2017 Eastern Ontario Crop Conference

Corn Nitrogen Management

Ben RosserOMAFRA Corn Specialist

DTN

Bender et al. (2013)Agron. J. 105:161-170

Sidedress

10%

70%

Tassel

Rapid Uptake

Managing N Timing

Bender et al. (2013)Agron. J. 105:161-170

Managing N Timing

> 75% of N Available for Loss

7-8 Weeks?

Managing N Timing

Adapted from University of Nebraska - Lincoln

NO3- NO3

- NO3-

NO3-NO3

-NO3

-

Leaching

NO3 -> NO2 -> NO -> N2O -> N2Gaseous Loss -------------------->Denitrification

OMAFRA Nitrogen Recommendations:

Soil Texture Sidedress Adjustment

Sand Soils No Adjustment

“Sandy” Soils 90% of Preplant

Loams, Silts, Clays 80% of Preplant

Managing N Timing

Late Nitrogen Applications

Iowa State

Iowa State

174 179201

167 170182

201

163 168

0

50

100

150

200

250

S Ont, '14-'15(n=6)

E Ont, '15(n=9)

Bruce Soil andCrop, '15

(120 lb/ac)(n=4)

Bruce Soil andCrop '15

(180 lb/ac)(n=4)

Pre

V6

V10-V12

Managing N Timing

Late Nitrogen Applications: Ontario DataY

ield

(b

u/a

c)

Managing N Timing

Late Nitrogen Applications: Case Study 1Same total N rate, different timings:Treatment 1: Starter + Sidedress (V6)Treatment 2: Starter + Sidedress (V6) + Delayed (V12)

Managing N Timing

Late Nitrogen Applications: Case Study 1

100 lb/acTotal N

Delayed

Managing N Timing

Late Nitrogen Applications: Case Study 1

180 lb/acTotal N

Delayed

Managing N Timing

Late Nitrogen Applications

Greg Stewart, Maizex Seeds

Managing N Timing

Late Nitrogen Applications

G. Stewart, Maizex Seeds

Managing N Timing

Late Nitrogen Applications

Greg Stewart, Maizex Seeds

+18 +41

Managing N Timing: Soil Sampling?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

25-Apr 9-May 23-May 6-Jun 20-Jun 4-Jul 18-Jul 1-Aug 15-Aug 29-Aug 12-Sep 26-Sep 10-Oct 24-Oct 7-Nov

NO

3-N

(p

pm

)

Year 2009

ESN138 Urea138 Control5

Managing In Crop Applications: Crop Injury

Urea Over Crop

150 lb Urea - 2016260 lb Urea - 2015

Managing In Crop Applications: Crop Injury

Nelson et al, 2011, Nitrogen Rescue Applications

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

UAN AN Urea Urea-NBPT

Yie

ld (

bu

/ac) 30

60

90

120

17 46 59 55 15 25 30 16 4 9 7 4 5 11 7 3

Yield Loss for Broadcast vs. Under Canopy Applications

Crop Height (cm)

Managing In Crop Applications: Crop Injury

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

4 8 10

Yie

ld (

bu

/ac)

Leaf Stage

N Soil

N Streamer

3 Hole Streamer Nozzle Application

A AA

B AB

Managing In Crop Applications: App. Method

Timing Method Avg. Difference

Preplant Surface (Streamer) 168+ 6

Preplant Inject 174

Sidedress Surface (Streamer) 168+ 7

Sidedress Inject 175

N Application Method/Timing, 4 Locations, 2013

Managing In Crop Applications: App. Method

Year Location Early N(Pl-V6)

Late N(~V12)

Mid-Row,Surface

In-Row,Surface

Mid-Row,Covered

2014 Elora

2014 Bornholm

2015 Elora

2016 Bornholm

Managing In Crop Applications: App. Method

Year Location Early N(Pl-V6)

Late N(~V12)

Mid-Row,Surface

In-Row,Surface

Mid-Row,Covered

---- lb-N/ac ---- --------------- bu/ac -------------

2014 Elora 50 70 148 151 165

2014 Bornholm 50 70 162 153 153

2015 Elora 80 70 182 175 180

2016 Bornholm 50 50 195 192 198

Average 172 168 174

Source: Deen et al. 2015Better Soils and Crops

Guelph loamNear Elora

Managing N Rate

2012:120 lbs

2014:220 lbs

Managing N Spatially

Question: How much does yield response to N vary across a field? (ie. what is the range in response?)

Managing N Spatially

Question: How much does yield response to N vary across a field? (ie. what is the range in response?)

Pfeffer et al, 2010:2006: 2 to 115 bu/ac2007: -37 to 80 bu/ac

Managing N Spatially

Question: How much does yield response to N vary across a field? (ie. what is the range in response?)

Pfeffer et al, 2010:2006: 2 to 115 bu/ac2007: -37 to 80 bu/ac

Eastern Ont. Soil and Crop N Timing Trials:2015: 2 to 74 bu/ac (average of 9 trials)

Managing N Spatially

980

990

1000

1010

1020

1030

1040

1050

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

Yie

ld (

bu

/ac)

Zero-N 2

Elevation(feet)

Elevation

(fee

t)

Managing N Spatially

980

990

1000

1010

1020

1030

1040

1050

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

Yie

ld (

bu

/ac)

Zero-N 2

Elevation(feet)

Elevation

(fee

t)Higher Zero-N Yields

Managing N Spatially

980

990

1000

1010

1020

1030

1040

1050

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

Yie

ld (

bu

/ac)

Zero-N 2

Elevation(feet)

Elevation

(fee

t)Lower Zero-N Yields

Managing N Spatially

980

990

1000

1010

1020

1030

1040

1050

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

Yie

ld (

bu

/ac)

Zero-N 2

High-N 2

Elevation(feet)

Elevation

(fee

t)

Managing N Spatially

980

990

1000

1010

1020

1030

1040

1050

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

Yie

ld (

bu

/ac)

High-N 2

Elevation(feet)

Elevation

(fee

t)

GFO Precision Ag Project: Case Study

Data Collection:- Historical Yield Index (yield stability)

Corn Soys Wheat Corn Soys Wheat Corn Soys Wheat

Aspinall, Rabe, Stewart, McDonald, 2015

All Years

GFO Precision Ag Project: Case Study

Corn Nitrogen Validation:

1

2

3

GFO Precision Ag Project: Case Study

Corn Nitrogen Validation:

1

2

3

Managing N Spatially

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250

Yie

ld (

bu

/ac)

Nitrogen Rate (lb-N/ac)

Managing N Spatially

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250

Yie

ld (

bu

/ac)

Nitrogen Rate (lb-N/ac)

Partial B

ud

get($

/ac)

Previous Practice

1. 60lbs/ac N of dry fertilizer going down with the planter

2. Balance of N using 3-hole streamer nozzle or draghose in-crop

Current Practice1. 40lbs/ac N of dry fertilizer going down with the planter

2. 70lbs/ac N using 3 streamer nozzles at 4-6L stage

3. VRA of N using GreenSeeker and drop hoses, about 70 lbs/ac of N

Drone use to determine N timing

• Now we are using the drone to fine tune timing for second and third app

• After reviewing these photos, we sent the sprayer to the field to apply the third shot early

The Drone – Our thoughts

• Flying every 3 – 4 weeks seems to work best

• More value in a wet year like 2015 then a dry year like 2016

Greenseeker -Our Thoughts• Not saving on total N, just different distribution

• Daylight intensity and leaf wetness influences the app rate

• Green seeker control over each boom section would be nice

• Using quadcopter for NIR pictures ahead of the application could be even more beneficial