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In-season nitrogen can boost spring wheat protein

A soil nutrient management specialist says spring wheat growers are looking for ways to boost protein.

Daniel Kaiser with the University of Minnesota tells Brownfield research validates an in-season foliar application of nitrogen.

“One of the things that this research data was pointing to was that we could increase protein by a half to one full point percentage with the addition of about 30 pounds of nitrogen at flowering.”

He says much of the wheat crop in the Northern Region is at that stage, a common time to apply fungicides.

Kaiser does not recommend tank-mixing UAN with a fungicide.

“If you are applying fungicide, you really want to avoid putting the nitrogen and the fungicide together.  One of the issues with this practice that we know can happen is burning of the leaves.  That’s why we try to limit the application of nitrogen to 30 pounds (and) no more.”

 

Kaiser also warns against nitrogen applications during the heat of the day, and says adding equal amounts of water will help reduce leaf burn.