ESN is Smart Nitrogen for Iowa Corn and Leaching Conditions
Nitrogen (N) leaching can have serious economic and environmental impacts. Increasing amounts of rain occurring in large leaching events create nitrogen-management challenges. ESN’s controlled nitrogen release is proven to reduce leaching losses and increase corn yields in these conditions.
An Eastern Iowa study demonstrates the ESN advantages. Nitrogen sources and application timing were evaluated for irrigated corn production on sandy soils with high leaching potential at Muscatine Island Research Farm.
Growing season rainfall frequently exceeded soil water-holding capacity resulting in significant leaching potential, indicated by soil profile nitrates (data not shown).
ESN-urea blend produced 50 and 33 bu/acre greater yield than untreated urea for pre-plant or split application, respectively.
ESN-urea blend produced significantly greater yield than inhibitors/stabilizers for both application times.
Split application out-yielded one pre-plant application for all N sources.
ESN-urea blend retained from 1.4 to 2.5 times more inorganic N in the top eight inches of the soil than other N sources. Inhibitors/stabilizers had little effect on inorganic N retained in the top eight inches of soil.
