Recommendation system by: Government
SRUC Technical Notes
Provides detailed advice to land managers on a wide range of issues and are informed by research and practice in the field providing information and resources aimed at increasing the profitability and sustainability of farms and crofts. The Scottish system guides the grower through a series of stages, and assigns to each intended crop an N recommendation, based on the crop type, the N residues left by the previous crop or grass/clover type, as well as on the soil type and recent rainfall.
Access the recommendation system
Wheat
Maize
Potatoes
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
| Publisher | Government |
| Name | SRUC Technical Notes |
| Weblink | https://www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/sac-consulting/agricultural-production/technical-notes/ |
| Countries covered | United Kingdom |
| Regions covered | Scotland |
| Language | English |
| Crops covered | Wheat, Potatoes, Other cereals, Brassicas, Other crops |
| Nutrients covered | Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S), Magnesium (Mg), Copper (Cu) |
| Target soil pH Recommendations based on soil and cropping types | Provided |
| Nitrogen | |
| Crops for Nitrogen Recommendation | - |
| Nitrogen Analysis Options | None |
| Soil Nitrogen Assess Method | Estimated |
| Factors for estimated Soil Mineral N | Soil type, Rainfall, Past management |
| Soil Nitrogen content measurement | None |
| Phosphorus | |
| Crops for Phosphorus Recommendation | Potatoes, Wheat |
| Soil Phosphorus content measurement | Lab based method |
| Phosphorus Sampling Frequency | 5 years + |
| Lab analysis method for Phosphorus | Modified Morgan's method |
| Potassium | |
| Crops for Potassium Recommendation | Potatoes, Wheat |
| Soil Potassium content measurement | Lab based analysis |
| Lab analysis method for Potassium | Modified Morgan's method |
| Potassium Sampling Frequency | 5 years + |
| Potassium Measurement Method | None |
| Soil available Potassium(Κ) from potash clays | Soil type |
| Guidance for minimizing nitrate leaching | Provided |
| Crops for which the recommended N rate is adapted depending upon nitrate leaching risk | Wheat, Maize, Potatoes |
| Nitrogen | |
| Dry Springs | Not Considered |
| Advice on irrigation for N recommendation | Not Provided |
| Spring Crop N content | Not Accounted for |
| Accepted methods for assessment of spring crop N content | |
| Phosphorus | |
| Spring Crop P content | Not Accounted for |
| Accepted methods for assessment of spring crop P content | |
| Nitrogen | |
| Current in season crop N requirement | Estimated |
| Basis for N Requirement Estimation | Standard values for crop N content |
| Expected yields | Estimated in season N requirement can be adjusted for expected yields |
| Basis of crop N requirements | Crop approach |
| Phosphorus | |
| Current in season crop P requirement | Estimated |
| Basis for P requirement estimation | Standard values for crop P content |
| Expected yields | Estimated P requirement can be adjusted for expected yields |
| Basis of crop P requirements | Crop approach, Rotation approach |
| Potassium | |
| Current in season crop K requirement | Estimated |
| Basis for K requirement estimation | Standard Yield |
| Expected yields | Estimated K requirement can be adjusted for expected yields |
| Basis of crop K requirements | Crop approach, Rotation approach |
| Crops for which yield adjustments are made | Wheat |
| Adjustments for Potato Recommendations | |
| Recommendations on length of growing season, variety, haulm length and/or determinacy groups | Available |
| Available adjustments for potatoes | Recommendations are not adjusted |
| Adjustments for nitrate leaching, gaseous N-losses and Ammonia Mitigation | |
| N adjustments to account for gaseous N-losses are included for | Manures |
| Fertiliser types and additives change recommendation | |
| Ammonia mitigation strategies used for manufactured fertilisers | |
| Manure application methods used for reducing ammonia emissions | Precision application equipment (e.g. bandspreading); Incorporation into soil |
| Organic materials nutrient content | |
| Crop available N for different types of organic material | Calculated |
| Organic materials for which crop available N is calculated | Farmyard manure (cattle, goat, pig, sheep, horse, duck), Cattle slurry, Pig slurry, Poultry manure, Digestate, Compost, Biosolids, Waste derived materials e.g. paper crumble, food waste |
| Crop available nutrients from organic materials accounted for | Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) |
| Nutrients for which there is an option to input own organic material nutrient analysis | None |
| Types of organic materials for which regulation stipulates a sampling requirement | Certain types |
| Guidance on fertilizer application timings | Provided, Adjusted for the total amount of nutrient applied |
| Guidance on the rate of fertiliser to apply at each timing | Provided |
| Number of fertilizer N applications in wheat | 2 |
| Application number between maize and potatoes | Different |
| Number of fertiliser N applications in maize (or potatoes) | Maize is not covered by the recommendation system |
| P & K application frequency in winter wheat | Once a year |
| P & K application frequency between maize and potatoes | Does not differ |
| P & K application frequency in maize (or potatoes) | |
| Crops with guidance available for the placement of fertilisers | Potatoes |
Funded by the European Union and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Commission or UKRI. Neither the European Union, European Commission nor UKRI can be held responsible for them.
Project Coordinators
Sarah Kendall
sarah.kendall@adas.co.ukSpyros Fountas
sfountas@aua.grheurope.nutrichecknet@gmail.com
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