How to increase wheat quality
Achieving the required quality targets for wheat can greatly affect the value of the harvested crop. Often the quality targets depend on the end user’s required specification e.g. livestock feed, milling for bread or biscuit flour or grain distilling. The main traits to consider are grain protein, specific weight, Hagberg falling number and starch content.
Macronutrients impact on grain quality
Crop nutrition can have a great impact on the quality of the harvested grain and fertiliser applications should be planned to achieve the required quality targets. To achieve the highest value for the grain the grower often has to meet a combination of specifications.
Nitrogen and potassium are the most influential of the macronutrients on grain quality. Nitrogen is important for protein or starch content whilst potassium maintains the crop structure to prevent lodging that reduces Hagberg falling numbers and specific weight.
Micronutrients role in influencing grain quality
The secondary nutrients sulphur and magnesium influence grain protein and specific weight respectively, whilst the micronutrient zinc also helps nitrogen metabolism that improves grain protein concentrations.
Recommended Yara fertilisers for wheat
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How to increase wheat protein content and quality
Nitrogen and sulphur both influence grain protein content and quality. Nitrogen should be applied when the plant can still incorporate the nitrogen into its grain, and sulphur levels need to be adequate to ensure this does not limit nitrogen use.
How to increase Hagberg falling number in wheat
The Hagberg falling number is used to determine suitability of wheat for bread making, with higher numbers preferred by millers. Effective crop nutrition management particularly of nitrogen and potassium can help increase the Hagberg falling numbers.
How to increase wheat grain specific weight
Grain specific weight is a measure of the density of the grain. Specific weight is predominantly a genetic trait of varieties, but poor crop nutrition and application can reduce specific weight.
How to increase wheat starch content for bioethanol
When wheat is destined for biofuel production, the yield of ethanol is a key component to consider. Varietal choice is an important consideration with those that are soft wheat types tending to give higher ethanol yields.
