This Grains Research and Development Corporation(GRDC) webpage describes 3 videos developed to help growers improve fertiliser decision-making and profitability in southern Australian grain production systems. It recommends pre-sowing soil testing for accurate nitrogen results because climatic conditions such as rainfall can influence nitrogen mineralisation. The soil testing strategy includes identifying high and low production zones, testing about 20% of the farm each year, being consistent with the time of year you sample, mostly sampling the inter-row, accurately sampling to depth and taking deep core samples, and using best practice for managing samples. The choice of soil tests is based on the treatments required – such as liming. Fertiliser strip trials can be used to show the effects of different rates of fertiliser inputs. While the information is provided for the Southern GRDC region, it may also useful for other grain-growing regions. #
Videos:
Devising a soil nutrition testing strategy [2:11]
Establishing test strips [1:19]
Soil nutrition testing procedure [2:36]