Effects of nitrogen placement on crop production under furrow irrigated, trash blanket conditions

Seven trials were set out to study fertiliser N placement under furrow irrigated conditions in the Burdekin District. Results show that in a wet year where cane is harvested green and trash blanketed, fertiliser placement will not influence cane yield. In a dry year, surface applied fertiliser may reduce sugar yield. Fertiliser should be buried in the soil but placement is not critical except in the loamy sands where burying fertiliser in the stool may reduce crop yield. Burying fertiliser in the stool is the easiest and quickest operation and there is a short-term increase in nitrogen uptake by the plant. For cane harvested burnt on the heavy soils, fertiliser placement does not influence cane yield even in a dry year. These soils may be suited to zero tillage.