The importance of starter fertilization for late winter wheat sowing

The importance of starter fertilization for late winter wheat sowing

Late sowing of winter wheat is becoming a common issue in modern agriculture, especially under climate change and unpredictable weather. Late sowing can result from delayed harvest of the preceding crop, insufficient soil moisture at sowing time, and other factors that affect crop growth, development, and winter survival.

Late sowing: main causes

Late winter wheat sowing occurs due to a combination of weather, technological, and organizational factors:

• Late harvest of the preceding crop. Most often sunflower or late soybean, which are harvested in September–October. The delay in the field prevents timely soil preparation and sowing.
• Lack of moisture or drought. In dry years, field operations and sowing are postponed until rainfall occurs, shifting the sowing dates.
• Excessive rainfall. Prolonged rains delay harvesting and make fields inaccessible for machinery.
• Technical and logistical challenges. Shortage of seeders, seeds, or other resources also causes late field operations.

As a result, the autumn vegetation period of winter wheat is shortened, reducing the time for plant development and sugar accumulation necessary for successful overwintering.

Why late sowing is risky

Late sowing poses serious risks to future yield:

• Formation of weak stands. Plants cannot enter the tillering stage and develop a strong root system due to the short pre-winter period.
• Reduced winter hardiness. Lack of accumulated sugars weakens the plant’s ability to withstand freezing and thawing cycles.
• Delayed spring regrowth. Poorly developed plants recover more slowly in spring, affecting yield potential.
• Lower yield. Research shows that even a 2–3-week sowing delay can reduce yield by 10–25% if no compensatory measures are applied.

For this reason, agronomists recommend using starter fertilization to compensate for the shortened autumn vegetation period.

Starter fertilization — an effective solution for late sowing

Starter fertilization of winter wheat means applying mineral fertilizers directly into the seed row during sowing or right on the seed. This method provides nutrients close to the young plant roots, ensuring quick uptake.

Key nutrients for starter fertilization:

• Phosphorus (P). Promotes deeper root penetration, improves water uptake from unfrozen soil layers, prevents heaving, and contributes to sugar accumulation that increases frost tolerance. As part of ATP, it supplies energy for active growth and hardening.
• Potassium (K). Enhances sugar accumulation (“natural antifreeze”), strengthens cell walls, and regulates water balance, protecting plants from winter drought.
• Nitrogen (N). Necessary for growth, but should be applied in limited amounts in autumn to avoid overstimulation.
• Sulfur and micronutrients (Zn, B). Support metabolic and enzymatic processes and promote strong root development.

Benefits of starter fertilization:

• Rapid start: Ensures readily available phosphorus for faster root development, tillering, and autumn growth.

• Winter hardiness: Increases frost tolerance through active sugar accumulation despite the short autumn.

• Uniform emergence: Promotes even, well-developed stands that form the foundation of yield.

For late sowing, it is advisable to apply mineral fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium directly into the seed row. Suitable fertilizers include:

• NPK 7:21:21 + S + Zn

• MAKOSH NPK 5:13:13

• MAKOSH NPK 12:24:12 + 8.5S

• MAKOSH 18 + B, Zn

Late sowing is always a compromise between timing and risk. However, proper starter fertilization allows farmers to compensate for lost growth potential and provide winter wheat with a strong start. Phosphorus and potassium are key to winter hardiness, while balanced nutrition ensures rapid rooting, successful overwintering, and vigorous spring growth.

Thus, starter fertilization during late winter wheat sowing is not an extra expense — it is a smart investment in future yield, production stability, and profitability.