How much benefit is there to placing starter nitrogen fertilizer on both sides of the row in a 2 by 2 by 2 placement versus one side of the row? Jason Gahimer, Practical Farm Research Manager for Beck’s, says their data is strong enough that they will likely make 60 units of nitrogen at planting placed on both sides of the row in a 2 by 2 by 2 placement as their standard practice in most plots in 2021.

Beck’s four-year average advantage for comparing 2 by 2 by 2 placement of 30 units of N at planting versus their previous standard, which was 30 pounds per acre in a 2 by 2-placement on one side of the row, is 5.7 bushels per acre. When they applied 60 pounds per acre and then reduced sidedress rates accordingly to still apply the same total amount of N per acre, the four-year average increase is 7 bushels per acre.

Beck’s has tested three systems and seen virtually the same advantages for 2 by 2 by 2 placement with each system. They are Yetter’s Dual 2968 fertilizer units, Martin-Till’s Dual UMO unit and Precision Planting’s Conceal system.

Based on the four-year data, the advantage in corn is $22 per acre greater return for 2 by 2 by 2 at 30 pounds per acre versus 2 by 2 at 30 pounds, and $27 per acre for 60 pounds as starter in 2 by 2 by 2 versus the previous standard.

“Everyone always wants to know how long it takes to pay off investing in this application equipment,” Gahimer says. “It’s a large upfront investment, but the payoff can be as short as one year, and future maintenance costs are minimal.”

For the Conceal system, based on $3.50 per bushel corn and Beck’s data at 60 units N in 2 by 2 by 2 versus 30 units N in 2 by 2, you could pay off your investment with a 12-, 16- and 24-row planter, respectively, with 500, 667 and 1,000 acres of corn. At $4 corn, it’s 438, 584 and 875 acres.

“So far we’ve assumed you’re going from 2 by 2 to the new system,” Gahimer says. “If you don’t apply any starter now, your gains might be even higher. We believe 2 by 2 by 2 placement is a sound practice that delivers a good return on investment.”