Do I Need to Fertilize My Corn?
Corn plants are like natural engines, consuming nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to fuel their growth. And the best way to refuel soil with those vital nutrients is through fertilizer. But you know just how tricky it can be to time your fertilizer applications. So, let’s look at the simplest (but hardest) question for corn growers: Do I need to fertilize my corn or not?
Maybe you haven't come up with a fertilization plan yet. Or maybe you already have one but need to revisit it. These three steps can help you decide when (and whether) to fertilize your corn.
- Soil testing: Determine whether your soil can meet your corn’s nutrient needs.
- Testing a fertilization schedule: Strategically apply fertilizer to fill any unmet requirements.
- Evaluate and reevaluate: Keep an eye on your corn’s performance and schedule more soil testing as needed.
Step 1: Soil Testing
Soil testing typically evaluates:
- pH (hydrogen concentration) and buffer pH
- organic matter
- cation exchange capacity
- phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)
- base saturation
It’s only one tool for predicting micronutrient deficiencies, but it’s a useful and relatively inexpensive one. Soil test results, along with guidance from industry best practices, can serve as the foundation for your fertilization schedule.
Step 2: Corn Fertilization Schedule
Once you receive your soil testing results, you can identify your crops’ needs. This infographic gives you a broad overview of what to consider each season, so save it for easy reference later on.
Review a larger image here or on the above chart.
Step 3: Evaluation, Adjustments
The question of whether to apply another round of corn fertilizer can seem like a complicated one — but if you regularly monitor your crops and the soil that’s feeding them, the answer will be pretty clear to you.
As always, though, our experts are available to help you make these decisions. For additional resources, speak with your Pioneer representative or agronomist.
The solution is in the soil
The question of whether to apply another round of corn fertilizer can seem like a complicated one, but in reality it all comes back to the soil.
As always, experts are available to help you make these decisions. For additional resources, speak with your seed retailer, a nearby extension office agent, or a professional representative from Pioneer.
- Determine whether your soil can meet your corn’s nutrient needs.
- Apply fertilizer that fills any unmet requirements.
- Reevaluate as nutrients become lost to rainfall and other environmental factors.
And don’t forget to plan ahead for how fertilization can boost your growth at every season.