A Guide to Sidedressing: Delayed Nitrogen Application and Yield Improvement

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Improve your growing season by applying nitrogen to your crops when and where it matters most. When you add sidedressing to your operation, your crops will have enough nitrogen to optimize your yield and profitability. Most nitrogen is used by the crop during its initial growth, as sidedressing enables maximum growth and yield by replacing nitrogen lost during that initial crop growth period. However, there are some instances that encourage nitrogen application after the corn has already emerged. Below are some best practices if you are considering delayed sidedressing and nitrogen application:

Sidedressing Do’s and Don’ts

  • DO sidedress soil that has lost nitrogen between April and June
  • DO sidedress on well-drained, sandy soils and heavy-textured, poorly-drained soils
  • DO NOT sidedress unless there is early season nitrogen loss

Advantages of sidedressing and delayed nitrogen application

  • Increases use of fertilizer by the crop
  • Utilizes pre-plant application time for corn planting

Disadvantages to delayed application

  • Less time to complete application
  • Dry, unpredictable weather wards off surface-applied nitrogen, making it unavailable to crop

Earliest time for nitrogen sidedressing

  • As early as you can enter your field without injuring young corn (often between 4 to 6 inches tall or 4 to 8 leaf stage)

Latest time for nitrogen applications

  • Before the 8-leaf stage, as corn utilizes nitrogen most during its grand growth stage; apply before the 10-leaf stage for most hybrid corns

Best nitrogen source

  • Ammonia or nitrogen solutions knifed in
  • Ammonium nitrate over top of crop
  • Granular urea, if clean and tilled

Note: Both granular and urea and ammonium nitrate broadcast in standing corn will cause some foliar burn. Nitrogen solutions should not be sprayed directly on foliage, as it will cause extensive burn.

Article by New Holland Resource Center

Published by Swiderski Equipment

Swiderski Equipment Inc. is one of Wisconsin’s premier and long-established agriculture and construction equipment dealerships. Founded by a man who saw a need in his local farming community over 90 years ago, Swiderski Equipment continues to serve our customers through a diverse offering of agriculture, construction, and consumer equipment and products. Our five stores combine to operate one of the most valued networks of agriculture and construction sales, parts, and service in Wisconsin. From our humble beginnings, training and selling workhorses from the Swiderski family homestead in 1925, our business has evolved as the needs of our customers change. Our team of precision farming technology experts leads the way in providing cutting-edge technology for increasing efficiency and profitability for our customers. Swiderski Equipment employees take great pride in understanding the needs of our customers, providing them with the solutions they need to be more productive and lucrative in their own businesses. While technology flourishes and equipment grows larger, our focus continues to be providing the best service possible to our customers by not only meeting their needs but exceeding their expectations. From the large acreage operator to small farmers, contractors, landowners, or small businesses, Swiderski Equipment Inc. is your partner on the job!

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