More Profit from Nitrogen - Improved nitrogen use efficiency through accounting for deep soil and mineralisable N supply, and deployment of Enhanced Efficiency Fertilisers to better match crop N demand

This project looks at increasing nitrogen (N) use efficiency in sugar. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) can be poor, especially after high fertiliser application. Encouragingly, new enhanced efficiency fertiliser (EEF) products better match N release to crop N demand. They may boost NUE and therefore profitability for sugarcane growers. To optimise N application rates, two measures must be known: at-depth reserves of nitrate, and mineralisable N at paddock scale. This project aims to give sugarcane growers the means to predict in-field N stocks and provide better recommendations for N fertiliser rates and EEFs. It is anticipated that outcomes from this sugarcane project will be relevant for other broadacre industries.