Project Title

Tailoring fertiliser recommendations to requirements

Objectives

This research project aimed to increase the productivity of the NSW rice industry by improving the

accuracy of recommendations for fertiliser N so they account for a wider range of physical conditions, soil types and locations.

Research

The results of the 18 experiments were pooled to show general principles of nitrogen nutrition on rice in NSW. The results showed 1) the N recovery percentage up to Pl of N applied PF is independent of soil type, 2) yield potential is correlated with N uptake at Pl, 3) the yield response of rice to N applied at Pl is correlated with Pl N uptake of the crop and 4) there is a possibility of reducing midseason cold damage by applying N at Pl.

The simplified process crop model TRYM (Temperate Rice Yield Model) adequately described the variation in nitrogen response across all experiments of this project. The average error of prediction of the model was a little larger than the error of measuring grain yield. TRYM was also able to predict the range of yield response to N applied at Pl across all sites, although they included a wide range of soil types and initial soil N fertilities. There appeared to be no bias in the error of prediction by TRYM related to soil, paddock history, sowing date, or any other management option. TRYM continued to be incorporated into a farmer decision support system, maNage rice, which has been updated each year.

Outcomes

Industry benefits from this project include an improved method for ricegrowers to sample their crops for the Pl nitrogen test, improved Pl nitrogen recommendation, yearly releases of maNage rice, a new method for estimating pre-flood nitrogen in some situations and the tantalising result that N applied at Pl may reduce the incidence of mid-season cold damage.

Determining fresh weight instead of shoot number as part of the Pl Nitrogen test has been a direct outcome of this project. Fresh weight has been shown to be a more reliable and robust predictor of crop N status than shoot number. This new improved method was adopted by more than 99% of Pl N test users in the 1996n season. Improved recommendations for top-dressing N at Pl developed in this project were published in the Ricecheck book sent to all Ricegrowers. In addition to altering the tables showing the recommendations, extra tables were introduced that gave growers an estimate of yield increase in response to Pl applied N.

The computer based decision support system, maNage rice, was updated each year during the course of the project and distributed free to all growers who requested a copy. Over 600 copies were distributed for the 1997/98 crop. Given that about 50% of the 2000 ricegrowers now own personal computers, this represents a potential usage by 60% of the market. The maNage rice software presents additional information to that available through paper-based decision support. It presents top-dressing information in the form of options and likely profitability and also considers the effects of changed grain prices and fertiliser costs on profitability. It presents the climatic risks of cold damage and the interaction of this with shallow water. It considers the cold risks for each of the major rice-growing regions (MIA, Coleambally, Murray valley and Hay) and makes allowance for the effects of sowing date. The overall impact is to provide information that is as specific as possible to a particular paddock and that takes into account the individual grower's reactions to risk.

Implications

This collaborative project has produced new technology and information to assist ricegrowers in better rice crop management, with special emphasis on nitrogen nutrition. By the use of a large number of district r nitrogen trials on farmers' paddocks over the last 3 years, this project has been able to quantify the yield potential and N response of particular crops. This project also developed new rice extension material in both paper and computer based forms for the NSW rice industry.

Project No: DAN-110A

Researcher: Dr Robert L Williams

Organisation: Yanco Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Agriculture, Private Mail Bag,  YANCO NSW 2703
 

Contacts: Phone: (02) 6953 0279    Fax: (02) 6953 0268    E-mail: robert_williams_at_yanco@smtpgwy.agric.nsw.gov.au

Evaluation of trash levels on farm during the 1997 rice harvest

Objectives

• Establish quantitative benchmarks on trash levels in rice harvester deliveries on a selection of farms.
• Establish the parameters contributing to trash levels on farm.
• Assess methods of reducing trash levels by suitable operational factors.
• Monitor dockage (trash levels) with respect to seasonal, geographic, machine and variety variations.
• Assist the Ricegrowers' Association with a campaign to reduce dockage.
• Produce appropriate reports to assist with this campaign.
• Assess depot trash sampling and removal technologies.

