Top dressing of winter wheat: methods and rates of fertilization

Winter wheat is gaining more and more popularity, as its yield is 30-45% higher than that of spring... The process of applying dressings for winter wheat differs from traditional methods for spring plantings. If all the recommendations are followed, the yield of winter wheat not only increases, but also the quality of the product significantly improves.

What is winter wheat feeding for?

The growth of any wheat, including winter wheat, depends on the amount of fertilizer applied. An insufficient amount of them negatively affects the yield.

Winter wheat uses far more nutrients to harvest than other crops. This is due to the fact that during ripening they move to the roots, but some remain in the aboveground part, which then dies off.

The most important macronutrients necessary for the full growth of winter wheat and obtaining 1 ton of harvest:

• calcium - 5 kg;
• magnesium - up to 5 kg;
• sulfur - 4 kg;
• iron - 250 g;
• boron - 8 g;
• zinc - 55 g;
• manganese - 80 g;
• copper - 8 g.

In nitrogen wheat needs more than other nutrients. This substance is necessary for the production of protein in plant cells. With a nitrogen deficiency, wheat leaves first acquire a light green color, then turn yellow. Older leaves immediately turn brown and die off.

Phosphorus plays an important role in the transmission and storage of energy in wheat. With a lack of this element, the functions of plant cells and the generation of new cells are reduced or stopped. With a deficiency of phosphorus, wheat is delayed in growth and development, while the stem becomes thin, ears are formed late, the root system weakens, the leaves darken and decrease in size. The most obvious sign of phosphorus deficiency is the purple or reddish color of wheat leaves.

Potassium plays an important role in the process of photosynthesis, participates in the regulation of cell turgor. Lack of potassium leads to the fact that the stem of the plant becomes weak, the leaves turn yellow and dry out, the roots of new shoots do not develop.

Calcium is necessary for wheat to ensure the growth of root hairs. In addition, it plays an important role in cell bonding. With a lack of calcium, the root system does not develop to normal, the number of shoots decreases.

Magnesium participates in the process of photosynthesis and is necessary for the normal development of plant cells.

Sulfur - an integral part of the protein in the plant - participates in the formation of new wheat cells. Signs of sulfur deficiency are similar to signs of nitrogen deficiency, but more pronounced.

Microelements such as iron, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, chlorine, boron also play an important role in the development of culture, although they are needed in smaller quantities. They are involved in many processes in plant cells, promote the formation of protein, and play a role in the formation of large molecules.

In case of iron deficiency and for the prevention of this condition, complex microfertilizers are applied to winter wheat during autumn and spring tillering - "Kelkat Mix Calcium" (0.5 kg / ha) or "Kelkat Fe" (0.2-0.3 kg / ha).

When to fertilize winter wheat

In order for winter wheat to give a large harvest, it is fed with useful elements throughout the growing season:

1. Top dressing in autumn increases the winter hardiness of wheat. The best option is to introduce useful elements for plowing. In this case, all valuable substances end up in the soil at a depth of 20-25 cm, which has a good effect on the development of the root system.
2. In early spring. Thanks to this top dressing, the stem and stem grow better.
3. At the very beginning of the emergence of the plant into the tube. This top dressing is called productive because it affects the amount of wheat crop.
4. High-quality feeding. It is introduced before the beginning of grain formation. This nutrition has a positive effect on the intensity of photosynthesis and the quality of the final product.

Fertilization rates

The application rates of nutrients for winter wheat depend on the amount of the planned harvest.

For a yield of 10 c / ha, fertilize with the following number of elements:

• nitrogen - 25-30 kg;
• phosphorus - 10-14 kg;
• potassium - 20-25 kg.

Also pay attention to the proportions of these elements. The ideal ratio is 1.5: 1: 1-2. If this ratio is not met, yields will decline and grain quality will suffer. Spring wheat is fertilized in the same dosages.

Reference. There is a difference in feeding winter and spring wheat. Winter crops are sown in autumn, and spring crops are sown in spring. Spring ripens in a shorter time than winter, so its daily need for nutrients is greater than that of winter.

How to choose fertilizer

When choosing a top dressing for winter wheat, the balance of elements is observed. Let's figure it out in more detail.

Mineral fertilizers

Mineral fertilizers increase the yield of winter wheat. Experienced farmers use complex fertilizing containing the main nutrients - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Such fertilizers are applied before sowing wheat or directly during this procedure.

Potash

Potassium influences the nutritional properties of grain and increases its resistance to cold. The substance is distributed over the soil surface before sowing (30 kg / ha). Potassium salt or potassium chloride is often used as a top dressing.

The rate of use of potassium chloride when sowing winter wheat for plowing and for plowing in the non-black earth is 0.5-1 c / ha, potassium salt - 0.75-1.5 c / ha.

Magnesium

Magnesium affects the saturation of cells with oxygen, respectively, determines the quality of the grain.

For the best effect, top dressing is applied by the foliar method. The source of this element is magnesium sulfate with a concentration of 16%.

Calcium

Calcium has a beneficial effect on plant growth and increases the resistance of the crop to various diseases.

Lack of calcium leads to poor growth of the root system, which means that the plant will not be able to fully absorb moisture from the soil and receive the necessary nutrition. Calcium nitrate is usually used for feeding with this element.

