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Nitrogen study looks at variability and availability

Researchers continue to study factors that impact the variability and availability of nitrogen throughout the growing season.

University of Minnesota nutrient and water management specialist Dr. Lindsay Pease says she’s trying to answer several questions.

“How much of our nitrogen that we’ve applied is being used with the crop? When is it being used? And what are those factors that really are influencing whether the corn is able to take up the nitrogen, or maybe are we losing some of that nitrogen?”

She tells Brownfield nitrogen uptake can be limited when soil conditions are too dry or too wet.

“We have a traditional fertility trial that we’re looking at with different nitrogen rates, but we’re also tracking how the nitrogen is being converted into nitrate. And then hopefully seeing how all these different factors are affecting crop uptake.”

Pease says the goal of the study is to help guide farmers on the proper nitrogen rates depending on various weather conditions.