Extra nitrogen on winter wheat is wasted effort

Spreading extra nitrogen on winter wheat to increase yields involves extra costs, but no extra kilos. This is the conclusion of the British research firm Niab Tag after tests it conducted during 2016. The optimal fertilization standard is the lowest standard currently used.

British arable farmers are allowed to apply 220 kilos of nitrogen per hectare for winter wheat on clay. In the Netherlands that is 245 kilos, plus 15 kilos extra with nitrogen differentiation. A gift of 200 to 240 kilos is ideal for the Niab Tag research institute. At least that is the tentative first conclusion after one year of research, writes Farmer's Weekly.

The idea is that new wheat varieties require more nitrogen in order to deliver high yields. In a trial with the Santiago fodder wheat crop, between 220 and 340 kilos per hectare was spread in steps of 30 kilos per hectare. The highest yield – of 11,5 tons per hectare – came from the lowest application with 220 kilos of nitrogen. According to agronomist Richard Overthrow, that conclusion is in line with previous research conducted by the company.

'The optimum nitrogen application is between 220 and 240 kilos per hectare. We can draw that conclusion from all the data we have at our disposal', says Overthrow. 'Each extra stage of nitrogen above 240 kilos turned out to be wasted effort. The yield even decreased.'

The cultivation specialist is aware that the growing season determines a lot. 'The spring was very cold, followed by few hours of sunshine in the summer. It is therefore possible that extra nitrogen has searched for more granules, but that those granules are not properly filled. The hectolitre weight in the test was low. The trial will be repeated in 2017 with a different variety and seed quantity. Now 320 seeds per square meter have been sown. A very thick crop.'

Overthrow recommends controlling the nitrogen application on the available soil stock. Then look at the potential of the crop and adjust your fertilization accordingly. Nitrogen is not a doping for wheat and you cannot increase the long-term yield with it. If you don't look at other factors that are holding back your yield, you're wasting money by spreading extra.' Perhaps something to think about when you sprinkle or spray the first dose on the wheat these days.

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