The price of corn is low compared to pre-2014 harvest prices. This should affect nitrogen (N) rate application. Consider the following as spring N application for corn approaches.

1. Account for the value of grain relative to fertilizer N cost using tools such as:

2. In determining N rate, credit the previous crop if a legume, residual soil nitrate-N to at least 2-foot depth, and N from irrigation water and manure.

3. Nitrogen supply from applied manure is commonly under-credited and contributions in year two and three after application are substantial, especially with feedlot manure.

4. Use N-LAT (Nebraska N Loss Assessment Tool)  to estimate average N loss to leaching, volatilization, denitrification, and nitrous oxide emission, and determine the effects of alternative practices. Conditions affecting N loss vary greatly within and across fields, and N-LAT is useful for identification of the high loss areas.

5. Volatilization loss with surface application of urea or urea ammonium nitrate is a concern. Calcareous soil, heavy crop residue cover and delayed rainfall following application contribute to greater loss. Consider use of a urease inhibitor if risk of loss is relatively high (i.e., as determined by N-LAT). Rainfall or irrigation of 0.25 to 0.50 inch is sufficient to move the urea into the soil and greatly reduce potential N loss.

6. If weather conditions delay N application, give priority to timely planting. The N can be applied after planting.

7. Germinating seed and emerging plants near a shallow band of spring-applied anhydrous ammonia can cause seedling damage. Avoid planting near such bands.

8. If more than 50% of the crop residue was removed in a continuous corn cropping system, corn yield potential in irrigated or Corn Belt fields may remain the same or increase. Preliminary research shows that N rate can be reduced by 20 pounds N per acre and not affect yield, because of less immobilization of fertilizer N by microbes breaking down crop residue. This is not yet confirmed.

9. Nitrogen use efficiency can generally be improved by sidedress application or fertigation of most of the N in-season, such as at the 8-leaf stage or later.

Apply up to 75 pounds N/acre pre-plant, a total of fall and spring application.

Apply in-season to meet crop needs according to the

  • balance of the UNL recommendation;
  • pre-sidedress nitrate test (PSNT); or
  • use of handheld reflectance sensor, or on-the-go sensing and application; these require a reference area with a high pre-plant N  application for most efficient use.

10. Participation in the Nebraska On-farm Research Network is one way to test the benefit of alternative practices to obtain high-quality, location-specific information. The Network has several trial procedures for testing N management practices being used by producers across the state, giving growers an opportunity to compare results. View research procedures and see if one of these current on-farm research projects may be a good match for your operation:

  • Pre-plant application: UNL rate, UNL -30 pounds per acre, UNL +30 pounds per acre
  • Pre-plant application: UNL rate compared to grower's rate
  • Pre-plant application: UNL uniform rate compared to variable rate application
  • Pre-plant application: Maize-N compared to grower's rate
  • Sidedress application: UNL rate, UNL -30 pounds per acre, UNL +30 pounds per acre
  • Sidedress application: PSNT rate, PSNT -30 pounds per acre, PSNT + 30 pounds per acre
  • Sidedress application: grower's rate compared to the Maize-N rate

Project SENSE is a new Nebraska On-farm Research Network effort to assess on-the-go sensor-guided in-season N application.