Spring injection application of nitrogen in winter wheat

The clear benefit is the well-timed application of liquid fertiliser directly into the soil, allowing for efficient plant utilization even with irregular rainfall. A key advantage is also the reduction of nitrogen fertiliser losses into the atmosphere. The liquid form of nitrogen fertiliser is more accessible to plants than solid mineral fertilisers applied on the soil surface. Moreover, it enables fertilisation in mulching systems, where the goal is to apply fertiliser beneath the mulch layer directly to the roots, avoiding rapid degradation of plant residues. A significant advancement in technology is the possibility of variable application, especially with the use of section control.

In 2024, injection application of DAM 390 fertiliser was verified on the field of Statek Chyše s.r.o., Czech Republic during regenerative fertilisation of winter wheat. The application was part of testing the NEVEON BEDNAR FMT prototype with a working width of 20 m and a spacing between application wheels with injection spikes of 0.25 m. The tested crop was winter wheat (variety Fenomen), seeded in autumn 2023 (October 11, 2023) with a seeding rate of 3.5 million seeds per hectare.

The application of DAM 390 fertiliser using the NEVEON BEDNAR FMT prototype with a working width of 20 m and a spacing between application wheels with injection spikes of 0.25 m.

The pre-crop was winter oilseed rape. After harvest, the stubble was processed to a depth of 10 mm, followed by loosening to a depth of 0.25 m and seeding with a row spacing of 0.15 m. The primary fertilisation was done with a dosage of 80 kg NPK 15-15-15 per hectare. The first regenerative fertilisation took place on March 6, 2024 (LAD 200 kg/ha), and the second on April 4, 2024, involving plots with DAM 390 application. The testing was conducted in strips with doses of 50; 100; 150; 200, and 250 l/ha, with a control treatment featuring a foliar application of DAM 390 at a dosage of 130 l/ha. The plants were in the end of tillering stage at the time of fertilisation. The fertiliser was applied to a depth of about 70 mm, creating a fertiliser depot in the soil. Qualitative fertilisation took place on May 24, 2024, with a dosage of 100 kg LAD per hectare, consistent for all variants.

Plants subjected to injection application tillered better and regenerated more rapidly during frosts.

Effect of injection application of DAM 390 with the NEVEON machine on the quality parameters of winter wheat grain.

*The prices used for calculations are indicative and subject to change.
** Costs for fuel consumption and DAM were included to demonstrate the difference; the rest of the applications were identical for both the control and the trial.

Real yields of winter wheat suggest that zonal injection application of DAM 390 in the range of 100 to 250 l/ha contributed to higher yields compared to foliar application of DAM at 130 l/ha. For economic evaluation, grain moisture was considered, and yield was recalculated to a uniform moisture of 12%. After evaluating qualitative parameters and different application costs, it was found that the efficiency of liquid fertiliser injection into the soil resulted in better economic outcomes compared to the control treatment.

Acknowledgment:
We would like to thank the Precision Agriculture Center at the Czech University of Life Sciences for their collaboration on this project.

JOY OF FARMING
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BEDNAR FMT s.r.o.