SYN [Select Your Nitrogen]
SYN is a spreadsheet-based decision-support tool for quantifying nitrogen availability and crop response.
- Who this tool is for
- Questions this tool answers
- What this tool does
- Inputs
- Outputs
- Reliability
- History
- Support available
- Where to get it
- Cost
Read about our selection process for including tools on Climate Kelpie
Who this tool is for
Broadacre non-legume cropping farmers in Western Australia.
Questions this tool answers
How much nitrogen should I use to achieve a specific yield target, crop quality and gross margin?
What this tool does
SYN is designed to give you a quantitative feel for how different components of the farming system (e.g. rotation, tillage, soil type and rainfall) can affect:
- soil nitrogen availability
- grain yield
- quality (e.g. protein in barley)
- dollar returns
The main purpose of SYN is not to recommend a fertiliser rate; rather it is to show the consequences of any possible nitrogen management strategy in any cropping situation.
You need Microsoft Excel® to run SYN.
Inputs
You enter information about your soil, rainfall, cultivar, fertiliser, costs and prices, and rotation phases.
You also have to estimate yields, harvest indices and pasture composition.
Outputs
SYN displays graphs of soil and nitrogen availability, yield quality (in terms of protein or oil), and dollar returns.
Sensitivity analyses of crop responses to rate of fertiliser, timing of fertiliser and yield potential are also graphed. Figures 1 and 2 are examples.
Figure 1. Forms of nitrogen over time
Figure 2. Rooting depth and wetting front over time
Reliability
SYN is accurate to the paddock scale.
Seasonal forecasts are not incorporated. Climate data is historical data which will become less applicable as the climate changes.
SYN was last updated in May 2003.
History
SYN was developed by Bill Bowden and Art Diggle, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.
Support available
Contact Bill Bowden, Department of Agriculture and Food
Email: bbowden@agric.wa.gov.au
Where to get it
SYN is available on CD-ROM which includes a user manual (PDF).
Contact Bill Bowden, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia
Email: bbowden@agric.wa.gov.au
Phone: 08 9690 2190
Cost
Free