Phosphoric

Phosphorus participates in photosynthesis, increases the frost resistance of the culture and improves the resistance diseases... It is usually applied during seed placement. Double or simple superphosphate is used as the element source. Phosphate rock is also used.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen fertilizers are essential for growing winter wheat. Sources of nitrogen for the plant are ammonium nitrate and urea (urea), the nitrogen content in the latter is about 46%.

How to properly add urea for wheat? Plants are fed by root and foliar method. Under winter wheat urea is introduced in parts, since in the fall the substance is quickly washed out of the soil. Be sure to give nitrogen nutrition to plants during flowering and before wax ripeness.

To increase yields it is enough to add 30-60 kg of urea per 1 ha, in order to accumulate protein in grain - 100-120 kg per 1 ha. When applying top dressing, the predecessors are taken into account - after the legumes, the amount of fertilizer is reduced.

KAS-32

KAS-32 is a liquid carbamide-ammonia mixture with a nitrogen content of 32%. When using UAN-32, wheat is provided with three forms of nitrogen at once - amide, ammonium and nitrate. This is the main advantage of this fertilizer over solid types of dressings.

Ammonium sulfate

This fertilizer stands out among nitrogen fertilizers by its sulfur content. Ammonium sulphate shows good results when applied under winter wheat, since fertilizing has a long-term effect on the crop with minimal loss of the main substance.

Sulfur

Sulfur is one of the important elements for winter wheat, since when it is deficient, the action of nitrogen is impossible. Such fertilizers are applied simultaneously with nitrogen fertilizers. Magnesium sulfate (sulfate concentration - 16%) or superphosphate (concentration - 24%) are used as a source of sulfur nutrition.

Organic fertilizers

Such fertilizers increase soil fertility and activate microbiological processes. The most common organic fertilizers are manure, peat, green manure, and wood ash.

How to make fertilizers for wheat with your own hands

All mineral fertilizers are chemical products that are manufactured in factories by professionals using protective equipment. Trying to make mineral fertilizers on your own is dangerous. Only mixing certain types of fertilizers in strict proportions is allowed.

With organic fertilizers, the situation is different - they do not pose any danger.

Manure

The most common organic food. It is used fresh and rotted, as part of compost. Slurry contains important elements such as nitrogen and potassium.

To prepare a complete top dressing, the slurry is mixed with superphosphate. Mullein is prepared as follows: fresh manure is poured with water in a ratio of 1: 5 and insisted for 10 days.

Il

It is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, so it is often used as a top dressing. The most favorable time for preparing silt is when the water level in the reservoir is minimal.

To enhance the effect, the substance is mixed with organic or mineral fertilizers.

Tree bark

Wood bark and sawdust are used in processed form with mineral additives. They are composted before use. The moisture content of the bark should be about 75%.

For 100 kg of bark add 0.9 kg of ammonium nitrate, 0.7 kg of urea, 2 kg of sodium nitrate, 0.2 kg of superphosphate, 1.5 kg of ammonium sulfate. Compost can be used after 6 months, so prepare it in advance.

Ash

Contains about 30 different trace elements. It is used to reduce soil acidity. Ash obtained from the combustion of oil products, plastics and polymers should not be used as top dressing.

It is not difficult to prepare fertilizer yourself by mixing organic and mineral fertilizers, however, a combination of substances that will harm the crop should be avoided.

Important! Do not mix ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate with organic fertilizers such as manure, ash, bird droppings.

How to fertilize correctly

Depending on the form of fertilizers, the tools for applying them to the soil differ. For liquid mineral dressings, PZhU and OP-2000 are used. For fertilization in the form of granules or powder - fertilizer seeder RTT-4.2A, NRU-0.5, 1-RMG-4.

To fertilize the soil with solid organic fertilizing, such units as ROU-5, PRT-10, RUN-15B are used. Liquid organic fertilizers are applied by RZhT-8, RZhU-3.6. When adding top dressing to the furrows, MLG-1 is used. Liquid fertilizers are sometimes sprayed using small aircraft.

For nutritious nutrition of winter wheat during the entire growth period, the timing of fertilization is adhered to:

• in the fall before sowing or simultaneously with sowing;
• early spring for a boost to growth;
• during flowering;
• during the booting period.

Basically, two methods are used for feeding a crop:

• root method - fertilizer is applied to the soil, and it is absorbed by the roots of the plant;
• foliar method - nutrients are applied to the foliage and stem.

The main top dressing is root, because a significant amount of nutrients enters through the root system. Foliar is used additionally.

Fertilization rules:

• diameter of granules - no more than 5 mm;
• feeding moisture - within 1.5-15%;
• apply fertilizers evenly so that there are no untreated areas.

Fertilizers are applied dry or diluted. The use of dry fertilizers requires additional abundant watering after the procedure. When applying fertilizers by foliar method, dry components are diluted with water and sprayed by spraying.

Reference. Some farmers feed the lake. wheat according to Buznitsky - by root method using disc seeders. It allows you to reduce the loss of useful elements that occur with the surface method of feeding plants.

Conclusion

To get not only a rich harvest of winter wheat, but also high-quality grain, fertilizing is carried out four times during the growing season. To saturate the grain with protein, it is important to correctly combine mineral fertilizers, combining the necessary trace elements. Organic fertilizing can be done by hand by preparing compost or slurry.