No spring yet

Many tillage areas of the country have received more rain so far in March than they did in January and February combined. So there is little likelihood of fieldwork in the coming days.

The high recent rainfall presents a risk to those who have large amounts of nitrogen already applied. Rainfall amounts over the past week have tended to be higher than expected and we must now hope that the somewhat better forecast comes to pass for the week ahead.

While there are to be a few warmer days this week, temperatures are currently forecast to drop again, which takes the pressure off of growth. The first week in April has long been the traditional measuring point for crop growth stage and condition. Many crops are now showing the pressures of winter for the first time, with water logging and yellow patches appearing in fields.

Nitrogen

With forward winter oilseed rape crops now in stem extension, the balance of the nitrogen will need to be applied as flowers begin to appear. Depending on the amount of N already applied, this will mean between 60 and 90kg N/ha shortly. The maximum total allowance on rape (organic plus inorganic) is 225kg N/ha. Most crops will also need up to 30kg S/ha and magnesium may also be needed based on soil test results.

With many crops now in stem extension the main split of nitrogen is beckoning. However, this is not really needed until the crop is extending rapidly and temperatures are due to fall again in the week ahead.

On winter barley, nitrogen now will act to help hold onto tillers and grain sites if the plant deems the fertility level to be adequate. The converse is also true here and this is the challenge of balancing available nitrogen against the need to drive growth and vegetation. Acting to make crops excessively dense now will make them more prone to lodging and they may require more growth regulator.

Many oat crops are now well into stem extension and many have already received some form of growth regulation. Oats need to have adequate N available at GS31, but again this is to feed rapid growth when it occurs.

The possibility of higher than average soil N levels has to be considered this spring. While this may be less certain now, it is better to err on the side of caution than lodging so treat every field individually.

Planting

Any option to plant is probably at least a week away – wait for conditions to be right at this point. The priority is to get the remaining beans, spring wheat and spring oats planted. Plant beans at around 35 seeds/m2 – 175 to 210kg/ha (11-13 st/ac) with seed at 450g to 550g TGW. Plant spring wheat at 320-350 seeds/m2 or 145-175 kg/ha (9-11 st/ac) (45-50g TGW). Target oats at about 350-400 seeds/m2 – 125-150 kg/ha for 35g seed (8-9 st/ac).

Drill malting barley at 325-350 seeds/m2 – 145-160 kg/ha (9.5-10 st/ac) for 45g TGW seed. Aim to establish about 300 plants/m2.