Building an efficient first-pass nutrition plan for cereals starts with getting nitrogen and sulphur in early, in the right ratio, and in a form the crop can use quickly, whether the crop was drilled in autumn or spring. Liquid N and N+S products help deliver that plan consistently by combining concentration, timing flexibility and reliable crop uptake across a whole cereal rotation.
Getting N and S rates right
Cereals typically respond well to a first pass that supplies a meaningful share of total nitrogen along with around 40–50 kg/ha of sulphur trioxide (SO3) over the season to protect yield and grain quality. Pairing nitrogen and sulphur in the same liquid pass improves nitrogen use efficiency because sulphur is critical for amino acid and protein formation in cereals.
Targeting a robust N+S first pass sets the crop up for tiller retention, canopy development and grain protein. Subsequent nitrogen-only passes can then fine-tune total N to yield potential and protein targets based on crop biomass and season.
Timing the first application
For autumn-sown cereals, the first liquid pass should coincide with the point in late winter or early spring when growth begins to accelerate and the crop is ready to turn applied nitrogen into new biomass and tiller survival.
Planning tanks and deliveries in winter means product is already on farm, so first-pass timing on both autumn and spring cereals is driven by crop stage and field conditions rather than supply bottlenecks. This readiness is particularly important as spring weather and field access windows become more compressed.
Using concentrated liquid grades
High-analysis liquid grades such as 30N+Sulphur deliver more nutrient per litre, reducing the total volume needed on the first pass for both earlier and later drilled cereals. Fewer refills mean more hectares can be covered when conditions are right, helping align first passes across mixed drilling dates and large blocks.
Because nutrients are fully dissolved, liquid N+S formulations provide both a fast-acting nitrate component for immediate growth and ammonium/ureic fractions for sustained nutrition through the key early growth phases. This balance supports rapid canopy build, tiller survival and consistent leaf development across the cereal area.
Consistency and precision on every hectare
Liquid fertiliser delivers uniform N and S across the sprayer boom, avoiding striping and variability that can arise from granular spreading in challenging conditions or around tramlines and headlands. Clean, triple-filtered formulations support reliable nozzle performance, so the first pass is applied evenly, even at higher travel speeds when weather windows are short.
Integrating liquids with GPS and rate control allows operators to hold first-pass rates precisely on target and adapt for soil zones, heavier patches or headlands in both winter and spring cereal fields. This consistency across fields and between seasons helps turn the first pass from a rough estimate into a dependable foundation for total cereal nutrition.
Are you considering the move to liquid fertiliser? Get in contact with us today to get started.
