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When is the best time to apply nitrogen?

A field crops educator says research shows late season fertilizer applications in corn have the greatest nitrogen uptake

Kurt Steinke with Michigan State University Extension says sidedressing corn between one to two months after planting (between V11 to V13 stages) can lead to corn utilizing about 30 percent nitrogen, especially in states with longer growing seasons.  “You move to the central part of the ‘I’ states and further south, they’ve seen success with this later sidedress N application timing where we have not seen that to this point in Michigan.”

He says split nitrogen applications can lead to a 4.5 to 16 percent yield increase but it can be challenged by climate variability.  “You can avoid some of those early season N losses, whether it’s dry through volatilization or wet through leaching and denitrification, but we still have to get that N to the plant in a timely fashion.”

Steinke says it’s also important to remember corn need some nitrogen at planting to help with early growth.

AUDIO: Kurt Steinke comments during weekly virtual breakfast