Fertilise cereals correctly – harvest quality
Potassium is essential for yield
Potassium, the universal guarantee for high quality
Besides the use of cereals for food and feed, the importance as a renewable energy resource for the production of biofuels is ever increasing.
The quality demands of cereals vary according to the destined end use but a large proportion of these quality criteria can be positively influenced by judicious use of fertilisers. It is important therefore not only to optimise nitrogen supply but also to adjust the supply of potassium, magnesium and sulphur as well as that of trace elements. The quality of cereals is defined by the required end use.
Depending on the end-use the following criteria are significant:
|
Bread-making
|
Animal feed
|
Seed crops
|
Beer brewing
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yield |
+++
|
+++
|
++
|
++
|
| Protein |
+++
|
+
|
|
+++
|
| Hagberg falling number |
+++
|
|
|
|
| Sedimentation value |
+++
|
|
|
|
| Thousand grain weight |
+
|
+
|
++
|
++
|
| Sieve size |
+
|
|
++
|
++
|
| Hectolitre-weight |
|
|
+
|
++
|
| Germination |
|
|
+++
|
+++
|
| Milling and brewing charateristics |
+
|
|
|
+++
|
The grain yield of cereal is the sum total of crop density (Number of ear bearing shoots per square meter) and the yield of each ear (number of grains per ear and their thousand grain weight). By tailoring a specifc nutrient management program to the individual crop, these quality parameters can be successfully influenced.
|
Potash fertilisation
category |
Winter wheat
(77 trials) |
Winter barley
(72 trials) |
|---|---|---|
|
Low
|
43.3
|
44.1
|
|
Optimal
|
45.8
|
46.9
|
|
Increase
|
+ 5.8 %
|
+ 6.3 %
|
|
Potassium fertilisation category
|
Winter wheat
(37 Trials) |
Winter barley (32 trials)
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Protein Content
|
sedimentation
value |
Protein
content |
|
low
|
14,8
|
61
|
12,9
|
|
optimal
|
15,6
|
68
|
13,4
|
|
Increase
|
+ 5,4 %
|
+ 11,5 %
|
+ 3,9 %
|
The nutrient combination of potassium and magnesium (as well as sulphur) in Korn-Kali® results in significantly higher yields and an increased efficiency of nitrogen fertilisation in comparison to 60er Kali® (muriate of potash, straight potassium chloride) which contains no magnesium or sulphur.
Fertiliser is applied in order to maintain the fertility of the soil so that its natural yield potential can be protected over the long term. This requires the maintenance of an optimal nutrient content in the soil. Nutrients removed with the harvest have to be replaced through an adequate application of fertiliser. Together with the replacement of removed nutrients adjustments have to be added for site specific losses (for example: leaching or erosion).
The total removal of a plant results from the nutrient uptake of the main crop (e.g. grain, tubers or beets) and the uptake of harvest residues (e.g. straw, leaves). If the harvest residues remain on the field, only the removed nutrients by the main crops have to be replaced.
When planning a fertiliser program for cereals, both the soil fertility and condition and also the required quality of the end product must be taken into account.
Korn-Kali®
ESTA® Kieserit gran.
For high demand situations and for the control of latent magnesium and sulphur deficiencies, 15-25 kg EPSO Top® ha-1 in a 5% solution is recommended. During severe deficiency situati ons or when deficiency symptoms are visible an increased amount of up to 50 kg ha-1 can be applied in two to four split applications.
In the case of an additional requirement of trace elements, approx. 20-30 kg EPSO Combitop® ha-1 (total amount) can be applied: In autumn 10-15 kg ha-1 from EC 15 and in spring twice 10-15 kg ha-1 from the start of the main spring growth period.
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