SUCCESSFUL ENTRY INTO WINTER IS KEY TO HIGH YIELD IN WHEAT

Bulagro agronomists advise on how to prepare our wheat crops for successful wintering

What is the current state of wheat crops in Bulgaria?

Wheat sowing has already been completed in all regions of the country. In many places, farmers delayed due to low rainfall, warm and dry weather, which did not allow timely processing of the field. High temperatures in the first half of November and good soil moisture in some regions of the country favored the initial development of wheat crops, but most crops sown in November are still in the 3-leaf phase, only in some places in northeastern Bulgaria they reach the tillering phase.

What risks does late sowing pose for plant development?

The biggest risk is that plants enter the winter without a formed tillering node, which reduces their resistance to low winter temperatures and frost. Crops remain sparse, with uneven plant height development and lagging behind in their physiological development. The sharp fluctuations in temperatures, which are characteristic of late autumn and early winter, expose plants to additional stress and exhaust them.

What can we do to help plants successfully overwinter?

The answer is simple – to nourish them with the necessary microelements and support them with a powerful biostimulator.

Foliar feeding of plants with high-quality highly concentrated fertilizers with a complex of microelements, amino acids and growth regulators in the initial stages of development is very important. It leads to a better garnished crop, with increased cold resistance, a better developed root system and an increased content of sugars in the tillering node. The simultaneous germination of seeds also greatly reduces weeding of the crop, as cultivated plants outgrow weeds in their development and suffocate them. At the same time, microelements improve the development and condition of plants, which is important for their entry into winter conditions. They are able to successfully withstand critical low temperatures, set and feed an optimal number of siblings. In the spring, their resistance to enemies and fungal diseases, lodging, drought and other stress factors increases.

Why is soil nutrition in early autumn not enough at all and it is necessary to combine it with foliar?

There are several reasons:

Because in the initial stages of development - germination and emergence, plants have the greatest need for microelements. Crops need them in very small quantities, but in their absence in the soil they do not develop normally. These are: iron, boron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, copper, magnesium, calcium, sulfur.
Due to late sowing and the complicated conditions of autumn wheat vegetation observed in recent years - drought in some places and overwetting in others, sharp temperature amplitudes that lead to freezing and impaired development;
Due to the high prices and shortage of soil fertilizers on the market this autumn, some fields remained insufficiently fertilized. This shortage can have a serious negative effect on yields.
Last but not least, the various plant protection measures in autumn make foliar feeding possible and easy without additional costs. And not only is it economically justified - the use of a biostimulator with plant protection products helps plants overcome herbicide stress faster.

Which micronutrients does wheat need in autumn and why?

Micronutrients are vital in wheat cultivation because they regulate key physiological processes and even if the required amounts are very small, their role is no less modest than that of macronutrients, and their deficiency can cause major losses in quality and quantity.

Among the most important in cereals are manganese, copper and zinc. The intake of each of them is increased many times by the parallel intake of the other two. Their deficiency is observed in humus-rich, sandy, loose soils, with a high pH value, in drought, cold or waterlogging.

With a deficiency of manganese, the production of waxy coating on plants is disrupted, which facilitates attack by enemies and diseases. Manganese increases the resistance of plants to stress and cold.

Copper is needed for the formation and growth of the grain in the wheat ear, participates in the formation of chlorophyll and is important for photosynthesis. With an acute deficiency of copper, plants do not set ears, and sometimes die.

Zinc promotes the formation of a healthy root system, in conditions of sharp temperature fluctuations it increases the resistance of plants to drought, low or high temperatures, regulates respiration.

Feeding plants with these microelements guarantees higher yields, plant strength and resistance to diseases.

Molybdenum is of great importance for the nitrogen cycle and its absorption by plants, and also affects phosphorus metabolism.

Codafol Maximus is a unique product that is already well known and loved by many local farmers because of its reliable complex action. It provides balanced nutrition with a complex of macro and microelements, and thanks to the amino acids and natural stimulants contained in it, it activates the immune system of plants and increases their resistance to stress factors.

If you need a stronger stimulation of plants that are lagging behind in their development, we recommend:

• Megafol 1 ml/ha + EDTA Mix 0.5 g/ha

By combining the powerful effect of the anti-stress biostimulator Megafol with the high nutritional values ​​of the EDTA Mix complex, you will enhance the development of your wheat, increase the hormonal activity of plants, help them cope with stress and enter a super-nutrition mode.

For specific deficiencies of yield-limiting trace elements in your crops:

Coda Cu-L (6% Cu), Coda Mn-L (10.64% Mn), Codaquel (4.56% Zn, 4.56% Mn), Coda Fe-L (6.25% Fe)

The new specialized foliar fertilizers from the CODA series provide optimal plant nutrition with yield-limiting microelements and timely correct soil deficiencies.

The choice of a specific option depends on the type and acidity of the soil, the condition of the crop, climatic conditions, the previous crop, the presence of biotic and abiotic stress.

Contact us to receive an individual recommendation for fertilization, corresponding to the specific needs of your crops!