Early Nitrogen Application Critical For Winter Wheat

May 04, 2020

Most of this year's winter wheat crop in Manitoba survived in very good condition.

Ken Gross is an agrologist with Ducks Unlimited Canada.

"We've seen a number of fields across the province and we haven't seen one yet that hasn't looked really good coming out of the winter," he said. "We've done a few assessments in the field, done a few bag tests to see if there's been new root growth initiated. Everything looks really good. The stands look good and the root growth is good."

Gross says it's important to apply nitrogen as soon as possible, noting early application is shown to increase yields by 15 to 30 per cent.

"That is such a critical step to optimizing your winter wheat yield. I don't know if a lot of producers understand that the seed head isn't developed until first thing in the spring. Starting as soon as it starts growing to about the fifth-leaf stage is when is seed head develops. It's really critical that you have your fertility present at that time so that you can develop a really healthy big seed head and optimize your yields."

He adds there's still lots of good moisture in the ground for the plants to draw from.

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