Should I split urea into three doses or is two enough for a long-duration crop?

For longer-duration and heavy nitrogen-feeding crops, more splits generally improve nitrogen use because you feed the crop closer to when it needs nitrogen and less is lost to leaching or the air between applications. So three well-timed splits can outperform two for a long crop, especially on light sandy soils where nitrogen leaches quickly. On heavier soils that hold nutrients better, two good splits may be enough and three is mainly extra labour. The principle is to align each split with a growth stage where demand rises, apply each to moist soil or before irrigation, and avoid applying just before heavy rain. There is a point of diminishing returns, so do not split endlessly. Decide based on your crop's duration, your soil type and your irrigation pattern. Follow your KVK schedule for the specific crop, keep the total nitrogen within your Soil Health Card or soil test recommendation, and do not over-apply.