Enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEFs) are forms of fertiliser, including nitrogen fertilisers, designed to reduce nutrient losses to the environment and increase nutrient availability to crops. These fertilisers can either slow the release of nutrients for uptake or alter the conversion of nutrients to other forms that may be less susceptible to losses. EEFs hold promise for control of nitrogen availability in soil ensuring productive crops while minimising harmful off-site impacts. However, EEF performance has been variable due to insufficient understanding of the interplay between EFFs with soil types and environmental conditions.

Improving crop productivity and minimising environmental harm to maintain social license are key challenges faced by the Australian sugarcane industry. EEFs have potential as a solution to these challenges but despite their uptake decades ago their widespread adoption has not occurred, largely due to cost and variability in performance in tropical regions.

This project is using a range of techniques to understand how nitrogen (N) flows in EEFs in relation to soil types and environmental conditions in sugarcane. This will help tailor N delivery to match crop demand under site-specific conditions. Furthering understanding of N release-supply dynamics in EEFs across a wide range of sugarcane soils will support decision making so that EEFs can be used where it is economically sound, ensuring that growers benefit financially while also achieving environmental benefits.