Koch Agronomic
Knowledge Center

The Field Notes podcast series from Koch Agronomic Services (Koch) will break down the science and technology behind agronomy to help growers do more with less. Crop science experts and others in the agriculture industry will discuss topics ranging from nitrogen loss and soil health to ways growers can increase operational efficiencies.

The Field Notes podcast series from Koch Agronomic Services (Koch) will break down the science and technology behind agronomy to help growers do more with less. Crop science experts and others in the agriculture industry will discuss topics ranging from nitrogen loss and soil health to ways growers can increase operational efficiencies.

Debunking the Myth: More Nitrogen is Not Always the Answer

For many growers, the arrival of warm weather means the start of a very busy season. Between planning, planting and nitrogen application, time management suddenly becomes a vital factor to your success in the field.

You might not be able to control what you aren’t expecting, but you are capable of minimizing nitrogen loss. When your applied nitrogen is affected by ammonia volatilization, your return on investment decreases.

Because variables such as weather and soil type can all contribute to the loss of nitrogen, the process of keeping it available to nourish crops becomes complicated quickly.

Nitrogen volatilization can occur in all weather conditions, including both warm and cold temperatures. But no matter how or when fertilizer is applied, without a stabilizer, it’s vulnerable to loss.

If you are applying UAN or anhydrous ammonia — spring, fall or split applications alike — all nitrogen sources are subject to leaching after being nitrified to the nitrate form.

Whether you apply fall anhydrous ammonia or spring UAN, all nitrogen sources are subject to denitrification after being nitrified to the nitrate form.

With the recent trends of fertilizer and grain pricing, growers making spring nitrogen plans may choose to change their nitrogen needs and look at other inputs such as nitrogen stabilizers to optimize their overall profitability.

 

Some people who work in agriculture grow up on farms. They help with harvest and ride in tractor cabs before learning to ride a bike. But others take a different path into the industry.