How much N does that sugarcane crop need? Using seasonal climate forecasts to improve N management in the Wet Tropics Australia

Due to the close proximity of sugarcane to environmentally sensitive areas in the Wet Tropics, Australia, it is important to improve nitrogen management practices to reduce N losses. The Wet Tropics Australia, experiences one of the highest levels of climate variability in the world, which in turn affects the amount of Nitrogen required by the crop. This makes the task of applying the right amount of N, at the right time for the widely varying soils and management extremely challenging. This presentation will describe a methodology that integrates seasonal climate forecasts within the Six Easy Steps Nitrogen Management guidelines to provide industry with an improved Nitrogen management strategy. Key lessons learnt from this approach will feed into adoption frameworks to promote the sustainability of the sugarcane industry and the Great Barrier Reef.