Getting nitrogen management done right is always a challenge. Too much N fertilizer can lead to problems with harvesting and quality. Excessive N also can pose a challenge for the environment. Adding too much N fertilizer also wastes money.

That’s the advice of Dr. Cliff Snyder, nitrogen program director for the International Plant Nutrition Institute. Snyder, based in Conway, Ark., is a former Extension soil scientist who has walked many rice, soybean, cotton and corn fields in the Delta region.

Snyder says that if the N supply runs out too soon during the growing season, serious problems of decreased yield and harvest quality are common. If the N shortage is severe, deficiency symptoms are seen as:

“These obvious symptoms of low N may not be noticeable until the deficiencies become severe,” says Snyder.“However hidden nutrient shortages will damage plant performance even with minor deficiencies. The loss of yield and quality begins even before the deficiencies are observed.”

Snyder urges growers to take advantage of all the tools at your disposal to get N management right.This varies between regions and crops, but it always involves careful monitoring in the field. This may involve soil testing, plant tissue testing, crop monitoring, realistic yield goals, adjustment for weather conditions, and in-season fertilization.

“Sometimes plants do not respond to additions of N as you might expect,” he notes.“Consider factors such as the cultivar, available soil N, delayed crop development from late seeding, excessive weed competition, insect and disease infestation, and low soil moisture when making fertilizer applications. Make sure that added N fertilizer will get to the plant roots.

“Balancing N fertilization is like keeping a teeter-totter level.Running out of N too early can be a disaster for crop growth. Adding too much N causes wasteful losses. Constantly adjusting nutrient inputs requires skill and experience. Using a Certified Crop Adviser to help with these decisions usually makes a lot of sense.”

For more information on nitrogen fertility, go to www.ipni.net.