To the question "Can nutrition affect earliness?" the answer must be a definite Wes". Further, it will be just as important a factor as irrigation or pest management. Correct nutrition will form the basis of any attempt to produce a good early crop and without it one would be less likely to utilise other management tools in their most effective manner. Correct crop nutrition is more than just a question of what fertiliser at what rates or time, but rather an integrated approach leading to the most beneficial use of the fertiliser applied. The information contained in this paper applies to sel^-mulching black soils west of Wee Waa