Effects of Surface Applied N Sources on No Till Corn N Use Efficiency

A four year Illinois study demonstrates how ESN can increase corn N Use Efficiency in conventional tillage, incorporated nitrogen systems. ESN protects nitrogen (N) from loss inside its unique protective coating and supplies N to the crop when it is needed. The result is increased corn yields and improved N-use efficiency.

Corn plants need N throughout the growing season. Most N uptake by a corn plant takes place in the period of about 40-80 days after planting and continues up to 120 days after planting. ESN may be used to meet this long season demand.

In this four year study, ESN incorporated at planting in conventional till corn had higher nitrogen use efficiency than all treatments. Corn fertilized with ESN needed less N to produce each bushel of yield – 13% less than urea.