More Profit from Nitrogen (MPfN): enhancing the nitrogen use efficiency of intensive cropping and pasture systems is a four year partnership between Australia’s four major intensive users of nitrogenous fertilisers: cotton, dairy, sugar and horticulture - led by CRDC.
For each of these industries, nitrogen (N) is a significant input cost to producers and a substantial contributor to environmental footprints. Collectively, the program aims to bring about increased farm profitability and reduced environmental impact by increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), resulting in a reduction of the amount of N required in producing each unit of product.
There are 10 projects being delivered under the umbrella of the MPfN Program involving thirty-one collaborating organisations. Research activities encompass both field and laboratory research.
Two cotton research projects being are being conducted, as follows:
Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency & improving phosphorus nutrition in cotton, conducted by NSW DPI
This four year project is undertaking research on both N and phosphorus (P) and is led by NSW DPI. It aims to increase understanding of the intricate relationship between soil and fertiliser N & P supply, fertiliser placement, fertiliser timing, and irrigation strategy to achieve greater NUE and improved phosphorus soil nutrition. The core trial site for the project is located at ACRI, Narrabri, with a further two satellite experiments on commerical cotton farms.
Optimising nitrogen and water interactions in cotton, conducted by USQ
This two year project led by USQ aims to build cotton grower’s confidence to adopt strategic N fertiliser application rates by better understanding how to optimise N supplied to cotton crops from organic matter in soil. Research trial plots have been established on two commercial cotton farms in overhead irrigated paddocks at Jondaryan and Pittsworth in the Darling Downs.
Download additional information on each of the projects below: