Index	Nitrogen (Units/ac)	Phosphorus (Units/ac)	Potassium (Units/ac)	Sulphur (Units/ac)
1	116	36	128	20
2	96	28	116	20
3	68	20	104	20
4	36	12	40	20

1. N rates shown above refer to application rates of available fertilizer. Chemical fertilizer rates should be calculated by deducting the available N contained in organic fertilizer applications from the rates shown in the above table.
2. Reference Yields Winter Oats up to 3.0 tonnes/ac, Spring Oats up to 2.6 tonnes/ac.
3. See accordian below for information on Soil N Index.
4. Where proof of higher yields is available, an additional 16 units/ac N may be applied for every 0.4 tonne/ac above reference yield. The higher yields shall be based on the best yield achieved in any of the three previous harvests at 20% moisture content.
5. Where milling wheat is grown under a contract to a purchaser of milling wheat an extra 24 units/ac N may be applied.
6. To reduce the risk of poor establishment in spring cereals, not more than 60 units/ac N should be combined drilled.
7. The Phosphorus fertilization rates for soils which have more than 20% organic matter shall not exceed the amounts permitted for Index 3 soils.
8. P rates shown above refer to recommended application rates of available fertilizer.
9. Chemical fertilizer rates should be calculated by deducting the P contained in organic fertilizer applications from the rates shown in the above table.
10. Where proof of higher yields is available, an additional 3.0 units P/ac may be applied on soils at phosphorus indices 1, 2, or 3 for each additional 0.4 tonne/ac above a yield of 2.6 tonnes/ac
11. The higher yields shall be based on the best yield achieved in any of
    the three previous harvests, at 20% moisture content.
12. Where pH is greater than or equal to 7, 16 units P/ac may be applied on soils at phosphorus Index 4.
13. Assumed crop yields for Potassium (K):
    Winter wheat = 4.5 t/ac Spring wheat = 3.4 t/ac
    Winter Barley = 4 t/ac Spring Barley = 3 t/ac
    Winter oats = 3.6 t/ac Spring Oats = 3 t/ac
14. Rates above assume no release of K from the soil.
15. For winter wheat and barley crops increase or decrease K rate by 7.8 units/ac per 0.4 tonne/ac increase or decrease in grain yield.
16. For spring wheat and barley crops increase or decrease K rate by 9 units/ac per 0.4 tonne/ac increase or decrease in grain yield.
17. For oat crops increase or decrease K rate by 11.5 units/ac per 0.4 tonne increase or decrease in grain yield.

Index	Nitrogen (kg/ha)	Phosphorus (kg/ha)	Potassium (kg/ha)	Sulphur (kg/ha)
1	145	45	160	25
2	120	35	145	25
3	85	25	130	25
4	45	15	50	25

1. N rates shown above refer to application rates of available fertilizer. Chemical fertilizer rates should be calculated by deducting the available N contained in organic fertilizer applications from the rates shown in the above table.
2. Reference Yields Winter Oats up to 7.5 tonnes/ha, Spring Oats up to 6.5 tonnes/ha.
3. See accordian for Soil N Index.
4. Where proof of higher yields is available, an additional 20kg/ha N may be applied for every 1 tonne above reference yield. The higher yields shall be based on the best yield achieved in any of the three previous harvests at 20% moisture content.
5. Where milling wheat is grown under a contract to a purchaser of milling wheat an extra 30 kg/ha N may be applied.
6. To reduce the risk of poor establishment in spring cereals, not more than 75 kg/ha N should be combined drilled.
7. The Phosphorus fertilization rates for soils which have more than 20% organic matter shall not exceed the amounts permitted for Index 3 soils.
8. P rates shown above refer to recommended application rates of available fertilizer.
9. Chemical fertilizer rates should be calculated by deducting the P contained in organic fertilizer applications from the rates shown in the above table.
10. Where proof of higher yields is available, an additional 3.8 kg P/ha may be applied on soils at phosphorus indices 1, 2, or 3 for each additional tonne above a yield of 6.5 tonnes/ha
11. The higher yields shall be based on the best yield achieved in any of
    the three previous harvests, at 20% moisture content.
12. Where pH is greater than or equal to 7, 20 kg P/ha may be applied on soils at phosphorus Index 4.
13. Assumed crop yields for Potassium (K):
    Winter wheat = 11 t/ha Spring wheat = 8.5 t/ha
    Winter Barley = 10 t/ha Spring Barley = 7.5 t/ha
    Winter oats = 9.0 t/ha Spring Oats = 7.5 t/ha
14. Rates above assume no release of K from the soil.
15. For winter wheat and barley crops increase or decrease K rate by 9.8 kg/ha per tonne increase or decrease in grain yield.
16. For spring wheat and barley crops increase or decrease K rate by 11.4 kg/ha per tonne increase or decrease in grain yield.
17. For oat crops increase or decrease K rate by 14.4 kg/ha per tonne increase or decrease in grain yield.

