Foundation for Arable Research seek harvest samples for crop nutrient project

Arable growers are being invited to supply samples of their harvested crops as part of a Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) project, which will help determine how well they are managing their biggest input - fertiliser.

The project, which was successfully piloted in 2024, came about after a FAR grower group wanted to learn more about measuring and managing micronutrients to improve crop health and nutrient use efficiency.

Nutrient concentrations in harvested grain and seed show whether crops captured low, medium or high amounts of each nutrient. This enables growers to identify fertiliser over-use, potential savings and diagnose deficiencies.

Last year, 50 growers from throughout New Zealand submitted 126 grain samples which were analysed by Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) in the United Kingdom. Through YEN, crop samples are analysed for 12 macro and micronutrients, as well as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).

Growers received two reports, a nutrient off-take report and a nutrient benchmarking report. The nutrient off-take report gave an accurate assessment of nutrients removed from the paddock, allowing growers to manage soil nutrient status and applications for following crops.

The benchmarking report compared grain nutrient concentrations against thresholds for each nutrient, giving an indication whether the crop may have had sufficient nutrient or a deficit in relation to yield.

Samples from the 2024 harvest showed very few deficiencies.

To be involved in 2025, growers need to collect a grain or seed sample at harvest and provide some paddock information. Growers can submit samples of cereals, oilseed rape, linseed and peas.

This year, these will be analysed in New Zealand at Hill Laboratories rather than being shipped to the UK. The results will then be sent to YEN UK for nutrient analysis and benchmarking.

Testing of other crops may be possible if there is enough interest from growers. Hill Labs' samples submitted via the YEN-NZ programme will cost growers $102 a sample.

The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand, together with FAR, are covering the cost of data analysis and reporting from YEN for the 2025 harvest samples.

For more information or to submit a sample, contact FAR.