Why top dress your grains with Nitrogen?

A common practice is doing a “split application” where you apply half of the fertilizer when planting and adding the other half after the seeds have germinated and are up and growing (2-4 weeks after green up). The second application may be done by broadcasting dry urea with a seed spreader over the top of your already green grains (wheat and oats). The root systems have become more developed and are able to take in the additional nitrogen easier. Applying the second application of nitrogen during the cooler months will also allow for less potential nitrogen loss due to volatilization. This will also give the grains a boost of growth needed to get established before any extreme temperature drops or snow events. The nitrogen rate of application should be based upon the soil test done before planting. 

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