Kickstarting crops for the new season: the importance of first N applications 

As the days are slowly getting longer, farmers' thoughts are turning to the growing season ahead. Across the country, drilling dates varied widely in autumn, making the first nitrogen application of the season all the more important to carefully consider. Here, Yara's Crop Nutrition Agronomist, Natalie Wood, talks about the importance of first N applications and provides some practical advice for farmers.

"That first application is particularly important in cereals because it directly affects yield potential. In wheat for example, tillering tends to start in the autumn when the crops are at the three to four leaf stage. During the tillering phase, the maximum number of potential florets is set. Applying sufficient nitrogen before the third week of March can help increase the number of tillers the crop puts on, meaning a higher yield potential overall," explains Natalie. 

Variable drilling conditions across the UK

As is so often the case, unpredictable weather conditions mean that while some farmers are looking forward with their planning, some are behind schedule. "While some areas of the UK had average or below average rainfall during autumn, many areas south of the midlands had almost 200% of the totals they'd usually expect," continues Natalie. "This has resulted in a lot of variation in both drilling dates and growth stages around the country. The warmer temperatures seen up until the cold snap in early January may have benefits in terms of increased soil mineralisation, however, it's likely that many soils will still be deficient in nitrogen because of last year's wet conditions." 

Forward planning for farmers - whatever the situation 

For farmers who are on track with their plans for the season ahead, Natalie's advice is to aim for around 250 plants per m² in the spring and to use this along with the growth stage to judge the rate of N to apply for that first timing. For crops that are at target, for example, with 250 plants per m², aim for around 60kgs of nitrogen. So, what should farmers be looking at in terms of products? "Presuming that you're going to need sulphur too, I'd recommend something like YaraBela Axan. If you wanted some P&K, which is a good idea for most crops in the spring as there's low availability of P when soil temperatures are cold, look at a product like YaraMila 52S or Actyva S," says Natalie. 

In the case of backward crops, they will need a bit more of a helping hand. As there's only a limited amount of time to increase the number of tillers and late drilled crops are already going to have fewer tillers, the focus should be on helping them with some early nitrogen, at a higher rate. "Instead of 60kgs of N, farmers should look to apply 80kg or even slightly more depending on the situation. As well as applying an adequate amount of N, the timing of that first application is crucial too. It should be applied as soon as possible, as long as the crop is growing. If the crop isn't growing, it won't take up the N and there's potential for nutrient loss," continues Natalie. "To check that the crop is growing, dig up some of the plants and look at the roots. If the root tips are white, it's growing. If they are grey or pink, or they've been in waterlogged conditions, the advice is to be patient. Ideally, apply N mid-February if the weather is mild."

If your cereals are particularly backwards, Natalie recommends considering splitting the first application into two. "You might want to apply 40kgN followed by 40kgN, but bear in mind that if the crop responds well you will need to get back in with the second application quite quickly," Natalie advises.  

Given that last year's flooding not only damaged soil structure and washed away crops, but also depleted soils of micronutrients, farmers are encouraged to make use of them as well as P &K to kickstart growth and maintain momentum. 

Make informed decisions with Yara tools 

Assessing the quality and status of soils doesn't have to be guesswork. Yara has some helpful tools available, including soil analysis that can tell you everything from how many microorganisms are in the soil to whether the pH is right. Getting the pH right ensures more nutrients are available to the crop. Tissue analysis allows you to understand whether micronutrients are actually getting into the crop, and grain analysis enables better decisions about what you need to apply this season. Yara's digital Atfarm tool also helps farmers make more informed decisions about what to apply, as it allows you to adjust nitrogen recommendations based on what the crops are telling you. "Grain analysis is a backward look, but you can compare what it tells you about the soil content with your most recent soil analysis to see how much you have lost in any flooding situation. With that data, you can see whether you might need to change your strategy for the next season", adds Natalie.