Sidedress N options

[Blacksandfarmer]

Just curios what you all are doing for sidedress nitrogen applications in corn? I know liquid 28% knifed in is ideal. Last year I had our elevator dibble on 28%. Im not crazy about dribble applications but Im also on a budget and buying an N applicator isn't cheap. The other grain elevator in town is promoting broadcast urea with an agrotain stabilizer calcium/sulfur mix for sidedress.... Would I get a lot of burn from broadcast urea? Would it help to cultivate in the urea? I have been seeing more and more guys using row cultivators these days for sidedress and you can get them cheap. Last I knew urea was cheaper than 28%? Just kicking around a few ideas thanks for advice in advance.

[toughguy189]

Dad has the hiller set up so that we can sidedress N as we are cultivating, the steel tubes run underneath the hawkins hiller out to the edges so that its as close to the corn as we can get it.

[James22]

First year sidedressing dribbled 28%, and don't think it worked all that great because couldn't time application (coop did it).   Second year knifed 28%, and better results but still dependent on coop.  Third year broadcast ammonium nitrate over the top with a large 3pt spreader and thought it  worked great.  Used ammonium nitrate because it was less likely to volatilize and read several older articles that claimed it wouldn't harm anything it if got into the whorl.  Noticed some minor leaf streaking.  But ammonium nitrate is roughly two times more expensive and the supplier doesn't want to handle it.  Read many articles/posts since then that many broadcast urea, so went that route.  Really haven't noticed any more burning and again certainly helped yields.  My vote is to watch the weather forecast and broadcast urea before a rain or cultivate it in.

[Blacksandfarmer]

Thanks for the advice, I figure I could save money on both fertilizer and the cost of the application to broadcast the urea in front of a rain and or cultivate it in..... I was just afraid of getting too much leaf burn but it sounds like things worked well for you.

[idalivered]

the one thing I don't like about urea is that it is very light product and it takes alot of volume to get the amount you probably want.  If i were doing this I would definitely cultivate it in. Soon. I've used liquid applicators and liked them and don' mind nh3 if the corn is small. I will be using probably nh3 sidedress to split-apply N on my coc.

[cornhead64]

James what was your rate of application between the ammonium nitrate versus the broadcast urea.  Also, what kind of yeild increase (about) did you see between the applied and non-applied areas ?

thx

[Nebrfarmr]

I have had the best luck, knifing in 28% or 32%.  Our local fertilizer dealer lets me use their applicator for $1 per acre, if I buy the fertilizer from them.  In fact, 3 of the 4 local fertilizer dealers have applicators for use for $1 per acre (which they usually forget to charge for). 

[SWMICH]

I tought a  used 12 row , 28% applicator  750 gal. for $6500.00 in excellent condition.  I got lucky with a used  1000 gal. nurse tank for under $400.00  I tried the rental route from the local elevator but it didn't work out.  But if you are in an area where they have plenty of rentals available that would be your best option.  I haave a 6 row planter so I'll have to be careful on the guess rows.     

[Blacksandfarmer]

Thanks everybody for the replies. I am still kicking around different sidedress options so nothing is set in stone. My soybean management seems really good, but I feel my corn management could be better. How many gallons of 28% are you guys using at sidedress? How many pounds of urea are you guys using at sidedress for those who go that route?

[sw363535]

We are in an irrigated, high expectation, high cost area and generally try to get 200+ lb on overall.

We found the problem with sidedress was getting it on early enough, and getting it into the ground.  Broadcast is ok but it takes longer to get into the root zone.

We have an advantage with the irrigation because we can go through the pivots.  But it still takes time for the N to get into the ground and into the plant.  If you need rain to get it in a useable place it can be too late with a rain delay.

We try to have it all in the ground prior to 5-6 leaf stage, soon the plant is starting to make ear sizing decisions.

Side dress has the risk of weather delay.  I would rather be all preplant than too late.