Wheat School: Counting tillers helps determine N strategy

[@Kuwandi]

I’m wondering in view of the world situation and shortage of wheat , how the everycountry that can grow the crop is thinking proactively and amping up efforts asap - it does not appear to be a rosy future

[@agricultureinfopk7393]

Which type of fertilizer use....???

[@lovetofly32]

FINALLY Peter Johnson is back in some videos!!!! 😆😁 But I still wish theyd talk nitrogen amounts/rates in (units) instead of pounds. I mean I just put on 214 pOunDs on here in Kansas as my second pass. I put on 214 pOuNds on in January. But thats 40 units each time using 28% liquid. Pounds means nothing to me. I mean if youre using dry you still need to say what percentage youre using. I'll never use dry urea top dressing for crying out loud. I dont want to see half my money gas off into the atmosphere if it doesn't rain right away. Liquid is the way to go. So saying pOunDs of nitrogen doesn't mean much.

[@RealAgricultureMedia]

Pounds is the easiest way to talk about actual N applied, because there are so many forms and blends --- everyone should be doing the math for their own blend and application rate! (I don't think I know what you mean by "units", so it could be a regional difference) - LS

[@RealAgricultureMedia]

And, bang on with the gassing off comment. If you missed Monday's Agronomist episode on the topic, it's here: www.realagriculture.com/2021/04/the-agronomists-ep-21-ray-dowbenko-and-peter-johnson-on-n-management/

[@lovetofly32]

@@RealAgricultureMedia Well the way I was always taught was its what you actually get on in the end. Like if you put on 100 lbs of dry 46% then you got 46 units. Like i used 11-0-0-52 for starter and had the drill set on about 73 lbs. I dont get 73 units of N with that. I only get 73% of 11. Wich would be like 8 units of N. But if I left that same setting on the drill and used 46% Id get 33.5 units of N. Thats why its confusing to me how much fertilizer theyre actually getting on when they talk pounds. Its like pounds of what!? Sometimes i have them mix half my load with 46% in with my starter to get the N up so i may be putting on 73lbs of a 20-0-0-20 or something. Wich is what we call 20 units of N. Liquid it makes even less sense because then youve got to figure lbs per gallon with all the mixes so we call the analysis after thats all figured your total "units". Ive got about 88 units on my wheat now. If i talked in pounds itd be a much high number. If i did it all with dry 46% I guess thatd be like 192lbs!! But thats only because I knew(dry) 46% part of the equation. Or I just put on too much 🤣😂lol

[@RealAgricultureMedia]

@@lovetofly32 I'm not sure where you get the 73? Are you adding up the numbers of the fertilizer? 11-52-0 symbolizes N-P-K-S (each number for any fertilizer is listed in order of per cent nitrogen, phos, potash, sulphur). So, yes, 11-52-0 is 11% N, and 52% phos. Blends will always make the math tougher.

[@RealAgricultureMedia]

We've run in to this comment before -- talking in units seems to be regional (more U.S.), but talking in pounds is more accurate, as in, the discussion applies regardless of fertilizer form, but yes, it does require some quick math

[@agricultureinfopk7393]

Fertilizer used???

[@EDBZ28]

I'm gonna have to join in with the others commenting here as to what you you Canadians (😂) are referring to when you speak pounds instead of units. I think when you're speaking 120#, you are in fact meaning actual applied units. When we (US farmers) think of pounds...we're thinking of the bulk fertilizer material...not the end value (units) that we're getting out of the form of fertilizer. The one farmer from KS did an excellent job explaining our meaning...there are so many forms and end values of N and when you're just saying "120-150 pounds", it leaves us to wonder...are those actual applied pounds or the rate you're setting the fertilizer spreader? We get we need to do our own math...but please provide an example of what kinda N you're using...is it a liquid 28%? 30%?...a dry 33%? a 46% Urea? If you're talking 120# of 33%=39.6 units or if you guys are referring to actual applied units then the math would be 120/33%=363.6 of bulk material applied. Please be more specific is all we're asking.

[@EDBZ28]

I'm gonna have to join in with the others commenting here as to what you you Canadians (😂) are referring to when you speak pounds instead of units. I think when you're speaking 120#, you are in fact meaning actual applied units. When we (US farmers) think of pounds...we're thinking of the bulk fertilizer material...not the end value (units) that we're getting out of the form of fertilizer. The one farmer from KS did an excellent job explaining our meaning...there are so many forms and end values of N and when you're just saying "120-150 pounds", it leaves us to wonder...are those actual applied pounds or the rate you're setting the fertilizer spreader? We get we need to do our own math...but please provide an example of what kinda N you're using...is it a liquid 28%? 30%?...a dry 33%? a 46% Urea? If you're talking 120# of 33%=39.6 units or if you guys are referring to actual applied units then the math would be 120/33%=363.6 of bulk material applied. Please be more specific is all we're asking.

[@RealAgricultureMedia]

We're a Canadian company with Canadian agronomists, and in Canada we refer to pounds of N applied/needed, actual N, not in pounds or tonnes of product. Regardless of which way you begin, you're still going to have to do the math (either converting pounds into actual product, or using actual N to determine pounds of product). I would argue speaking in pounds of actual N is more accurate, as that's the recommendation for what the crop needs regardless of form. - LS

[@EDBZ28]

@@RealAgricultureMedia I get IT now…just a matter of communication breakdown between countries and terminology. When you say pounds, you’re meaning actual units, which DOES make sense. We (us commenting) just wanted some further clarification. Thank you.