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New nitrogen fertiliser management tool
16 Sep 2003
CSIRO Plant Industry has released a computer program, maNage Wheat, designed to assist wheat growers to more effectively manage their use of nitrogen fertilisers, which can cost $50,000 and $100,000 a year.
Many variables must be take into account when farmers decide how much to invest in nitrogen fertiliser: weather conditions, soil factors, and crop factors.
The program was developed for dryland wheat growers in Victoria and southern NSW. It includes a simulation model for estimating the effect of different amounts of nitrogen fertiliser on yield and protein levels under a range of weather and soil conditions. It also takes into account the characteristics of the variety of wheat being grown, when it was sown, paddock history and plant nitrogen status.
maNage Wheat is not designed to supplant the knowledge and intuition developed over many years by experienced wheat growers, but to present the decision-maker with an easily accessible "second opinion".
It was developed with assistance from the Grain Research Development Corporation. The software comes on a CD and can be purchased at Landmark outlets throughout southern NSW and Victoria.
CSIRO Media Release, 11/9/03.
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