*This content was previously published by Corteva Agriscience.
Anhydrous Application Prep
First, Andrew Luzum, Nurtient Maximizer Strategic Account Manager, Corteva Agriscience, recommends looking over every piece of equipment very carefully. Look for signs of wear and tear and replace anything that looks broken or worn. Pay special attention to three smaller components — gaskets, hoses and valves — as these can wear out easily. “Sunlight, kinks and cuts can shorten hose life and create soft spots that could break under pressure and put your safety at risk during application,” Luzum says. “Anhydrous ammonia can be a dangerous product when not handled correctly. By taking preventative measures, you can avoid safety issues and save time at application.” He recommends making sure you have all necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) in place before anhydrous applications so that you’re ready for applications when conditions are right. Additionally, Luzum advises calibrating your anhydrous application equipment. “I always recommend calibration with the first tank of the year. Anhydrous ammonia is a fairly costly input in today’s market; the last thing we want to do is unintentionally misapply.”
Liquid Manure Application Prep
When it comes to liquid manure applications — as with anhydrous ammonia — Luzum recommends taking out your application equipment, looking it over for any worn or broken parts, and calibrating it for proper application rates. Making these repairs now will save you headaches when it’s time to apply.
Wait For The Right Time
Once you have your nitrogen application equipment prepped, it’s just a matter of waiting until the soil is fit to apply.
“Application of liquid manure and anhydrous ammonia should wait until soil temperatures are 50° F and trending downward,” Luzum says. “That usually occurs in late October into early November. Warmer soils will drive nitrogen conversion and increase the risk of nitrogen loss. You also want to apply before the ground freezes so the nitrogen can get into the soil.”
Take steps to prepare ahead, wait for the right time to apply and plan to protect your nitrogen with a proven stabilizer to get the best possible return on your investment — and help keep excess nitrogen out of the environment.
The Value Of Nitrogen Stabilizers
Nitrogen is one of the most expensive inputs each year, regardless of what is going on in the fertilizer market. Nitrogen stabilizers can help protect your customers’ fertilizer investment.
Anhydrous applications can be protected with N-Serve® nitrogen stabilizer. N-Serve is powered by Optinyte® technology, which is shown to reduce nitrogen leaching and denitrification — and increase yield potential by an average of 7% when used with fall applications.1
Liquid manure can be protected with a proven nitrogen stabilizer this fall too. Instinct NXTGEN® nitrogen stabilizer is also powered by Optinyte technology and brings the same powerful protection to liquid manure that N-Serve brings to anhydrous ammonia.
