Fertilizer-nitrogen Injury

May 22, 2020

Bijesh Maharjan - Extension Soil and Nutrient Management Specialist

Javed Iqbal - Extension Nutrient Management and Water Quality Specialist

Laila Puntel - Extension Soil Fertility and Precision Ag Specialist

Charles Wortmann - Emeritus Extension Soil and Nutrient Management Specialist

Nitrogen (N) is the most limiting nutrient in corn. However, there is risk of crop injury with band application of fertilizer-N. The injuries are of three types: ammonia gas injury from application of anhydrous ammonia; very high soil pH following application of anhydrous ammonia; and salt damage (Figure 1).

Ammonia gas injury is a concern when the germinating or emerged crop is in place during anhydrous ammonia application. Germinating seed may be damaged when the band is within 4-6 inches of the row, depending on the soil sand content and the rate of application. If injection band is shallow and/or not well covered, especially with dry soil, sufficient ammonia escape can occur to damage plants. Plants may also be damaged if ammonia flow occurs when the applicator is raised from the soil such as at row ends.

**Figure 1.** Roots experiencing excessive concentrations of salts will have root tips which are blunted and brown or black.

Very high and potentially damaging soil pH occurs following anhydrous ammonia application. The ammonia (NH3) quickly reacts with soil water (H₂O) to produce ammonium (NH₄⁺). The NH₄⁺ reacts with the negative charge of soil to minimize loss to volatilization and to have low leaching potential. However, the reaction of NH3 with H₂O to produce NH₄⁺ results in the release of hydroxyl ions (OH^-) and a great increase in soil pH is soil around the anhydrous band. The high soil pH can be damaging to nearby germinating seed and roots.

The salt effect resulting from band application of fertilizer-N and other nutrients may be of greatest concern. This is addressed in more detail in NebGuide G361 on starter fertilizers. Band application of fertilizer-N results in high concentration of NH₄⁺ plus nitrate (NO₃^-) with NO₃^- increasing with nitrification of NH₄⁺. The NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- react with other ions in soil solution to raise the salt concentration, commonly measured as electrical conductivity (EC). The high salt concentration can be damaging if the fertilizer band is too near the seed and roots of growing plants. Typically, roots experiencing excessive concentrations of salts or ammonia will have root tips which are blunted and brown or black (Figure 2). The plants will often be stunted and may have leaves which are purple or reddish-tinted (Figure 1). The high salt effect is relatively more persistent while the risk of ammonia gas injury is very short and the high pH effect is of intermediate duration. The salts are dispersed with rainfall and irrigation. If plants continue to show symptoms of salt damage, irrigate with an inch or two of water if possible. However, the best solution is to avoid creating potential for damage in the future by keeping fertilizer-N injection bands, other than low rate starter bands, several inches away from the seedling.