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Should I split apply nitrogen in winter wheat?

Depending on the year and field conditions, you might get a yield bump from a split application of nitrogen (N) on your winter wheat crop. We’ve looked at a few different factors that might impact your N application decision.

The simple answer

Well, sometimes the simple answer is…it depends. When you are looking at the pros and cons of split applications in winter wheat, here are a few factors to consider.

A little more information

When planning your N management strategy, there are several factors to consider for maximum returns including crop development stage, variety and field-specific characteristics. In some years, split N applications may provide little or no benefit to yield compared to a single application. This chart compares wheat yields over a three-year period using a single N application (green) and split N applications (blue and red). Each application – whether single or split – was made at a specific crop development stage, that was not consistent year to year because of varying weather conditions.

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This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2023-38640-39573 through the North Central Region SARE program under project number ENC23-226. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.