Arable Accurate soil test helps lift


nitrogen fertiliser efficiency • Margins over fertiliser up by £300/ha • Tests boost production and environment • 15% reduction in nitrogen requirement


A


better understanding of nitrogen fertiliser ef- ficiency and soil testing could boost arable margins con- siderably, says an expert. Arable agronomist Allison


Grundy, of CF Fertilisers, says many farm businesses would benefit from understanding more about Nitrogen Fertiliser Use Ef- ficiency (NfUE) and the critical role of accurate soil testing in op- timising nitrogen applications. In 2019 farm trials, a combined


approach to nitrogen applications delivered an increased margin over fertiliser costs (MOFC) of £280/ha in some crops, she says. In other crops, growers record- ed a 10% yield increase by using 15% less nitrogen.


Important area


“Whether you look at it from a production efficiency or environ- mental point of view, getting the most out of bought-in fertilisers will be one of the most important management areas UK growers will face in the coming years. “Keeping nitrogen applica- tions to the economic optimum required to deliver yield and qual- ity while achieving the maximum return on investment is a key ob- jective for all growers and under- standing NfUE and the impor- tance of soil nitrogen supply is absolutely fundamental to this.” In simple terms, NfUE is a measure of Nitrogen fertiliser recovered by the crop. It gives growers a valuable picture of how much Nitrogen fertiliser is actu- ally used by the crop and an in- sight into the impact their ferti- liser choices are having on their production efficiency.


Convincing results “It can also highlight where po- tential environmental concerns might lie which is an increasingly important factor in modern pro- duction,” says Ms Grundy. Trials have shown ammoni-


14 MIDLAND FARMER • JANUARY 2020


um nitrate (AN) convincingly out- performs straight urea in wheat production in terms of NfUE with an average value for Nit- ram (34.5%N) of 74% compared to just 66% for urea, she says. “This difference of 8% NfUE


is the equivalent of an addition- al 16% total loss of nitrogen from urea. In crops with an applica- tion rate of 200kg/ha nitrogen, this would be equivalent to a loss


also accurately predicts addition- ally available nitrogen – which is the amount forecast to become available to the crop between the spring and harvest. Adding these to an estimate of nitrogen already contained in the crop gives a true picture of soil ni- trogen supply, says Ms Grundy. “This can then be used with CF N-Calc to produce fertiliser rec- ommendations based on yield and quality aspirations whilst min- imising the potential environ- mental impact and ensuring the investment in nitrogen is made full use of.”


Combining the commitment


Balancing nitrogen supplies explained


The CF N-Min soil Nitrogen test enables farmers to opti- mise nitrogen applications with aim of balancing mitro- gen supply to achieve the maximum economic output. As well as measuring the


amount of nitrogen in the soil at the time of testing, the CF N-Min also accurately pre- dicts what will become avail- able to the crop between the spring and harvest, explains Allison Grundy. This addi- tionally available nitrogen is the amount of nitrogen which will be supplied from the soil at depths between 60cm to 90cm – with allowances made for leaching losses, deposition and uptake efficiency. Combined together with


nitrogen already contained in the crop, it helps determine the total soil nitrogen supply – and it is this final key figure which CF Fertilisers uses in its N-Calc programme, says Ms Grundy. The N-Calc recommenda-


Getting the most out of bought-in fertilisers makes economic sense, says Allison Grundy.


of 32kg/ha nitrogen. “In other words, simply using Nitram resulted in crops recov- ering an extra 16% or 32kg/ha of nitrogen than they would have done with the same application rate of urea.”


Correct choice


As well as making the correct fer- tiliser choice to maximise NfUE, understanding the contribution soil N is making to crops is also critical, adds Ms Grundy. “Unlike conventional soil ni- trogen tests, CF N-Min measures


to improve NfUE with N-Min can have a significant effect on margins too, she says. “In 2019 trials alone, we’ve seen this ap- proach increasing margin over fertiliser costs by £280/ha in oil- seed rape and adding 1.0t/ha to wheat yields.


“In spring barley we’ve seen a 10% lift in yields combined with a corresponding 15% drop in N re- quirement. “It’s a relatively sim- ple way for growers to increase their own production efficiency and help industry meet future en- vironment objectives.”


tions help ensure that yield and quality goals are met. It accounts for changes in eco- nomic circumstances – and helps to minimise the envi- ronmental impact of fertiliser applications by ensuring that applied nitrogen is fully uti- lised. “This improves the pre- cision of nitrogen recommen- dations for cereals and oilseed rape and takes the guesswork out of fertiliser calculations,” says Ms Grundy.


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