ESN Increases Yields in Irrigated Soft-White Winter Wheat
Trial was conducted at Hermiston, OR on sprinkler-irrigated soft-white winter wheat. Yields shown are averages of two N rates. Split urea application consisted of 50% of total N applied in February, 15% at flag-leaf emergence, and 35% at boot stage.
*Profit calculations assume wheat price of $5.00/bu; an ESN price difference of $0.20/lb N more than urea and application cost of $7/acre.
Research in Oregon demonstrates the advantage of ESN in irrigated, soft-white winter wheat. Irrigated wheat in the Pacific Northwest can produce very high yields but requires good nitrogen (N) management to achieve these yields. Conventional best management practices (BMPs) typically use multiple applications of conventional N fertilizers. These practices can improve N-use efficiency, but they incur additional costs and can be delayed by unfavorable weather or soil conditions.
A single ESN top-dress application in February was compared with top-dress urea applied in one or three applications. The ESN treatments produced greater yields than either of these conventional practices.
100% of the N applied as ESN in one February application increased yields by 15 bu/acre over similar application of urea and by 8 bu/acre over urea applied in three applications.
A single top-dress using a blend of 75% ESN and 25% urea produced yields similar to three applications of urea.
100% ESN and 75% ESN blend applications increased grower net return by $22.50/ acre and $5.63/acre over similar application of urea. One ESN application produced $1.50/acre more profit than three applications of urea.*
ESN saved two applications over the standard BMP program and produced top yields in one simple early spring application.
