The grain number is itself a function of the number of fertile shoots per unit area and the number of grains per head. The grower therefore needs to consider the nutrients that can have an impact on the grain numbers per ear.
Nitrogen will affect the number of grains that are set on individual ears. A high yielding crop of oats will have approximately 30-40 grains / ear, however if nitrogen supply is limiting this will be reduced. The timing of the applied nitrogen is important as grain numbers are determined early from double ridge to floret initiation.
Early applications of nitrogen increase the number of grains / ear.
Manganese, Zinc, Copper and Boron are the essential micro nutrients that affect the number of grains/ear and hence increase grain yield. Copper affects the quality of pollen and therefore the number of grain sites that set seed. Blind sites are associated with copper deficiency.
The number of eventual grains per ear varies from season to season and is affected by a number of factors including:
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16-6.6-12.4 + 2.6% S - Granular fertilizer often used for winter cereals and oilseed rape to supply phosphate and potash together with nitrogen and sulphur.
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27% N + 3.6% S - Uniform compound granular nitrogen and sulphur fertilizer for use on all crops.
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A flowable liquid fertilizer with a balanced combination of micronutrients including manganese, magnesium, copper and zinc for foliar application to cereals.
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A flowable liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing 500 g/l of manganese for application as a foliar spray or seed treatment to a wide range of crops to treat or prevent manganese deficiency.
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A flowable liquid fertilizer containing 300 g/l magnesium for foliar application to cereals and potatoes or treat magnesium deficiency in a wide range of crops.
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A flowable liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing manganese, copper and zinc for foliar application to treat micronutrient deficiencies on cereals and broadacre crops.
