EASY Experiences

Anthony Lines, EASY N topdressing Laura

EASY N offers flexibility

South Australian grower Anthony Lines switched to using EASY N fertiliser when topdressing five years ago and hasn’t looked back.

Anthony farms 1,600 hectares around Laura, Crystal Brook, Port Pirie and Gladstone with his wife Christine and their three children, Ashley, Bradley and Rebecca.

Up until five years ago, the family used urea fertiliser to topdress their wheat, barley and hay crops, but switched to using EASY N after investing in a new sprayer.

While the first year the family used EASY N in 1,000 L shuttles, four years ago they invested in on-farm storage for the liquid fertiliser by purchasing a 22,500 L tank.

“In the past, we used spreading contractors but after purchasing a new 28 m self-propelled Hardi Alpha sprayer a few years ago, we decided to look into using EASY N,” Anthony said.

“We find that with EASY N, we can apply nitrogen with more accuracy and we can apply on the same track marks that we use for chemical spraying.”

“The new sprayer means we can also apply EASY N ourselves, so we don’t have to wait on contractors if the season is looking up.”

Cereal crops are sown with 80-150 kg/ha of an N-Rich 26 blend, while legumes are sown with 50 kg/ha of MAP.

EASY N is then applied at mid-tillering at rates of between 50 and 100 L/ha, depending on deep N soil test results.

In 2011, Anthony said they would be employing a similar strategy as the season was shaping up to be similar to last year. Their cereal crops yielded 3-5.5 t/ha last year with 9-10% proteins.

“We’ve had a good, wet start to the season and things are going well, so we’re employing the same tactics.”

Flexible application

The flexibility and ease of application are some of the reasons why growers are turning to EASY N for topdressing this season.

Ian Harslett from HT Harslett in Gladstone, South Australia, said growers in the region were switching to EASY N due to its advantages over granular fertiliser when topdressing.

“Unlike urea, the application of EASY N is not dependent on the weather, so you can apply it even if rain is not expected imminently,” Ian said.

“Growers can also apply EASY N using spray equipment they have on farm. This helps reduce the risk of missing the application window due to wet weather or waiting for spreading contractors.”

Ian added growers in the area were still experimenting with rates and application methods, but depending on the season, multiple applications of EASY N were common.

“In a reasonable year, growers are applying 30 – 35 L/ha of EASY N, but in 2010, there were some growers putting out two applications of this amount to ensure their crops weren’t missing out on nitrogen,” he said.

Ian said he expected the use of liquid fertilisers would continue to grow.

HT Harslett currently sells EASY N in 1,000 shuttles as well as arranging bulk delivery on-farm.

“We have a 22,500 L EASY N storage tank at our depot in Gladstone, but we have room to grow as growers adopt liquid fertiliser technology.”

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