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Fertiliser N responses have been large and consistent for short fallow crops, whilst long fallowing reduces the size and frequency of N response. Grain sorghum on short-fallow consistently responded to applied fertiliser N at higher rates (≥ 80 kg N/ha) than crops grown on long-fallow where either fertiliser at nil or 40 kg N/ha maximised yield. Average yield increase with fertiliser N compared to nil for five short-fallow sorghum crops between 1987-88 and 1999-00 has been 1440, 2650 and 3010 kg/ha for the 40, 80 and 120 kg N/ha respectively. Average agronomic efficiency of N for these crops has been 36, 31 and 22 kg grain per kg fertiliser N applied. Where residual soil N supply for crops is higher — such as after a long-fallow, or a short-fallow crop following a drought-affected long-fallow crop the previous season — fertiliser N impacts on grain yield were smaller.

Item Type:	Non Refereed Conference Paper
Keywords:	sorghum, grain sorghum, fertiliser, plant nutrition, vertosol,
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Crop and pasture production
Research Field:	Crop and pasture nutrition
Objective Division:	Plant Production and Plant Primary Products
Objective Group:	Grains and seeds
Objective Field:	Sorghum
UTAS Author:	Birch, CJ (Associate Professor Colin Birch)
ID Code:	94137
Year Published:	2010
Deposited By:	Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
Deposited On:	2014-09-01
Last Modified:	2014-09-01
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