Crops vary in appearance but many of those that held a good colour are now going off colour and getting patchy as they attempt to grow. Colour loss is likely to equate to reducing yield potential as the plant needs to kill some of its previously formed vegetation to fuel its new growth.

Colour will be influenced by sowing date (early sown will have used up soil nutrient reserves), crop volume (the greater the bulk of autumn growth the more leaf is there to drive new growth and this needs to be fed) and soil conditions (well-structured soils may suffer less at this time).

So get some fertiliser on to winter barley as soon as you can travel. Target 50-70kg N/ha with appropriate P and K levels. Winter barley needs sulphur also, especially on worn ground. Amount is similar for all cereals –15-20kg S/ha.

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Tillage management: weather and ground conditions

Tillage management: winter rape