Trash – extraneous matter in paddy – could cost the rice industry more than $7 million in the 1997 season. The project was set up in anticipation that the 1997 harvest was likely to set new records. But there was a large shortfall in storage space for a bumper crop. Trash takes up valuable space and causes problems with handling, storage and quality. In 1996 trash levels in the paddy averaged about 1.4% by weight, with the levels in grower deliveries ranging from 0.1% to 33.5%.

Research & Outcomes

Three categories of factors causing trash were identified and examined.

• Of the Crop set of factors:

• lodging was dominant, followed by variety, time in season and location.

• Machine factors:

• There were discernible differences in trash levels between brands. Older header models generally produced lower trash levels than the latest models of the same brand.

• The average amount of trash in truck samples measured in this project was 2.23%. there could be more than 30,000 tonnes of trash delivered in 1997. This would occupy space exceeding 100,000 tonnes of paddy in a season with a large shortfall of storage space for the 1.38 million tonne bumper crop.

• Eleven focus groups covering an N-S cross-section of the industry and on Field Day were conducted for ricegrowers and harvester operators. Harvester performance and evaluations were carried out in conjunction with these exercises. Average age of rice headers from 84 participants’ survey returns was 10 years. Tests covered different makes, ages and types: stripperfronts, drapers, raspbar’s spike-tooth drums, walker’s rotary models were included in the performance evaluations. Field data were reduced to sets of graphs and equations from statistical analysis. Some key points follow.

• This season stripperfronts generally had a somewhat higher trash level than cutterbars, especially in lodged conditions. The difference was 0.5 to 1%, speed-dependent and statistically significant. On the other hand, operators reported that stripperfronts improved operation in lodged crops, greatly enhanced throughput/loss performance of walker-type machines and performed better than a cutterbar in windy conditions. Stripperfronts facilitate use of raspbar drums. The problem of high grain losses with stripperfronts needs to be addressed by the makers.
• Machine settings and operational factors: trash levels consistently declined with higher forward speeds. Harvester operators have to compromise on speed however, because grain losses escalate at higher forward speeds and in lodged crop conditions. Of all the header adjustments, fan speed setting was the most critical factor on trash. Other machine settings greatly affected losses and pearling but were not sensitive on trash.

No one benefits from trash and it can be reduced. A three-step program to reduce trash has been proposed, with a strategic plan to achieve a goal of no more than 0.5% trash in the storages by year 2000 – "0.5 by 2000".

RIRDC Project No: KDI-17A

Researcher: Dr. Graeme R Quick

Organisation: 292 David Low Way, PEREGIAN BEACH QLD 4573
 

Contacts: Phone: (07) 5448 2690    Fax: (07) 5448 2174

Reduced insecticide applications for rice crop protection in Southern NSW

Objectives

• To evaluate pre-flood soil treatments and slow0-release insecticide granules in order to determine which treatments will provide single-application control of rice bloodworm for the full period of crop susceptibility.
• To assess the efficacy of malathion as a bloodworm treatment when seed is used as a chemical carrier.
• To evaluate selected rice varieties as sources of resistance to bloodworm attack.
• To identify and assist in the commercialisation of an alternative to copper sulfate for control of the aquatic snail Isidorella sp.

Bloodworms and snails are 2 of the most important invertebrate pests affecting rice crop establishment in NSW and are currently controlled using organophosphorus insecticides and copper sulphate, respectively. Concern over the environmental impacts of these chemicals has prompted efforts to refine bloodworm control strategies and reduce copper usage in rice.

Research

Several substantial breakthroughs in bloodworm and snail management have been made during the course of this project Evaluation of malathion seed treatments for bloodworm control has shown that the currently used application rate of 300g active/hectare is effective, but only for a period of 5-7 days. Halving the application rate to 150g active/hectare would not compromise control provided the treatment was evenly applied. Studies on granular chlorpyrifos formulations during the 1994/5 season yielded disappointing results. Despite good results with Crop Care G01S05, both the related formulation G01S23 and DowElanco Lorsban^R 15G failed to provide effective control of chironomine larvae at rates up to 228g active/hectare.

