nutrients, mycorrhizae and phosphorus uptake.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXovFajtLk%3D&md5=962cd7ddb7d9a095fb0c923fc1a39c0eCAS |
Gourley CJP, Melland AR, Waller RA, Awty IM, Smith AP, Peverill KI, Hannah MC (2007) ‘Making better fertiliser decisions for grazed pastures in Australia.’ (Department of Primary Industries, Victoria: Melbourne) Available at: www.asris.csiro.au/downloads/BFD/Making%20Better%20Fertiliser%20Decisions%20for%20Grazed%20Pastures%20in%20Australia.pdf
Holford ICR (1997) Soil phosphorus: its measurement and its uptake by plants. Australian Journal of Soil Research 35, 227–239.
| Soil phosphorus: its measurement and its uptake by plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXisVeitrk%3D&md5=984c5df40d9098a80db41acd516e33c8CAS |
IPNI (2013) Fertilizer expenditure in the Australian grains industry. International Plant Nutrition Institute. Available at: http://anz.ipni.net/article/ANZ-3133
Isbell RF (1996) ‘The Australian Soil Classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Jordan-Meille L, Rubaek GH, Elhert PAI, Genot V, Hofman G, Goulding K, Recknagel J, Provolo G, Barraclough P (2012) An overview of fertiliser-P recommendations in Europe: soil testing, calibration and fertiliser recommendations. Soil Use and Management 28, 419–435.
| An overview of fertiliser-P recommendations in Europe: soil testing, calibration and fertiliser recommendations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Northcote KH (1979) ‘A factual key for the recognition of Australian soils.’ 4th edn (Rellim Technical Publications: Glenside, S. Aust.)
Peverill KI, Sparrow LA, Reuter DJ (1999) ‘Soil analysis: an interpretation manual.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Reuter DJ (2001) Nutrient management in Australian agriculture. In ‘Australian Agriculture Assessment 2001, Vol. 1’. National Land and Water Resources Audit. pp. 79–120. (Land & Water Australia: Canberra, ACT)
Reuter DJ, Robinson JB (1986) ‘Plant analysis: an interpretation manual.’ (Inkata Press: Melbourne)
Reuter DJ, Robinson JB (1997) ‘Plant analysis: an interpretation manual.’ 2nd edn (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Robertson M, Carberry P, Brennan L (2009) Economic benefits of variable rate technology: case studies from Australian grain farms. Crop & Pasture Science 60, 799–807.
| Economic benefits of variable rate technology: case studies from Australian grain farms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rodriguez D, Fitzgerald GJ, Belford R, Christensen LK (2006) Detection of nitrogen deficiency in wheat from spectral reflectance indices and basic crop eco-physiological concepts. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, 781–789.
| Detection of nitrogen deficiency in wheat from spectral reflectance indices and basic crop eco-physiological concepts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XmvFaktb8%3D&md5=74cd9aa185d163cfe1332eaa14a86fa5CAS |
Speirs SD, Scott BJ, Moody PW, Mason SD (2013a) Soil phosphorus tests II: A comparison of soil test–crop response relationships for different soil tests and wheat. Crop & Pasture Science 64, 469–479.
Speirs SD, Reuter DJ, Peverill KI, Brennan RF (2013b) Making Better Fertiliser Decisions for Cropping Systems in Australia (BFDC); an overview. Crop & Pasture Science 64, 417–423.
Watmuff G, Reuter DJ, Speirs SD (2013) Methodologies for assembling and interrogating N, P, K, and S soil test calibrations for Australian cereal, oilseed and pulse crops. Crop & Pasture Science 64, 424–434.
