Nitrogen on corn

[gil.gullickson]

All,

I received this release over the weekend from Emerson Natziger, University of Illinois Extension agronomist, I thought it was interesting in that despite cold/wet conditons, is that N applied earlier in the year/last fall is still mainly there and avilable for plant uptake now (well, in central Illinois where Urbana is located.)

It's interesting, too, on the second page where there's lots of N found in the soil where no fertilizer N was applied. (About 130 lbs of N in the top 2 feet as of 5/22.) Then again, this trial is occuring in the deep rich soils of central Illinois, too. 

Any idea if your corn fields are in synch N-wise with these findings? Guess it's hard to tell if enough N is there right now. Well, until yellow plants happen anyways. 

http://bulletin.ipm.illinois.edu/?p=3241

Thanks,

Gil Gullickson

Crops Technology Editor

Successful Farming 

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

That's an interesting study.  I wonder how weather specific it is?  Here, I'd thought fall appllied NH3 was a little risky.  Maybe not.

I try to stay up on N recommendations and welcome new studies, but it does make one wonder what to do from year to year.  I see no corn yellowing around here.  My own regimine is some N with the P&K, some UAN with the first herbicide spray, and dribble UAN with drops before the corn is too high for my pull type sprayer.  Far from optimatl, but works on the expenses side.

[gil.gullickson]

Jim,

I wonder if it's related to soil types they have over there in central IL? Really heavy. I talked with Emerson at a meeting last December at U of Illinois, and got the impression from him that fall-applied NH3 was a pretty good technique over there. Didn't seem like it was under the microscope like in Iowa. Then again, that was my gut feeling. But this study seems to look pretty good for fall-applied anhydrous. 

Gil 

[ECIN]

Quote from Jim : That's an interesting study.  I wonder how weather specific it is ?  I would say it's a lot - It all depends on how the fall weather is a app. time and then again in the spring - as Emmo said - they had not had any big time rains - as well as how warm it gets early , But then again I'm no PHD either !

I have a very good friend that farms East of Danville IL about 15 mile - just makes me SICK to go over there and visit !   Talk about some dirt !!!!! And he fall applies N - and is happy with it - yet here - maybe one guy I know has ever tried it - that organic matter does make a big difference -

Gil ole buddy - I have a question for you - I have read from Jim and others about the N problem in water out there and the state or city whats to crack down on N use out there - but I have been thinking about this for some time - What IF the N run off is from that 60 foot deep black dirt you all have rather than from farmer applied N ?? Just wondering .

Ken

[gil.gullickson]

Ken,

Oh, I'm sure that a share of the nitrates running into the rivers here comes from organic matter, but not sure how much. I'm working on a web piece that pretty much shows the problem isn't so much the amount/timing of N, but just that it occurs where there is nothing to suck it up (like after harvest into early spring/summer when no or little N is taken up. That's the big push behind cover crops over here--just to have something suck up that excess N.

I always remember Emerson Nafziger talking about a trial near Monmouth in west-central IL where they determined the optimum rate of applied N one year was 70 lbs and the next year it was 240--right in the same field and same location. Of course, the 70 lb was adequate in a year of high N mineralization from organic matter, where little occurred the next year when 240 was the optimum rate. I've asked around if there is any way to predict when mineralization would occur, so farmers could cut back on applied N. I think that's the big unknown right now--that it's still pretty much of a wild card as to how much mineralization will occur. 

GIl 

[Pat in CMO]

All of my N. was applied as nh3 about a week ahead of corn planting. Has been wet since, but no big rains. With that said I think it is all there for the crop. With no big rains the moisture is staying in the fields and the N should be also.  Patrick

[ECIN]

Gil have have been to many meeting over the years and YOU just asked the Million dollar - about mineraliztion - you figure that one out - or somebody - and it will be like winning the lottory ! lol  No really - I used about the same N plan as Jim and Just loved it - I would lay down 20 gpa of 28 with the chemicals - also put on 10 gpa of 10-34-0 with the planter ,then sidedress the rest - then 2 years in a row - by luck or lack of - Late in the season the corn was running short of juice - It was from " late " mineraliztion - I had asked some of the top reserchers about this and just - WHEN it  would be available - they had no idea was the answer - but it will be there , but just don't know when  ,  that was why mine was short - it just had not happened yet , so I dumped the 20 gpa with chemicals and added a pass with the Hagie - which in that case - it did not work either -- The figures come from Jim Camberato And Bob Nielsen ,  I sent Kacey the results from last years N plot with Purdue - I told her  to pass it on to yeah - which If you want - you can post it up here . This years plot is a " timing " plot - 

It;s all about the weather and or the lack or it - heat - wet soils - cool soils - no rain - you name it - there all a player in this game - Cornell came out with Adapt -N which was in the N -Plot 3 years ago - but they sent out an e-mail that they would not use any of our data - they just wanted to go head to head with what the farmers did - which Ken has to ask - how can you test it when we don't know what the right amount was to start with ?? right ? Anyway the Adapt - N did not do very well on the plot that year . I will say - it has potential in the future - with work .

One last thing - Pat - I hate to say this - but Ithink ou have lost all your N and will need to reapply = lol  just kidding - lol

ken