By Blake Jackson
Uncertain about your corn's nitrogen needs after a wet May? On-farm strip trials can provide valuable data to optimize your fertilizer application.
"Wet springs can lead to nitrogen loss," explains John Lory, a University of Missouri Extension specialist. "Thankfully, research shows side-dressing nitrogen past tasseling can benefit deficient corn, with yields potentially reaching full potential even as late as V12 to V16."
But determining the right amount of nitrogen can be tricky. Here's where strip trials come in.
"These trials allow you to test different nitrogen rates on your own fields, under your specific conditions," says Lory.
Worried about yield loss from the trial itself? The "MU Certified" Strip Trial Program uses a cost-effective design:
Three nitrogen rates are compared across the field: your usual rate, a rate 30 pounds per acre higher, and a rate 30 pounds per acre lower.
This design offers two advantages:
- No additional fertilizer is needed – the total amount applied stays the same.
- If your current rate is sufficient, there's no yield loss from the trial. All rates would yield similarly.
However, if your current rate is near optimal, the lowest rate might show a slight yield reduction compared to the other strips. This small loss, averaged across the entire trial, is a worthwhile trade-off for the valuable insights gained. You'll have data to confirm you're making sound nitrogen management decisions.
More significant yield losses might occur if your current rate is too low. But this highlights a potentially larger issue impacting your entire cornfield.
Lory recommends conducting one or two strip trials per year on your cornfields. Tracking results over several years provides even more personalized insights into your nitrogen management strategy.
"This investment can lead to long-term benefits, either through increased yields or reduced fertilizer costs," Lory concludes. The "MU Certified" Strip Trial Program is happy to assist farmers interested in setting up nitrogen strip trials.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-klosfoto
Categories: Missouri, Crops, Corn