GOOD seasonal conditions are presenting graingrowers with a late opportunity to top up crops with a dose of nitrogen.
Incitec Pivot Fertilisers agronomist Lee Menhenett said he understood graingrowers were keen to make the most of good soil moisture and were seeking to “turn average yields into above average harvests” by giving crops the nitrogen they needed.
“We know that some paddocks have been too wet to get on and spread for a lot of the winter, but it’s not too late,” he said.
“There’s still time for nitrogen to be applied effectively this season.
“Anywhere from fully tillered stage to head emergence in wheat is a good window for topdressing nitrogen to influence yield.
“As a guide, that gives most growers in Vic, SA and southern NSW until about Grand Final Day to topdress nitrogen in between rain fronts.”
Mr Menhenett said crops in the Mallee were likely to be the first to reach head emergence, but may still benefit from topdressed nitrogen if they received a good early spring rainfall.
Later harvested crops, like those in the Western District of Vic may have an extra week or two.
He said there may be opportunities to topdress crops more than once if good seasonal conditions continue.
“Conditions have been really wet and that’s stopped growers from being able to topdress at times, but the good levels of soil nitrogen from residual nitrogen and nitrogen mineralisation early in the season have held crops in good stead up to this point,” he said.
“So now with crops looking good and a lot of stored moisture in many growing areas and rain still coming, it’s quite timely to be topdressing with nitrogen to try and maximise yield and ensure adequate protein.”
Mr Menhenett reminded growers that under supplying nitrogen to crops meant risking low protein grain as well as lower yields.
“Grain markets are starting to show a wider spread for protein grades than we’ve seen for a few years now, so that’s another reason to get nitrogen right,” he said.
“Generally speaking, the later growers apply nitrogen, and the higher the rate, the more it will be available to influence grain protein.”
Mr Menhenett said if feed grain prices continued to soften, growers may be financially penalised for supplying feed or low protein grain.
“Keep reassessing moisture, yield potential and grain protein and supply nitrogen accordingly,” he recommended.
In canola, Mr Menhenett said yield responses to nitrogen fertiliser could be achieved with applications as late as 20 per cent to 30pc flowering.
“In this situation, an EASY N tank mix with Prosaro is one of the easiest ways to apply nitrogen,” he said.
The liquid nitrogen fertiliser, EASY N, can be applied to canola or grain crops with a boomspray and streaming nozzles whenever the paddock is able to carry machinery.
Whichever nitrogen product is used, Mr Menhenett advised growers to stick to the golden rules of topdressing.
“Nitrogen fertilisers should only be topdressed where there is adequate stored soil moisture, sufficient rain coming to move the nitrogen into the root zone and minimise volatilisation and an identified need for additional nitrogen,” he said.
