How to increase wheat water use efficiency

A healthy, fast-growing crop of wheat, fully supported by fertiliser, makes more efficient use of water to maximize yields.

Fertiliser increases water use efficiency

Yara’s crop nutrient recommendations for wheat help the crop make more productive use of water through encouraging strong growth and high yields leading to more transpiration and less drainage and direct evaporation.

Fertiliser and water use efficiency

Regular fertiliser use will encourage rooting, ensuring better extraction of water from the soil.

Well-balanced nutrition also maximizes leaf efficiency, providing a strong canopy that reduces soil evaporating by creating shade across the grove for a longer period.

Potassium (via its osmotic function) and nitrogen (as a result of the internal regulation of hormones and xylem pH) are important for efficient and optimal regulation and control of CO2 uptake and water loss through the stomata.

Finally, by using comprehensive, tailored, fertiliser programmes that ensures no nutrient is lacking, yield is increased, thereby producing more fruit for every mm of rainfall or irrigation water that is applied.

Yara recognizes that this improved ‘water use efficiency’ is increasingly important given scarcity of water supply. Indeed, with 2.8 billion people living in regions with insufficient water, the importance of making best use of this limited resource is fundamental to sustainable crop production.

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How correct nutrient management can affect your wheat

Managing late drilled wheat crops
Managing late drilled wheat crops
Where drilling of winter wheat has been delayed, the crop nutrition strategy should be adapted to help recover the lost yield potential
Do you really need straight nitrogen
Do you really need straight nitrogen
Before ordering your straight nitrogen it is worth considering how much you actually need as it may be you actually need NS or NPKS grades instead.
Don't forget about sulphur
Don't forget about sulphur
Sulphur was often overlooked in the past but today it is recognised as an essential nutrient and considered just as important as nitrogen, so not to be forgotten.
Heavier fertiliser spreads further
Heavier fertiliser spreads further
Some fertilisers consistently spread further and more accurately than others. A heavier and larger fertiliser granule will spread further because the spreader can put more energy into it.
Agronomy Advice - Boron deficiencies in cereals shouldn’t be overlooked
Boron deficiencies in cereals shouldn’t be overlooked
Boron is generally an overlooked micronutrient and it is often wrongly assumed to be less important for cereals than for brassicas which have the highest boron requirement.
Managing the nutrition of second wheats
Managing the nutrition of second wheats
When it comes to managing second wheat nutrition the main objective is to improve the biomass that is very often low due to later drillings and to increase nutrient supply which is often poor due to a compromised root system.
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If you would like more information and would like to speak to our arable specialist or to one of our area managers please find all their contact details here.

Contact your local Yara area manager or agronomist

 

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