Readers ask: How Much Nitrogen Is In An Acre Of Corn?

Corn plants use large quantities of nitrogen to grow and yield. Corn removes 1 pound of nitrogen for every bushel of grain produced, so a 250 bushel per acre yield goal requires 250 pounds of nitrogen available to be used by your growing corn plants.

How much nitrogen does it take to grow 200 bushel corn?

200-bushel corn, in total, needs 224 pounds of nitrogen.

How much nitrogen is in a bushel of corn?

Approximately 14 lb of N was needed to produce one bushel of grain with the greatest rate of applied N (300 lb/acre). In comparison, it took 1.6 lb of N to produce one bushel of grain with the lowest rate of applied N (60 lb/acre) (Figure 3).

Does corn need a lot of nitrogen?

An estimate of N requirements for corn is 1 lb of N is needed for every bushel of grain produced, so a 200 bu corn crop would require 200 lb of N.

Is corn a nitrogen depletion or fixer?

Corn requires large quantities of nitrogen for its growth. Commercial corn production relies on substantial inputs of synthetic fertilizer. These bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen that would otherwise be unavailable to the plant.

How much is nitrogen per acre?

Calculate the pounds of fertilizer per acre you must use to apply 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre (N/A). To do this, divide the amount of the nutrient wanted by the proportion of that nutrient in the fertilizer used.

How much nitrogen do you put on a sidedress corn?

Depending on soil type and cropping history, 60 to 70 percent of your nitrogen should be applied at or before planting if you are planning on sidedressing your corn crop. This allows you to evaluate growing conditions and maximize profit. When corn is in its early vegetative stages to V5, little nitrogen is needed.

What is the best nitrogen for corn?

Smart nitrogen or polymer-coated urea is a suitable nitrogen source for sweet corn and only needs to be applied once. Cost, however, is higher than urea. Sweet corn is a heavy user of nitrogen.

How many pounds of fertilizer does it take to grow an acre of corn?

For corn, if the fertility level is good, a small amount of fertilizer (about 100 pounds of starter per acre ) will provide an adequate starter response. Do not apply more than 70 pounds of N + K₂O per acre if the fertilizer is placed approximately 2 inches away from the seed.

What stage does corn need nitrogen?

The crop needs little nitrogen during early vegetative stages to about the fifth leaf development stage. The largest portion of the total nitrogen taken up by corn occurs during the eighth leaf to VT (tasseling) development stages. Nitrogen uptake is mostly done shortly after pollination.

How do you know if corn needs nitrogen?

Pre-Sidedress Soil Nitrate Test (PSNT) With the PSNT, for optimum N nutrition for corn, the soil nitrate-N level in the PSNT should be above 21 ppm when the corn is 12 inches tall or around the 6-leaf stage. If it is above this level, there is adequate N in the soil to meet the needs of the crop.

How do you get nitrogen from corn?

Spread the nitrogen in a line on the soil surface about 6 inches from the row of corn. Water the corn as usual to help carry the nitrogen down to the root systems. Add nitrogen one last time once the sweet corn ears begin producing silk, using 46-0-0 nitrogen fertilizer according to product application directions.

What is considered high nitrogen fertilizer?

Organic fertilizers that are high in nitrogen include urea, which is derived from urine, feathers, dried blood and blood meal. Feathers contain 15 percent nitrogen; dried blood contains 12 percent nitrogen; and blood meal contains 12.5 percent nitrogen.

What fertilizer is best for field corn?

Many soils already contain enough potassium, magnesium and other nutrients for corn to grow healthily. An all-purpose fertilizer containing more nitrogen and phosphorus than potassium — such as a 16-16-8 ratio fertilizer — helps ensure healthy growth when applied to the soil before planting.

Can corn fix its own nitrogen?

To do so, the corn secretes copious globs of mucus-like gel out of arrays of aerial roots along its stalk. This gel harbors bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by the plant, a process called nitrogen fixation.

What kind of fertilizer does corn need?

Apply three to four pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet. Fertilizer should be broadcast evenly and worked into the top two to three inches of soil prior to seeding. When corn is 12 inches tall it is a good idea to apply a sidedressing of fertilizer.