Table 1 Management practices and the initial soil conditions of the standard simulation.

   Sowing rule

Northern sites

Sow if rain ≥15 mm over 3 days and plant available water ≥30 mm from 26 April to 15 July

Southern sites

Sow if rain ≥15 mm over 3 days regardless of soil moisture from 26 April to 15 July

   Sowing density

150 plants m⁻²

   Sow spacing

250 mm

   Sowing depth

30 mm

   At sowing

Add 100 kgN ha⁻¹ minus soil nitrate N in the top 60 cm of soil on April 25

   In-season

Check top 60 cm soil daily, if NO₃ <80 kg ha⁻¹, plant available water ≥30 mm and Zadok’s growth stage ≥10 and ≤49 then add 70 kgN ha⁻¹ (maximum 1 application)

   Initial soil water

10% of plant available water capacity

   Initial soil NO₃

25 kg ha⁻¹ for each metre depth of soil

   Initial soil NH₄

5 kg ha⁻¹ for each metre depth of soil

   Surface organic matter

100 kg ha⁻¹ with a Carbon:Nitrogen ratio of 80