Corn Fertilizer Source and Application Method

TRIAL OBJECTIVE

• Fertility application timing and method are very important for the maximation of corn yield potential.
• Many application types occur across the southern agricultural system including knifed-in soil applications, surface applications of liquid fertilizer, and surface-applied granular applications.
• Each application technique has potential benefits and drawbacks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate different application methods across a range of DEKALB® Brand Corn Products.
• Usually, one type of fertilizer application has a lower price compared to others. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to help answer the question – Does the type of fertilizer application matter?

RESEARCH SITE DETAILS

• All field work, tillage, and herbicides were per local standards.
  • DEKALB® Brand Products planted in trial:
    • DKC62-89 Brand, 112 RM, Trecepta® Corn
    • DKC64-22 Brand, 114 RM, VT Double PRO® Corn
    • DKC65-95 Brand, 115 RM, VT Double PRO® Corn
    • DKC67-44 Brand, 117 RM, VT Double PRO® Corn
    • DKC68-35 Brand, 118 RM, VT Double PRO®
  • Corn Seeding Rate – 36,000 seeds/acre.
  • Split application of nitrogen (N) (240 lb/acre) for each application treatment:
    • 50% (120 lb/acre) applied at 3 to 4 leaf stage.
    • 50% (120 lb/acre) applied at layby.
  • Fertilizer Application Treatments (Figure 1):
    • Dry – Applied as 41-0-0-4.1
    • Surface Applied Liquid (50%/50%)
      • First – Applied as 30-0-0-2.5
      • Second – Applied as 29-0-0-4.1
    • Liquid – Knifed-In Soil Applied as 50%/50%
      • First – Applied as 30-0-0-2.5
      • Second – Applied as 29-0-0-4.1
    • Similar amounts of sulfur were applied for each treatment
• Two replicate strip plot – 12 row plots, 1100 feet in length, about 1.2 acres/experimental unit (Figure 2).
• Harvested with commercial combine and yields recorded using Climate FieldView™ data collection on the combine.
• Yields corrected to 15.5% moisture content.

UNDERSTANDING THE RESULTS

• The average yield for the trial was 230 bu/acre (Figure 3).
• Yields by corn product:
  • Several of the tested products demonstrated very high yield potential with DEKALB® DKC68-35 Brand obtaining the highest yield (Figures 3 and 4).
• Yields by corn product and fertilizer application method:
  • Average yields, by each application method for each DEKALB® Brand corn product, were similar in this study (Figure 5).
  • Weather-related variability was reduced by using Climate FieldView™ data to remove a weather-damaged area from yield data (Figure 6).
  • FieldView™ data helps visualize the effects of rain and temperature on crop production compared to long-term averages (Figure 7).
    

KEY LEARNINGS

• From this data we conclude that timely applications of appropriate fertilizers offer similar results regardless of application method.
• Growers should continue to focus on economic returns, timeliness of application, and management of risk when applying fertilizer.
• Appropriate rainfall for the incorporation of surface-applied N remains a major factor in success.
• Nitrogen stabilizers are particularly important when using either dry- or liquid-applied N applications.
• Climate FieldView™ data provides useful information to help understand variability that influences corn production.
• Please contact your local DEKALB® Brand representative for more information.

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