Magnesium at T2 on wheat

[Feldspar]

No, I haven't been that bored! Did one application at around T0 and T1, so nothing excessive, but did saturate the water with Bittersalz.

 

[Chalky]

All our soils high pH- marsh & chalk. All crops test low mag. Use tonnes of bittersaltz annually- mostly OSR & wheat. Roots tend to have base & foliar later.

T1, 2 & 3 wheats get 5kg. OSR- every pass through the spring & in with the late foliar urea. Cheapest method of getting Mag into the crop- but bulky.

 

[JNG]

Quit using Bittersaltz 2 years ago after years of use. Like above any tissue tests we have ever done put Mg as the most limiting factor. Adding Bittersaltz never seemed to make any difference to test so came to the conclusion its hard to get those crystals into the plant. Some 'experts' reckon they are the bees knees others reckon they are next to useless, so no consensus from the trade. Use a liquid for now and it makes a difference to mg in leaf so I assume it helps with chlorophyll and thus photosynthesis, which is part of the function of Mg in the plant. but cant say I've any proof of yield benefit.

 

[Brisel]

I asked about foliar Mg at a TAG field day. The reply was that they had trialled it but never seen a yield response, but that was no guarantee that there would never be a yield response.

We then walked into a field of spring barley that had sewage cake ploughed in pre drilling & it had interveinal chlorosis symptoms of Mg deficiency.

 

[Feldspar]

I asked about foliar Mg at a TAG field day. The reply was that they had trialled it but never seen a yield response, but that was no guarantee that there would never be a yield response.

We then walked into a field of spring barley that had sewage cake ploughed in pre drilling & it had interveinal chlorosis symptoms of Mg deficiency.

I think as @JNG says getting Bittersalz to make a noticeable difference to a tissue test is difficult. Their might be some hope if you mix it with humics or a chelating agent that allows it to pass through the cell walls a bit more easily.

Our independent agronomists trialed a full micronutrient + Mg foliar program last year and didn't get an economical yield response. As @static has pointed out before though, it might have an effect on quality that wasn't picked up on.

 

[franklin]

I think if you have investigated your plants and find a deficiency, then its only right to have a go at helping that plant out to the limits of cost and benefit. And also gives something to think about - why is my plant lacking in mag, despite there being so much in my soil, and can I do anything about this in another way?

 

[david]

I think if you have investigated your plants and find a deficiency, then its only right to have a go at helping that plant out to the limits of cost and benefit. And also gives something to think about - why is my plant lacking in mag, despite there being so much in my soil, and can I do anything about this in another way?

But how much of the Mg in the soil is available to the plant ?

 

[Chae1]

We apply mag lime to correct deficiency. Wish everyone would stop using bittersaltz. I must hump tons of the bloody stuff into sprayer each year.

 

[B'o'B]

I was told bittersalts are next to impossible to get into the plant unless they are in solution for 24 hours before application. If there is any truth in that or not I have no idea, but the crystals seem to dissolve fast enough, I've only used them a couple of times in very dry times not sure it did anything other than make me feel I'd done my best

 

[franklin]

But how much of the Mg in the soil is available to the plant ?

Well, as I know from tissue tests, the answer is not enough. But then as I know from trials applying mag nitrate or bittersaltz, I dont really get much if any of an economic return from applying loads.

not sure it did anything other than make me feel I'd done my best

All you *can* do really though, isnt it?

 

[shakerator]

I think if you have investigated your plants and find a deficiency, then its only right to have a go at helping that plant out to the limits of cost and benefit. And also gives something to think about - why is my plant lacking in mag, despite there being so much in my soil, and can I do anything about this in another way?

Nitrogen leverage

 

[pine_guy]

I meant in general, not just on Mg.
Anyone tempted to shut the gate and cross your fingers!

Me. In a heated debate with Agrionamist about t2. There is some meldew so will probably go. She wanted more fert on WB but it's had muck and 80units of N/acre and that is it.

 

[Brisel]

How much muck & what type? 80 units is 100 kg/ha N which is roughly half what I applied to my winter barley.

What has your yield been in the past from this approach?