The Effects of Topdressing Organic Nitrogen on

Hard Red Winter Wheat - Year 2

Name: Erica Cummings Date: March 15, 2012 Title: Crops and Soils Technician

The Effects of Topdressing Organic Nitrogen on Hard Red Winter Wheat

• Bakers have been slow to incorporate local wheat flour due to inconsistent flour quality, in particular PROTEIN

• Generally, winter wheat produced in Vermont has protein levels below the 12-14% standard

• The amount of protein in wheat depends largely on soil nitrogen availability during plant growth.

• Most fertility amendments are applied in fall prior to planting

• Can result in significant losses of soil N over the winter

Project Purpose:

To determine whether topdressing organic nitrogen (N) amendments, during key times of wheat development, would increase grain protein and yields.

USDA OREI Grant:In collaboration with the University of Maine and Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT

Trial was randomized complete block design:

Trial Information Winter wheat topdress trial

LocationAlburgh, VT

Borderview Research FarmSoil type Benson rocky silt loamPrevious crop Spring wheatRow spacing (in.) 6 Seeding rate (lbs ac-1) 130 Variety HarvardReplicates 4Planting date Sep. 15, 2010Harvest date Jul. 19, 2011Harvest area (ft.) 5 x 25Tillage operations Fall plow, disc, & spike-toothed harrow

Amendments:

Chilean Nitrate: 16-0-0

Composted Chicken Manure (Cheep Cheep): 4-3-3

Topdress Application Rate: 20 lbs per acre of available N

Borderview Research Farm, Alburgh, VT

Fall 2010: Composted dairy manure was applied at a rate of 70 lbs of available N per acre to all plots EXCEPT Control

Wheat Growth Stages & Application Times:

April 22, 2011

May 11, 2011

May 31, 2011

Yield impact of topdressing organic N sources at critical wheat developmental stages.• Yields did NOT differ significantly between

treatments

• The trend observed was that the addition of either of the organic N amendments, at any of the application times, increased yields.

• The flag leaf application of ‘Chilean Nitrate’ treatment yielded the highest and the Control was the lowest yielding.

The impact of topdressing organic N sources at critical wheat development stages on crude protein concentrations.• All application times of Chilean Nitrate

resulted in significantly higher protein levels than control & manure treatments.

• Boot applied ‘Cheep Cheep’ had significantly higher protein levels compared to control & manure treatments.

• Tillering and Boot applied Chilean Nitrate had the highest protein levels and the unamended control plots had the lowest.

2011 Trial photos:

Winter wheat Survival - Alburgh, VT

Wheat biomass and soil sampling – Alburgh, VT

Topdress trial harvest – Bridport, VT

Measuring crude protein on the NIR, UVM Cereal Testing Lab, Burlington, VT

Flag leaf – Alburgh, VT

Flowering wheat plots – Bridport, VT

SARE Partnership Grant

In collaboration with Gleason Grains in Bridport, VTTrials were randomized split block design.

Trial Information Winter wheat topdress trial

LocationBridport, VT

Gleason GrainsSoil type Farmington loamPrevious crop CloverRow spacing (in.) 6Seeding rate (lbs ac-1) 140Variety RedeemerReplicates 4Planting date Sept.18, 2010Harvest date July 20, 2011Harvest area (ft.) 5 x 20

Tillage operationsFall chisel plow, & spike-toothed

harrow

Trial Information Winter wheat variety trial

LocationBridport, VT

Gleason Grains

Soil type Vergennes Clay

Previous crop Soybeans

Row spacing (in.) 6

Seeding rate (lbs ac-1) 140

Variety Redeemer

Replicates 4

Planting date Sep. 13, 2009

Harvest date Aug. 2, 2010

Harvest area (ft.) 5 x 20

Tillage operationsFall chisel plow, & spike-toothed

harrow

2010 2011

Amendments

Chilean Nitrate: 16-0-0

Composted Chicken Manure (Cheep Cheep): 4-3-3

Pro-Booster: 10-0-0

Topdress Application Rate: 20 lbs per acre ofavailable N

Soybeans in 2009

Yellow Sweet Clover 2008

Clover with pasturing chickens in 2010

Wheat Growth Stages & Application Times:

April 19, 2011

May 19, 2011

April 5, 2010

May 20, 2010

The interaction of application time and amendment source on winter wheat yield.• Winter wheat yields did NOT differ significantly between

treatments. TRENDS• ‘Chilean Nitrate’ applied at flag leaf or the spilt application

increased yield.

• ‘Pro Booster’ with the combination of soluble and slow release N consistently increases yields. In the split application plants are able to utilize both.

• ‘Cheep Cheep’ tillering application allowed for the organic nitrogen to be mineralized and become plant available.

The impact of topdressing organic N sources at critical wheat development stages on crude protein concentrations.• Crude protein concentration did differ significantly

between treatments.

• ‘Pro Booster’ applied at flag leaf had the highest protein level.

• Flag Leaf applications of all the amendments had the greatest impact on protein concentration.

• Tillering applications of the amendments had little to no effect on protein concentration.

Discussion • Both 2010 and 2011 topdressing studies indicate that applying certified

organic N amendments can increase both yield and protein levels.

• ‘Pro Booster’ has consistently shown to improve both quality and yields. ‘Pro Booster’ has both soluble and slow release N which may more easily meet the N needs of the plant.

• Slow release N products such as composted poultry manure (‘Cheep Cheep’) will need to have properly timed applications to ensure the N has enough time to be mineralized into plant available N sources.

• In the case of soluble N products such as ‘Chilean Nitrate’ application timing is essential and should be applied at the time of plant need. It is important to note that ‘Chilean Nitrate’ may be removed from the USDA NOP list of approved materials.

• Research trials need to be continued and further studies should be conducted to determine N release rates of organic approved materials.

Note: In 2011, the growing season was highly variable with a very wet spring and dry summer resulting in poor wheat yields throughout the state. The trial areas were no exception.

Economics:Amendment Costs:• ‘Cheep Cheep’ = $478.00 per bulk ton = $5.98 per lb N

= $12 per lb PAN 20 lbs PAN = $239 per acre

• ‘Pro-Booster’ = $959.30 per bulk ton = $4.79 per lb N = $14.37 per lb PAN

20 lbs PAN = $287 per acre• ‘Chilean Nitrate’ = $1450.00 per bulk ton = $4.53 per lb N

20 lbs PAN = $91 per acre

The UVM Extension NW Crops and Soils Team would like to thank the Gleason Grains and Borderview Research Farm for their generous help with the trials and acknowledge the NE SARE Partnership grant program and USDA Organic Agricultural Research and Extension Initiative grant program for their financial support.

Questions???