Efficient Management of Nitrogen Fertilizer for Wheat Grown in Minnesota
Study author(s): Daniel Kaiser, University of Minnesota, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate
Years of study: 2008 – 2010
Location(s): Hallock MN, Kilkenny MN, Norseland MN, Perley MN, Strathcona MN, Waseca MN, Foxhome MN, Lamberton MN, Fergus Falls MN, Halstad MN
Important: for the complete report, including all tables and figures, please download using the link(s) to the right.
INtroduction
Nitrogen is the nutrient most limiting to cereal grain crops grown in Minnesota. Efficient utilization of nitrogen is important since fertilizer prices have risen greatly over the past few years. Unlike corn, nitrogen recommendations for wheat production in Minnesota are still based on yield goal times an efficiency factor (2.5 x yield goal) minus N credits for much of the major wheat growing areas. With the price of nitrogen ever increasing interest has been placed in determining the feasibility of managing N on an economic basis. Also unlike corn, wheat prices are partially determined by protein quality so economic optimum N rates must consider both yield and quality. Yield response curves to N rates are invaluable in determining economic optimum N rates and the confidence in those curves increases with response trials from increasing environments (sites and years). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the N needs for hard red spring wheat grown in Minnesota.