Save money and make insightful decisions with CropCheck today
CropCheck isNRM‘s innovative cereals plant tissue analysis package that links nutrient values to the growth stages that coincide with the fertiliser application window. Your results will show where your crop is compared with where it should be at that key growth stage, enabling you to adjust your fertiliser plans if necessary, potentially saving you money.
Early sown winter wheat and winter barley are fast approaching GS30 across the UK. The recent sunny weather has also meant that many growers have been able to apply nitrogen fertiliser to boost growth—and knowing how well your crops are recovering applied inputs can help you make any adjustments in time.
To help growers fine-tune their crop management, our experts at NRM have been reviewing the critical values that describe if a crop has recovered enough nutrition to satisfy growth at a specific growth stage. The threshold range for these values marks where nutrient deficiencies are likely to limit or be surplus to crop growth and yield.
The critical values are being fine-tuned and shaped by the crop analytical data we have collected over the last 4 years from crops sampled across the UK, giving growers the best idea of how their crops are performing at growth stages 30 and 32-37. This will allow farmers to make adjustments mid-season, if required.
Take crop samples at GS30 or between GS32-37 and send them to NRM for results that can help you maximise returns.
Get in touch to learn more about CropCheck
Please enter your details and we will be in touch.
Which crops can CropCheck be used for?
CropCheck is for a broad range of cereal crops including winter and spring barley, winter and spring wheat, winter and spring oats, and rye.
Why should I use CropCheck to test my crops?
CropCheck drives efficiency by assessing the growth of the plant as it develops. Unlike other tissue testing, it links nutrient values in the crop to key growth stages, so you can see exactly where your crop is at a crucial time in the season. This allows you to adjust your crop nutrition programme to correct any deficiencies or reduce applications and save money.
What are the Key Growth Stages for CropCheck?
CropCheck provides specific nutrient adequacy levels for cereal crops between GS30, when the pseudo ear is at 1cm, up to GS37, when the flag leaf is just becoming visible. For more information, read our expert blog.
How can CropCheck save me money?
By checking that crops are receiving optimal nutrient levels, you can avoid under or oversupplying nutrients with unnecessary applications. It's worth being sure to help avoid spending money you don’t have to and increase profit margins—all by understanding crop nutrient levels.
Frequently asked questions
Why is CropCheck better than standard tissue testing?
CropCheck takes regular plant tissue testing a step further. Standard tissue testing is used to check the nutrient status of the crop to ensure it is accessing all it requires to support its growth. The results you receive with standard testing are benchmarked against generic critical values, which allows you to estimate how plant growth is progressing, but is not specific to the growth stage of the crop. CropCheck links nutrient values in the crop to key growth stages for better decision making.
What do I get with CropCheck?
CropCheck results are reported rapidly, in an easy-to-understand visual format so nutrient adequacy can be determined quickly. Interpretation is also provided to guide why nutrients might be high or low. We will provide you with a sample kit containing everything you need to place an order for CropCheck analysis, including an analysis request form, sample bags, sample posting envelope, and full instructions on how samples should be taken, prepared, and despatched to the laboratory.
Watch our video below to see Alli Arden, Agronomy Manager, talk you through the CropCheck report.
How do I take samples for CropCheck?
Watch our handy video below for some advice on how to take samples for CropCheck.
How does the weather impact crops?
This year’s unpredictable weather conditions, including deluges of wet weather throughout autumn and winter and continuing into the spring, means farmers and advisors must observe crops even more carefully to ensure they are receiving everything they need to thrive. It’s important to consider soil moisture and temperature when considering nitrogen fertiliser applications. Applying at the wrong time, such as when the soil is frozen or there’s heavy rainfall, can mean failing to get the most out of inputs.
So, it’s best to be extra observant, take time to plan, and ensure that samples are taken at the optimal time for the best results and maximum benefit.