Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilizer Placement Consequences for Corn: A Look at Controlling Factors

Modern equipment has given corn farmers more alternatives for timing and placement of nutrients. Fertilizer placement matters in a successful corn production system, but the way in which it matters to corn plant performance is not always clear. In this presentation, I will focus on pre-plant placement options for potassium (K) in strip-till, no-till and conventional tillage based on our recent research, and on a new study involving in-season broadcast K application. I will also discuss our research on N placement at planting (i.e. depth and displacement of N bands from the seed furrow), at early sidedress, and at late sidedress. This talk will highlight some of the controlling mechanisms that determine corn plant response to specific N and K placements.