Dairyland Laboratories Inc. is excited to announce our new collaboration with Northwest Labs, LLC, to provide feed and forage testing services from Northwest Lab’s Jerome, Idaho location. Northwest La...
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A key to improving nitrogen management over time is having dependable feedback as to how well your nitrogen management plan is working. The information you obtain from the Late Season Corn Stalk Nitrate Test can be very useful for improving yield, optimizing profitability and making future management decisions.
Nitrate testing provides good agronomic information regarding whether your current fertility program supplies an adequate amount of nitrogen, too little or excess. It’s also required by several NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) Programs where funding is involved.
Nitrate Concentration | Nitrate Level Interpretation |
---|---|
<700 ppm nitrate | Low |
700-2000 ppm nitrate | Optimal |
>2000 ppm nitrate | Excessive |
Dairyland Laboratories will measure the nitrate in the section of stalk on a ppm basis. A low nitrate reading means that not enough nitrogen was available to the plant to reach full yield potential. A high nitrate reading means that excess nitrogen was applied, reducing profitability and jeopardizing the environment.
Based on the results of the nitrate tests and after considering the effects of weather during the growing season, decisions can be made to adjust the fertility program for subsequent years.
Reference Material
NRCS Bulletin, WQL04
Cornstalk Testing to Evaluate Nitrogen Management, Iowa State University, PM 1584
The Basal Stalk Nitrogen Test for Corn, George Rehm, University of Minnesota