CSU fact sheet on wheat, barley and oat fertilizer requirements.
- Nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient for small grain production.
- Apply nitrogen fertilizers at rates based on expected crop yields minus credits for residual soil nitrates, manure applications, nitrogen mineralized from soil organic matter and previous legume crops, and nitrogen contained in irrigation water.
- Apply phosphate fertilizers at rates based on soil test results.
- Most Colorado soils contain sufficient available potassium, sulfur and micronutrients for small grain production.