Stand Establishment is Job Number One
When it comes to a successful winter cereal crop, the beginning determines the end. Without good stand establishment in the fall, overwinter survival suffers and yields decline. Phosphate fertility requires careful attention as well as other key factors including seeding date and planting depth.
Overwinter survival of winter cereals is strongly dependent on obtaining quick emergence and vigorous growth in the fall.
For the best overwinter survival, winter cereals must germinate uniformly in the fall and develop at least two to three leaves and crown tissue. Then, in the spring the winter cereal plant re-grows from the crown tissue.
FAST, VIGOROUS EMERGENCE REQUIRED
Proper phosphate fertility helps winter cereals establish quickly and uniformly. Phosphate enhances early plant development and vigorous root and shoot growth. Phosphate also provides the plant with energy to help fight off disease.
When using phosphate fertilizer, place it with the seed at rates of 15 to 25 pounds actual per acre based on soil test results. Research in Alberta has shown that seed-placed phosphorus is usually more effective than banded phosphorus.
If nitrogen and phosphate are side-banded together in a blend, some phosphate should be seed-placed as well.
BETTER STAND ESTABLISHMENT
An additional way to provide optimum phosphate fertility for improved emergence and stand establishment is to use JumpStart, the phosphate inoculant. The active ingredient in JumpStart is a naturally occurring soil fungus discovered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. It grows on plant roots and makes less available forms of residual soil phosphate immediately available for crop use.
JumpStart is active in cool soils and thus supplies an immediately available source of phosphate to emerging seedlings. This results in better use of phosphate for quick emergence, vigorous growth, better stand establishment – to set up yield potential.
Winter Wheat - North Dakota
