Fertilizer Rate & Expected Yield
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Fertilizer Rate & Expected Yield
How much nitrogen fertilizer should a farmer apply to a corn crop? Corn’s total nitrogen requirement is related to yield expectation. Establishing a realistic yield expectation is important to good nutrient management and preventing nitrate contamination of groundwater. To calculate a realistically expected yield, the University of Nebraska recommends this method:
- Use the average of the five most recent crop yields.
- Add 5 percent.
- Omit any unusually bad years (hail damage, etc.)
This figure can be plugged into a University of Nebraska formula to calculate the amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed: Fertilizer (lbs/A) = 35 + (1.2 x Expected Yield) minus credits for other nitrogen available to crop (from irrigation water, soil, organic matter, manure, and legumes) To learn more about calculating nitrogen credits for irrigation water, soil, manure, and legumes, see the information elsewhere on this Web site. But as this simplified version of the formula shows, starting with a realistically expected yield is essential.
Additional Information
Contact the Cooperative Extension or USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for more details and information.
Online Resources
- Yield Gaps and Input-Use Efficiency of High-Yield Irrigated Corn in Nebraska (Extension NebGuide)
- Fertilizer Suggestions for Corn (Extension NebGuide)
- University of Nebraska IANR Extension Information
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