Due to this year’s early harvest, many stubble fields will be ready for planting winter cereals earlier than usual.
This is ideal timing, said Ken Panchuk, soil specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture.
Success with winter cereals requires more than just good timing, however.
“The key is shallow planting. Shallow planting into standing stubble provides the best situation for winter survival,” said Panchuk. Seed should be sown less than 2.5 cm deep.
Low disturbance direct seeding should be used to get the most standing stubble possible. The stubble will collect the first snowfall and act as insulation. The added benefit is soil and moisture conservation, he said.
Read Also
August rain welcome, but offered limited relief
Increased precipitation in August aids farmers prior to harvest in southern prairies of Canada.
It is better to seed at the right time into dry soil than to seed too deep. The seed requires little moisture to germinate.
To avoid disease, farmers should avoid seeding winter wheat on wheat stubble, and the fertilizer application method should be compatible with shallow seeding.
“Because the winter cereal is planted into stubble, both phosphorus and nitrogen will be limiting. A soil test before seeding – a good investment considering the much greater investment of seed, inputs and time – will offer guidance on how much phosphorus, nitrogen and other nutrients are needed.”
At the same time, he said, judgment will be needed when interpreting the nitrogen, because mineralization is not complete at this early stage.
“The best suggestion is to apply all the required phosphorus, usually about 20 to 25 pounds of phosphate with, or banded near, the seed. Nitrogen is best applied in early spring by broadcasting ammonium nitrate or by using a coulter or other system to band the nitrogen into the soil to minimize losses.
Best time to fertilize
Recent studies by Guy Lafond, a research scientist at Agriculture Canada in Indian Head, Sask., confirmed the best yield response to nitrogen fertilizer is from an early spring application, said Panchuk.
“Dr. Lafond has also found a positive response from adding some potassium chloride fertilizer at the time of seeding CDC Kestrel, the most popular variety of winter wheat. About 10 to 15 pounds of potassium fertilizer placed with or near the seed produced higher grain yields.
“In addition, Dr. Lafond found that if producers are fertilizing CDC Kestrel for high yield in soils low in sulfur, blending some ammonium sulphate with the nitrogen in early spring can help achieve higher protein levels,” said Panchuk.
He said winter cereals have high yield potential but need to have soil nutrient deficiencies corrected with the right amount of fertilizer at the right time.
