Significance of Nitrogen Application Timing in Corn Production
In corn production, nitrogen application timing is essential as it helps in providing enough supply when the plant needs it. At the same time, it can supply nitrogen without giving an excessive amount just to be wasted.
If corn receives an inadequate amount of nitrogen during its growth phase, the potential crop yield will inevitably be at a loss. Otherwise, if the supply is more than what it needs, then this expensive crop input will harm the environment and reduce profit.
When Nitrogen is applied multiple times, the risk of nitrogen loss and crop deficiency can spread, as it improves profitability through the reduction of nitrogen rates. This in turn will also be a benefit to the environment.
Nitrogen (N) is part of all protein within the corn plant, so it is required in huge quantities. Any deficiencies will hinder its potential crop yield, as its development will be foiled. Just like other factors such as drought, disease, and infestation, that affect plant yield, N stress can affect the harvest during the plant life of the corn.
During the seeding stage, corn requires only a fraction of N, but it will need to increase at a rapid stage as corn would reach its 8-leaf collar stage. In about a couple of weeks, the corn plant can grow to shoulder height from knee-high. Then, if conditions are favorable, the plant will grow to the silking, or tassel stage, in a couple of weeks more. Thus, in this rapid growth, it would require a huge supply of nitrogen in order to meet the demands of the prolific development of green tissue.
Nitrogen also has an essential role in development of ear and kernel, aside from its function in the formation of green tissue. According to a study, N moves to the ear from other tissues of the plant even prior to silking. This is due to the intense process of forming the kernel embryo which requires N.
If you want to meet the needs of nitrogen for planting corn, it needs a sufficient amount. This can be done by contending with aberrant weather patterns that would impact the goals of N management. Too much rainfall can also threaten the reserves of nitrogen in soil.
The impact of N application on the potential crop yield for corn has been observed for decades. One of the studies that was taken into consideration was the use of historical weather data. It was found out that the application of spreading N is a potent method of spreading risks and reducing costs. However, it was also found out that these would greatly depend on the prevailing weather conditions in your locale. Historical weather data can be utilized to know how much applied nitrogen was lost in typical months.
Therefore, growers are advised to use historic weather information for the development of a nitrogen timing strategy with high probability for implementation in most years. These strategies would depend heavily on topography and soil type. In fact, it would affect the retention of applied nitrogen and the ability of applying more N to it. In order to get high yields, many growers must possess multiple N management strategies in farming.
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