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Rethinking N for Grain Maize

GRDC Podcast 
"Helping growers to work smarter not harder with their inputs to increase profitability is the focus of many GRDC investments. Recently, Australian maize growers have found there's a peak in the nitrogen response curve, beyond which there is no measurable effect on yield. Meanwhile, irrigation discussion groups have expanded into a paddock scale demonstration, where growers have further investigated key management options. This podcast explores the outcomes of those recent trials into irrigated grains, specifically maize"
The Optimising Irrigated Grains project found that there was little grain yield response to nitrogen (N) at rates higher than 240kg N/ha over three years of trials at two sites in Northern Victoria. When presented to maize growers, these results are regarded with a large degree of skepticism as this rate is well below the rates commonly used by irrigated maize growers. However, when asked on how they arrive at the rates they use, there is little information on the kg N/t required by maize, little soil testing to determine soil fertility (in particular soil N at sowing) and in many cases, the potential of soil N to supply some of the crop’s demand is ignored in favor of high rates of N applied to the crop. Funded by GRDC

Maize Layouts
IREC Demonstration

This demonstration was undertaken by IREC in the optimising Irrigagted Grains Project to examine if there is any efficiency in growing maize in flood irrigation without forming beds, in the Coleambally area. The aim was to determine whether growers can lower input costs while
maintaining yields. Funded by GRDC

Good Management Guide – Maize

Maize was investigated as part of the Optimising Irrigated Grains research programme over three years. The research covered all aspects of agronomy, but nutrition was a key component of the work. Funded by GRDC.

Utrisha N in Maize

IREC Demonstration

This trial was conducted in a farmer’s maize paddock to determine the effectiveness of using Utrisha N, a bio stimulant product as part of the optimising irrigated grains project. Utrisha N is an alternative to using synthetic fertilisers such as urea, which will increase the sustainability of growing maize in the region. The additional nutrition supplied by the product may provide an economic advantage to maize growers in the region. Funded by GRDC

Maize Marketing Options

Luke Mancini, Origin Grain

We spoke to Luke about marketing options for grain maize in 2024 as part of the Optimising Irrigated Grains Project, funded by GRDC

Maize Marketing Podcast

Adam Robertson, Robertson Grain Marketing

We are seeing more maize been sown across the region and one of the key challenges that some growers face is the lack of markets for grain maize. This podcast is to help growers gain some insights into marketing options and to provide information to help them make informed decisions.

Setting Up For fodder Crops Podcast

This episode is part of the Fodder For The Future project and has been funded by the Federal Government under the Murray–Darling Basin Economic Development Program.

With good water allocation this year many dairy farmers are getting ready to put summer fodder crops in. Over the past 2 years the ICC have been running summer fodder crop trials with Murray Dairy comparing the performance of maize and sorghum under different irrigation strategies, from fully irrigated through to low input, long-interval irrigations designed to stress the plants.

Integrated Pest Control in Maize

To monitor for 3 key pests in maize crops -Heliothis, Fall Armyworm (FAW) and Two Spotted Mites, then apply treatments that are IPM friendly if needed (Bugs for Bugs and IPM friendly insecticides). The demonstration block will be compared to the

High Yielding Maize
Nutrition Trial

The aim of this demonstration was to ensure no nutrients were limited to see what yield may be possible, and to also evaluate the effect of a late application of nitrogen.

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