Corn Fertilizer Use
From Rome Ethredge – Interim Grains and Soybean Agronomist
Dr. Glen Harris, UGA Scientist, has done the research and developed these 2 interesting graphics concerning fertilizer rates in corn at different yield goals. UGA soil test recommendations are for 1.2 pounds of Nitrogen for each bushel of corn you plan to make. Note how it tracks pretty close to that in the yields in this 5 year Georgia study. One lesson here is you can’t cut N without affecting yield on our soils. On the first slide Glen has our typical Nitrogen costs and corn price. The second slide has recent N cost and projected corn price for 2022 crop.
Across the bottom of both slides he has the yield goal he fertilized for and on the side the actual yields. He also adjusted phosphorus and potassium for the different yield goals. The numbers in red are how much money per acre he made by the increase in fertilizer for the higher yield goals. Why didn’t going for 300 bushels make money? There was some other factor keeping yield from climbing, not fertilizer. Could be irrigation amount or timing, soil, disease… many possibilities. It is interesting that even with high fertilizer prices, it still paid to fertilize to 250 Bu goal but we lost much more money when overfertilizing to the 300 level.
2022 Estimate of Row Crop Costs and Net Returns
To get to the image you see below (which is interactive and you can put your own number in); and to see other budgets for other commodities, click the link below.
https://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html
Feral Swine Control Services Info
