Should You Use Starter Fertilizer on Corn

Should You Use Starter Fertilizer on Corn

fertilizer

Research out of Purdue might lead you to say no.  No-till Farmer Carried the article Corn Response to Starter Fertilizer.  Research results are usually mixed on the question, and have been for at least 40 years.  Logic tells you that getting the crop off to a fast start is a good idea.  The trouble is that logic and science are not the same.  Much of the replicated research says that it does not pay.  There are conditions where starter might be helpful  The Purdue research shows a response in No-till.  I have also seen results where starter was helpful where soil tests are below critical levels.

You have to ask yourself, do you have time to mess with another thing in an already busy season?

When to Apply Lime

When to Apply Lime

fertilizer Lime

Maintaining soil pH and calcium at ideal levels is necessary to maximize crop yields and fertilizer efficiency. Sometimes there are questions as to when to apply lime.  The answer is, "any time the lime is needed and soil moisture is favorable."  While lime application can be critical to top yields, we shouldn't apply lime based on guesswork.  Not all fields react to acidfying materials such as nitrogen the same way. Also, not all parts of a field need the same amount of lime.  Variable rate lime can help to avoid under and over application of lime.  Both situations can affect yield.

No-Till Farmer has 3 Tips for When to Apply Lime.

Fertilizer Prices

Fertilizer Prices

fertilizer soil fertility

Current fertilizer prices are lower than they  have been in some time, but now is not the time to use your soil as a bank.  Low crop prices mean that over and under fertilization is still not  a good idea.  No_Till Farmer gives projected fertilizer prices for 2016 crop year.

Saving Money on Soil Fertility

Saving Money on Soil Fertility

fertilizer soil fertility

 Happy New Year!

With lower crop prices, many producers are looking at cutting costs.  One place they might consider cutting is soil fertility.  Is this a good idea?  There is no way to know without a recent soil test, no more than 2 years old.  If you nutrient levels are high enough, there is no requirement that fertilizer be applied every year.  Make sure that Calcium and magnesium levels are at the proper levels so that pH is correct.  Decisions on phosphorous and potassium should be based on soil test.  Sulfur is much like nitrogen, so if your soil test indicates that you need sulfur, you should not really cut back much.  

Nitrogen on corn is a place to look at cutting back.  The first thing you can do is use nitrification and urease inhibitors as appropriate for your fertilizer material.  They will not save you under really poor conditions, but they can buy you some time.  The next thing you can look at is sidedressing nitrogen.  You can easily reduce your rate by 25% if sidedressing.  Another thing to look at is the maximum return to N (MRTN).  Researchers in the midwest have accumulated a lot of data over the years and are recommending nitrogen be applied based on economic factors (corn rice and nitrogen price) instead of yield goal and removal.  You should at least be looking at the N-rate Calculator to factor cost prices into your decision. 

Variable rate is another factor to look at to cut costs.  I am sold on VR Lime, phosphorous and potassium.  VR nitrogen is a little more tricky, but using some sort of a chlorophyll sensor might be useful.  Pre-sidedress nitrate testing can help you pinpoint how much nitrogen to use as well. 

I know a lot of what I mentioned cost money to implement, but the savings can be substantial.