Nitrogen is required annually by most crops (except pulses) to achieve yield and quality.
Judging how much N to apply is a key part of nutrient management.
National recommendations for N fertiliser use are given in the Nutrient Management Guide RB209, managed and updated by AHDB.
The current high price of N fertiliser has caused re-evaluation of appropriate N rates to apply - as the price of N increases the return on investment reduces and economic optimum reduces.
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Foliar sprays can be more efficient than feeding crops via the soil: they can be more targeted, cheaper, and less environmentally damaging than soil-mediated crop nutrition. But this is not always so: can foliar nutrition be made reliable ... to support sustainable crop nutrition?
Nitrogen Use Efficiency is a widely used term increasingly discussed across industry and between farmers. However it can mean different things to different people, and is best defined with care.
Plants need around 12 essential mineral nutrients to grow: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Sulphur (S), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Boron (B) and Molybdenum (Mo).
Farmers, advisors and researchers working together to understand and improve crop nutrition on-farm
Analysing grain for all 12 nutrients can be an effective tool to improve nutrient management, providing information on crop nutrient status and nutrient offtakes. It can indicate whether your crops are getting hold of the nutrients they need, or whether you can save on future fertiliser use.
Some symbiotic or free-living microorganisms can fix inert di-nitrogen (N) from the air into reactive organic nitrogenous compounds. Most biological N fixation (BNF) in farming systems occurs in the root nodules of legumes where rhizobium bacteria take photosynthates from the plant in exchange for fixing atmospheric N and returning ammonium or amides which the plant uses to form amino acids, proteins, etc. Plants need more N than any other nutrient and N commonly limits plant growth in many ecosystems.
Review conducted by ADAS and funded by AHDB into how farmers should respond to the high fertiliser (& grain) prices experienced in 2022.
The flour milling industry plays a vital role in feeding and nourishing the nation – flour is an ingredient in 30% of supermarket foods. UK Flour Millers is proud of the part it plays in ensuring the industry continues to operate efficiently and reliably so that everyone can enjoy their daily bread.
NRM’s GrainCheck service was launched in 2020 following several years of work with ADAS on the Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) project and to coincide with the RB209 recommendation for routine grain analysis. The test is suitable for cereals, oilseeds and pulses and should be interpreted alongside soil and tissue test results to give a full understanding of the effectiveness of crop nutrition programmes.
N2 Applied has developed a technology that enables local production of fertiliser using only livestock slurry, air and electricity, – dramatically reducing harmful emissions and improving yield at the same time. The technology adds nitrogen from the air into slurry, which increases the nitrogen content. The reaction prevents the loss of ammonia and eliminates methane emissions, making it a real solution helping to achieve climate target commitments on an industrial scale.
A range of products are commercially available that claim to enable more efficient nutrient uptake, allowing less nutrient to be applied as fertiliser.
YEN Nutrition brings together those wanting to achieve more precise crop nutrition. High fertiliser prices now make this vital. Assuming that 'crops know best' engagement in YEN Nutrition starts by benchmarking grain nutrients to show those that were limiting (or excessive) for each crop.
AICC Advisors and farmers testing appropriate nitrogen rates and strategies for reduction in light of current high prices. Brought together by the FarmPEP FIP project
Cover crops are grown primarily to ‘protect or improve’ soils between periods of regular crop production. They can be effective at improving soil functions by increasing soil nutrient and water retention, improving soil structure/quality, reducing the risk of soil erosion, surface run-off and diffuse pollution by providing soil cover and by managing weeds or soil-borne pests.
Share your ideas and experience of how to improve nutrient efficiency and reduce dependence on artificial fertilisers
Soil N Supply is the nitrogen available to the crop from soil during the season. It is the most important component of estimating a crop's nitrogen requirement.
Grain protein content and quality is one of the most important determinants of functionality of cereals, defining whether wheat grain is suitable for milling for bread making or biscuit making.
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Fertilisers, especially nitrogen, give some of the biggest environmental impacts of any inputs, from both their manufacture and their application. A range of innovative approaches are being developed to reduce the energy costs, greenhouse gas emmissions and waste associated with the production of fertilisers.
Many projects across the world are looking to radically reduce the GHG costs of producing ammonia by using renewable electricity for hydrolysis, rather than the energy & natural gas intensive Haber-Bosch process. This could reduce the GHG costs of N fertiliser, but the real drivers come from using ammonia in the energy chain.
The NUTRI-CHECK NETwork aims to maximise site-specific precision in managing the nutrition of European arable crops.
Recording from session at Groundswell 2022 with summary below from Agricology
Land of Plenty is WWF's blueprint for how the agriculture and land use sectors in the UK can help fight climate change and bring nature back to life.
Prompted by conversations on twitter this page is to explore where rates of nitrogen on-farm can be reduced whilst soil organic matter levels and yields are increased, using regenerative agriculture practices.
