Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Cooperative Extension Service. Nitrogen management is one of the most important keys to successful small grain production. It is also one of the easiest management strategies to misuse, resulting in both environmental damage and yield reductions. To achieve optimum small grain yields, producers need to follow different nitrogen guidelines in the fall, winter, early spring, and spring. Preplant Nitrogen Management Tillers produced in the fall are an important component of a high-yielding crop.
Tillers require warm temperatures and adequate moisture.
Consequently, planting at the correct time is the most important factor in getting good fall tiller production. If planting is too early, conditions are often warm and tiller production progresses too rapidly. This leads to plants that head out too early and are at high risk to spring freeze damage. Ideally, small grains need to be planted early enough to take advantage of warm fall conditions, but not so early that they develop too rapidly. This application can be very important for high yields, since nitrogen stress early in the season will prevent adequate tillering.