Regional soil fertility patterns in wheatgrowing areas of Victoria

Abstract

Soil fertility patterns in the wheatgrowing areas of Victoria were examined. The three major patterns identified from the protein content of wheat delivered to 113 silos over the period 1946-74 showed a marked regional grouping encompassing the Wimmera (type 3), Western Mallee (type 2) and the Eastern Mallee, Northern and North-East Districts (type 1). Using 107 P x N wheat fertilizer experiments, four major patterns were identified. Only one of these (low P, nil N yield response) showed any regional grouping (with the Wimmera region); the other three (moderate P, moderate N; high P, small N ; and high P, nil N yield responses) occurred at random throughout the wheat belt. Possible reasons for these patterns and their implications are discussed.