Safe and Effective Nutrient Rates in Spring Strip-Till and at Planting

Corn farmers seeking to reduce field passes and improve nutrient efficiencies will often combine tillage and nutrient banding in pre-plant applications (e.g. spring strip-till) or add more nitrogen in starter bands at planting. In this presentation, I will explore some of what we learned in Indiana rate and placement research on banded nitrogen and/or potash applications in corn row zones in RTK-guided pre-plant or at-plant situations. Banding too high a rate involves risk of corn stunting or lower plant populations, but some nutrient banding combinations in early spring result in superior yields compared to broadcast applications or later sidedress applications of the same nutrients. This is still a work in progress, but some preliminary guidelines may be helpful to crop consultants and farmers.