Plant recommended varieties at recommended rates. Fertilize with phosphate at seeding. Lower plant densities or planting rates will result in increased tillering. Later planting dates should compensate reduced tillering with higher planting rates. Seeding rates are dependent on the variety of grain being sown, and are typically increased if the field is intended for pasture.
Water use is highest in the reproductive growth stages and typically peaks around grain development.
Timing of irrigation depends more on the status of rainfall and soil moisture levels, as opposed to the development stage of the crop. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the primary nutrients critical for growing small grains, and these nutrients may have to be added if they are at low soil concentrations. Wheat has also been shown to respond to applications of lime to neutralize soil pH. For overwintering varieties, nitrogen applications may be necessary as pre-planting applications in early spring, though over fertilization may lead to lodging of plants later in plant development. Assessing the effectiveness of fertilizer applications is most accurate if the application occurs directly after snow melt. Typically winter varieties benefit more from nitrogen inputs than spring wheat, particularly in stubbled-in fields.