Spring barley first N application question

[Flintstone]

I normally drill my SB mid to late March, and I normally put around 60 kgs of N on the seedbed which it laps up as it pings through the ground.

This year I’ll be drilled up by this afternoon and bearing in mind it’s a month earlier, and with cooler soils etc than I normally drill into, I’m not sure about the first N dose.

Straight behind the drill or wait a couple of weeks until it’s a bit warmer and it can use it? If it turns in cold and wet now it would be a waste. That’s my main worry.

 

[Flat 10]

Wait until tramlines visible imo. I normally do it all at that timing or mid March if drilled early. (Low N malting)

 

[Flintstone]

Thanks @Flat 10 - that’s what I’d been hoping someone would say.

 

[Brisel]

Wait until tramlines visible imo. I normally do it all at that timing or mid March if drilled early. (Low N malting)

This. I also normally have at least 30 kg N in the seedbed but this early, it would be sensible to wait until emergence. You'll have mineralised some soil N with the drill.

 

[Flat 10]

Thanks @Flat 10 - that’s what I’d been hoping someone would say.

Don’t rely on me! What do I know?!

 

[tw15]

If it ever dries up this next week or so then it will be drilled and then when up in rows the first n will go on . Last year put 50 kg /n before the drill as was late drilling and rest mid tillering and cut back a bit to 120kg/ha all made export malting .

 

[farmer steve]

Got our spring barley drilled 16th Jan. Waited to put the first n on till the other day, it's just coming through now.

 

[Devon James]

For feed barley is it just as important to get all the N on as soon as can see tramlines as with malting?
Liquid N here

 

[ollie989898]

Wait until tramlines visible imo. I normally do it all at that timing or mid March if drilled early. (Low N malting)

Agreed. If it was later or looked to be turning dry (or just dry dirt) I would chuck the whole lot on in the seed bed and leave it at that.

 

[ollie989898]

For feed barley is it just as important to get all the N on as soon as can see tramlines as with malting?
Liquid N here

I would say yes, in case it turns dry. Some years waiting until it is tillered out or something just when we hit a dry spell might not work so well. Nitrogen encourages it to tiller out and grow like the weed it is.

 

[limestone brash]

Put it all on asap

 

[Matt77]

I put all mine on straight after drilling last year, it’s the first year since moving to liquid fert that I’ve grown spring barley, years back when last grew it I’d put it on at tramlines visible with prill, now using liquid, is anyone else worried about damaging the young plant if applied at that stage?

 

[Chae1]

I put all mine on straight after drilling last year, it’s the first year since moving to liquid fert that I’ve grown spring barley, years back when last grew it I’d put it on at tramlines visible with prill, now using liquid, is anyone else worried about damaging the young plant if applied at that stage?

First year using liquid. But we applied it 3-4 days before it emerged last year.

No issues.

We always apply seedbed fert, ours will get 25 units down the spout with p&k.

 

[Brisel]

I've always used liquid. No problems with applying it to young plants. Small = less leaf to hit. Obviously avoid classic scorch weather - wind & hot sun.