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o Crops with lush canopies, cereal crops with shoot numbers over 1200/m2 by spring, or where high readily available N organic manures have been applied recently.
o Oilseed rape with a Green Area Index (GAI) over 2. Go to www.totaloilseedcare.co.uk to estimate GAI from a digital photo of the crop.

Early spring N applications should not be made until soils have dried out and warmed up a bit, even if this is not until early March.

• Do not apply nitrogen to waterlogged, frozen or snow covered ground. This is financially wasteful as it can result in surface runoff and N losses into local watercourses, and denitrification to nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas. In Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs), application of N under these ground conditions is not allowed.

• Don’t forget sulphur (S) fertiliser where needed. Sulphur deficiency is becoming more common especially on light and medium textured soils, with oilseed rape and grass (especially 2nd or later cuts), the most sensitive crops. Many cereal crops are also potentially S deficient. High over winter drainage volumes will have increased sulphur leaching losses further reducing soil S supply. Plant tissue analysis is the best way to confirm deficiency, but aim to anticipate deficiencies by applying sulphur. Always use water-soluble sulphur for rapid and effective uptake.

o Oilseed rape – apply 50-75 kg SO3/ha in early spring.
o Grass – apply 40 kg SO3/ha before each cut.
o Cereals – apply 25-50 kg SO3/ha in early spring.