A NEW GUIDE to help growers calculate the economic optimum rate of nitrogen fertiliser application is now available from Yara.

The online spreadsheet allows users to work out adjustments to RB209 Recommended Rates, to take into account changes in grain and nitrogen prices, explained the firm‘s Mark Tucker.

Adjustments are based on data from a series of nitrogen response trials conducted by Yara on winter wheat and winter oilseed rape.

“We‘ve looked back at all our past data to provide a very simple, quick and easy guide to help growers make informed decisions before adjusting fertiliser rates.”

If growers decide to cut back on nitrogen rates, it is important to make sure this does not have a detrimental effect on crop development, he added.

“If you go down the route of making adjustments, make sure you know exactly how the plant is doing as it gets towards flag leaf, so nitrogen availability and uptake can be optimised.”

The online spreadsheet can be accessed via www.yara.co.uk.