When growing all crops, including cereals, root application of fertilizers is considered the main method. But if there is a pronounced lack of nutrients due to unfavorable weather conditions, then it is recommended to foliar fertilize wheat. Let's consider the pros and cons of such fertilizing, when to do it in spring and autumn, what fertilizers to use. How much fertilizer do you need to take to obtain the required concentration?
What is foliar feeding?
Root nutrition of plants weakens with a lack of moisture in the soil and cool weather.Accordingly, the lack of nutrients increases, which gradually affects the growth and development of crops. Lack of nutrition can also be caused by the fact that plants manage to use up a lot of nutrients for green growth, as a result of which their deficiency is revealed by the heading stage.
If phosphorus and potassium are deficient in the early stages of crop development, future wheat yields may decrease by up to 20%. Phosphorus helps the root system develop, potassium is consumed in large quantities during tillering.
Spraying on the leaf makes it possible to quickly eliminate the deficiency of elements, since the solution is absorbed into the leaf tissue and immediately enters the cells, reducing the likelihood of nitrogen loss due to leaching and denitrification.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of foliar feeding:
- increased productivity with lower fertilizer costs;
- the ability to provide plants with nutrition in a short time;
- quick effect;
- you can apply fertilizer with any microelement that is required;
- low fertilizer consumption.
Disadvantages: it is not recommended to use foliar fertilizers in hot and dry weather, as the solution quickly evaporates and can cause harm rather than benefit.
Dates
Foliar feeding can be done in spring and autumn, at different stages of plant development. Winter wheat needs fertilizing with nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, and magnesium.
During the germination and germination stages, fertilizers containing basic nutrients are applied. They are applied to the soil before sowing or granules are scattered over the surface of the site after it.
Foliar feeding of wheat will be effective in moist soil and temperatures up to 20 °C. The best time of day is evening and morning. If fertilizers are compatible with pesticides, they can be combined together and double applications. Foliar fertilization with nitrogen has a beneficial effect on plants, increases bushiness, and increases the volume of the harvest.
How to feed wheat leaf by leaf
To feed wheat from nitrogen fertilizers, urea and saltpeter are used. Since plants also need potassium during this period, potassium nitrate is used. It is sprayed during the resumption of the wheat growing season in the spring, when it comes into the tube and at the heading stage. The result of fertilizing will be visible in the form of an increase in the quantity of grain and an increase in its quality - an increased content of gluten and protein.
How to do it?
The dose of nitrate for leaf feeding should not be large: 5-6 kg of fertilizer should be dissolved per 1000 liters. You cannot increase the concentration so as not to burn the leaves. When spraying with urea, the standards are different: when 2-3 internodes are formed, the concentration should be no more than 10%, during heading - 25% and at the stage of milky ripeness - 30%.
Application rules: distribute the solution evenly over the leaves, spray when there is no sun, in the evening or in the morning. The effectiveness of foliar feeding is influenced by the condition and age of the plants, the condition of the soil, temperature and air humidity.Weakened by frost, disease, lack of water, as well as older plants, absorb elements from the solution worse than healthy and young ones.
Foliar feeding of cereal crops is no less valuable than root feeding. During critical periods of wheat development, when intensive growth occurs (tillering, booting and heading), the plants are in great need of nutrients. To quickly make up for the lack of elements, spray with fertilizer solutions containing the necessary substances. How effective foliar feeding is is evidenced by the fact that plants can absorb 70% of nitrogen from leaves and only the rest from the soil.
