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.

Nutrient uptake graph of winter wheat

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.

Macronutrient offtake in winter wheat

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.

Micronutrient uptake in winter wheat

Read more about how to influence wheat yield

How to maintain wheat green leaf canopy

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

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

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

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 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

See all wheat article pages

Recommended Yara fertilisers for wheat

YaraBela AXAN
27% N + 9% SO3 - Granular uniform compound nitrate based nitrogen and sulphur fertiliser for use on all crops.
See all fertilisers products

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
Agronomy Advice - 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.
Agronomy Advice - 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.
Increase grain protein with well timed nitrogen
Increase grain protein with well timed nitrogen
A well-timed application of nitrogen after the flag leaf final-dressing will increase the amount of nitrogen available to your crops during that crucial stage of protein development.
Foliar phosphate – energising cereal crops for spring growth
Foliar phosphate – energising cereal crops for spring growth
Many cereal crops struggle to get moving in early spring due to low phosphorus levels as a result of low phosphate availability. Giving these crops a quick 'energy boost' from foliar phosphate is the best way to get them started.
See all agronomy advice

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