Barley Nutrient Application Guidelines for Wisconsin

Chapter Contents

Soil pH

Nitrogen

Phosphorus

Potassium

Secondary and Micronutrients

Barley Nutrient Application Guidelines for Wisconsin

Target Soil pH

The target soil pH to grow barley is 6.0 for mineral soils and 5.6 for organic soils.

Nitrogen

Table 1. Nitrogen Application Guidelines for Wisconsin Barley Grain and Straw

CropYield GoalSoil Organic Matter <2.0% lbs. N/acre to applySoil Organic Matter 2.0 – 9.9%
lbs. N/acre to apply		Soil Organic Matter 10.0 – 20.0% lbs. N/acre to applySoil Organic Matter >20.0% lbs. N/acre to apply
Barley25 – 100 bushels per acre 70503015
Where barley is underseeded with a legume forage, eliminate or reduce N by half.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus Removal

Table 2a. Phosphorus Removal Estimates for Wisconsin Barley Grain and Straw

Table 2a. Phosphorus Removal Estimates for Wisconsin Barley Grain and Straw

CropYield Range*Reporting Moisture ContentCrop Removal
Barley Grain25 – 100 bushels per acre14.5%0.4 lbs. P2O5 per unit of yield
Barley Straw1 – 3 tons per acreDry Matter (DM) 10 lbs. P2O5 per unit of yield
* Realistic yield goals should not be higher than 10-15% above the previous 3–5-year field averages

Phosphorus Recommendations

When it comes to phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) demand, barley has a demand level of 1. Each crop is placed into 1 of 4 P and K demand levels based on their relative nutrient needs 1 being the lowest 4 being the most demanding. See Appendix B for more information.

Table 2b. Phosphorus Application Guidelines for Wisconsin Barley Grain

CropYield GoalLbs. P2O5 to Apply to Very Low (VL) Soil Test CategoryLbs. P2O5 to Apply to Low (L) Soil Test CategoryLbs. P2O5 to Apply to Optimum (O) Soil Test CategoryLbs. P2O5 to Apply to High (H) Soil Test CategoryLbs. P2O5 to Apply to Excessively High (EH) Soil Test Category
Barley Grain25 – 50 bushels per acre554515100
Barley Grain51 – 75 bushels per acre655525150
Barley Grain76 – 100 bushels per acre756535200

Table 2c. Phosphorus Application Guidelines for Wisconsin Barley Grain and Straw

CropYield GoalLbs. P2O5 to Apply to Very Low (VL) Soil Test CategoryLbs. P2O5 to Apply to Low (L) Soil Test CategoryLbs. P2O5 to Apply to Optimum (O) Soil Test CategoryLbs. P2O5 to Apply to High (H) Soil Test CategoryLbs. P2O5 to Apply to Excessively High (EH) Soil Test Category
Barley Grain and Straw25 – 50 bushels per acre756535200
Barley Grain and Straw51 – 75 bushels per acre857545250
Barley Grain and Straw76 – 100 bushels per acre958555300

Potassium Guidelines for Barley in Wisconsin

Table 3a. Potassium Removal Estimates for Wisconsin Barley Grain and Straw

CropYield Range*Reporting Moisture ContentCrop Removal
Barley Grain25 – 100 bushels per acre14.5%0.35 lbs. K2O per unit of yield
Barley Straw1 – 3 tons per acreDry Matter (DM) 32 lbs. K2O per unit of yield
* Realistic yield goals should not be higher than 10-15% above the previous 3–5-year field averages

Table 3b. Potassium Application Guidelines for Wisconsin Barley Grain

Table 3b. Potassium Application Guidelines for Wisconsin Barley Grain

CropYield GoalLbs. K2O to Apply to Very Low (VL) Soil Test CategoryLbs. K2O to Apply to Low (L) Soil Test CategoryLbs. K2O to Apply to Optimum (O) Soil Test CategoryLbs. K2O to Apply to High (H) Soil Test CategoryLbs. K2O to Apply to Very High (VH) Soil Test CategoryLbs. K2O to Apply to Excessively High (EH) Soil Test Category
Barley Grain25 – 50 bushels per acre6045151050
Barley Grain51 – 75 bushels per acre6550201050
Barley Grain76 – 100 bushels per acre75603015100

Table 3c. Potassium Application Guidelines for Wisconsin Barley Grain and Straw

Table 3c. Potassium Application Guidelines for Wisconsin Barley Grain and Straw

CropYield GoalLbs. K2O to Apply to Very Low (VL) Soil Test CategoryLbs. K2O to Apply to Low (L) Soil Test CategoryLbs. K2O to Apply to Optimum (O) Soil Test CategoryLbs. K2O to Apply to High (H) Soil Test CategoryLbs. K2O to Apply to Very High (VH) Soil Test CategoryLbs. K2O to Apply to Excessively High (EH) Soil Test Category
Barley Grain and Straw25 – 50 bushels per acre1201057540200
Barley Grain and Straw51 – 75 bushels per acre1301158545200
Barley Grain and Straw76 – 100 bushels per acre1401259550250

Secondary and Micronutrient Guidelines for Barley in Wisconsin

Table 4a. General Sulfur Fertilizer Guidelines for Wisconsin Field, Forage, Fruit, and Vegetable Crops

CropSulfur Application Rate
Corn, Small Grains, Vegetables, Fruit Crops10 – 25 lbs. S per acre

Table 4b. Relative Micronutrient and Sulfur Requirements of Barley Grain and Straw

CropBoron (B)Copper* (Cu)Manganese (Mn)Molybdenum (Mo)Zinc (Zn)Sulfur (S)
Barley GrainLowMediumMediumLowMediumLow
Barley Grain and StrawLowMediumMediumLowMediumMedium
* On organic soils, copper (Cu) fertilizer should be applied at 2 lbs. of Cu per acre in a band for barley grain and straw production.  

Back to Chapter Selection

Chapter Editors

 

Natasha Rayne, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist – Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management

Manure placement, timing, and nitrogen credits; organic soil amendments and nutrient cycling; climate-smart and site-specific nitrogen management; improvement of nitrogen use efficiency in cereal crop production.

Articles by Natasha
Contact Natasha

 

 

Shawn Conley, Ph.D.

Professor and Extension Specialist – Soybean and Small Grains

Increasing the economic and environmental sustainability of Wisconsin soybean and small grain production through research, timely crop management recommendations, and more.

Articles by Shawn
Contact Shawn

 

Updated: April 2026