Preplant, Sidedress, Fall — Protecting N Pays
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Nutrient management practices continue to evolve as more is discovered about nitrogen and its role in corn production. Today, split applications of nitrogen help provide the right amount of this critical nutrient when corn needs it most — during the period of rapid growth from V8 through pollination and grain fill. If nitrogen is deficient during these stages, yield may be diminished.
“Split applications bring many benefits. It is a great approach to manage weather-related challenges that go along with meeting the corn crop’s need for nitrogen,” says Ty Stender, nitrogen stabilizer strategic account manager, Corteva Agriscience. “Weather throughout the corn-growing areas has certainly been unpredictable recently, so understanding the application timing benefits and risks are important when putting together fertility programs.”
Application timing considerations
- Fall applications of nitrogen fertilizer help growers manage workflow in regions where soil temperatures stay below 50 F from late fall until late spring. Cold temperatures help reduce the activity of soil bacteria that convert ammonium to nitrate forms.
- Preplant applications are an option when spring weather is dry and can be finished before the ideal planting window closes.
- At planting, liquid nitrogen sources like UAN solution can be combined with a starter or other liquid fertilizer and applied in furrow.
- In-season (sidedress) applications supply nitrogen to the crop closer to when corn uptake is greatest. It is a risk management approach to wet spring conditions that can cause nitrogen to move below the root profile.
Nitrogen at risk of loss, regardless of application timing
“No matter when nitrogen is applied, it can be lost into the environment,” Stender explains. “Warmer-than-normal temperatures and abundant moisture simulate soil bacteria that convert ammonium from nitrogen fertilizers into nitrate, making it susceptible to leaching from too much rain or denitrification loss into the atmosphere when soils are saturated for days creating an anerobic environment.”
To help customers understand how much nitrogen loss may be lost on their farms, use this handy Nitrogen Loss Calculator. It considers local weather data, application timing and nitrogen source to predict nitrogen loss.
“With profit margins tight, it’s hard to think about investing in nitrogen only to have it lost before it can be converted into yield by the corn plants,” Stender adds. To protect ammonium nitrogen and the bottom line, he recommends incorporating nitrogen stabilizers such as N-Serve® and Instinct NXTGEN® into crop nutrition programs to help ensure nitrogen is available for the crop season-long.
Season-long nitrogen availability can add yield potential, ROI
“N-Serve and Instinct NXTGEN can provide a great return on nitrogen applications, especially in years with a warmer- and/or wetter-than-average fall and winter. The same is true for spring applications, where an earlier warmup and/or wetter conditions can also provide higher returns for stabilizing nitrogen,” he says. “On-farm trials really show the benefits of using a nitrogen stabilizer compared with leaving nitrogen fertilizer unprotected.”
In 2024 on-farm trials, fields treated with Instinct NXTGEN or N-Serve nitrogen stabilizer at preplant produced an average 8-bushel-per-acre yield advantage over untreated fields. At $4 corn, that’s a $32-per-acre advantage.
Fields treated with Instinct NXTGEN or N-Serve at sidedress generated an average 5-bushel-per-acre yield advantage compared with untreated fields. At $4 corn, that a $20-per-acre advantage.
The results were similar for fall fertilizer applications — N-Serve kept 24% more nitrogen in the ammonium form compared with a competitive nitrification inhibitor, for a 4-bushel-per-acre yield advantage and increased revenue of $16-per-acre.
Download the full 2024 trial data summary here.
Important for yield potential and the environment
Nitrogen stabilizers also play an important role in protecting the environment and water sources. The Optinyte® technology found within N-Serve and Instinct NXTGEN nitrogen stabilizers has been proven to reduce nitrogen leaching by 16% and increase soil retention by 28% on average.1
Contact your local Corteva Agriscience representative for more information or visit NitrogenStabilizers.com for more data verifying Instinct NXTGEN and N-Serve nitrogen stabilizers pay off.
1 Wolt, J.D. 2004. A meta-evaluation of nitrapyrin agronomic and environmental effectiveness with emphasis on corn production in the Midwest. Numbers cited are average results comparing nitrogen applications applied with Optinyte® technology vs. non-stabilized applications. Results may vary.
Instinct NXTGEN® is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Do not fall-apply anhydrous ammonia south of Highway 16 in the state of Illinois. Optinyte® is a registered active ingredient. Always read and follow label directions. CENTURO and the CENTURO logo are trademarks of Koch Agronomic Services, LLC.