Technical Advisor Matt Siggs provides support to not only Agrovista customers, but also colleagues country wide.
16/03/2020
Here in his first blog, he summarises the key advice he’ll be sharing as we move into milder temperatures.
“Spring is upon us and although land is finally travelable, this means workloads will be intense for many. We’re being asked increasing amounts of questions regarding nitrogen applications, so hope the following will help to answer most.
Because of the excess winter rainfall, available nitrogen from the soil and farmyard manure (FYM) will be low and crops will be hungry. To overcome this, we recommend applying a larger proportion of nitrogen earlier in the programme, aiming for 30% of the total required applied as soon as possible. When using urea, aim for 50%, with all applied by early April.
Early nitrogen applications are important because the first 100kg yields a 12:1 return on investment, proving most rewarding for a cereal crop and a solid base for harvest. But, it’s important to check that conditions are genuinely suitable to travel and that soil temperatures are greater than 5 degrees C.
Consider using technology to improve nitrogen use, such as satellite scanning from Hummingbird Technology. This will optimise the efficiency of applied nitrogen and compensate for variability within crops. You can also use products such as N-Lock, which keeps nitrogen in the root zone for longer, where it is readily available to the plant.
Apply N-Lock within a week either side of fertiliser applications early in the season to preserve nitrogen and protect against losses.
Again, for those using urea as a source of nitrogen, consider a variant treated with a urease inhibitor, known as protected urea. This blocks the conversion of urea into ammonium, during which ammonia is released into the atmosphere. Using a urease inhibitor slows down the conversion and therefore loss of nitrogen.
Other key points at this stage in the season include delaying the application of graminicides to allow recovery from winter stress and avoid potential crop damage. One way of alleviating stress is through applying phosphite-based biostimulant products such as Calfite.
If you do get a chance to travel, use the opportunity to apply a pyrethroid insecticide such as esfenvalerate onto wheat or barley that hasn’t had a barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) treatment.
Finally, keep an eye out for yellow rust in any varieties without juvenile plant resistance. Refer to the AHDB Recommended List for the resistance ratings if you are unsure and contact your Agrovista agronomist for management advice.”