Winter cereals have, for the most part, stood up well to the recent wet weather, with plant numbers high in many crops.

This has been confirmed by Teagasc, courtesy of its March tillage newsletter

There has been relatively little rainfall damage, and most crops are at or - in some cases - above target plant numbers.

The immediate priority is application of fertiliser, beginning with the thinner winter barley crops, then moving on to those at normal tiller numbers.

Growers should take time now to walk crops and assess plant and shoot numbers.

This information is essential for planning nitrogen (N) and plant growth regulator (PGR) programmes for the season ahead.

Significantly, some crops currently have very high plant populations and will require careful management to reduce lodging risk.

Those with higher plant populations have an increased risk of root lodging, due to reduced anchorage strength and by altering the spread of the crown roots.

An increase in plant count in the region of 50 per square metre can alter the lodging resistance by two points on a scale of 1-9.

Winter barley

Growers should aim to apply the main split of N by growth stage (GS) 31.

Sulphur at a rate of 15 kg/ha and trace elements (based on soil analysis and field history) should also be applied.

PGRs should be targeted on crops with a high lodging risk at GS 30. A follow-up treatment can be applied at GS 32-39, if required.

All winter barley crops should be assessed for weeds and, where a tidy up is required, the use a sulfonylurea is recommended.

Active growth and high rates are needed to control overwintered weeds. It is too late to control annual meadow grass.

Winter wheat

Growers should apply 40-50kg/ha of N as the first split on winter wheat in mid-March or by GS 30.

Application rates should be increased to 75 kg/ha for thin crops, second wheat, or where take-all is a risk.

Nitrogen should be applied in three splits, on a 25%:50%:25% three basis.

The main split should be applied by GS 31 and the last split by GS 39.

Winter oats

The first application of approximately 50% of the total N requirement should be applied to winter oat crops by GS 30 (early to mid-March).

Where no autumn herbicide has been applied, crops should be treat with a sulfonylurea and a suitable partner to match weed spectrum.

The most successful PGR strategy in Teagasc trials is a two-spilt approach, with the first application at GS 30/31, followed by a second application at GS 32.

The second application will have a greater shortening effect.

PGRs should only be applied when there is active growth taking place: frost and large tank mixes should be avoided.

Winter oilseed rape

Growers should us an appropriate app to measure the green area index (GAI) of their winter oilseed crop.

A GAI value of 3.5 should be achieved at at the start of flowering.

Crops with large canopies will result in significant savings on nitrogen.

Crops with a GAI below 1.0 will need 225kg/ha of nitrogen, with the first application as soon as growth starts.

In contrast, crops with a GAI of 2.0 will require 165kg/ha, and the first split of 100kg/ha can be delayed until mid-March.