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Timing is key to maximizing nitrogen use in corn

An Ohio farmer says he’s looking for ways to maximize his nitrogen use in corn and reduce nitrogen loss.

Central Ohio farmer Ryan Rhodes says increased regulations on chemical application and water quality in Ohio make him interested in finding ways to get the most out of his nitrogen applications.

“I foresee a day when they’ll be telling us what we have to put on, so we might as well be having these conversations now. When they can give you numbers and you can think back on what you’d apply, either we’re doing a really good job or we’re not doing a good enough job at all,” says Rhodes

Luke Shulte, an Ohio field agronomist with Becks Hybrids says applying nitrogen as close as possible to when the corn plant takes it up will reduce nitrogen loss.

“If the means by which we put it on are protected, whether it be stabilizers or equipment to keep t from being lost to our environment, we’re going to better everybody,” says Shulte.

Shulte said Becks research indicates the optimum application time is around the V3 stage of growth, which is when the roots are developing and the corn plant is no longer surviving on the seed.

Brownfield interviewed Shulte and Rhodes at Beck’s Precision Farm Research meeting in London, Ohio.

Audio: Ryan Rhodes, Rhodes Farms, Radner Ohio