Understanding nutrient uptake timing and nutrient removal rates can help producers determine the correct timing of fertilizer applications for optimal growth and even to calculate fertilizer needs for their crops. The graphs below give nutrient uptake curves throughout the growing season for different crops and provide information on removal rates. Refer to Extension bulletins Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops (EB0161) and Nutrient Uptake Timing (EB0191) for further information.

Each of the nutrient uptake curves on this page show nutrient uptake on the vertical axis and growth stage on the horizontal axis. In general, the curves show that the highest rate of uptake (steepest part of curve) occurs mid-season. Estimated amount of nutrients removed by harvest are also listed for most crops.

Jump to the following uptake graph:

Small grain (wheat, barley, oat)

Small grains: N and K uptake is greater than P and S uptake during early leaf. Uptake rates for all nutrients are high during tillering and stem elongation. N, K, and S uptake is complete around mid-heading with P uptake finishing later.

Source: Malhi, S.S., A.M. Johnston, J.J. Schoenau, Z.H. Wang, and C.L. Vera. 2006. Seasonal biomass accumulation and nutrient uptake of wheat, barley and oat on a Black Chernozem soil in Saskatchewan. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 86: 1005–1014. DOI: 10.4141/P05-116

Estimated nutrient removal in harvested portion of crops (Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops)

Crop 
Unit 
lb/bu 
N
P2O5
K2O
Ca
Mg
S
Fe
Zn
Mn
Cu
B
— lbs —
Barley - grain
bu
48
0.87
0.36
0.25
0.025
0.05
0.08
-
0.0015
0.0008
0.0008
0.001
Barley - straw
ton
-
 14
4.10
30
7.6
2.00
3.8
-
0.045
0.30
0.01
-
Oat - grain
bu
32
0.60
0.24
0.17
0.024
0.04
0.06
-
0.0006
0.001
0.0004
-
Oat - straw
ton
-
12.20
5.8
33
0.40
4.00
4.60
-
0.145
-
 0.015
 -
Wheat - grain
bu
60
1.25
0.62
0.38
0.025
0.15
0.08
-
0.0035
0.002
0.0008
0.001
Wheat - straw
ton
-
14.50
3.60
25
4.4
2.20
3.70
-
0.03
0.11
0.007
-

 

 Alfalfa

 

Alfalfa: N and S uptake occur at high rates initially and reach their maximums shortly before early bud stage.

Source: Pumphrey, F.V, and D.P. Moore, 1965. Sulfur and Nitrogen Content of Alfalfa Herbage During Growth. Agronomy Journal. 57:237-239.

Estimated nutrient removal in harvested alfalfa (Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops)

Crop 
Unit 
N
P2O5
K2O
Ca
Mg
S
Fe
Zn
Mn
Cu
B
— lbs —
Alfalfa
ton
48
11
53
28
5
5.5
0.38
0.11
0.11
0.02
0.02

Bean (dry)

Dry bean: Uptake of all nutrients rapidly increases during reproductive growth. K uptake is complete around R7, and other nutrients increase up until harvest.

 Source: Heard, J., and B. Brolley. 2008. Nutrient uptake and partitioning by dry beans  in Manitoba.  In Proc. of 2008 Manitoba Agronomist Conf.

Estimated nutrient removal in harvested dry bean (Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops)

Crop 
Unit 
lb/bu 
N
P2O5
K2O
Ca
Mg
S
Fe
Zn
Mn
Cu
B
— lbs —
Dry bean
bu
60
3
0.79
0.92
0.18
0.06
0.52
0.03
0.004
0.002
0.0015
0.003

Canola

Canola: Uptake increases dramatically at stem elongation before reaching its maximum around 50% flowering before decreasing slightly before full ripe.

Source: Karamanos, R.E. 2013. Nutrient uptake and metabolism in crops. Prairie Soils & Crops Journal. 6:52-63.

Estimated nutrient removal in harvested canola seed (Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops)

Crop 
Unit 
lb/bu 
N
P2O5
K2O
Ca
Mg
S
Fe
Zn
Mn
Cu
B
— lbs —
Canola seed
bu
50
1.94
1.17
0.60
-
-
0.34
-
-
-
-
-

Corn

Corn: Uptake increases dramatically at V4, with K uptake the highest. Rates remain fairly constant until corn reaches maturity.

Source: Heard, J. 2006. Nutrient accumulation and partitioning by grain corn in Manitoba. In: Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference Proceedings. A. Schlegel (ed). Vol. 11. March 7-8, 2006. Denver, Colorado. p. 180-185.

