GREEN MEANS GO: WAIT FOR GREEN TO APPLY NITROGEN

Lindsay Mitchell

Oct 26, 2016  |  Today's News

Combines are beginning to slow and farmers will start considering fall fertilizer application.

Remember, nitrogen should not be applied on soils that are not a sustained 50 degrees or below at the 4-inch level.

There are other important guidelines pertaining to fall fertilizer application as well:

  • If you are farming south of route 16, you should not be applying fall nitrogen, with the exception of nitrogen applied to a perennial or winter annual crop such as wheat..
  • Make sure the fertilizer type and amount matches your crop’s needs.
  • Include a nitrification inhibitor in all fall applied anhydrous ammonia to help your nitrogen stay in the right place for a future crop’s use.

To make it easier for IL Corn Growers Association members to determine when the time is right to fall apply nitrogen, check out www.ilcorn.org/fallN.  We’ll be sharing forecasted soil temperatures to help you determine when you have a green light in your county to consider applying anhydrous ammonia in the fall.  

Applying nitrogen when the soil is too warm in the fall can cause this valuable, expensive nutrient to leach from your fields.  Following recommendations for nitrogen application also means that you protect water quality for you and your neighbors.