Tech Hub LIVE: 5 Actionable and Practical Takeaways for Nitrogen Management

From left: University of Kentucky’s Josh McGrath, Southern Illinois University’s Amir Sadeghpour, and Oklahoma State University’s Brian Arnall.

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At the first-ever Tech Hub LIVE event in Des Moines, IA, there were numerous educational sessions for attendees to take in. One of these was titled “Popping the Hood on Nitrogen Management,” moderated by Joe Luck, Associate Professor/Associate Director at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In this session, three university experts provided visitors with a deep dive into the various components and way of thinking that has guided nitrogen field management for at least the past 40 years. They also offered some different ways of thinking regarding the whole nitrogen management process.

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Here are the five key takeaways from these speakers:

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1. Genetics Matter. According to Brian Arnall, Precision Nutrient Management Specialist at Oklahoma State University, potential crop yields are negatively impacted by their surroundings. “The genetics are there for more bushels in every seed, but environmental factors work against this from being achieved.”

2. The Importance of R1. To effectively get nitrogen into the growing crop, farmers need to remember when most of this uptake takes place, added Arnall. “Based upon the studies, 60% of nitrogen uptake in corn is taken up during the R1 stage,” he said. “This determines the growth pattern you will see.”

3. Yield Doesn’t Equal Nitrogen. “In our heads, yield is always equal to nitrogen use, but it’s not,” concluded Arnall. “The amount of yield seen does not give you how much nitrogen is needed.”

4. Consider Soil Temperature. According to Amir Sadeghpour, Assistant Professor of Soil Management & Integrated Cropping Systems at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, soil temperature is one of the keys to proper nitrogen management. “If you have a higher soil temperature in your corn, this will cause quick crop growth and canopy closure, which reduces stand loss,” said Sadeghpour.

5. Precision, Not Faith. Wrapping up the session, Josh McGrath, Associate Extension Professor at the University of Kentucky, said that growers in the U.S. should consider adopting more precision agriculture for proper nitrogen management. “Almost 50% of nitrogen applied in North America today uses a faith-based approach,” said McGrath. “We need to apply nitrogen using a more precise method going forward.”

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