Autumn Foundations: Building Cereal Potential From Day One
From emergence through to harvest, the foundations for next year’s yields are already being put in place. In this latest autumn update, OMEX Head of Agronomy Phil Burrell explains why early action, root development and nutrition can all play an important role in helping cereal crops reach their potential.
As cereal crops begin to emerge across the country, growers’ attention naturally turns to establishment. The journey towards harvest 2027 is already underway.
Yield is ultimately determined by three key factors: the number of ears per square metre, the number of grains per ear and grain size. Crop nutrition has a role to play in influencing all three, but the work starts long before spring arrives.
“The minute we place the seed in the soil, we’re beginning to build yield potential.”
Phil Burrell, Head Of Agronomy
Building Biomass: The First Pillar of Yield
From drilling through to around growth stage 30, cereals are in their foundation phase.
This period is all about developing biomass and increasing the number of ears per square metre, the first and often most influential pillar of yield. While seed rate remains a key consideration, nutrition also plays a vital role in helping crops establish quickly and consistently.
The objective is simple: build healthy, vigorous plants capable of supporting higher yields later in the season.
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Crop Walk Series
Episode 1
Stronger Roots For A Stronger Crop
However, biomass alone is not enough. To support growth, crops need a robust root system capable of accessing nutrients and water throughout the season.
Phosphate plays a critical role in early root development, but availability can be restricted by several factors including soil pH, temperature and soil conditions. In colder autumn soils, phosphate mobility and availability can become particularly challenging.
This is where phosphite biostimulants can help stimulate root growth and encourage plants to explore a greater volume of soil.
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Kickstarting Crop Establishment
OMEX Kickstart has been scientifically evaluated by the University of Nottingham and shown to increase both root length and root density, helping plants build a stronger foundation before winter.
With greater root development comes improved access to water and nutrients when demand increases in spring. More roots equal more access to soil. In spring, that’s more access to nutrition and more access to water.
An application of Kickstart between growth stages 12 and 13 can help encourage root development at a crucial stage of establishment and can often be applied alongside autumn agrochemical programmes.
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Crop Walk Series
Episode 2
Don’t Overlook Manganese This Autumn
Manganese remains the most commonly encountered micronutrient deficiency in cereal crops and deficiency can occur across a wide range of situations. High pH soils, light sandy soils, organic soils and unconsolidated seedbeds can all increase risk.
The nutrient plays an important role in enzyme activity, energy transfer and maintaining healthy green leaf area. At this stage of the season, protecting and sustaining green biomass is essential for maintaining crop momentum as winter approaches.
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Superior Magnesium
SuperMn has been formulated to provide manganese in both nitrate and sulphate forms. This approach delivers rapid correction of deficiencies alongside more sustained nutrient supply, helping support the crop during the autumn period.
The product also contains magnesium to support uptake and contribute to winter hardiness.
For growers already planning autumn applications, SuperMn and Kickstart can be tank mixed, helping address rooting and manganese nutrition in a single pass.
DISCOVER SUPERMN“Manganese is the most widespread nutrient deficiency we see, and it is so easily rectified.”
Phil Burrell, Head Of Agronomy
Crop Walk Series
Episode 3
Setting The Crop Up For Success
The decisions made during the autumn months can have a lasting effect on crop performance.
Building biomass, encouraging strong root systems and addressing nutrient deficiencies before winter all contribute towards creating a more resilient crop with greater yield potential in the spring.
While harvest 2027 may still feel a long way off, the foundations are already being laid.
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