From fall 2023 to spring 2024, temperature and precipitation have been above normal for much of Nebraska, providing moisture for the 2024 crop. At the same time, higher-than-normal temperatures and moisture might result in more nitrogen availability by facilitating soil organic matter decomposition. It might be worth taking advantage of “free” soil nitrogen and saving fertilizer costs for the upcoming crop.

Many farmers are applying nitrogen (N) before planting, while others are considering applying more of their fertilizer N in season. It is best practice to use a base rate of nitrogen fertilizer before planting the crop, then applying nitrogen during the growing season based on crop need. In-season N application improves nitrogen use efficiency and reduces potential nitrogen losses.

With the warmer winter and spring, more nitrogen could be available in the soil, leading to less need for nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season. The amount of fertilizer N to be applied in-season can be estimated with the late spring soil nitrate test (LSNT, also called the pre-sidedress soil nitrate test or PSNT) or crop canopy reflectance sensing. This article addresses these options, as well as fertigation and variable rate applications. In addition to LSNT and crop canopy reflectance sensing, there are crop growth models to predict N need during the growing season, but these are not addressed in this article.

Late Spring Soil Nitrate Test (LSNT)

The LSNT has been available for over 30 years and is used for corn production to assess the need for in-season N application. It has been less studied and used in Nebraska than in Iowa and we advise use of the Iowa State University guidelines for eastern Nebraska: Use of the Late Spring Soil Nitrate Test in Iowa Corn Production. The LSNT has been well-validated for medium and fine texture soils, but it is not expected to work well for sandy soil. Use this test as follows.

Collect a representative soil sample from the zero to 12-inch depth when the height from the ground to the top of the corn plant whorl is six to 12 inches. The area represented by a sample should not be more than 40 acres with sampling zones defined according to soil properties likely to affect N availability or loss. Each sample should be made from at least 15 cores and more in cases of past manure application. Avoid sampling in bands of fertilizer N application. Samples should be collected at varying distances from corn rows. For example, three samples of varying distance from the row might be sampled at five sites for the management zone.

Refrigerate the samples or air-dry them in a thin layer on sheets of paper, or with the assistance of a fan. Alternatively, submit the sample so the analysis can be done within three days.

The laboratory analysis needs to be for nitrate N only.

The critical value for a normal spring, as assumed in 2024, is 25 ppm nitrate N.

If nitrate N is above the critical level, for example 27 ppm in 2024, do not apply in-season fertilizer N.

If nitrate N is below the critical level, apply eight pounds of N for each ppm below the critical level.

For example, if LSNT results are 15 ppm nitrate N, the N rate = (25 - 15) x 8 = 80 lb/ac N.

See the ISU publication “Use of the Late Spring Soil Nitrate Test in Iowa Corn Production” for more discussion of LSNT considerations, such as for fields with manure application.

Sensor-Guided In-Season N Application

Remote sensing of the crop canopy reflectance is the best option to quantify the need for in-season N if the plants are large enough. Crop canopy sensing can be done:

  • with a handheld sensor such as the Rapid Scan,
  • with aerial sensing (drones, planes, satellite), or
  • with sensors fitted on high-clearance N application equipment.

Such remote sensing requires good canopy development, beginning with the eighth leaf stage (V8; or with 10 horizontal/droopy leaves) or later. Crop canopy sensing is best done with a reflectance index such as NDVI (normalized difference vegetative index); however, with corn, the NDRE index (normalized difference red edge) is preferred.

The crop N status for any given part of the field is determined by relating the NDRE for that part of the field with high NDRE readings from the field. High NDRE readings are often from established “high N reference” areas or strips in the field. These areas can be small, such as 20 by 20 feet, with hand application of extra fertilizer N, for example at a rate of one pound of urea per 100 sq. ft. Data from sensor readings for other parts of the field are then compared to the high N reference with the ratio of the sensor reading from the field divided by the sensor reading from the high N reference equal to a “sufficiency index.”

Sufficiency Index (SI) = (target area NDRE / reference NDRE)

Mathematical algorithms developed for corn in Nebraska are used to convert the SI value to an N rate.

  1. The Solari algorithm is relatively simple and requires only the SI value:
    In-season N rate = 317 x the square root (0.97 – SI)
  2. The Holland-Schepers algorithm requires additional information and determines the N rate from the shape of a typical yield response function and the optimum N rate for the yield goal established by the producer. Producers provide this “optimum N rate” unless the economic optimum N rate is available. The Holland-Schepers algorithm also accounts for N credits such as due to the previous crop, manure application, and nitrate N applied in irrigation water. Sensor-directed in-season N application is commonly done near the 12-leaf stage (V12 or with 13.5 horizontal or droopy leaves) of corn to correspond to a high rate of N uptake. The algorithms for calculation of in-season N rate are best calibrated for this growth stage. Early use is more likely to underestimate N need.

Fertigation

Fertigation is a common and cost-effective means of in-season N fertilization in Nebraska. As above, the use of LSNT, spot-checking of a field with a handheld sensor, or use of imagery (from drones, aircraft or satellites) can help determine if N should be applied by fertigation — that is, if the sufficiency index (SI) is less than 0.95. If needed, 30 to 40 lb/ac N can be uniformly applied. The N need can be reassessed two weeks later using sensor information to determine whether an additional application of 30 to 40 lb/ac N is needed. This procedure can be repeated with the last application no later than the R3 (milk) growth stage.

Should In-Season N be Applied, and Is Variable-Rate Application Justified?

As above, LSNT or canopy sensing, with calculation of the SI, is used to determine if and how much in-season N application is needed. If the results indicate much variation in N need across the field, the N rate might be varied. Three options can be considered for variable rate application:

  1. This is most easily done on a management zone basis using LSNT or remote sensing.
  2. Aerial imagery can be used to develop a prescription map for application with high-clearance variable rate equipment.
  3. The crop canopy reflection can be sensed and the N rate determined on-the-go, with continuous adjustment of the N rate with properly-equipped high-clearance equipment.

Summary

Given above normal fall 2023 to spring 2024 precipitation and temperature, most areas in Nebraska are likely to have more nitrogen availability in soil from soil organic matter mineralization. This “free” nitrogen could result in substantial fertilizer N cost savings for the 2024 crop. It is best practice to use some base rate before planting the crop while adjusting in-season fertilization based on crop nitrogen need during the growing season. The in-season fertilizer N rate can be determined using LSNT soil sample analysis for younger corn. Remote sensing can be used after V8 to determine N need. The remote sensing information can also be used for both uniform and variable rate applications. Remote sensing can be used to determine if additional fertigation of N is needed.

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