Pre-tillering fertilization is a fundamental phase in wheat cultivation, decisive for the final result. It is in this initial moment of development that the plant builds its foundations, defining the number of culms and, consequently, the production potential of the ear. Intervening at the right time means supporting the wheat during a delicate phase, providing the necessary nutrients without forcing, in full respect of its natural rhythms.
This agronomic phase directly affects the quality of the harvest and reflects the Agricola Piano approach: controlled cultivation, short supply chain, and constant attention to the raw material. The wheat from which our flour is born is grown using integrated zero-residue agriculture, with targeted and responsible interventions designed to support yield and protein quality without leaving residues in the final product.
Indice
The fertilization plan
Wheat fertilization is part of a well-defined crop cycle, where each phase prepares the next. After sowing and germination, tillering represents the third phase of the wheat’s biological cycle, and it is precisely at this moment that the production bases of the crop are established.
The first fertilization, known as pre-tillering, generally takes place between late January and early February and has the task of supporting the start of tillering. This is followed by a second fertilization at the end of tillering, between late February and March, which accompanies the wheat towards the stem elongation phase, scheduled for April.
Correct timing management allows the plant to develop in a balanced way, optimizing the number of culms and the potential of the future ear.
First wheat fertilization: the bases of the future ear
Pre-tillering fertilization is an integral part of a broader nutritional strategy, designed to accompany the wheat in its early stages of development. At this time, the plant needs a targeted supply of nutrients to support uniform and regular growth, avoiding imbalances that could affect subsequent phases.
A correct supply strengthens the vegetative structure, improves plant vigor, and prepares them to face the end-of-tillering fertilization and the subsequent stem elongation phase more efficiently, thus promoting a more stable and productive crop over time.
Nourishing wheat at the right time
Nourishing wheat at the right time means intervening with precision, providing the plant with the elements it truly needs during the most delicate phase of its development. During pre-tillering, a balanced supply of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and microelements is fundamental: nitrogen supports vegetative growth, phosphorus promotes root development, while potassium contributes to the plant’s resistance and physiological balance. The timing of fertilization is therefore decisive, as an intervention that is too early or too late risks compromising nutritional effectiveness.
The benefits are reflected throughout the entire supply chain: from the quality of the harvested wheat to the yield and characteristics of the flours obtained, such as èViva flours, which are born from careful, traceable, and quality-oriented agricultural work.
Cultivating with responsibility to enhance the wheat
The care that Agricola Piano dedicates to wheat cultivation stems from an agricultural vision based on quality, responsibility, and direct control of the supply chain. Every agronomic choice is designed to enhance the raw material, respect the soil, and obtain healthy, traceable wheat consistent with our values.
It is from this approach that products such as èViva flours and èViva pasta take shape, expressions of a short and conscious supply chain, where work in the fields is reflected directly in the final product.