Tailoring fertiliser use to the variety and end market

Before making fertiliser purchase decisions, farmers are advised to review an array of factors which will determine a crops need, be it the type or quantity of fertiliser.

In season three, episode three of the Wynnstay Agri-Hub Podcast, our fertiliser manager Dave Mitchell and Ellie Edwards one of our agronomists gave their advice on getting the most out of fertiliser applications.

The key take-homes include:

• Setting realistic expectations for crop performance
• Maximising crop potential
• Undertaking soil sampling
• Developing a nutrient management plan

Before making any decisions, it is important to set realistic targets in terms of crop quantity and quality alongside projected budgets.

Factors to consider when setting targets for your crop:

• Consider the field typography and its natural potential
• Review data from the previous five years to assess field performance including crop yield and quality
• Set realistic targets for the crop in the ground
• Consider the end market
• Review nutrient availability to the crop
• Undertake soil sampling regularly to monitor soil nutrients
• Maintain the pH balance
• Look at the soil microbiology which goes further than just nutrients
• Assess your manure and  fertiliser applications and what additional nutritional
• Review crop variety decisions – Are you unlocking the yield and quality potential of new varieties?

Once you have set a target for the crop, work with an agronomist to develop a nutrient management plan around the crop’s requirements. This will allow you to create a tailored fertiliser plan for that specific crop in that specific field, in line with the crop requirements and the financial budget.

With input costs still high, it is important to focus on efficiencies, but this does involve investing in your crop to maximise output. However, it is important to know your breakeven point – this means that you are not putting more inputs into the crop than it will yield in results – this is where your nutrient management plan comes into place.

To offer a return on investment it’s about spending the money in the right place – it’s not always about the most expensive option, but it is about the most efficient option. It can be false economy to cut back in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Balancing soil, crop variety and inputs can help to maximise crop performance. The UK is in a situation where it has limited land, and more is required from it. How do we meet this increased demand?

New varieties tend to be hungrier – they have a massive potential, but as a result, have greater input requirements to meet this.

When it comes to grass, the fertiliser requirements of a new ley versus a 10-year-old pasture are very different and so are a multi-cut species to a one-cut and graze ley. The inputs needed are much greater for new varieties, but they can perform better too – this should all be considered in the nutrient management plan.

Another thing to consider is phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) levels where farm manure is applied. It could be that P and K levels are higher close to the farm, and lower further away as more manure is applied nearer to the farm.

Slurry and organic nutrients have become more valuable since fertiliser prices have increased, and targeting applications has become more important.

Legislation around farming and fertiliser use in general is constantly under review and therefore it is important to be as environmentally and economically efficient as possible. This involves following best practice and using the right product for the right situation – this will help meet environmental requirements, but it’s also likely to be more economically sustainable too.  

Listen to season three, episode three of the Wynnstay Agri-Hub podcast here: Agri-Hub Podcast - The Home of Talking Agriculture.