Knowledge Center

As fall approaches and soil temperatures drop, many growers in the Northern Corn Belt will be taking to the field to start fall nitrogen applications. While fall is a great time for nitrogen applications, it comes with varied weather conditions and the risk of nitrogen loss, making it beneficial to use a nitrification inhibitor such as CENTURO™ nitrogen stabilizer.

Efficiently using resources and good crop management go hand-in-hand on any successful farming operation. This is no trade secret — you want to minimize the inputs needed to produce the highest yield possible. That’s why optimizing your nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is critical to getting the most out of your fertilizer investment and ultimately, a better bottom line.

Crops are the most valuable source of income for most farm operations. That’s why you protect your livelihood by insuring your crops every year. In the event of significant crop loss due to weather, insect or disease, insurance will step in to make up for a portion of the lost income.

Applying livestock manure to crops is a cost-efficient way to fertilize. Unfortunately, when manure remains untreated, nitrogen content can be susceptible to loss through volatilization, leaching and denitrification. And when nitrogen isn’t available for crops, yield can be impacted.

A study by Dr. Rick Engel from Montana State University proved that surface-applied urea still loses a significant amount of nitrogen due to ammonia volatilization in cold weather, even under freezing conditions. High ammonia volatilization loss under cold conditions was mainly related to high soil moisture and soil pH.

You might think that when nitrogen fertilizer is in the ground, it's safe. New research suggests you need to think again. When shallow banding unprotected urea less than two inches deep, researchers found that nitrogen loss due to ammonia volatilization can be even greater than unprotected broadcast urea.

While fall applications of nitrogen can help take pressure off spring field work, allowing for more timely planting, these applications are still at risk of nitrogen loss. We’ve debunked two common myths concerning nitrogen loss in fall-applied nitrogen to help ensure growers are maximizing their nitrogen fertilizer inputs.

Selecting what fertilizer best fits your operation can be a difficult process — this likely isn’t a surprise to you. With so many factors playing into the equation, how do you decide what details to consider to ensure your crops get the essential nutrients they need? This article discusses three key factors to think about as you explore your fertilizer options and how SUPERU® premium fertilizer from Koch Agronomic Services stacks up in each category.

Soil is a nonrenewable resource that directly and indirectly produces about 95 percent of the world’s food1 — so while defining soil health may not be easy, understanding its value is.

Having enough feed throughout the fall and winter can be an expensive operating cost for growers and ranchers — but fall stockpiling of forage can provide some relief. Stockpiling allows producers to manage these costs and ensure adequate feed supplies throughout the winter.

Nitrogen management is essential to prevent nutrient loss, maximize yield potential and optimize economic return — it’s especially important when your nitrogen program includes a fall application.
As you assess your needs and plan your fall nitrogen application program, keep these tips in mind to maximize yield and minimize loss.

Consider treating UAN investments with a nitrogen stabilizer that protects against ammonia volatilization.