How to increase wheat starch content

When wheat is destined for biofuel production, the yield of ethanol is a key component to consider. Varietal choice is an important consideration with those that are soft wheat types tending to give higher ethanol yields. Harvesting delays must be avoided as there is a danger that grain in the ear starts to grow (sprout) at which point enzymes begin to breakdown the starch.

Nitrogen effects on grain starch content

Nitrogen is the most important nutrient that will directly affect the grains starch content.

High ethanol content is inversely related to grain nitrogen i.e. low grain nitrogen (or protein) is an indication of high starch content, and hence potentially high bioethanol yield per tonne. If the grain is grown specifically for ethanol then nutrient management practices should be adjusted accordingly. Nitrogen should be applied early in the growing season preventing any late nitrogen applications to increase grain protein content.

Low protein wheat grain has the highest alcohol yield for ethanol production

The correlation of wheat grain starch and grain protein

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Recommended Yara fertilisers for wheat

YaraBela AXAN
27% N + 3.6% S - Uniform compound granular nitrogen and sulphur fertiliser for use on all crops.
YaraMila ACTYVA S
16-6.6-12.4 + 2.6% S - Granular fertiliser often used for grasland, winter cereals and oilseed rape to supply phosphate and potash together with nitrogen and sulphur.
YaraVita MANTRAC PRO
A flowable liquid micronutrient fertiliser 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.
YaraVita GRAMITREL
A flowable liquid fertiliser with a balanced combination of micronutrients including manganese, magnesium, copper and zinc for foliar application to cereals.
YaraVita MAGFLO 300
A flowable liquid fertiliser containing 300 g/l magnesium for foliar application to cereals and potatoes or treat magnesium deficiency in a wide range of crops.
YaraVita MANCOZIN
A flowable liquid micronutrient fertiliser containing manganese, copper and zinc for foliar application to treat micronutrient deficiencies on cereals and broadacre crops.
YaraVita BORTRAC 150
A liquid micronutrient fertiliser containing 150 g/l boron for foliar application to provide additional boron or to treat boron deficiencies in a wide range of crops.
YaraVita ZINTRAC 700
A fully formulated flowable liquid micronutrient fertiliser containing 700 g/l zinc for foliar application to prevent and treat zinc deficiency on a wide range of crops.
See all fertilisers products

How correct nutrient management can affect your wheat

Farmer fields in Scotland
Micronutrients: Micro but Mighty
Don’t be fooled by the name - micronutrients are NOT unimportant, we just need less of them than the macronutrients to achieve the best results.
Managing late drilled wheat crops
Managing late drilled wheat crops
Where drilling of winter wheat has been delayed, the crop nutrition strategy should be adapted to help recover the lost yield potential
Do you really need straight nitrogen
Do you really need straight nitrogen
Before ordering your straight nitrogen it is worth considering how much you actually need as it may be you actually need NS or NPKS grades instead.
Don't forget about sulphur
Don't forget about sulphur
Sulphur was often overlooked in the past but today it is recognised as an essential nutrient and considered just as important as nitrogen, so not to be forgotten.
Heavier fertiliser spreads further
Heavier fertiliser spreads further
Some fertilisers consistently spread further and more accurately than others. A heavier and larger fertiliser granule will spread further because the spreader can put more energy into it.
Agronomy Advice - Boron deficiencies in cereals shouldn’t be overlooked
Boron deficiencies in cereals shouldn’t be overlooked
Boron is generally an overlooked micronutrient and it is often wrongly assumed to be less important for cereals than for brassicas which have the highest boron requirement.
See all agronomy advice

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