Report from 2011 by ADAS for NEPIC exploring how nitrogen fertiliser rates and timings could be optimised for bioethanol production.
As part of the AICC Crop Nutrition Club 2023, this on-farm sugar beet trial tested the effects of applying Blue N and the extent to which its use can compensate for a reduced N rate. The trial was facilitated by a local AICC advisor, with support and Agronomics analysis of Sentinel2 satellite imagery by ADAS.
AHDB Research Review 97 This is Part One of a two-part study to help cereal and oilseed
Twitter Thread & poll on what to do about N rates with current prices -
Our experience at Morley shows there isn't much of a relationship between measured SMN and measur
Tailoring nitrogen rates to optimise yield from modern spring barley varieties and hit the qualit
Scientific paper in New Phytologist by scientists at China Agriculture University and James H
Links to the AHDB reviews which informed the 2016 major review of RB209 nutrient management guida
Paper published in Journal of Agricultural Science 2017, vol 155, p261-281 SUM
Flyer produced as result of Innovate UK project with ADAS, Senova, RAGT, Saaten Union, Ensus &
Presentation from Daniel Kindred at CropTec 2021 on how to deal with higher nitrogen fertiliser p
Article exploring nitrogen fertiliser costs using Farmbench results.
The fate of much of the nitrogen applied to crops or grass as fertiliser around the world is ulti
Article from Washington State University by Andrew McGuire:
Managing nutrients effectively is crucial for our soils, crops, livestock and environment. There are many resources and initiatives available to help.
Defra Sustainable Arable LINK project from 2010 to 2015 that aimed to produce an automated system using precision farming technologies for N management of cereals, but ended up changing the whole way we think about nitrogen, yields, experimentation, research, variation & knowledge.
AHDB project from 2014-2018 working with farmers to monitor and optimise their nitrogen fertiliser rates on-farm.
PLANET and MANNER-NPK are nutrient management software tools that are freely available for use by farmers and their advisers.
To facilitate discussion at ACI European Mineral Fertiliser Summit
AHDB has developed a spreadsheet tool to help you calculate the impact of changing fertiliser and grain prices.
Interest is growing in using legumes like lucerne or clover as a permanent understory to cereal crops to provide nitrogen through the season.
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WWF funded report by Stockholm Environment Institute at University of York and UK-CEH looking at issues around nitrogen use in the UK
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As part of the AICC Crop Nutrition Club 2022, this on-farm winter wheat trial tested the effects of applying Utrisha N at two contrasting N rates. The trial was facilitated by a local AICC advisor, with support and Agronomics yield map analysis from ADAS.
As part of the AICC Crop Nutrition Club 2022, this on-farm winter wheat trial compared N rates from 140 to 260 kg/ha, including the N rate recommended by the Yara N tester. The trial was facilitated by a local AICC advisor, with support and Agronomics yield map analysis from ADAS.
As part of the AICC Crop Nutrition Club 2022, this on-farm winter wheat trial compared N rates from 150 to 250 kg/ha, including the N rate recommended by the Yara N tester. The trial was facilitated by a local AICC advisor, with support and Agronomics yield map analysis from ADAS.
As part of the AICC Crop Nutrition Club 2022, this simple on-farm winter wheat trial in Nottinghamshire tested the yield effect of reducing N rate from the 'farm standard' of 220 kg/ha to 170 kg/ha. The trial was facilitated by a local AICC advisor, with support and reporting from ADAS.
As part of the AICC Crop Nutrition Club 2022, these two on-farm winter wheat trials tested whether the N inhibitor Didin can sufficiently slow N release to allow the whole season's N fertiliser to be applied as UAN in a single split. The 'farm standard' control treatment consisted of the same N rate applied as UAN over three split timings without an inhibitor. Trials were facilitated by a local AICC advisor, with support and Agronomics yield map analysis from ADAS.
Nitrogen residue following different crops is an important consideration in the N fertiliser requirement of the subsequent crop and one of the key determinants of N fertiliser recommendations in the UK.
As part of the AICC Crop Nutrition Club 2022, this on-farm winter wheat trial compared N rates from 140 to 260 kg/ha, including the N rate recommended by the Yara N tester amd one treatment with additional Poly N Plus. The trial was facilitated by a local AICC advisor, with support and Agronomics yield map analysis from ADAS.
Farmers working with scientists to achieve the best from pulse crops and reduce their carbon emissions.
Concerns over the increasing cost and environmental impact of high inorganic nitrogen (N) inputs have led to a reappraisal of the role of legumes, particularly clover, in maintaining soil fertility in improved grasslands.
This report aims to explore N cycling in livestock production systems, highlighting the roles of different forms of N, particularly its vital role in protein production, and where losses occur from the cycle.
