Fertiliser application advice for winter cereal crops
As autumn approaches for UK growers, attention should be turned to preparing fields for winter wheat and winter barley crops.
Robust fertiliser management during this period is crucial for establishing a strong foundation that will support healthy growth and help optimise yields in the coming seasons.
According to AHDB, crops that establish well in autumn can yield up to 25% more than poorly established crops, highlighting the critical importance of autumn fertilisation and field preparation.1
Read on for detailed advice and considerations for autumn fertiliser applications, ensuring your crops get the best start possible.
Autumn nutrient requirements for winter wheat
Ensuring the availability of essential nutrients like phosphorus and potassium during autumn helps promote early plant vigour in winter wheat crops.
This early vigour is crucial to allow plants to grow rapidly before the onset of winter, enhancing their ability to withstand low temperatures and frost, reducing winterkill and promoting spring crop health.
Here are the crucial macronutrients to consider within your autumn nutrient management plan for winter wheat crops.
Nitrogen (N):
- Nitrogen is essential for promoting vegetative growth, enhancing chlorophyll production, and contributing to protein content in wheat grains.
- While nitrogen is vital, its application in autumn must be minimal to avoid leaching, especially in regions with high rainfall.
- The primary nitrogen application should be reserved for the spring to support the main growth phases.
Box out – Did you know? Nitrogen-sulphur fertilisers can help reduce nitrogen run-off
While nitrogen is one of the key primary nutrients for a crop, an efficient nitrogen fertiliser application also needs secondary nutrients like sulphur.
By optimising your cereal crop’s ability to absorb nitrogen, our nitrogen-sulphur synergy fertiliser, Dynamon, can help reduce the total load of fertiliser application needed.
In turn, this helps reduce the likelihood of nitrogen run-off.
Learn more about the benefits of nitrogen and sulphur fertiliser mixes.
Phosphorus (P):
- Phosphorus is critical for root development and energy transfer within the wheat plant, playing a significant role in early growth stages.
- Apply phosphorus in autumn to ensure that the young wheat plants have access to sufficient nutrients for root establishment and early growth.
- Phosphorus availability in the soil can affect the plant’s ability to absorb other nutrients efficiently.
Potassium (K):
- Potassium enhances the plant’s disease resistance, improves drought tolerance, and plays a key role in grain filling and quality.
- AHDB advises farmers to apply potassium in the autumn to help strengthen plant tissues and improve the wheat crop’s overall health and resistance to stress factors.
Read AHDB’s nutrient application recommendations for wheat sown up until the end of January.
Autumn nutrient requirements for winter barley
Winter barley benefits from autumn applications of phosphorus and potassium with minimal nitrogen. Spring barley, on the other hand, focuses on autumn soil health improvements and organic matter incorporation, with concentrated fertiliser applications in spring.
The following tips provide advice on macronutrient application for winter barley crops.
Nitrogen (N):
- In barley crops, nitrogen is crucial for vegetative growth, tillering, and ultimately yield.
- However, excessive nitrogen application can lead to lodging, where the crop becomes top-heavy and falls over.
- Therefore, apply nitrogen sparingly to barley crops in the autumn.
- As with wheat crops, the majority of nitrogen should be reserved for the spring to coincide with the crop’s active growth phase and to minimise the risk of leaching during the wetter months.
Read further advice on avoiding nutrient leaching to help protect the environment.
Phosphorus (P):
- Phosphorus is essential for root development, energy transfer, and early plant vigour in barley crops.
- Adequate phosphorus in the early stages supports a strong root system and healthy initial growth.
- It is recommended to apply phosphorus in the autumn to ensure the roots are well-established before winter.
- This is particularly important for winter barley, which begins its growth cycle in the autumn.
Potassium (K):
- Potassium enhances disease resistance, improves drought tolerance, and plays a significant role in barley grain filling and quality.
- Growers are advised to apply potassium in the autumn to help strengthen the plant tissues and enhance overall plant health and resilience.
Read AHDB’s fertiliser recommendations for winter barley.
General tips for winter wheat and winter barley establishment
Effective autumn fertiliser management for winter wheat and winter barley involves understanding the specific nutrient requirements and applying them at the right time and in the right amounts.
Soil testing guidance
As well as determining existing nutrient levels, comprehensive soil tests help farmers to analyse soil pH and make the most of fertiliser applications.
Most nutrients are readily available to wheat and barley crops when the soil pH range is between 6.0-6.5. Outside of this range, certain nutrients can become less available (e.g., phosphorus in acidic soils) or toxic (e.g., aluminium in acidic soils).
Soil microorganisms that aid in organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling are most active within the optimal pH range. An optimal pH enhances microbial efficiency, contributing to better soil health and nutrient availability.
If soil testing determines an acidic pH, applying lime (calcium carbonate) can help to neutralise it. This process involves a chemical reaction where lime reacts with hydrogen ions in the soil, reducing acidity.
Lime should be applied several months before planting to allow time for this reaction and to integrate fully with the soil.
Further guidance on autumn fertiliser application
We have a selection of resources to guide your autumn nutrient management decisions, including:
- A guide to choosing the right nutrition for autumn sown crops
- Top tips for autumn grassland reseeding
- A year-round fertiliser application guide for farmers
References