Optimising crop nutrition is the next step following the best crop planting conditions I have ever seen

Sowing moist fertile soils in early April, followed by early growth regulator use, is the key to high yields. Spring cereals need good growing conditions from the date of emergence right through to harvest and are intolerant to any check to growing.

Up on 90pc of our spring crops were sown in early April within a two-week period. Soil conditions were as good as we have ever seen. Emergence was fast and while some of the heavier soils were too wet underneath, most crops have established between 250 and 350 plants per square metre.

Plant stand count can be determined by the number of plants contained within a 0.2m2 hoop which can be made by forming a ring from a 158mm length of wire or flexible plastic.

Crop nutrition

The continuous wet weather since last harvest has leached nitrogen and potash and many trace elements down into the soil, leaving the zone into which seed was sown depleted.

Most, if not all of the nitrogen should be applied as soon as the tramlines can be seen and the balance by the first node.

Avoid lodging on highly fertile soils with reduced nitrogen, reduced seeding rate (too late now) and the use of plant growth regulators.

Nutrient leaching will impact some min-till soils more severely than ploughed/deeply cultivated ground.

The fact that P (phosphorus) is largely immobile requires that low-index P soils, that were not combine drilled or had P incorporated into the seedbed, must get early P application.

Dry weather after establishment puts pressure on the availability of all nutrients.

Loose seedbeds should be rolled and tight contact between soil and root is important. Pay attention to magnesium, copper, zinc and manganese. Foliar applications may be necessary at gs 13-15 and repeated 10 days later.

Slugs and leatherjackets

Slugs and leatherjackets appear to have come through the winter very well and are to be found in many fields including continuous cereals.

Examine all crops this week and where necessary roll for leatherjackets and apply methaldehyde or ferric phosphate for slugs.

Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs)

Tillering of crops with poor plant establishment can be promoted with the use of PGRs.

Early application will enhance tillering so check earliest applications of different products.

Prevention of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV).

Thirty-five years of BYDV control with the use of aphicides has left us with largely resistant populations and the destruction of natural predators. While there may be some role for aphicide application it should only take place where on-farm knowledge and detailed crop inspection justifies it.

Aphicides generally do more harm than good.

Weed Control

Weed control should take place as early as possible unless you have problems with late emerging weeds.

Avoid the use of the same herbicide as used in previous years as you are going to build up populations of resistant weeds. Groundsel is a problem in most winter cereal land due to poor control with autumn herbicides. Early control of wild oats saves on herbicide rates and costs.

Disease control

Disease control starts with crop nutrition. Any nutrient deficiency will increase disease pressure. Pay particular attention to potassium (60-90+ kg/ha) and manganese.

Potassium should have been applied to the seedbed and both magnesium and manganese, where required, by gs 23. Potassium nutrition is most important on varieties susceptible to brackling.

The loss of chlorothalonil (use up date is May 20) will put huge pressure on our standard disease control programmes.

A robust fungicide is required at T1 on spring barley as prevention of rhyncosporium and net blotch is key to reducing ramularia later in the season.

The first fungicide on spring barley should be applied before any disease is visible.

Timing should be at mid-tillering and should consist of an azole and either an SDHI or a strob.

The continuous wet weather since last harvest has leached nitrogen and potash and many trace elements down into the soil

PJ Phelan is a tillage advisor based in Tipperary and is a member of the ACA and ITCA