With next year’s crop now in the ground and, despite the dry conditions the seed now starting to germinate, it is imperative that we try and give it the best chance we can to develop a decent enough root structure to not only survive the winter, but also survive the dry spring periods that are becoming more common, resulting in accessibility to round water becoming increasingly important.

High soil indices doesn’t necessarily mean nutrient availability: it is possible that recent soil sampling may have shown good levels of P & K but that doesn’t always mean the plant is able to take it up. Generally with potash, low K levels will affect the uptake of nitrogen in the spring whereas phosphate is notoriously immobile in the soil, and without any root structure, the growing seedling is unable to get access to deeper P.

Application of phosphate down the spout with the drill is perhaps the perfect solution as placing the seed alongside its own nutrient supply is ideal. Many seed drills including the new 6metre Amazone Cirrus cultivator drill have the ability to sow grain and fertiliser. However, the normal method now is with solid TSP through the spreader, pre or post-drilling, and by working to a soil nutrient map created through soil sampling, it means that the product is targeted to areas where indices are low. Over-application of P can lead to water course contamination so care should be taken.

Where soil indices are at a reasonable level to be able to maximise yield, then maintenance applications need to take into consideration yield levels of the previous crop, the way straw is dealt with as well as if there has been any application of farm yard manure or sewage sludge.

Straw removal through baling: high levels of P & K are lost when baling straw and this needs to be taken into account when applying maintenance levels as muriate of potash and TSP. RB209 suggests that a typical loss can be around 84 kg/ha of P2O5 and 104 kg/ha of K2O when removing both grain and straw in winter cereals.e loss of organic matter and nutrient through straw removal can be replenished by the subsequent return of FYM which will also aid soil friability and hence workability, however, care must be taken to maintain soil structure during the baling and straw carting operation.

Finally we need to look at autumn N application; min-till establishment regimes normally mean more surface straw and this will take N out of the soil during the breakdown process. Here some work may be necessary to feed the emerging crop to keep it going during those early weeks to replenish that N and so a dose of DAP as our method of phosphate application can kill two birds with one stone as it is a cost-effective way of providing both P & N from the bag. Bear in mind though, as always, the maximum autumn N application that is legally possible before deciding on application rates.