Fostering the adoption of variable rate fertiliser application for improved nutrient use efficiency

WHY THIS PROJECT IS NEEDED

Access to fertiliser and fuel, and the cost of both, is a current issue for many growers. There is more pressure on making the right input decisions given the uncertainty of fertiliser access. Making sure inputs are applied where they deliver value is more important than ever. No two parts of a paddock are the same. Some areas respond. Others don’t.

Variable rate technology (VRT) is about recognising that variability and responding accordingly, applying the right input, at the right rate, in the right place.

Our aim is to increase grower confidence and capability in applying Variable Rate Technology (VRT) for improved nutrient use efficiency and profitability, through structured peer-to-peer learning supported by consultants and regionally relevant extension.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Fostering the adoption of variable rate fertiliser application for improved nutrient use efficiency (VRT Project) is a GRDC-supported national project led by the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia (SPAA), in collaboration with Curtin University’s Centre for Crop Disease Management, Charles Sturt University, and a national network of consultants working with growers across Australia.

The project commenced in 2025 and will run across the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons. Through the program, consultants and growers across the three GRDC regions will develop consistent, multi-season input and yield datasets to test the application of variable rate fertiliser and build robust, regionally relevant evidence to support confidence and ongoing adoption.