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Yield mapping at different scales to improve fertilizer decision making in the Australian sugar industry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2017

R. G. V. Bramley ,
J. Ouzman  and
D. L. Gobbett
R. G. V. Bramley*
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Waite Campus, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
J. Ouzman
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Waite Campus, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
D. L. Gobbett
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Waite Campus, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
*
†E-mail: rob.bramley@csiro.au
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Abstract

Potential yield is one of the criteria used as an input to nitrogen (N) fertilizer management decisions when using SIX EASY STEPS (6ES), the fertilizer recommendation tool used in the Australian sugar industry. Most commonly, 6ES is implemented using a district yield potential (DYP). In this study, we use analysis of sugar mill and yield monitor data from the Herbert River cane growing district to demonstrate that yield is markedly spatially variable, with this variability following the same patterns from year to year. There would therefore be value in a more location specific consideration of potential yield and application of 6ES. Similar analyses could be readily conducted in other sugar producing regions with potentially important implications for fertilizer use efficiency and the minimization of nutrient accessions to the Great Barrier Reef.

Keywords

sugarcaneyield potentialscalenutrient use efficiencyGreat Barrier Reef
Type
Information and Decision Support Systems
Information
Advances in Animal Biosciences , Volume 8 , Special Issue 2: Papers presented at the 11th European Conference on Precision Agriculture (ECPA 2017), John McIntyre Centre, Edinburgh, UK, July 16–20 2017 , July 2017 , pp. 630 - 634
Copyright
© CSIRO Australia 2017 

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