Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops grown worldwide, with a significant role in feeding the world’s population. However, wheat plants are highly dependent on nitrogen for better growth and yield. Therefore, nitrogen deficiency is a common issue that farmers face while cultivating wheat crops. Urea is a widely used fertilizer for wheat, and farmers apply it in the recommended amount to provide adequate nitrogen supply. However, sometimes even after applying the recommended amount of urea, wheat crops still suffer from nitrogen deficiency.
To understand the reasons behind this issue and to overcome nitrogen deficiency after applying the suggested amount of urea, farmers need to consider the following factors:
Soil testing: Soil testing is crucial to understand the nutrient status and pH level of the soil. Soil with a higher pH level affects the urea’s breakdown rate and reduces the availability of nitrogen to wheat plants.
Crop rotation: Crop rotation is an effective way to break the nitrogen cycle and improve soil fertility. Alternating between leguminous and non-leguminous crops can help maintain the soil’s nitrogen level.
Timing of fertilizer application: Applying urea at the right time is crucial to ensure that wheat plants receive adequate nitrogen. In most cases, farmers apply urea at the sowing time. However, applying urea in two or three split doses during the crop growth stages can improve the nutrient uptake by wheat plants and reduce nitrogen loss.
Mycorrhizal inoculants: Mycorrhizae are soil fungi that form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots and help in nutrient uptake. Mycorrhizal inoculants can help improve the wheat plant’s nitrogen uptake efficiency.
Foliar application: Foliar application of nitrogen fertilizers can help overcome the deficiency symptoms effectively and quickly. Farmers can apply urea in the form of foliar spray to provide additional nitrogen to the wheat plants during critical growth stages.
In conclusion, nitrogen deficiency is a common issue faced by wheat farmers, even after applying the recommended amount of urea. However, by considering the above factors and implementing effective farming practices, farmers can overcome this problem and ensure better growth and yield of their wheat crops.