|
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension specialists have prepared the following information to help producers, consultants, and agribusiness evaluate their use of nitrogen and the potential for reducing application rates. The worksheets can be used to determine the most profitable corn nitrogen rate recommended by the University of Nebraska for a specific field situation, based on data from more than 80 research trials conducted across Nebraska and more than 85 replicated tests in northeast Nebraska.
 Recommendations |
Worksheets |
Additional Resources
|
Cutting Input Costs While Maintaining Yields, a video segment on What's Shaping the Market webcast. (2001)
Nutrient Management for Agronomic Crops in Nebraska, Extension Circular 155, is a 170-page book with chapters on all the major and minor nutrients affecting crop production in Nebraska as well as chapters on specific nutrient management recommendations for each of these crops. EC155 is available free on-line or in a softcover book. that can be ordered from UNL Extension. Cost is $12 plus shipping and handling.
Recommendation highlights:
Calculate the most profitable corn nitrogen rate recommended by the
University of Nebraska for your field situation. This nitrogen recommendation
is based on more than 80 research trials across Nebraska and has been field
tested on more than 100 replicated nitrogen rate demonstration sites in northeast Nebraska.
Worksheets
The following worksheets and spreadsheets were developed by Charles Shapiro, UNL
Extension Soils Specialist at the NU Haskell Ag Lab, and Dick DeLoughery, UNL
Extension Water Quality Educator at the Northeast REC in Norfolk. To download the Excel files
to run on your personal computer: click the file name. If you do not see a "Save as" dialog
box after clicking on the link, try opening the File menu and selecting "Save As...". Use it
as you would other Excel spreadsheets to calculate the most profitable nitrogen rate for
corn. With these programs, the user assumes responsibility for input and results. The
University of Nebraska does not assume responsibility for individual results or the
application of those results. The “Corn Nitrogen Needs Calculator for Nebraska” (version 1.2) is an interactive
spreadsheet worksheet that automatically calculates the optimum nitrogen
fertilization rate for up to 10 fields or management areas per page. It includes
optional worksheets to calculate current and past manure N credits, and the
weighted average of soil test nitrates. A printable version is included for
calculating the nitrogen rate by hand. A transparency version is also available for
using on an overhead projector. An interactive version of the “Corn Nitrogen Needs Calculator for Nebraska” is available as a Microsoft Excel file which you can download to your personal
computer. Right click on the link to download and save to your computer. A manual calculation version of the “Corn Nitrogen Needs Calculator for
Nebraska” worksheet is available to download as an Adobe Reader PDF file, for
printing out from your personal computer.
View research results showing the effects of reducing nitrogen rates
Mid-Nebraska Water Quality Demonstration Project: Research results
"Maximize Profits from Nitrogen" This is a summary of multi-site demonstration results from northeast Nebraska showing yields and effect on economic returns of applying nitrogen at the NU recommended rate and at amounts above and below it. Data is compiled from three sources: a series of irrigation and nitrogen rate demonstration plots on 46 sites conducted between 1986 and 1997; 29 test sites in Washington, Burt, Cuming, and Dodge counties from 1991 through 1994; and 12 sites in a Lower Elkhorn Water Quality Education project from 1998 to 2000. (See file for more details.) ON average these demonstrations have shown that the most profitable nitrogen rates are either the NU recommended rate or, in some situations, 50 lb less nitrogen per acre. Applying 50 lb more nitrogen per acre than the NU recommended rate resulted in an average of $7.80 per acre lower profits (based on $2 corn and $0.25 nitrogen). See the Microsoft Excel file "Maximize Profits from Nitrogen . . ." which allows you to change corn and nitrogen prices to show the profits based on these demonstrations. The Microsoft Excel version allows you to input current nitrogen and corn prices to determine profit at various levels. (Excel version. Right click on link to download and save on your computer.) The following PDF versions show examples when using:
|
The Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association (NEATA) is a farmer-driven precision agriculture technologies support group, whose issues include precision nitrogen application in response to soil and other tests. For more information on upcoming meetings or how to join an active Email listserve discussion on these issues, contact Dave Varner, Extension educator in Dodge County.
NU Soils Home Study Course. To learn more about nutrient management and how to test for nitrogen and other soil nutrients, interpret tests results, and customize applications to your field situation, a home study course with CCA CEU credits is available through Cooperative Extension. As one farmer who took the course wrote, "Although farming has taught me what to expect regarding fertilizer and soils, this course helped me understand why things work as they do." Contact your local Extension office for more information.
 | ||
| Published by The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, cooperating with the counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture | ||
| University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture. | ||