In this Issue Brief, we delve into the central role of nutrient use efficiency in achieving the five aims of responsible plant nutrition and we present the major indicators to use for different purposes.
Measurements of N2O were made using static flux chambers for a 24 month period from sowing to 12 months after harvest.
The study measured the N available after spring-sown peas, field beans or autumn sown cereals in eastern England and the subsequent response of winter wheat to fertiliser nitrogen.
Scientists are working to understand how plants engage with soil microorganisms, so we can reactivate them.
Accounting for fertiliser and feed prices, it calculates the cost benefit of applying nitrogen to grassland. Use this tool to work out the cost versus the benefit of applying nitrogen fertiliser to grassland. Accounting for fertiliser and feed prices, it calculates the cost of nitrogen application and then compares with the feed value of grass. This will help with the decision on whether it is more cost effective to apply nitrogen fertiliser to grassland or purchase feed instead.
Catch crops are grown post-harvest or following silage, these crops hunt nutrients to reduce leaching from the soil while also allowing cover for the soil which prevents erosion.
Understanding the factors that impact nutrient use efficiency (NUE) is key to improving nutrient management planning.
At a time when sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship are vital, improving the nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of organic manures is a crucial goal.
PGMs are fertilisers from perennial plant material. In this Innovative Farmers webinar we discuss how the system can work best for growers
In the face of rising fertiliser prices and environmental concerns, it is crucial to optimise nitrogen use efficiency, NUE, in agriculture.
Nitrogen (N) is not a scarce element on earth but the most abundant forms (N2 gas in the atmosphere and N fixed in the earth’s crust and sediments) are not directly available for plants.
Perennial Green Manures are trees, shrubs and perennial plants grown in permanent areas to provide nitrogen-rich leaves to fertilise horticultural and arable land.
Legumes form symbiotic relationships with soil bacteria called rhizobia. Rhizobia form nodules on legume roots where atmospheric nitrogen (N) from soil pores is fixed into plant-available N and fed to plants.
From grazing management to pest and disease, our advice and resources will help you to successfully manage clover. (AHDB)
Accounting for fertiliser and grain/oilseed prices, it calculates the adjustment in the amount of nitrogen to apply to cereals and/or oilseeds crops.
As part of the AICC Crop Nutrition Club 2023, this on-farm winter wheat trial tested the effects of applying Nutrino Pro foliar N at T2 and T3. The trial was facilitated by a local AICC advisor, with support and Agronomics yield map analysis from ADAS.
The aim of our small plot trials is to assess the beneficial effects of pulse and legume crops on successive non-leguminous crops, such as cereals, across the rotation. For this year we have two winter wheat trials running in Essex and Bedfordshire which are following winter bean crops and are looking at different nitrogen rates and timings of ammonium nitrate applications. Our trials will utilise real-time soil sensors to determine nitrogen availability during crop rotations and we will closely monitor the trials through RHIZA remote sensing capabilities and via drone flight software, Skippy Scout. We also have 6 blocks of pulses/legumes growing which will form the foundation for further trials from this autumn. These blocks include winter and spring beans, combining peas, chickpeas, lupins and haricot beans. We are interested in looking at alternative nitrogen fixing species as farmers are looking at alternative crops to grow ahead of cereal crops but also crops such as lupins may be considered for farmers looking at different protein sources for their livestock rations.
Comprehensive nutritional programme based on tissue analysis. Four tramlines to receive a small amount of Amide N to in an attempt to prolong flowering, boost pod development and seed size.
The recognition of the nitrogen (N) fixation, benefits in forage quality and animal performance of grass-white clover pastures has led to a resurgence of interest.
Enhancing biological N fixation in faba beans holds promise not only to enhance and stabilize yields but also to increase residual N available to subsequent ceral crops grown on the same field.
Estimating soil nitrogen supply (SNS) is an important step in nitrogen (N) decision-making for arable crops.
Really insightful piece from Andrew McGuire of Washington State University:
Guide produced by Roger Sylvester-Bradley for AHDB in 2009, setting out the best practice approac
Estimating soil nitrogen supply (SNS) is an important step in nitrogen (N) decision-making for
Article from Agronomist & Arable Farmer 3/3/22: The uptake of NRM’s Soil Mineral Ni
Ahead of the imminent RB209 update, AHDB has invested in several projects on nutrient management
Document by Vince Lang of EIP-Agri
Discussion
The economics and typical N response curve suggests that N rates should be reduced by 50kg N/ha in 2022 - Will you be reducing yours?
see this - https://twitter.com/TWBFarms/status/1504392237563756546
or here - https://farmpep.net/node/232
and another great twitter thread by Mike Neaverson here - https://twitter.com/MikeNeaverson/status/1506396924022509569
Another interesting twitter thread by David Butler - https://twitter.com/DavidButler34/status/1512901332721709064