From Jeff Miller, Ag Program Leader, CCE Oneida County
Growers that are pushing high yields for wheat that have done plot studies with different rates and timing of N have started to revisit P fertilizer applications. Remember that most of the P in the soil is held in chemical combinations with calcium and magnesium and are unavailable for plant uptake. Placing a readily available form of P (fertilizer) in a band next to the seed can give your crop a boost especially in soils with low P levels.
See the comments below from Greg Roth on potential need for N in the fall under certain circumstances.
Fall Wheat and Barley Fertility
Posted: September 30, 2014
There may be a benefit from a little extra nitrogen this fall
With the combination of high corn yields, above average precipitation this year, we might see more response to fall N on our small grain crops. Fall is a good time to meet the P and K needs of the small grains and often some N is added in the process if using MAP or DAP as part of the program. A recent Maryland study found that economic responses to fall N are most likely when soil nitrate-N levels are below 10 ppm following corn. They found no response to N following full season soybeans.
When soil nitrate levels are less that 10ppm emerging seedlings can sometimes exhibit N deficiency that can limit fall tiller development.
Our recommendations have been to apply up to 20 pounds of nitrogen and all of the phosphorus and potassium broadcast prior to planting, or to apply a portion with the drill and the remainder broadcast. To minimize fertilizer burn, do not apply more than 15 pounds (nitrogen) or 30 pounds (nitrogen + potash) per acre in the row with the seed.
It’s not that common to apply fertility with the seed here, but farmers and researchers in Ontario report responses of an average of 7.5 bushels per acre, using 50 to 100 pounds of MAP in the row with the seed. I am interested in this idea here and wonder if it would have a benefit on no-till wheat, which often lags a bit in development in high residue seedbeds. It might also be especially beneficial in those late planted fields with low to medium P levels. Last year we saw some responses to the old starter rows in no-till wheat and barley and I suspect these crops would have responded well to some P with the seed.
