Process for developing farm

nutrient management plans in the

Wet Tropics

Agronomy Community Conference, July 2018

Danielle Skocaj, SRA Tully

Debra Telford, Smartcane BMP Innisfail

Alan Hurney, Consultant Edmonton

Bernard Schroeder, USQ Toowoomba

What, how much, where, when…?

A Whole-of-farm Nutrient Management Plan can help!

Wet Tropics whole-of-farm Nutrient Management Plan Goals

▪ Farm-based, using block NMP data

▪ Consultative process

▪ Produces a practical and rational fertiliser program

▪ Transparent process

▪ Independent review

▪ Maintains integrity of the SIX EASY STEPS principles

Identify Nutrient Requirements• Review soil tests • Identify block specific nutrient requirements as

per SIX EASY STEPS• Determine nutrient requirements * soil type • Group soil types with similar requirements

Prepare NMP• Rationalise nutrient requirements• Identify suitable fertiliser products and rates• Discuss draft NMP with grower• Incorporate grower feedback• Identify future soil sampling program• Identify on-farm evaluation• Finalise NMP, discuss record keeping requirements,

present to grower in preferred format

Support, Review & Update• Compare plan to grower practice • Discuss grower experience• Review adequacy of nutrient inputs • Consider NUE• Incorporate new soil tests, information and

approaches to nutrient management• Update for next season

Collate Datasets• Farm, soil types, soil tests, nutrient

practices, management• Identify soil types, possible nutrient loss

pathways & potential requirements

Whole-of-farm NMP Process

Engagement• Get to know the grower and their

approach to nutrient management• Discuss equipment available, what has

been tried, responses obtained, production constraints & opportunities to try novel approaches

Collate Datasets

Tyson

Engagement

Ongoing interaction and consultation

Grower profile

Document NMP story

Trusted advisor

Grower ownership

Identify Nutrient

Requirements

Nutrient Requirement Summary Ratoon Cane

Contact Person

Farm Number 5637, 5776, 5717, 7413, 9857, 9603

Dominant Soil

TypeArea

N Required

(kg/ha)

P Required

(kg/ha)

K Required

(kg/ha)

S Required

(kg/ha)

Hewitt 8.09 100 20 100 0

Bulgun 9.19 110 20 100 0

Mossman (1) 16.12 110 25 100 0

Gogarra 10.27 120 0 120 0

Banyan 4.37 120 20 100 0

Coom 2.02 130 20 100 5

Mossman (2) 9.66 130 20 100 0

Thorpe 7.06 130 20 100 0

Lugger 33.89 140 0 100 10

Mossman (3) 6.83 140 0 0 0

Tully 9.81 140 0 100 0

Tyson 3.44 140 0 100 10NOTES: Blocks with Mossman as the dominant soil type have been managed differently in the past (blocks

previously growing bananas do not require P) or have another co-dominant soil type (lower N

requirement in blocks where Timara is the co-dominant soil type). Phosphorus is not need required on

Gogarra, Lugger or Tully series soils because of a history of mill by-product application. Phosphorus is also

not required on Tyson series soils as bananas were grown on these blocks historically.

F5717

F9603

F9857

F5637

F5776

F7413

ReefChoice 510 @ 512 kg/ha

Urea@ 260 kg/ha & MOP @ 240 kg/ha

GF500 @ 512 kg/ha

Urea@ 305 kg/ha & MOP @ 200 kg/ha

Fertiliser application legend:

Ratoon Fertiliser Shopping List

Product Total Quantity (t)

ReefChoice 510 19

GF 500 11

Urea 19.5

Muriate of Potash 12

Prepare and Deliver Whole-of-Farm NMP

Support, Review & Update Whole-of-farm NMP

Support grower implementation through:▪ Tailoring delivery format to meet grower requirements

▪ On-farm evaluations to support practice change

▪ Assisting with correct soil sampling & calibration procedures

Support, Review & Update Whole-of-farm NMP

Grower and Advisor meet to conduct an annual nutrient review:

▪ Compare applied vs recommended

▪ Check adequacy of nutrient inputs

▪ Discuss results on-farm evaluation

▪ Ability to assess NUE

Incorporating Nitrogen Use Efficiency into Whole-of-farm NMP

Nitrogen use efficiency =

• Most commonly used growers• Easy to calculate• Measures efficiency of both applied and soil N resources

Example:Cane yield = 90 t cane/haN fertiliser = 120 kg N/haNitrogen use efficiency = 90÷120 = 0.75 t cane/kg N

Cane Yield (t cane/ha)N fertiliser applied (kg N/ha)

Incorporating Nitrogen Use Efficiency into Whole-of-farm NMP

Farm avgNUE 0.66

Farm maxNUE 0.91

Farm minNUE 0.28

1R (2R)1R

Pl (1R) (2R)

Incorporating Nitrogen Use Efficiency into Whole-of-farm NMP

Useful monitoring tool▪ Spatial and temporal variability ▪ Review over multiple seasons▪ Understand responses and identify opportunities

Difficult to set targets▪ Many factors influence NUE▪ MUST also consider profitability

Support, Review and Update Whole-of-farm NMP

▪ Modify nutrient inputs where necessary▪ Incorporate new soil test results▪ On-farm evaluations, new research▪ Meet growers appetite for risk

▪ Present new tools

▪ Revise soil sampling strategy

The cycle starts again!

Summary

▪ Collate, engage, identify, prepare, support, review & update

▪ Easily update and tailor output

▪ Supports full SIX EASY STEPS approach to on-farm nutrient management

▪ Realistic & practical whole-of-farm NMP facilitates widespreadadoption of SIX EASY STEPS nutrient guidelines

▪ NUE can assist with identifying ‘problem’ blocks

Conclusion

▪ Nutrient rate rationalisation will be contentious

▪ Transparent and consistent process

▪ Advisors will require training and support

▪ Limited potential to automate process

▪ Must remain grower focused

▪ Supported by Government and reef programs

Thank you

Danielle Skocaj, SRA Tully

Debra Telford, Smartcane BMP Innisfail

Alan Hurney, Consultant Edmonton

Bernard Schroeder, USQ Toowoomba

Process for developing farm

nutrient management plans in the

Wet Tropics