Step up Fertilizer Management to Control Cost

ISSUE 11
Spring 1995
Step up Fertilizer Management to Control Cost

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Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.

The experts say several growing seasons may pass before fertilizer supplies become more in balance with demand, and prices drop significantly from present levels.
In the meantime, take advantage of management strategies that will help decrease production costs. Below are some of those strategies, offered by Dave Franzen, NDSU extension soils specialist; and George Rehm, U of MN extension soils scientist:

ABOVE ALL, SOIL TEST FIRST -- Soil testing is the most important tool for nitrogen management; it's a guide map that will help decrease fertilizer costs on some farms and increase returns on others. It's not too late to test samples this spring; in fact, spring sampling is encouraged on the beach areas or eastern edge of the Red River Valley. There are steps to follow for sampling accuracy; contact your local county extension educator for details.

USE THE NATURAL STUFF -- If manure is available, treat it as fertilizer, not as a waste product. Spread it as uniformly as possible, over fields not normally treated with manure. Incorporate within a day of spreading if possible, as nitrogen losses are likely if manure is allowed to sit in the field.

Sample manure for nitrogen analysis and apply at a rate under what nitrogen is needed for the coming crop, then supplement with added nitrogen at planting if needed.

APPLY AMMONIA -- Be sure that the toolbar is set up to apply uniformly over the width of the applicator, especially on sloping ground. Special manifolds that will allow this are available. Ammonia application is inefficient if the ammonia flows out of the downhill side of the bar more than the uphill side.

DROP RATE IN POOR PRODUCING AREAS -- Use flow control monitors and regulators to your advantage. If soil productivity is low in a field relative to other areas, use lower fertilizer rates. A saline area will be both low in productivity and high in nitrate, so shut the applicator off. Site-specific applications may not always be possible, but they can help increase the efficiency of ammonia use in fields that differ widely in productivity.

USE UREA WISELY -- Broadcasting urea without incorporation can result in large losses in the spring. Applications should be timed to precede precipitation within a few days or applied at seeding for soil coverage.

SPLIT APPLY ON SANDY SOIL -- On sandy soils only, consider applying 18-46-0 fertilizer by drill, then topdressing urea soon after emergence, before wheat tillers.

Copyright Prairie
Grains Magazine
Spring 1995

ISSUE 11 Spring 1995	Step up Fertilizer Management to Control Cost

Library Home E-Mail Back Prairie Grains is the official publication of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, South Dakota Wheat, Inc., and the Minnesota Barley Growers Association.	The experts say several growing seasons may pass before fertilizer supplies become more in balance with demand, and prices drop significantly from present levels. In the meantime, take advantage of management strategies that will help decrease production costs. Below are some of those strategies, offered by Dave Franzen, NDSU extension soils specialist; and George Rehm, U of MN extension soils scientist: ABOVE ALL, SOIL TEST FIRST -- Soil testing is the most important tool for nitrogen management; it's a guide map that will help decrease fertilizer costs on some farms and increase returns on others. It's not too late to test samples this spring; in fact, spring sampling is encouraged on the beach areas or eastern edge of the Red River Valley. There are steps to follow for sampling accuracy; contact your local county extension educator for details. USE THE NATURAL STUFF -- If manure is available, treat it as fertilizer, not as a waste product. Spread it as uniformly as possible, over fields not normally treated with manure. Incorporate within a day of spreading if possible, as nitrogen losses are likely if manure is allowed to sit in the field. Sample manure for nitrogen analysis and apply at a rate under what nitrogen is needed for the coming crop, then supplement with added nitrogen at planting if needed. APPLY AMMONIA -- Be sure that the toolbar is set up to apply uniformly over the width of the applicator, especially on sloping ground. Special manifolds that will allow this are available. Ammonia application is inefficient if the ammonia flows out of the downhill side of the bar more than the uphill side. DROP RATE IN POOR PRODUCING AREAS -- Use flow control monitors and regulators to your advantage. If soil productivity is low in a field relative to other areas, use lower fertilizer rates. A saline area will be both low in productivity and high in nitrate, so shut the applicator off. Site-specific applications may not always be possible, but they can help increase the efficiency of ammonia use in fields that differ widely in productivity. USE UREA WISELY -- Broadcasting urea without incorporation can result in large losses in the spring. Applications should be timed to precede precipitation within a few days or applied at seeding for soil coverage. SPLIT APPLY ON SANDY SOIL -- On sandy soils only, consider applying 18-46-0 fertilizer by drill, then topdressing urea soon after emergence, before wheat tillers.
Copyright Prairie Grains Magazine Spring 1995

Step up Fertilizer Management to Control Cost

Copyright Prairie Grains Magazine Spring 1995

Copyright Prairie
Grains Magazine
Spring 1995