Title: Nitrogen Rates on Hard Red Winter & Spring Wheat

Objective: To look at optimum N rates for 1) Yield and 2) Protein.

Background: With the new higher yielding varieties, the current nitrogen rates may not be optimizing yield and by achieving the protein level required obtaining the full protein premium.

Locations: Quinte Regional SCIA

Site Selection: 7 On-farm sites (see plot layout below)

Plot Setup and Harvesting Layout: Each treatment to be replicated at least once. The replication could be the other side of the field. Avoid placing the same treatment beside each other.

Treatment Sizes: The width of each treatment would be a minimum of 3 widths of the combine header, to allow harvest up & back, or as wide as the wide of the fertilizer spreader/applicator (60 feet).

Assessments: Soil nitrated sample to be taken 1st at thaw and again within 5 days prior to each N application. Plant population counts to be taken.Grain Yield, moisture, protein and bushel weight to be measured at harvest.

Duration: 3 years

Plot Layout Hard Red Winter Wheat

• Standard Nitrogen Rate (X lbs/ac)
• Standard Nitrogen Rate (X lbs/ac) - to be harvested
• Nitrogen Rate (0 lbs/ac) - to be harvested
• Nitrogen Rate (X-30 lbs/ac) - to be harvested
• Nitrogen Rate (X+30 lbs/ac) - to be harvested
• Standard Nitrogen Rate (X lbs/ac) - to be harvested
• Standard Nitrogen Rate (X lbs/ac)
• Standard Nitrogen Rate (X lbs/ac) - to be harvested
• Nitrogen Rate (X+30 lbs/ac) - to be harvested
• Nitrogen Rate (0 lbs/ac) - to be harvested
• Nitrogen Rate (X-30 lbs/ac) - to be harvested
• Standard Nitrogen Rate (X lbs/ac) - to be harvested
• Standard Nitrogen Rate (X lbs/ac)

2003 Results

Cooperator: David Glover
Plot: Nitrogen Rates on Hard Red Winter Wheat
Pool B = $170.00     $0.32 $/lbs N

N Rate(lbs/ac)	Protein %	Yield (bu/ac)	Yield (mt/ac)	Protein Premium ($/mt)	Gross ($/ac)	N Cost $/ac	Gross Less N Costs
0	11.6	61.0	1.7	$11	$301	$0.00	$301
40	11.9	67.0	1.8	$14	$336	$12.80	$323
70	12.1	73.0	2.0	$15	$368	$22.40	$345
100	12.6	82.0	2.2	$15	$413	$32.00	$381
Average	12.1	70.8

Cooperator: Darcy McKague
Plot: Nitrogen Rates on Hard Red Spring Wheat
Pool C = $200.00/mt     $0.32/lbs N

N Rate(lbs/ac)	Protein %	Yield (bu/ac)	Yield (mt/ac)	Protein Premium ($/mt)	Gross ($/ac)	N Cost $/ac	Gross Less N Costs
0	n/a	27.0	0.7		$147	$0.00	$147
40	n/a	32.0	0.9		$174	$12.80	$161
70	n/a	38.0	1.0		$207	$22.40	$184
100	n/a	46.0	1.3		$250	$32.00	$218
Average		35.8

Note: the above results are from only 1 year. In 2003, the high rate was the most economic return to nitrogen (MERN) in each of these plots. In the two Hard Red Winter Wheat plots, the maximum protein premium was achieved at the 70 lbs N/acre rate.