Overview
The Crop Requirement tab is the primary and default section of every Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) in TELUS Crop Management. It guides users through a step-by-step accordion workflow to capture agronomic inputs and produce RB209-based nutrient recommendations across seven macro-nutrients.
The Crop Requirement tab includes an Expanded Options toggle that unlocks additional agronomic adjustments to refine nutrient recommendations
Enabling Expanded Options
An Expanded Options toggle is available at the top of the Crop Requirement accordion. When switched on, additional input panels appear that allow more precise agronomic adjustments to the RB209 recommendation.
Note: Expanded Options are in addition to, not a replacement for, the standard workflow steps.
Expanded Options Panels
The following seven panels are available when Expanded Options is enabled (per the May 2026 release and confirmed against the platform codebase):
1. Paper Sludge or Straw Applications
Allows users to record whether paper sludge or straw has been applied to the field. This affects nutrient availability calculations. (General agricultural knowledge: Straw incorporation can temporarily immobilise soil nitrogen through microbial tie-up. Paper sludge can supply both carbon and some nitrogen. Both are accounted for under RB209 methodology.)
2. Excess Winter Rainfall
Users can specify the excess winter rainfall (EWR) category for the field. Three options are available:
Low: less than 150 mm EWR
Moderate: 150 to 250 mm EWR
High: over 250 mm EWR
EWR affects the leaching risk and the resulting nitrogen recommendation. (General agricultural knowledge: RB209 uses EWR as a modifier for soil nitrogen supply — higher winter rainfall leaches more nitrate, reducing soil nitrogen available in spring.)
3. Yield Expectations
Users can enter a field-specific target yield (in t/ha) rather than relying on the system default based on average yields. For cereals, target yield directly adjusts the nitrogen requirement. (General agricultural knowledge: RB209 nitrogen recommendations for cereals are partially yield-dependent; adjusting yield expectation is a common agronomist input for variable-rate planning.)
4. Crop Lodging Risk
Users can specify the lodging risk for the crop. This is a modifier in the RB209 methodology that can influence the recommended nitrogen rate. (General agricultural knowledge: Excess nitrogen increases lodging risk in cereals; RB209 allows adjustments to N recommendations where lodging risk is considered.)
5. Crop Target Grain N
Available for Winter Wheat, Spring Wheat, Winter Barley, and Spring Barley where the crop end use is set to Feed, Malting, or Milling. Users can specify the target grain nitrogen percentage to drive a more precise nitrogen recommendation aligned to quality grain targets.
Example thresholds:
Malting barley: typically ~1.65% grain N
Milling wheat: typically higher, reflecting protein contract specifications
(General agricultural knowledge: Grain protein content is a key determinant of malting and milling premiums. Specifying a target grain N percentage allows nitrogen applications to be tailored to contract specifications.)
6. Altitude Adjustments
The system uses the altitude stored against the holding (derived from the holding's postcode) and applies the appropriate RB209 altitude adjustment to the nitrogen recommendation. No manual input is required from the user. (General agricultural knowledge: RB209 recommends higher N application rates at altitude due to slower mineralisation rates and shorter growing seasons at elevation.)
7. Sulphur Deficiency
Users can specify whether the field is at risk of sulphur deficiency. RB209 provides recommendations for sulphur applications where deficiency risk is flagged. (General agricultural knowledge: Sulphur deficiency is most common on light soils in high-rainfall areas. Since the reduction in atmospheric sulphur deposition from industrial emissions, sulphur applications have become routine on many arable soils.)