Cereals 2008 Report
"Using fertilisers efficiently is a classic
win:win situation."
David Stacey
Commercial Director
Achieving the best value from fertilisers was the theme for the GrowHow stand at Cereals 2008 at Heath Farm, Leadenham, Lincolnshire.
Accessing quality advice tailored to specific farm requirements is more important than ever. The company's investment in Advice and Services has included an ongoing commitment to the development of the in-house GrowHow Adviser team and, more recently, an extensive programme of training and technical forums for Distributor Fieldsmen.
The quality of the services now offered through this team is impressive. For example, the nutrient planning software, EnCompass, is one of the most flexible and comprehensive in the industry and it is reviewed annually by the Environment Agency. An extension of this service - EnCompass Online - that will save farmers and distributor fieldsmen time was introduced.
EnCompass Online Introduction 
(4889kb)
In addition, N-Min, the company's soil mineral nitrogen service, is the only system which provides a realistic assessment of the Nitrogen that will become available through mineralisation over the growing season as well as providing the more standard measure of the amount of Nitrogen in the soil at sampling. Such tools give Advisers, Fieldsmen and farmers the detailed information they need to make sure fertiliser rates are calculated at optimum levels.
N-Min test for Soil Nitrogen Supply (309kb)
With nutrient prices remaining strong whether to buy an ammonium nitrate product such as Nitram or to gamble on using urea should now be a much easier one. The research results from a major Defra-funded project comparing different fertiliser types concluded that ammonium nitrate is by far the best option under UK conditions.
The problem with urea is its unpredictability. The research consortium, which was led by ADAS, found that in arable situations urea might loose as little as 2% of its ammonia or as much as 43% and that the scale of these losses was impossible to predict. They concluded that the biggest challenge of using urea under UK climatic conditions is that it is simply not as reliable as AN.
Unpredictability of Urea - NT 26 (143kb)
New research has been commissioned to look at the optimum amount and timing of Nitrogen applications in winter barley. RB209 recommends that where a total of 100kgs/ha fertiliser N or less is required it should all be applied at early stem extension, even in cases where more than 100kg N/ha are required RB209 says that only 40kg N/ha should go on in February.
However recent findings suggest that, for 2 row barley at least, this advice may be inappropriate. This is because in 2 row barley there are fewer potential grain sites on each tiller which means that our objective ought to be to maximise the number of tillers to increase final ear numbers per square metre. To do this the crop is likely to need N earlier so that we keep as many tillers alive as possible. This approach contrasts with 1st wheat where it may pay to hold back on the N to keep tiller numbers at optimum levels. The research will also look at 6 row barley where, as there are more potential grain sites, tiller management similar to that used in winter wheat may well be appropriate.
Nitrogen - optimum timing and amount in Winter Barley (148kb)
The industry faces real problems with P K soil indices. For the last 15 years more P and K has left the field in the crop and crop residues, than has been applied as fertiliser. As P K prices hit unprecedented highs rectifying this problem will be expensive. On the other hand agronomically the yield and quality problems associated with low P K indices are also expensive.
Building P and K indices needs to be viewed as a long term process which means that the associated costs should be budgeted as part of fixed costs and not set against the value of one individual crop.
P & K Abstinence - a good idea? (115kb)
The demand for Sulphur products has grown which is why GrowHow has invested in a new Sulphur mill which came on stream at the start of the year. When Sulphur is deficient, crop growth and quality is held back because crops simply cannot use Nitrogen as efficiently without Sulphur.
Whilst there used to be plenty of free Sulphur falling as acid rain; those days are now gone. In fact we have probably already got to the point where Sulphur should be applied as routine unless you are confident that your soils are not deficient.
Importance of Sulphur for Wheat & Oilseed Rape (159kb)
