ESN Management for Newer High Yield Wheat Varieties

Traditional nitrogen (N) management practices may be inadequate to fulfill both yield and protein potential of recently introduced high yielding hard red spring wheat varieties. ESN was a part of recent Manitoba research to determine the effects on yield and protein levels.

Results from year one of a two year, two site research study, being conducted by the University of Manitoba and Manitoba Agriculture, show the benefits of ESN for yield and protein.

ESN blends (50:50) with urea tended to out-yield straight urea, and yield differences were greater with AAC Brandon as opposed to Prosper (figure 1). ESN blends tended to produce greater protein percentages in both varieties, as opposed to using straight urea (figure 2).

ESN blends can be used to provide protected N for high yielding wheat varieties, with reduced concern for in season N loss due to leaching, denitrification, or volatile loss potential that can occur through in season top-dress applications. Additionally, the controlled release feature of ESN provides both early season N for yield production, and later season N to build protein.