Tramlines Podcast: Autumn Nutrient Planning for Winter Cereals

In today’s episode, we explore autumn nutrient planning for winter cereals with insights from Tom Land, Fertiliser Technical Manager, and Tom Perrott, Crop Input Specialist.

Our key focus is how to plan for autumn nutrition that will drive yields and ensure profitability for the coming harvest season.

Where Should We Start with Autumn Nutrition Planning?

Tom Land:
Autumn is a great time to reflect on last season’s performance and look ahead. Yields last season were promising despite the challenging weather conditions, so reviewing what worked well is crucial.

It’s also important to check if nutrient cutbacks were made due to financial constraints and how that impacted yield or grain quality. Soil analysis plays a pivotal role in determining the available residual nitrogen and other nutrients, which helps set the foundation for the upcoming crop.

How Much Can We Learn from the Previous Crop?

Tom Land:
Soil analysis is essential, but grain testing is just as important. It helps calculate nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). By measuring how much nitrogen is removed in the grain and comparing it with what was applied, we get insights into how well nitrogen was utilised. This helps identify any issues, such as limitations in soil structure that may have restricted nutrient uptake.

How Widely Are Farmers Using Grain Testing?

Tom Land:
It's gaining traction. Every year we see more farmers adopting grain testing. At Agrii, we’ve doubled the number of grain samples in our database annually. We also conduct trials to assess the impact of reduced nitrogen rates on grain quality and yield, which is a key indicator of how well nutrients were managed throughout the season.

Tom Perrott’s Perspective on Learning from Last Season

Tom Perrott:
The proof is in the yields. Those farmers who applied the right nutrients saw strong crop performance, despite the weather. We’re seeing that good soil nutrition planning makes all the difference. Ensuring you’ve done proper soil sampling is essential for a strong start to your autumn crops.

What Risks Do We Face with Changing Weather Patterns?

Tom Land:
Last season was a perfect example. Despite concerns about drought, crops with good root systems did well due to increased solar radiation, which boosted photosynthesis. Ensuring a crop develops a robust root system is crucial for its resilience against weather extremes, which means starting with a solid nutrition plan in the autumn is key.

Building Resilience through Proper Nutrient Planning

Tom Perrott:
Yes, root development is critical. Phosphates play a key role in encouraging roots to grow deeply and effectively. Applying starter fertilisers in the autumn, as well as considering phosphate placement using modern technology, can be an insurance policy for future growth. It sets the crop up well to withstand potential weather stresses later in the season.

What Should Growers Be Focusing on Right Now?

Tom Land:
Right now, growers should focus on their soil analysis results and identify any potential limiting factors. For example, phosphorus levels are critical in the autumn, and applying phosphate now can make a significant difference in crop establishment.

Soil organic matter tests are also becoming more common under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), and these can help growers assess the health of their soils and plan better for the long term.

How Can Farmers Strike a Balance Between Costs and Nutritional Needs?

Tom Land:
There are several ways to optimise spending while ensuring the crop gets the nutrients it needs. One product we've been working with is Preserve, a coating that keeps phosphate soluble for longer.

This makes phosphate fertilisers more effective and reduces waste. We’ve also developed Release, a product that can be applied directly to the soil to increase nutrient availability, especially when phosphate prices are high.

Cost-Effective Phosphate Management

Tom Land:
Using Release costs around £28 per hectare, while bagged phosphate fertilisers can cost up to £80-90 per hectare. While it’s not a complete replacement, it’s a valuable tool for optimizing phosphate availability during the critical establishment phase of growth.

Closing Thoughts – Key Tips for Growers

Tom Perrott:
Farmers need to keep an open mind when it comes to alternative products. Instead of sticking to traditional nitrogen-sulphur compounds, consider using ammonium nitrate or protected urea with sulphur. Small changes in product choice can result in significant savings and increased efficiency.

Tom Land:
I encourage growers to focus on improving their nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and integrating soil organic matter testing into their regular soil analysis. Understanding these aspects will help make better-informed decisions about how much nitrogen to apply and when to apply it.