Assessing Fertility Program for Yield Potential of Winter Wheat Varieties
Ducks Unlimited, Western Ag
To establish a fertility program for achieving high yield in winter wheat.
Based on the preliminary results from this study, balanced fertilizer application seemed to a better option to improve wheat yield and protein content at least at two sites. This testing will be repeated in 2020 to confirm proper recommendations for winter wheat producers.
Management practices that can be utilized to improve winter wheat production are; increasing
seeding rate and application of starter fertilizer by banding during seeding (Anderson, 2008).
Fertility management, in particular nitrogen and phosphorus, remains the integral part of the overall management package aimed at achieving higher yields (Halvorson et al. 1987). The ideal fertility management package would help counteract escalating cost of production per unit area, which is the main goal producers aim to achieve.
There is still a knowledge gap on the rates as well as timing of application of nitrogen fertilizer, particularly in Western Canada, that would result in improved yield per given area without compromising on the quality of grain.