Agricultural News
Fertility Issues Hurt Protein Levels of the 2010 Wheat Crop
Wed, 11 Aug 2010 6:21:31 CDT
Environmental conditions were a major factor in the relatively low protein levels we saw in the 2010 wheat harvested this past June in the state of Oklahoma. Dr. Brian Arnall of Oklahoma State University told us that weather conditions helped this year's wheat crop produce more bushels and higher test weights, but protein levels were diluted. In some cases, wetter than normal conditions prevented the wheat crop from developing roots that could reach down to where the protein was sitting in the soil profile.
Arnall tells us that wheat producers should consider making two applications of fertilizer- a preplant application early on and then a topdress as the crop begins to grow in the late winter/early spring to provide that shot of nitrogen when the wheat crop can use it to make protein in the grain.
He also preaches that right now you should be soil testing to know exactly what the nutritional needs are of every field you farm. For the 2011 winter wheat and winter canola crop- he says that this is essential. He adds that as you plant your crop- you should also consider doing nitrogen enriched strips to help you know exactly what is needed at that location for a topdress application early in the new year.
Brian Arnall operates a website under the OSU banner that talks about a lot of these issues and more- click here to jump to the site that covers the NPK decisions you as a farmer needs to be making. Brian's title at OSU is Precision Nutrient Management Extension Specialist.
We talked with him at the OSU Wheat Review and you can hear our full conversation by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
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