Nitrogen Strategy in Winter Wheat: Shifting Sources, Stable Rates

Fertiliser Source and Nitrogen Application Trends (2020–2025)

Overall nitrogen spend for winter wheat fell by 9.94% in 2025 compared with the previous harvest. More significant than the change in spend is the shift in fertiliser source composition over the past five years.

While total nitrogen application rates have remained within a comparable range, the way nitrogen is delivered has diversified considerably.

There has been a clear increase in liquid fertiliser use, alongside a reduction in ammonium nitrate. Urea-based and organic sources have also seen modest growth.

 This indicates a move towards more flexible fertiliser strategies without materially changing total nitrogen applied, though the overall range of application rates has widened, with both higher and lower total N recorded in 2025 compared to 2020.

Interpretation and Implications

Liquid nitrogen products now account for more than half of total nitrogen applied to winter wheat. This likely reflects logistical advantages, including ease of storage and application, as well as improved compatibility with precision systems such as variable-rate application.

The decline in ammonium nitrate suggests both cost and environmental drivers, including regulatory pressure and pricing volatility.

Growth in urea and organic fertiliser use points to broader adoption of mixed-source strategies, supporting both nutrient efficiency and carbon considerations.

Overall, the 2025 data depicts a maturing nitrogen strategy for winter wheat production: less focused on total volume and more on method, timing, and flexibility.

If you found this useful, revisit Winter Wheat Costs of Production and Winter Wheat Varieties for the full picture on how inputs, variety choice, and nitrogen strategy connect across the season.