Outcomes

The principal breakthrough in relation to bloodworm control involved the recognition of fipronil, a new phenyl pyrazole insecticide, as being both highly efficacious and environmentally acceptable for use as a seed treatment. Registration documents for this use pattern are now being prepared and it is anticipated that this product will be available for use in the 1997/98 rice season.

Development of an image-analysis based technique for assessing the resistance of rice varieties to bloodworm attack has been completed and results obtained for 16 varieties. Of the varieties screened as part of project DAN-97A, Koshihikari and WC-1403-11 showed the strongest tolerance to Chironomus tepperi attack.

Implications

A major paper published in June 1996 reported the results of assessments of 27 agricultural chemicals against Isidorella sp.. Only 3 chemicals, niclosamide, n-tritylmorpholine and nicotinanilide were found to be effective and of these only one, niclosamide is currently being commercially formulated. Despite representations made to the manufacturer the company concerned has declined to import the product into Australia. As a consequence, full-scale field trials with niclosamide were not conducted.

Project No: DAN-97A

Researcher: Dr Mark Stevens

Organisation: Yanco Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Agriculture, Private Mail Bag, YANCO NSW 2703
 

Contacts: Phone: (02) 6951 2611   Fax: (02) 6955 7580   E-mail: stevenm@agric.nsw.gov.au

Prediction of rice crop fertilizer requirements using NSW

Objective

• To develop tissue testing based on the technique known as near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIR) to assist rice producers decide on the correct form and rate of fertiliser needed to obtain the maximum possible yields of high quality rice.
• To provide support to the Tissue Testing Service offered to rice growers by the rice industry in southern Australia.
• To encourage farmers to use fertilisers in such a way as to have minimal impact on the environment.

In 1986 the researchers first demonstrated that the technique of near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy could accurately determine the total nitrogen concentration on ground samples of rice shoot tissue. After a successful pilot tissue testing service in the 1987-88 season the RCL Rice Tissue Testing Service was established to analyse rice samples collected from growers. In the third season of the service being offered almost 40% of the rice growers were using the service and achieving an overall gain in yield by about 0.6 tonne/ha.

This success led to further funding from the Rice Research Committee of IREC, later the Rice Committee of RIRDC, to further develop the capabilities of the NIR analyses and to provide the necessary backup to the RCL laboratory.

Research

Objective 1:

The development of new and improved calibrations for the NIR instrument was based on best practice techniques. These are clearly and comprehensively summarised in listed documents.

Objective 2:

Updating of forms, instruction sheets and the Rice Tissue Test Database was required annually.

Objective 3:

Information accumulated as a result of this Project has encouraged a significant number of growers to change their pattern of fertiliser applications. They now apply fertiliser more economically at the sowing or permanent water stage and so rely less on N top dressed at PI to ensure a high yield.

Outcomes

This project has achieved all of its objectives. NIR-based tissue testing of rice crops has been developed to the point that it is now an essential management tool for rice growers. The Rice Tissue Test is known world wide and regarded as a landmark to commercial application of the NIR technique.

Implications

Surveys of rice growers who used the NIR Tissue Test indicated that they achieved 0-.6 tonne/ha more grain than the average for all rice growers. A significant proportion of growers is able now to economically apply fertiliser each year.

RIRDC Project No: DAN-82A

Researcher: Dr. Graeme D Batten

Organisation: Yanco Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Agriculture,  PMB,  YANCO NSW 2703,

Contacts: Phone: (02) 6951 2736     Fax: (02) 6951 2719    E-mail: graeme.batten@agric.nsw.gov.au

       Last updated: 27 August 1998 Copyright © RIRDC http://www.rirdc.gov.au/comp98/rice1.htm