Crop Spotlight - Wheat

Chad Smith, Sales Agronomist US North

Wheat

Wheat is primarily located-

Wheat has been cultivated for over 10,000 years and is one of the most versatile crops. There are six classes of wheat produced in 42 states across the U.S., and you will find wheat in every state of the north region, with North Dakota having the most production acres.

Common deficiencies for wheat-

Since wheat is grown in many areas in the U.S., many different deficiencies could appear in these crops. Some nutrient deficiencies you might see are nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, etc.

What are the periods of influence for wheat-

Wheat has a few critical periods of influence, from early on at the tiller to flag leaf and grain fill. One of the first milestones in wheat growth is jointing, when the first node becomes visible at the base of the shoot. It is also known as Feekes 6 growth stage and is significant for a couple of reasons. Feekes 6 is the turning point for the plant at which the meristematic tissue converts from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. The developing head is visible in the stem, and the number of spikelets and head size has been determined. This growth stage also is a cut-off for herbicide and nitrogen applications to prevent crop injury.

Ensuring the wheat crop has the correct amount of nutrients during the vegetative growth period is essential to maximize head size and the number of spikelets at Feekes 6.

How NACHURS can help your crop-

It all starts by using a high-quality in-furrow starter fertilizer like NACHURS Triple Option® to ensure a quick and uniform emergence. As the crop moves into the tillering stage, nitrogen comes to mind as the vital nutrient to apply, but the crop needs more nutrients than nitrogen at this stage. To make the UAN nitrogen application more efficient, we are adding in NACHURS K-flex® at 1 gallon per 10 gallons of UAN along with NACHURS Finish Line® at 1 quart per acre. The NACHURS Bio-K® in both products helps all the macro and micronutrients in the tank to enter the plant. Sulfur activates the enzyme nitrate reductase, which converts nitrates to amino acids within the plant, which is how sulfur metabolizes nitrogen making it available to the plant. Potassium is needed to develop stronger stems, along with assisting in photosynthesis. By adding K-flex and Finish Line to UAN ensures that the crop has the right blend of nutrients during the vegetative growth period to maximize head size and the number of spikelets.

The second period of influence is the 2^nd half of the crop life, known as the reproductive growth. The wheat head and top two leaves are responsible for 90% of the yield building photosynthate. We are adding a balanced N-P-K solution to the fungicide pass at the flag leaf to ensure we keep the plant healthy to senescence. We have been boosting the flag leaf fungicide pass by adding NACHURS NocKout® at 1 gallon per acre and NACHURS Finish Line a 1 quart per acre. With this application, we feed the crop with N, P, K, and micronutrients, and the fulvic acid and Bio-K help drive the fungicide and nutrients into the plant. Balanced nutrient applications during the reproductive growth period is just as critical as the nutrients being applied during the vegetative growth to maximize plant health and to keep the plant energy stores focused on yield production rather than being diverted to survival.

For more recommendations or questions, please contact your local NACHURS sales manager.

Pictures below-