Research on the Farm (ROTF)

Spring Wheat Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer Usage (UAN and Urea)

Trial Information

The purpose of this project is to quantify the agronomic impacts of enhanced efficiency fertilizer usage on wheat for yield and grain quality.

• The grower will apply rates of UAN fertilizer + enhanced efficiency fertilizer (EEF) at seeding time in alternating strips. All fertilizer treatments will be applied at the time of seeding.
• The width of a strip must be at least as wide as the combine pass, preferably wider. Harvest length should not be less than 1,000
• The alternating strips of the fertilizer treatments can be planted by using GPS to plant every other strip with one fertilizer treatment and then filling in the skipped passes with the next fertilizer treatment.
• Take a seed sample from planter (about ½ an ice cream bucket).
• Harvesting must ensure at least one “pure” combine pass from each treatments.

Results

At these trial sites, using EEF did not increase yields compared to the traditional nitrogen products. EEFs have been found to reduced nitrogen loss, especially when conditions of high nitrogen loss exist. High risk conditions include when there is excess soil moisture or when urea fertilizers are broadcasted, and subsequent rainfalls are not received.