A Farmer’s Guide to Fertilization of Wheat By Thomas M. Bird

Many farmers plant winter wheat in the autumn months, as they will germinate and begin to grow during the winter. The cold months will slow their growth, allowing them to fully emerge in the spring. Many farms in the North and Midwest planting wheat are classified as winter wheat. This wheat is higher in gluten content and specifically used to create bread flour or blended with the less-hearty spring wheat to create what is classified as all-purpose flour. Depending on the time your farm plants your wheat will determine its classification to winter or spring wheat. No matter the season of wheat your farm plants, fertilization is crucial in order to protect your wheat during its long growth. Understanding the vitamin content in your soil, coupled with a complete evaluation of all types of plants produced on your farm, will help you to properly choose and apply the right fertilizer. Especially for those planting winter wheat, applying a mineral-based fertilizer can also add nutrients to the soil to create a better yield. In fact, it’s the soil that ensures the best possible harvest. Learn more about application techniques to protect your crop during this growth season and for future harvests.

Soil Testing

Before you can begin to fertilize your land, you need to completely evaluate your soil’s mineral content. Much like understanding how to apply, you’ll need to learn how to take the soil sample from your land for the most accurate results. Take a soil sample from the tillage layer, which is about four to eight inches from the surface. You also need to take samples from about two feet below the surface to evaluate the available nitrate as nitrogen levels. Pull about 20 samples from an area with similar soil makeup; the larger number of samples are best for farms that have fertilized with P-fertilizers in the most recent years. If you have other areas of your farm with vastly different soil consistency, they will need to be tested separately. The soil should be dried for about 12 hours in your home, spread out evenly to air dry. Be certain to keep soil samples separate and don’t oven-dry the soil. Submit the samples to your local testing laboratory for the most accurate results.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is the mineral that will require your greatest time to apply and navigate timing. Without enough nitrogen, your plants will be pale in color and vitamin-deficient, while too much can actually increase the chances for diseased plants and lower your chance of a productive yield. Additionally, it can affect the quality of your soil, causing negative environmental results. Wheat only requires a small amount of this mineral in the fall; the levels are often optimal after a corn or soybean yield. If applying nitrogen in the early spring or late winter, you’ll find the most effective results upon your yield. You can also choose to split up the applications for better results. The most common amounts are 30 to 50 pounds for each acre of your farm.

Phosphorus

Another important factor to soil is phosphorus. The application should occur when you begin to plant, but is the most manageable with crop rotation. The goal should be to maintain a medium-level for your soil test. Take the time to learn more about your soil structure and proper application to ensure positive results upon your harvests.

About the Author: Thomas M. Bird is a contributing author and former farmer. The farm has been in the family through four different generations, now run by his daughter. He still provides advice when needed when challenges are faced. They use USAbelting.com for equipment, for their best pricing and selection.

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