Helping Combat the Fall Workload with Custom Anhydrous Application
As harvest continues and bins are filled, planning for next year is already upon us. One decision to make sooner rather than later is whether to apply anhydrous ammonia (NH3) this fall or wait until spring. The debate might look a little something like this: spring application reduces the amount of time nitrogen is in the soil before it is used by plants but can also cause nitrogen burn if applied at the wrong time. Fall application decreases soil compaction and historically prices have been more favorable but the risk of leaching increases. You can’t forget the wild card either: weather. Its unpredictability can be a challenge in both fall and spring but odds may be more in your favor during the fall.
“Many times the soil conditions become ideal to apply spring NH3 when you’d much rather be planting corn,” said Bill Parchert, VP of fertilizer services.
Weighing the pros and cons of fall versus spring application vary from operation to operation and field to field. However, if fall application makes the most sense for you, time can still be a major concern. While the demands of harvest have you burning the midnight oil, applying NH3 can be a challenge when you’re trying to get the crops out and finish fall tillage. To help growers combat the harvest workload, we have increased our custom anhydrous application fleet to help ensure a timely fall application.
“Our fleet is prepared to meet our customer’s needs to get in the fields as soon as soil temperatures and field conditions are met,” adds Parchert.
Equipped with two quad tracks, our experienced applicators will be able to straight rate or variable rate nitrogen across the field while also capitalizing on fall soil conditions.
“The soil is more forgiving in the fall than in the spring,” said Parchert. “The quad tracks will reduce slipping and spinning while further minimizing compaction.”
The quad tracks are also equipped with Nitro-Lert that puts quality and consistency at the forefront.
“If a line or knife becomes blocked or if there’s a variation in flow, the sensors will alert the operator through the in-cab monitor,” said Pat Mougin, operations manager.
Putting nitrogen where you want it and keeping it there for plant uptake are two different things. Plants prefer nitrogen in ammonium form (NH4+) as it’s easier for roots to absorb. With the use of nitrogen stabilizers, this preferred form of nitrogen is prolonged, and the risk of nitrate leaching is reduced. To ensure fall application sets the upcoming crop season up for success, the addition of stabilizers is a valuable management tool to prevent nitrogen loss and increase uptake by the crop.
“Nitrogen stabilization is agronomically and environmentally sound,” said Parchert. “It gives us confidence in knowing nitrogen will be available for spring utilization.”
While nitrogen stabilizers slow down bacteria and the microbial reaction, the rate of conversion from ammonium to nitrate is influenced by temperature. Fall weather lends itself to a bigger application window than shooting the gaps between those April showers.
If you are unsure of what season makes the most sense for your operation, reach out to your agronomist. We are happy to help find the application option that aligns with your schedule and goals.