Estimated nutrient removal in harvested portion of corn (Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops)

Crop 
Unit 
lb/bu 
N
P2O5
K2O
Ca
Mg
S
Fe
Zn
Mn
Cu
B
— lbs —
Corn - grain
bu
56
0.73
0.60
0.27
0.015
0.05
0.07
0.0055
0.001
0.0006
0.0004
-
Corn - stover
ton
-
19.8
8.8
40
5.8
4.5
3.2
-
0.067
0.33
0.01
-
Corn - silage
ton
-
9.7
3.1
7.3
-
-
1.1
-
-
-
-
-

Grass

Grass: N and S uptake increase around joint stage.

Source: Hart, J.M., D. Horneck, D. Peek, and W.C. Young, III. 1989. Nitrogen and Sulfur Uptake for Cool Season Forage and Turf Grass Grown for Seed. Oregon State Crop and Soil Extension. No longer available online. Contact us if you need a copy of the document.

Estimated nutrient removal per ton of grass (Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops)

 Crop  Unit N P2O5 K2O Ca Mg S Fe Zn Mn Cu B
— lb/ton —
Grass ton  25  10  38  7  2.5  2  -  0.08  0.13  0.01  -

Lentil

Lentil: Uptake increases substantially between branching and early bud. K reaches its maximum at late bud and decreases slightly while other nutrients increase until maturity.

Source: Malhi. S.S., A.M. Johnston, J.J. Schoenau, Z.H. Wang, and C.L. Vera. 2007.  Seasonal Biomass Accumulation and Nutrient Uptake of Pea and Lentil on a Black Chernozem Soil in Saskatchewan. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 30:721-737, DOI: 10.1080/01904160701289578

Estimated nutrient removal in harvested lentil seed (Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops)

Crop 
Unit 
lb/bu 
N
P2O5
K2O
Ca
Mg
S
Fe
Zn
Mn
Cu
B
— lbs —
Lentil
bu
60
2.18
0.67
0.87
-
-
0.15
-
-
-
-
-

 

Pea

Pea: Uptake rates increase before reaching their maximum rates around early bud. Most nutrients reach 100% between late bud and flowering before decreasing slightly during seed fill.

Source: Malhi. S.S., A.M. Johnston, J.J. Schoenau, Z.H. Wang, and C.L. Vera. 2007.  Seasonal Biomass Accumulation and Nutrient Uptake of Pea and Lentil on a Black Chernozem Soil in Saskatchewan. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 30:721-737, DOI: 10.1080/01904160701289578

Estimated nutrient removal in harvested dry pea (Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops)

 Crop Unit  lb/bu  N P2O5 K2O Ca Mg S Fe Zn Mn Cu B
— lbs —
Dry pea bu 60 2.18 0.67 0.87 - - 0.15 - - - -

-

 

Potato

  Potato: N uptake occurs fastest. The highest uptake rates occur after tuber initiation. Uptake for all nutrients reaches 100% at harvest.

Source: Heard, J. 2004. Nutrient uptake and partitioning by potatoes in Manitoba.  In Proc. of 2004 Manitoba Agronomist Conf.

Estimated nutrient removal in harvested potato tubers (Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops)

 

 Crop Unit  lb/bu  N P2O5 K2O Ca Mg S Fe Zn Mn Cu B
— lbs —
Potato bu 55 0.2 0.13 0.38 0.009 0.02 0.38 0.16 0.0001 0.0002 0.0001

0.0001

 

Sugar beet

Sugar beet: Uptake occurs most rapidly around canopy closure and most nutrients are near 100% of maximum uptake at harvest.

Source: De, M., A. Moore, and R. Mikkelsen. 2019. In-season Accumulation and Partitioning of Macronutrients and Micronutrients in Irrigated Sugar Beet Production. J. of Sugar Beet Research. 56:54-78. 

Note: N application at or after canopy closure is not recommended (Malnou et al. 2006 doi:10.1016/j.eja.2006.06.002; Norton 2011 doi:10.1094/CM-2011-0829-01-RS; A. Moore Oregon State Univ. pers. com.). Nitrate taken up by roots during root bulking and sugar production reduces sugar quality.

Sunflower

 Sunflower: Rates are slow until V4, where they sharply increase before slowing at the onset of reproductive growth. 100% uptake is reached at R9.

Source: Heard, J., and R. Park. 2008. Nutrient uptake and partitioning by sunflowers in Manitoba.  In Proc. of 2008 Manitoba Agronomist Conf.

Estimated nutrient removal in harvested sunflower seed (Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops)

Crop 
Unit 
lb/bu 
N
P2O5
K2O
Ca
Mg
S
Fe
Zn
Mn
Cu
B
— lbs —
Sunflowera
bu
28
1.06
0.32
0.24
-
0.10
0.08
-
-
-
-

-
Sunflowerb
bu
28
0.8
0.31
0.25
0.06
0.09
0.05
0.001
0.0008
0.0006
0.0003

0.0006

a. Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops

b. Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives – median value of range published. See source listed above.