Increasing wheat protein with post emergent applications of UAN vs dissolved urea
Term: 2 years, starting in 2019
Status: Completed (CLICK HERE to read the performance story)
Funding Amount: $172,500
Lead Researcher(s): Mike Hall (East Central Research Foundation)
Funding Partners: N/A
Project Description
Recently, producers have been disappointed by low levels of grain protein. When regional protein levels are low, the premiums offered for high protein wheat tend to increase. This has left producers wondering what can be done to increase protein levels in the future.
Post-emergent application of N fertilizer is one of the only options to increase grain protein during the growing season. The results from this practice vary but it is more likely to be economical when yield potential is high and soil N is inadequate to maintain high protein levels.
This project will open the discussion around increasing wheat protein. It will serve to help farmers to apply post-emergent nitrogen to their crop as safely and efficiently as possible and to decide under what circumstances a post-anthesis application is likely to be profitable.