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Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Australian Broadacre Cropping Systems.

Detailed nitrogen use efficiency insights from our structured commercial observation program across multiple WA broadacre sites. Compiled by Wilchem agronomist Johan Potgieter.

Download the whitepaper See what's inside
5 reasons WA wheatbelt farmers should read this paper

Why it matters this season.

01

WA sandplain soils lose nitrogen fast - and timing is everything.

On the sandy soils across the WA wheatbelt, nitrogen converts and moves quickly, particularly after early-season rainfall. If fertiliser is applied before the crop root system is established, a significant proportion can be below the root zone by the time it's needed.

At Harvey: Aquaspy monitoring showed urea-applied N producing a nitrate spike within 14 days, then moving into the 30 cm layer - beyond effective root capture at that growth stage.
02

Two zones of the same paddock can end up in different CBH grades.

In-season Aquaspy monitoring at Frankland River showed that within a single paddock under identical fertiliser management, moisture stability in the root zone was the key dividing line between a top-ranked and a mid-ranked grain outcome.

Frankland River: Stable moisture zone - protein 12.26%, screenings 1.34%, CBH rank 4. Variable moisture zone - protein 10.4%, screenings 1.54%, CBH rank 12. Same paddock. Same fertiliser rate.
03

Soil biology may be doing more nitrogen work than your fertiliser program.

Rhizosphere sampling at Wannamal showed measurable shifts in the microbial community under biological treatment - including groups associated with phosphorus and nitrogen cycling - alongside increases in plant-available nutrients.

At Moora: A 50% fertiliser rate under the biological system produced yield within the same statistical group as 100% fertiliser (4,084 vs 4,720 kg/ha). ARISA analysis confirmed substantial microbial community shifts across sites.
04

Canola responded consistently to biological inputs across three WA locations.

Pod number and pod weight are the primary yield drivers in canola. Across three geographically distinct trial sites in 2024–25, the biological treatment produced positive responses in both metrics - in the same direction at each location.

Narrogin, Yuna, Beacon: 12–15% more pods per plant and 17–64% greater pod weight under biological treatment versus the conventional control.
05

Late-season foliar application drove meaningful grain quality responses.

At flag leaf stage, foliar amino acid application appeared to support grain fill under the moisture and heat stress conditions common across WA's southern and eastern wheatbelt. Screenings - a key driver of downgrade at CBH - improved at both trial locations.

Salmon Gums: AminoMaster at 2 L/ha at flag leaf reduced screenings by 72% vs the untreated control. Scaddan: a 43% reduction was observed. Hectolitre weight improved at both sites.
About the paper

Locally-grounded, field-observed, commercially relevant.

Part of Wilchem’s ongoing R&D program across Australia’s southern grain states - and the most detailed body of field observation work on nitrogen use efficiency in WA broadacre cropping currently available from any commercial supplier.

The rest of the industry asks

“How much nitrogen, and when?”

An important question — but only half the picture. It assumes the nitrogen you apply will reach the plant and convert.

This paper asks

“What’s actually happening below the surface — and can the system convert it?”

Aquaspy in-soil monitoring, ARISA microbial analysis and crop measurement data, across multiple WA sites in 2024–25.

What can be stated

Established science, illustrated

Observations consistent with published science, illustrated with real WA farm data - N moves rapidly through sandplain, within-paddock variability drives quality differences, N form affects movement, moisture stability stabilises availability.

What was observed

Consistent directional signals

Positive pod response to the biological program. A shift in the nitrogen response curve under Biotics. Grain quality response to flag-leaf amino acid. Microbial community shifts toward nutrient-cycling groups.

What's hypothesised

Mechanisms worth testing

Improved rhizosphere biology driving nutrient availability. Redox potential as a practical indicator of soil N cycling. An ammonium-based leaching advantage on WA sands under early-season rainfall.

The whitepaper is not a controlled scientific trial and is not positioned as one. Its strength is the consistency of signals across multiple sites and seasons, the plausibility of the mechanisms it proposes, and the quality of the monitoring data behind it.

Exclusive to Wilchem in Australia

See what's happening below the surface, in real time.

Aquaspy is the only commercially available broadacre probe in Australia that measures nitrate concentration and redox potential alongside moisture, temperature and electrical conductivity.

Standard probes tell you when the soil is wet. Aquaspy tells you whether your nitrogen is still there and whether your soil biology is functioning. On WA sandplain - where nitrogen can move out of the root zone within days of a rainfall event - that distinction changes decisions.

Learn more about Aquaspy Get the whitepaper

What Aquaspy measures

  • Nitrate concentration - is your N still in the root zone?
  • Redox potential - is your soil biology functioning?
  • Soil moisture - stability through the season
  • Temperature - driver of biological activity
  • Electrical conductivity - salinity and ion movement
The Wilchem Nutrient Journey

The only commercial program built across all four stages of nitrogen efficiency.

Monitor what’s happening below the surface. Establish a foundation at seeding. Activate the biology that does the work. Convert the inputs already there into yield and protein.

01 Monitor

Know your soil

Aquaspy

Real-time in-soil monitoring of moisture, nitrate movement and biological activity (redox/ORP) through the season. Shows where nitrogen is, where it’s going, and whether the biology is working.

Drives every decision. No more guesswork.

02 Establish

Feed the soil

Rowloader

In-furrow conditioning and macro-nutrient delivery at seeding. Builds the soil chemistry foundation and supports crop establishment — the platform the biological program depends on.

Sets the foundation. Sets up success.

03 Activate

Build the biology

Biotics

Microbial biological inputs through the season. Supports the rhizosphere environment, improves nutrient cycling, and enhances the plant’s ability to access and use what’s already in the soil.

Builds the biological engine.

04 Convert

Deliver to the plant

Signature

Amino acid chelated trace element nutrition. Addresses the conversion constraint — the speciality trace nutrition the plant needs to turn available nitrogen into protein and yield.

Closes the loop. Delivers yield and protein.

Free download

Get the full whitepaper.

We'll email you a PDF of Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Australian Broadacre Cropping Systems, plus optional access to Johan Potgieter for a follow-up conversation about your program.

Download the PDF

A copy will be emailed to you. No spam - promised.

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Local Experts

Speak to your local WA experts today.

JP

Johan Potgieter

Wilchem Agronomist · WA

Technical questions, trials, program advice.

jpotgieter@Wilchem.com.au
0427 854 655
FF

Francois Fourie

Sales · WA & SA

Stocking the range, commercial enquiries.

ffourie@Wilchem.com.au

The Wilchem equation.

The whitepaper is the evidence layer of a larger commercial program built across all four stages of nitrogen efficiency.

Real-time monitoring
Soil health & nutrition
Biological activation
Plant nutrition
More yield. More protein. More profit.

Want to see how the full range fits together?

Explore Signature, Rowloader, Biotics and Aquaspy as one connected program.

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