Following a challenging summer, nutrition planning will play a crucial role in helping crops establish strongly, maximise nutrient use efficiency and build resilience for the season ahead. Strong rooting, balanced nutrition and a focus on soil health can all help crops make the most of available nutrients and improve performance through to harvest.

The importance of early nutrition

The months after drilling provide a valuable opportunity to support crop establishment and create the foundations for efficient nutrient uptake. Well-developed root systems are better able to access nutrients, utilise applied nitrogen and withstand periods of environmental stress. Establishing crops correctly in the autumn can also improve the efficiency of spring fertiliser applications.

1. Prioritise soil pH

Soil pH remains one of the most important, yet often overlooked, factors influencing nutrient availability. Maintaining the correct pH helps improve nutrient uptake, supports soil biology and can increase the efficiency of fertiliser applications. Autumn is an ideal time to assess soil pH and address any issues through liming where required.

Benefits of maintaining optimum soil pH include:

• Improved nutrient availability and uptake
• Better nitrogen use efficiency
• Increased microbial activity
• Reduced risk of nutrient lock-up
• Enhanced long-term soil health and productivity

2. Unlock soil phosphate potential

Phosphate plays a vital role in root development and crop establishment. Although many soils contain significant phosphorus reserves, only a proportion is immediately available to plants. Soil conditions and nutrient management practices therefore have a major influence on crop access to phosphate.

Improving phosphate availability can help:

• Encourage stronger root growth
• Support early crop development
• Improve nutrient uptake
• Enhance overall crop vigour during establishment

3. Build resilience with balanced nutrition

Key nutrients such as potassium, magnesium and zinc play an important role in helping crops cope with environmental stresses, including drought and heat. A balanced nutrition programme supports plant health, photosynthesis, water regulation and root development.

Potassium (K)

Potassium helps regulate water movement within the plant and supports efficient water use, making it particularly valuable during periods of drought or high temperatures.

Magnesium (Mg)

As a core component of chlorophyll, magnesium is essential for photosynthesis and energy production, helping crops maintain growth during periods of stress.

Zinc (Zn)

Zinc supports strong root development and helps crops activate natural stress-response mechanisms, contributing to improved resilience and establishment.

4. Make the most of technology and data

Precision farming tools, soil mapping and detailed nutrient planning are becoming increasingly important in helping growers target inputs more effectively. By combining soil analysis with modern decision-support tools, growers can improve nutrient efficiency, reduce waste and support more sustainable crop production.

Planning for a productive season ahead

With fertiliser representing a significant investment, ensuring nutrients are available, accessible and efficiently utilised by crops has never been more important. Focusing on soil pH, phosphate availability, balanced nutrition and data-driven decision making can help create the foundations for stronger crop performance and improved resilience throughout the growing season.

Join Our Post-Harvest Nutrition Webinar

Want to learn more about building crop resilience and improving nutrient use efficiency ahead of the 2027 harvest?

Join our upcoming post-harvest webinar, where our nutrition specialists will discuss practical strategies for:

Improving soil health and nutrient availability
Maximising nitrogen use efficiency
Unlocking soil phosphate reserves
Building crop resilience to drought and heat stress
Using technology and data to optimise nutrition plans

Date: 15th September 2026
Time: 08:30am to 10:00am

The webinar is open to farmers, growers and agronomists looking to improve crop establishment and maximise returns from their nutrition programmes. Reserve your place online today.

Register here