[table “” not found /]

1. Assuming all straw is removed
2. Assuming no organic manures are supplied
3. Assuming Nitrogen Index = 1

There is, as yet, no satisfactory Irish laboratory test for N in soils at farm level.

1. Nutrient N advice for grassland systems (grazing and conservation) depends mainly on land use and farming system, and particularly on the stocking rate.
2. For crops requiring cultivation, the available soil N can be deduced from the previous cropping and manurial history, and the type of soil. Thus, N fertilizer advice is determined by the soil N supply status. This depends in turn on the previous cropping history.

The supply status is categorised into an Index system for grass establishment and tillage crops.

N Index for tillage crops that follow short leys or tillage

N Index for pasture establishment or tillage crops that follow long leys or permanent pasture

1. Responses of cereals to magnesium application are difficult to demonstrate.
2. Application of Mg is only advisable for cereals if soil Mg is less than about 50 mg/l (Index 1 & 2).
3. Magnesium deficiency symptoms can be transitory in nature, often occurring early in the season when root growth is restricted but  disappearing again as root growth resumes.
4. Studies indicate that magnesium deficiency is more likely where there are
   poor soil structure conditions as this can limit Mg release.
5. Goulding Soil Nutrition offer Wolftrax Magnesium DDP as an option to be coated onto fertilisers. Coating fertilisers with Magnesium allows for earlier intervention (seedbed) when magnesium deficiency is a known issue.
6. Find out more about Magnesium.

1. Copper deficiency is common in cereal crops.
2. The availability of Cu is not greatly affected by soil pH.
3. Soil analysis is a reliable measure of soil available copper levels.
4. High organic matter
   e.g. in peats, can markedly reduce the availability of Cu.
5. Copper deficiency occurs most
   frequently in coarse-textured or sandy soils.
6. In heavy textured soils, Cu deficiency is not likely unless the soil Cu level falls below 1 mg/l whereas on light textured soils, deficiency may occur in soils containing up to 2.5 mg/l Cu.
7. Goulding Soil Nutrition offer Wolftrax Copper DDP as an option to be coated onto fertilisers. Coating fertilisers with Copper allows for earlier intervention (seedbed) when copper deficiency is a known issue.
8. Find out more about Copper.

1. Manganese deficiency is one of the most widespread deficiencies in cereals, especially at high pH or with recently limed soils.
2. Yield responses to Mn are found with cereals growing in soils of pH 7 or more when the easily reducible Mn level in soil test falls below 50 mg/l.
3. Soil analysis (easily reducible manganese) is an indicator to soil Mn availability, however, this is not fully reliable for predicting the occurrence of Mn deficiency.
4. Leaf analysis is more reliable than soil analysis for diagnosis of possible Mn deficiencies.
5. Transitory Mn deficiency can also occur as a result of the conversion of Mn++, the plant available form that is found in the soil solution, to  manganese oxides and hydroxides which are unavailable to plants, a process that occurs when it comes in contact with oxygen and is more likely during periods of drying weather conditions or low soil moisture levels.
6. Conditions which increase the amount of air in the soil such as loose seedbeds or dry soils can induce manganese deficiency.
7. Seedbed consolidation plays an important role in increasing Mn availability by increasing root to soil contact and reducing Mn oxidation.
8. Manganese deficiency that occurs as a result of dry soils will often be corrected by rainfall.
9. Goulding Soil Nutrition offer Wolf Trax Manganese DDP as an option to be coated onto fertilisers. Coating fertilisers with Manganese allows for earlier intervention (seedbed) when manganese deficiency is a known issue.
10. Find out more about Manganese.

1. Soil analysis is a reliable indicator of the availability of soil zinc as plant Zn deficiency can be quite difficult to diagnose without plant analysis.
2. An available Zn level of less than 1 mg/l and a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 indicates that Zn deficiency is likely in cereals.
3. High soil organic matter will reduce Zn availability and uptake.
4. Good seedbed preparation will reduce the risk of Zn deficiency as it is often associated with loose, unconsolidated seedbeds and results in poor root to soil contact.
5. High soil P and high soil pH reduce the availability of soil Zn.
6. Goulding Soil Nutrition offer Wolf Trax Zinc DDP as an option to be coated onto fertilisers. Coating fertilisers with Zinc allows for earlier intervention (seedbed) when manganese deficiency is a known issue.
7. Find out more about Zinc.