OptiFert-N: tool for adjusting nitrogen fertilization in wheat

Digital tool developed by Uruguay's National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) to optimize nitrogen fertilization in wheat during stem elongation, between growth stages Z30 and Z50. Based on diagnosis of the crop's nutritional status through plant sampling, OptiFert-N estimates final nitrogen requirements by considering the crop's current nitrogen deficiency, future demand associated with projected growth, and expected nitrogen supply from residual soil nitrogen and soil organic matter mineralization. The tool recommends higher nitrogen rates in areas with greater deficiency or yield potential and lower rates where crop conditions justify reduced application, supporting more efficient nitrogen use. The first wheat version has been available since June 2024 and is based on more than ten years of data generated in at least 40 experimental trials.