How to increase wheat yield
The two key yield components of wheat are grain numbers per unit area, and the individual grain weight. High yields come from achieving the correct leaf and shoot numbers, maintaining a green leaf canopy, increasing grain numbers/ear and grain size.
A balanced crop nutrition programme including all macro and micro nutrients is essential to help manage all of these components.
Macronutrient uptake in winter wheat
Nitrogen and potassium are the nutrients required in the highest quantity for maintaining high wheat yields. Typically a wheat crop will a utilise 60% more potassium than nitrogen with the requirements for phosphate and sulphur being less but still significant.
The phosphate requirement, on the other hand, is similar to sulphur. It is during rapid spring growth that the demand for all macronutrients occurs.
Removal differs from field to field but typically a 10t/ha wheat crop can remove over 230kg/ha of nitrogen and 57kg/ha of potassium in the grain alone.
Micronutrient uptake in winter wheat
A balanced crop nutrition strategy is essential and should also include secondary and micronutrients which are essential elements in achieving high yields.
Read more about how to influence wheat yield
How to maintain wheat green leaf canopy
The key to achieving high wheat yields, having established the correct canopy structure, is to maintain the green area right through to the final grain filling period, capturing as much of the incident light as possible and converting it to yield.
How to increase wheat leaf and tiller numbers
The number of leaves determines the size of the crop canopy and its photosynthetic potential. The number of shoots and how many of these survive through to harvest also determines the number of ears at harvest and so the potential yield.
How to increase wheat grain size and weight
Wheat grain size is strongly influenced by plant nutrition particularly during the important grain filling period. Nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, magnesium and zinc are particularly important.
How to increase wheat grain numbers
The grain number is itself a function of the number of fertile shoots per unit area and the number of grains per ear. The grower therefore needs to consider how nutrition can have an impact on the grain numbers per ear.
Identify and diagnose wheat nutrient deficiencies
Identify and diagnose if your wheat is suffering from nutrient deficiencies and learn more about the symptoms and causes and how to control or correct the deficiency
Recommended Yara fertilisers for wheat
How correct nutrient management can affect your wheat
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