CORK
Member
- Location
- East Cork, Ireland
Very interesting post.For wheat the economic optimum drops to 160 kgN/ha at current levels vs grain price (180 kg tops) Those who bought early total N dose will not alter compared to normal with Nov 22 wheat price.
However I have always banged the drum of improving nitrogen use efficiency. If ever there was a time to start looking it is now. Ensuring nothing is limiting nitrogen uptake (weather, compaction, soil pH, other nutrients, etc, etc) Also having seen it in trials a little and often approach could be very worthwhile. Yes it costs money to drive over the crop however if reducing N got to eek out every little bit of performance. I would be looking at a good dose early to build the biomass (60-80 kg) then maybe 3 splits applied more frequently than one dollop. Unfortunately when start to reduce total dose most see it as an opportunity to cut out a pass, this is wrong IMO.
If not bought or buying a current levels I’ve been saying all the above to those who are ringing for advice, and also to review cropping, eg 2nd wheat is a no go IMO, spring barley much better option, I’ve done the costings as always borderline if on BG land due to chemical costs. Just a PITA at harvest having acres of it.
Ive often thought about using multiple smaller doses on winter wheat to get more N into the crop to build yield.
Ive done it on damaged crops and in each case I felt (no scientific comparison) that they yielded better than I expected.
Had second crop wheat last year with a little slug damage through it. I split the N across 5 splits. Granted it got a lot of N but it yielded 11.6tn/Ha (adj to 15%).
Little & often should be better for the environment too one would think?