In light of the previous comments, one thing growers need to do is make sure that adequate N is available to the wheat crop as it goes into the spring. In general, w heat takes up about 2.0 to 2.5 lb of N per bushel produced, or if grazed, about one lb for each 3 lb of stocker gain. Adequate N must be available to the wheat plant at all phases of development. Shortages may ultimately result in reduced tillering, reduction in head size, poor grain fill, reduced yields, and low protein content. Splitting N applications has the potential to improve use efficiency, minimize risk to investment, and safeguard the environment. It is critical that topdress applications be made early, prior to jointing, to maximize production efficiency. “Topdress by jointing” is the standard recommendation, but it is probably more accurate to say that N should be available for uptake (i.e., moved into the root zone) by jointing. Source should be managed according to equipment, availability, price, and other practical factors. Gaseous loss of N from urea-containing fertilizer is not of great concern in wheat topdressing since temperatures are usually below the threshold of concern (50 to 55 oF).

Chloride is another nutrient that can be of benefit in wheat topdress applications in some conditions. Many resources and guidelines are available on chloride, including an article in the most recent issue of Better Crops with Plant Food (link here). Without going into detail, chloride may be beneficial for wheat where soil test levels are less than 45 lb/A (24 in soil sample), or where foliar fungal disease pressure is unusually high. For more on chloride, see the article cited above, and other resources at the IPNI website.