Cereal growers in Northern Ireland are being encouraged to apply the first split of nitrogen fertiliser to winter barley crops as soon as ground conditions permit.
Leigh McClean, who is an arable advisor with the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), explained: “Applying nitrogen now will help maintain current tillers and encourage others to develop. Sulphur should be included in the dressing.”
According to the arable specialist, most winter cereal crops have established well, a reflection of the dry conditions that growers were able to avail of last autumn.
“Last autumn’s planting levels returned to normal levels following the severe drop-off in the areas dedicated to winter cereals the previous year,” McClean added.
“Weather and ground conditions totally dictate the level of cereal planting that can take place in a particular season.”
McClean also noted that the planting of winter wheat continued well into November last year.
“Ground that had been used to grow crops of potatoes and maize became available at that time,” he said.
“However, the planting operations that followed coincided with a downturn in the weather. As a result, a number of wheat crops have struggled a little bit over the past couple of months.
“They need that little bit of care and attention to ensure their full yield potential is maximised.
“Applying nitrogen now would be beneficial in this regard. But farmers should hold off carrying out field work of any kind until ground conditions are suitable,” he explained.
Earlier sown crops of winter wheat and oats look well and will not require fertiliser nitrogen until early March.
McClean is also confirming that most oilseed rape crops, sown out last August, have wintered well.
He commented: “Rape is a valuable break crop within a tillage rotation. For the most part, It also delivers a good margin for growers.
Spring beans represent another valuable break crop on arable farms. Northern Ireland’s Protein Aid Scheme supports the growing of spring beans, peas and lupins.
“Beans are by far the most important protein crop grown here,” said McClean.
“Peas grow well under local conditions but are notoriously difficult to harvest. Beans on the other hand are susceptible to late harvests and varying yields from year-to-year. It is this variation yield potential that is recognised by the Protein Aid Scheme.”
He went on to say that beans can be planted in February when ground conditions allow.
“On that basis, a September harvest can be targeted,” he said. “This is assuming that everything goes according to plan.
“Beans are also a legume, which means they leave a legacy of nitrogen stored in the soil for the subsequent crop. A winter cereal that directly follows spring beans will, invariably, grow extremely well.
“Taking this approach also allows farmers to reduce the amount of fertiliser they put on the winter cereal. Either way, it all adds up to a win-win scenario for growers,” he concluded.
