Best get some wheat trials going then!Grassland trials not really much use to a wheat grower, maybe the grass yield wasn't being N limited anyway if it had some clover etc in it ?
Apart from a bit of humate we aren't buying anything fancy so no snake oil here
Best get some wheat trials going then!
Or under sow your wheat with clover
The N costs the same but we're hoping to apply at 25% rate, humate and extra application cost puts foliar to around 35/40% of the cost of solid.what's the cost per kg of N in the foliar product vs the cost per Kg of N in a bag ?
one big consideration if bowsering liquid about is the man in the seat of the bowser has to be goodgood and bad points of both systems
pros:-
very accurate application
only one set of equipment
no changing appliances
No explosive materail consideration
can be applied at higher wind speeds
Cons
Storage tanks and bonding requirements
Phosphate particularly is very low solubility so either you use very large quantities giving slow spread rates or you still apply it with a Fert. spreader
it is highly corrosive and will not improve many sprayers which really should have Alluminium booms to avoid corrosion.
wind and strong sun can cause tipping of the leaves with some materials.
Consideration should be given to how far you may want to travel from your tanks with a loaded sprayer
trials on these products have been done since the 1980s with very inconsistant results because of the inconsitancy and variation of soilsLots of these types of products being trialled at NIAB Tag atm
There’s been some interesting results on Polymer treated Foliar N which I’d say go along to a open day and see for yourself…
I had some farm trials of polymer treated foliar which were encouraging from a reducing total N point of view but had some drawbacks from either yield or quality aspects, they all seem to have inconsistencies in performance compared to regular N applications and until this year were more expensive, not so much now!! I’m continuing with the polymer trials this year as I like the concept so we’ll see!
trials on these products have been done since the 1980s with very inconsistant results because of the inconsitancy and variation of soils
if wheat has 2 % n in the grain and has some in the straw and roots 10 tonne crop has around 200 kg in the plant getting the same yield with less n applied the n in the crop has to come from some where
so the soil has to give more in a high organic matter soil there is more in the soil
black fen or long term pasture has a lot to give and give it for decades
when i was in australia in 1987 they were starting to have to use nitrogen on wheat to get enough protein (nitrogen)in the grainlogical
however that would mean on low OM soils this could be a yield disaster
Wheat is a grass don't forget.Grassland trials not really much use to a wheat grower, maybe the grass yield wasn't being N limited anyway if it had some clover etc in it ?
Probably told by the NFU who are told by the AIC that it's not in the best interests of their membership.Shouldn't AHDB, EA, DEFRA .. all be doing these trials ?
Shouldn't we have the information already to hand, it's not rocket science. This kind of thing should have been done soon after Nitrogen was introduced - probably in other eras where Oil was high priced.
A few points regarding fertiliser:Wheat is a grass don't forget.
In answer to your earlier question, why are we applying such high rates if we don't need to? I think we all know the answer to that in our heart of hearts. The trade cannot bring itself to recommend a reduced spend. They don't care about us, our soils, the environment or the people eating what we grow.
The only answer is to try it on the farm and tell your mates.
I understand that the foliar urea is best done early. Does anyone know how early and what would be too late?
You do not have to apply any nitrogen to grass and it will still grow. There question is what is an economic response?Wheat is a grass don't forget.
In answer to your earlier question, why are we applying such high rates if we don't need to? I think we all know the answer to that in our heart of hearts. The trade cannot bring itself to recommend a reduced spend. They don't care about us, our soils, the environment or the people eating what we grow.
The only answer is to try it on the farm and tell your mates.
I understand that the foliar urea is best done early. Does anyone know how early and what would be too late?