17 June 2011

Volatile markets and weather conditions continue to impact arable farmers across the UK. Mark Tucker, Head of Agronomy, Yara UK has taken an in depth look at the factors arable farmers should consider for a resilient, yet productive, fertilizer programme.

 “Ensuring farm businesses are robust to withstand today’s challenges, is vital when looking at ways of optimising farm profitability.” says Mr Tucker “In the last year alone the price of grain has increased by 88% and the price of fertilizer by 37%*, we have had the coldest winter for 30 years and the driest spring for 100 years – all factors that present huge challenges.”

There are a number of steps farmers can take to ensure successful risk management and improve resilience to external pressures, explains Mr Tucker. “A resilient fertilizer programme is made up of the following elements: nutrient type, timing, rate and accuracy of application and an understanding of what nutrients are then still required.”

• Nutrient type - The type of nutrients used in fertilizer programmes is hugely important, for example using nitrates rather than urea based fertilizers, sulphate not sulphur and phosphate not phosphite. Using the latest Yara N plan at www.yara.co.uk will help farmers determine their N-opt based on grain and N values, soil type, previous cropping and rainfall levels. 12 months ago farmers were operating at a breakeven ratio of 7:1(N: Grain), this year it is 5:1 so a new N-opt review should be undertaken each year. 

• Timing - Farmers should be looking to apply nitrogen as early as possible, higher rates of application will also help to ensure improved uptake. This year has once again confirmed the value of early spring top dressing especially where higher rates were applied. Nitrogen is easily mobilized within the plant so early uptake for use during the season is advantageous when soil conditions later on compromise uptake. Rather than the typical 40 kgN / ha first application, farmers should consider 60 – 80 kgN / ha.

• Accuracy - Accuracy of application is absolutely vital as every kg of nitrogen used will return 19 kg of grain. Calibration of equipment such as spreaders, and the utilisation of precision technology where possible will certainly increase spreading accuracy. Using a high quality fertilizer such as a uniform compound rather than a blended fertilizer has been proven to regularly achieve higher returns. The latest independent fertilizer survey showed significant areas of concern for the buyer, including fertilizer bags that were notably underweight, contained incorrect nutrient analysis and provided poor storeability and traceability.

• Missing macro and micro Nutrients – When soil moisture becomes limited, nutrient uptake via the root system also becomes limited. Many of the early symptoms of poor growth in crops have been due to nutrient deficiencies as dry soils take their toll. The notable areas of concern this year have been potash, sulphur, copper and zinc deficiencies in wheat crops, and potash, magnesium and boron in OSR. Overall soils in the UK have demonstrated deficiencies in potash, phosphate, sulphur, boron, copper and zinc. Such deficiencies can cost 10 – 20% in yield penalties and can be analysed through lab data

Ammonium Nitrate vs Urea debate

Another key element for farmers to consider is that of Nitrate vs Urea based fertilizers and which is more suitable. “Latest Yara research indicates that the use of urea reduces the resilience of fertilizer programmes” continues Mr Tucker. “However clearly defining which is more efficient is not straight forward as statistical differences will not always exist, as with all agricultural inputs, for example varietal yield differences, or fungicide differentiation. In a recent series of 55 trials conducted by Yara, AN out yielded urea 75% of the time. In addition when AN out yielded urea it was by on average 0.35 t/ha, compared to 0.26 t/ha when urea out yielded AN

The Yara ACTYVA Fertilizer Programme for Arable Crops launched in 2009 has offered farmers a new approach to their fertilizer regime. The system, which helps farmers form a resilient fertilizer programme, focuses on addressing the fundamental needs of a crop to ensure that the full nutrient responses are realized. For more information go to www.yara.co.uk