Cereals
Cereal crops include a variety of grass family plants such as wheat, maize, rice, barley, oats, rye, and sorghum. To maximize yield and crop quality, cereals need nutrients — especially nitrogen. But when it comes to fertilizer for cereal crops, the rule of thumb is quality, not quantity, as too much applied N and K will simply get lost in the soil. To ensure your plants are getting the nutrients they need, try our nutrient use efficiency products made just for cereals. Contact a Verdesian Specialist to learn more about our solutions for cereal crops, including winter wheat.
View Cereal ProductsWhat You Need to Know About Cereals
Top Cereal Products
Legend
Cereal Crop FAQs
What are cereal crops?
What are the ideal soil conditions for cereal crops?
What are the most effective fertilizers for cereal crops?
What are the common pests and diseases that affect cereal crops, and how can they be prevented or treated?
Key Considerations for Cereal Crops
Nutrient Management For Cereal Crops
Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are the three most important nutrients for successful growth in cereal crops. However, it isn’t enough to apply fertilizer and hope for the best. Cereals can only take up so much nitrogen and potassium, and any excess will simply be lost through fixation or leaching. For optimal results, both nitrogen and potassium need efficiency increases, like those provided by our nutrient-use efficiency products listed above designed specifically for cereal crops.
By improving plant metabolism or reducing fixation, our lineup of nutrient use efficiency products can help increase nutrient uptake, getting your cereals more of the nutrients they need for optimal growth, and helping you maximize your fertilizer ROI.
Cereal Crop Soil and Temperature Requirements
Cereals can grow in many soils, but these crops do best in fertile soils that have a good structure and a subsoil porous enough for their deep roots.
Depending on the variety, cereal crops can be very sensitive to frost, so it’s important to plant in warm soil and harvest early before the weather turns.
Pest Management For Cereals
Weeds commonly compete with wheat crops for resources, and all cereal crops are also highly susceptible to insect and disease damage. To combat pest and disease pressure, use herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides as part of an integrated pest management program.
Key Nutrients
Nitrogen
For yield, quality and to achieve max economic return, nitrogen is key. Apply nitrogen on cereal crops early for best results, but split applications can also be beneficial. However, more nitrogen applied to the soil doesn’t necessarily mean more uptake. Often, additional applications can increase Nitrogen lost to the soil, so finding ways to increase nitrogen efficiency can yield a greater ROI than fertilizer.
Potassium
Needed almost as much as nitrogen, but most potassium is found in the leaves and other areas besides the seed. This is why, like nitrogen, potassium needs efficiency increases rather than more applied K.
Phosphorus
Key for rapid, early growth as well as maturity and root growth.
Micronutrients
Zinc
Important, but not as critical for growth as N, P and K.
Copper
Important, but not as critical for growth as N, P and K.
Manganese
Important, but not as critical for growth as N, P and K.
Products for Cereals
Legend
Ferrous (Iron) Sulfate
Looking for products?
Find a Verdesian Retailer Near You