Nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition of dryland grain sorghum at Katherine, Northern Territory. 3. Effect of nitrogen carrier, time and placement

Abstract

Different nitrogen carriers, and placements and strategies of application to dryland grain sorghum growing in a clay loam soil were compared in field experiments at Katherine, Northern Territory. The nitrogen carriers were ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, urea and anhydrous ammonia ; placements were banding, mixing into the topsoil, and broadcasting; and strategies consisted of split application, and varying time of broadcasting. The rate used throughout was 50 kg N ha-1.Responses to the various treatments varied between the two seasons (1970-71, 1971-72) due to differing soil moisture conditions. There was a response to broadcasting nitrogen after emergence, giving higher grain yield and nitrogen yield than earlier broadcasting or application with the seed. Banded nitrogen (both seasons) and split nitrogen (one season) were superior to other methods of applying nitrogen with the seed. The only yield differences between sources of nitrogen were with broadcast application, where ammonium sulphate proved superior in one season, and with respect to apparent recovery of nitrogen by the crop, when the order ammonium nitrate > ammonium sulphate > urea was observed in both seasons. It is suggested that in this environment and on this soil, nitrogen is not particularly susceptible to volatilization, and broadcasting urea and ammonium fertilizer onto dry soil may retain nitrogen within the rooting zone, in comparison with nitrate, which is more susceptible to leaching. Incorporated fertilizer is more susceptible to nitrification and subsequent leaching, while banded nitrogen appears to resist nitrification and leaching.