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Saturated conditions leading to more nitrogen losses

Heavy rains in the Upper Midwest have led to increased nitrogen losses in flooded fields.

University of Minnesota Extension educator Brad Carlson says there has been close to a foot of rain in the past month in some areas.  

“When we have saturated conditions, that’s when we’re at high risk for losing nitrogen, either through leaching down through the profile and entire lines, or through the nitrification up into the air,” he says.  “We’re starting to see a lot of evidence of that.”

He tells Brownfield that growers may need a rescue treatment, an unplanned fertilizer application, in fields where fall manure and fall anhydrous were applied.

“Those areas in particular will benefit from having an extra 30 or 40 pounds of nitrogen applied,” he says.

Carlson says side or top-dressing nitrogen might be an option – but says growers should consider the return on investment first.

AUDIO: Brad Carlson, University of Minnesota Extension