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WGC REPORTS WL Nitrogen and protein go together like a horse and carriage Ensuring PROTEIN LEVELS IN HARD WHEATS By Rich Koenig The 2011 crop season proved challenging when it came to making protein for Eastern Washington’s hard wheat crops. Above-average precipitation and an extended cool spring and early summer combined to increase grain yields while driving down grain protein concentrations. Managing nitrogen (N) for grain protein in hard wheat is a moving target, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution across Publications available online for more reading Three briefs from the Washington Grain Commission: Hard white spring wheat N and protein management: http://css.wsu. edu/people/faculty/soils/Koenig_ files/Hard_White_Spring_Wheat_ Nitrogen_Protein_Brief_WGC.pdf Hard red spring wheat N and protein management: http://css.wsu. edu/people/faculty/soils/Koenig_ files/Hard_Red_Spring_Wheat_ Nitrogen_Protein_Brief_WGC.pdf Hard red winter wheat N and protein management: http://css.wsu. edu/people/faculty/soils/Koenig_ files/Hard_Red_Winter_Wheat_ Nitrogen_Protein_Brief_WGC.pdf The PNW publication Nitrogen Management for Hard Wheat Protein Enhancement: http://www.cals. uidaho.edu/edComm/pdf/pnw/ pnw0578.pdf The WSU Dryland winter wheat fertilizer guide: http://cru.cahe.wsu. edu/CEPublications/eb1987/eb1987. pdf the state’s diverse rainfall zones. Year-to-year variability based on weather and variability within fields adds to the complexity. There are, however, key principles involved in managing N to produce hard wheat with high grain protein. Recommendations given here are based on research conducted at Washington State University and by the fertilizer industry, three hard wheat “briefs” published in 2005 by the Washington Grain Commission and the experience of various crop consultants serving eastern Washington agriculture. Planning. Wheat yield and grain protein are influenced by moisture and N availability. For hard wheat, the amount of N necessary to achieve high grain protein is slightly above that necessary to achieve maximum yield. An accurate estimate of yield is critical. If you underestimate yield, you will under-fertilize for protein. Predicting yield then is the largest source of error in managing fertilizer for high grain protein. A simple worksheet for calculating fertilizer N requirements for hard wheat (Table 1) permits a grower to establish yield goals based on historic trends or measured soil moisture and in-season precipitation. Nitrogen requirements are approximately 3.6 lbs/bushel for 14 percent protein DNS, 3.2 lbs/bushel for 12.5 percent protein hard white, and 3.0 lbs/bushel for 11.5 percent hard red winter wheat. These figures represent the total (soil+fertilizer) N requirement for these crops. Growers never apply this much fertilizer N because the total is always discounted by residual N maintained in the soil. Testing is critical to assess this residual. Sulfur (S) is also recommended at a ratio of 1 lb S for each 10 to 15 lbs of N applied to hard wheat. Most of the N required by wheat is taken up during vegetative growth before flowering and contributes directly to grain yield. Vegetative N is later transported to the kernels to form protein during grain filling. Early season N availability is critical to make yield and a moderate level of grain protein. Additional N absorbed by wheat after flowering primarily increases grain protein. In dryland situations, N stranded near the surface in dry soil will not be available for absorption and protein formation later in the growing season. The key is to manage fertilizer application timing so that some N is present near the surface early in the season to meet plant requirements for vegetative growth and yield, and some is present deeper in the soil profile (3 to 4 feet) later in the season, where active rooting and WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSION WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2012 55
WL WGC REPORTS Table 1. Worksheet for calculating dryland hard wheat nitrogen needs A N supply needed by the crop to meet yield and protein goals B 1. yield goal: bu/acre 2. N supply needed: bu/acre (line A1) x 1 lbs N/bu = Soil inventory lb N/ac WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSION 1. Current soil test N (ammonium + nitrate) (ammonium in the first foot only, nitrate in all depths sampled) 2. Credit from organic matter release (15 to 20 lb N per % organic matter in the soil test) 3. Debit for residue decomposition (35 lb/ac for winter wheat, 30 lb/ac for spring wheat and 25 lb/ac for barley as the preceding crop) 4. Other N credits 5. Total soil N inventory (lines 1 through 4) = N to apply (fertilizer recommendation) C line A2 – line B5 = 1 Enter values of 3.0 for hard red winter, 3.2 for hard white, or 3.6 for DNS. water absorption are occurring, to ensure high grain protein. For hard red and white winter wheat in low rainfall zones, N applications in the fallow period or just before or at planting are normally adequate to achieve the optimum soil distribution described above. For DNS and hard white spring, fall application of a portion of the total N requirement has been used to promote movement of some N deeper into the profile where it will be available to the crop later in the growing season. Fall application may reduce the potential for “burning up” (stimulating excessive vegetative growth and depleting soil moisture) a spring wheat crop that can occur when high rates of N are applied at or near planting. Fall fertilization also allows growers Yield and protein Yield-Protein 101: Cereals Low Moderate Adequate Excessive Grain yield Grain protein + lb/acre + lb/acre - lb/acre + lb/acre Nitrogen (N) availability - lb N/ac = lb N/ac 56 WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2012
Page 1 and 2: W L HEAT IFE The official publicati
Page 3 and 4: WAWG President’s Perspective 2 WA
Page 5 and 6: Why in-pLace BeTTer coVeraGe. incre
Page 7 and 8: TIME FOR A LITTLE PAYBACK This just
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Page 15 and 16: Transition Planning - Asset Protect
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Page 19 and 20: POLICY MATTERS WL Jetties at top of
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Page 23 and 24: MACHINING • FABRICATION • REPAI
Page 25 and 26: 2011/12 Senate Committees Senate Ag
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Page 31 and 32: At the Wheat Marketing Center in Po
Page 33 and 34: PROFILES WL “I decided that in li
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Page 37 and 38: and were driven to get the job done
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