Fertiliser recommendations for potash (K2O) are usually based on removal or offtake of K2O at harvest. Some detailed results of measurements on K2O uptake during crop growth show that greater care is needed to ensure potash supply meets crop requirement. Difference between uptake and offtake The amount of a nutrient needed for full growth of […]

Yields of first cut grass have been lower than average in many parts of the UK. Pockets of the south west and N Ireland aside, yields down by as much as 30% have been reported from Wales, Scotland and the midlands, north west and north east of England. Some grassland farmers may have delayed cutting […]

The new revised PDA leaflet ‘Potash for Cereals‘ incorporates the changes to the recommendations for cereals in the updated Fertiliser Manual (RB209). For potash these relate to the reduction in the quantity of baled straw which is assumed to be removed per tonne of harvested grain (see PDA leaflet ‘Nutrients in Crop Material‘), now half […]

Growing plants require far larger quantities of potash than is usually recommended as a fertiliser dressing. This may sound surprising but the fertiliser recommendation is calculated from the amount of potash removed from the field when the crop is harvested, not from the amount needed by the crop when it is growing at its full […]

Recent booklets and press articles in Britain have given advice on management guidelines for winter wheat and on how to avoid flat crops, but often with little mention of the fundamental need for balanced nutrition. Most of the discussion centres around nitrogen (N), which one publication describes as “the most important nutrient”. As Liebig taught […]

This article has been updated – follow this link to read the latest version www.pda.org.uk/soil-sampling-different-methods-of-arable-cultivation/ Soil sampling for the routine measurement of P, K, Mg Indices and pH is familiar to most advisers and farmers. The same well-proven method has been used for many years – 25 cores taken in a ‘W’ or grid pattern […]

Q: How much potash do I need to apply to raise my soil K Index to the target Index of 2-? A: This depends on soil type. Heavy soils will require more potash than light soils. When less potash is applied than is removed the K Index on light soils will fall more quickly than […]

About 70% of the income from arable cropping in the UK (excluding fruit and vegetables) comes from cereals and oilseeds. Given the primary importance of these crops it is surprising that such risks are taken with their performance. Figure 1 shows the area of winter wheat and of oilseed rape which received a dressing of […]

Straw has always been an important by-product of cereal production, with its main use historically being as feed and bedding for livestock. This remains the primary use, but other markets have developed over recent years, particularly as a result of the low profitability of arable farming and the need to maximise returns through the sale […]