Considered one of the most important nutrients for corn, sufficient nitrogen is crucial to the plant’s life cycle. Nutrient deficiencies can cause yellowing of leaves, stunted growth and, most importantly, yield loss. If the early part of the growing season indicates that the crop is nitrogen deficient, a grower may still be able address the problem by side dressing nitrogen during V4 to V8.
If a grower has prepared for early season nitrogen loss and placed enough nitrogen down with stabilizers, the grower may think he or she is in the clear. Late season nitrogen deficiency, however, can still be lurking in the field. It can cause “firing” where the lower leaves in a mature plant yellow and the corn crop cannibalizes the lower leaves translocating the nutrients to grain fill.
Late season nitrogen deficiency can occur for several reasons, including un-stabilized nitrogen early in the season and excessive rains causing leaching. Although there is less that can be done in late season, it is a good time to evaluate a nitrogen problem. A couple ways that a grower can combat this problem are by utilizing the same bacterial species we are using in biological seed treatments as a foliar pass or growers can also Y drop nitrogen at V10 to VT. The late season application of nitrogen promotes late season growth and grain fill.
Satisfying nitrogen needs throughout the season is key. Gaps can result in lasting impacts. So it’s especially important to get off to the right start. Give us a call to learn how you can start systemically fixing your nitrogen with your My Yield® seed treater.