AN ASSESSMENT OF CONTROLLED RELEASE FERTILISERS IN THE AUSTRALIAN SUGAR INDUSTRY

NUTRIENT LOSS is a significant issue faced by the sugarcane industry in tropical Australia. Controlled release (CR) fertilisers may offer significant opportunities to reduce nutrient losses leading to potential improvements in nutrient efficiencies, productivity gains and improved environmental outcomes. This paper reviews the research undertaken in the Herbert, Burdekin and Mackay cane growing regions of Australia, comparing the Everris® Agrocote® controlled release urea against conventional urea products. Controlled release N significantly increased cane and sugar yield compared to similar rates of urea N in the Burdekin and Herbert. Significant yield responses were measured in seasons with both wet and dry conditions in the first two months following fertiliser application. Due to productivity increases, net returns were increased where between 15% and 40% of the N was supplied in the CR form in the Herbert and Burdekin. Application of fertiliser significantly increased nitrous oxide emissions but there were no significant differences between N sources.