Corn test plot

For those who have missed my numerous posts on numerous forums, let me update. I grow hay. I got the idea a couple years ago that I wanted to diversify and would start growing some grain crops starting with corn. Of all the years in the history of agriculture, I chose this one to start growing corn...and it ain't been a barrel of laughs. But I got it planted and much to my surprise it came up like gangbusters with good population. Been back at the hay full time and Mrs Dave has been checking on the corn field on her way home from work. The only comment being that "it is kinda light green close to the neighbors lawn". I go out there today and what we actually have is about 8 rows running where she said and straight back to thru the field. It is a lot of corn and it is not just light green, it is about 6 inches high and the rest of the field is over knee high. I don't think it is soil conditions. I think the planter stopped banding fertilizer for this stretch. I came up with extra fertilizer at the end so was worried there had been a problem. Is there anything I can do to possibly save this stretch? Can I broadcast over it or will this burn it down? Liquid feeding? I am quite sure it is a fertilizer issue. What are my options?

I'd just check that the neighbor isn't having their lawn sprayed with who-knows-what before being all that certain about the fertilizer issue, if you haven't already, given the location. Or are you saying it extends beyond the part next to the lawn?

Been lots of years since I grew crops, but if the rows follow all the way through the field you might be onto the proble. How many rows is your planter...does it follow that pattern? If it not the same then I'd suspect something else.

First time ever this year, I got herbicide carryover. Emptied out the sprayer last year, soybean spray a bit late, I think I drove a little slow to empty it out in one round to flush out the sprayer, and the corn is stunted and yellow.

But if its fertilizer shortage, you can add so e N and be good in a week or so. Liquid or granular or nh3, you won't be doing nh3 of course. Try not to get the liquid or granular in the whorls too much. Drop tubes on liquid, etc.

Paul

It is one planter width. I am sure part of it along the house property is water runoff but not 100%. The field is irregular but the pattern starts in one corner, follows the road to the yard in question, then along the yard to their back lot line thence into the field...turns, turns again and goes to the back. It is the pattern of the planter and coincides with the third pass around the headland. Pretty sure it must be the fertilizer as you can easily see it is a planter pass. A long story but the folks in the house and 2.5 acres do not spray their lawn. Most months they do not even mow it.

Had some left over from planting and it was recommended that we not spread it over the top when side-dressing urea. Did anyway on a small area and it did burn the leaves a little (a few white streaks) but didn't seem to cause a lasting effect. Better to drop it on the ground but not many have that equipment.

Well I can't do anhydrous as you said. That is a bit over my head still. I can get a high nitrogen fertilizer. I think that is what urea is, no? This small 10 acre field with 7 acres of corn on it is supposed to be a learning experience. One thing I learned is that "banding" is a really good way to get fertilizer at the root zone. That being said, I think I should have broadcast over the field before planting also and then maybe cut back on the banding application? Still do it, just less. Since this is 8 rows and it is a relatively small field, I think the four of us will go out with buckets, rubber gloves and old coffee mugs and just put some dry fertilizer down on the ground. It will be interesting to see the result. I will have to do better next year when more acres are involved.

Thanks James. See my note to Paul below. I'll add that because this is my first year and I am making most of my mistakes on a small field/investment it is also true that the well used equipment that I am working with is in a stage which many are familiar with who do what I do. Call it a "honeymoon from he!!" where I find out all that is wrong with the equipment I bought and fix it...in the field on the fly...over and over again until I get the bugs worked out. After which it will likely serve me for years without trouble. Thanks for the help.

Yup.

You can wait a week, and the corn will catch up some. Yield will be less, but it will grow roots and find more N on its own.

Be nice if it would rain within 36 hours or so of your application, or you could cultivate it in. Urea tends to leak up into the air over time laying on the ground.

I have been broadcasting the last few years, coop does for me follows the soil tests, and then banding 120 or so lbs of product with the planter. Little N, some P and K and S and think we did boron this year too.

Since I started that I've had aweful weather, three years of spring flooding, late cold springs, and THRN no rain after July at all.

Someday if we get a good year will be interesting to see what my yields are with this program.

Paul

Another couple years of this weather and I will have suffered enough to write country music...or is that the blues? I forget. I'm sending the female relations out tomorrow to walk up and down that one pass with urea and toss it down. I'll have them make sure to get it involved with the soil somehow...I'll leave that up to them. Sounds like squaw work to me. I'll be curious to see if my Roundup application has any effect at all. Weeds were thick in some areas. Corn was taller than I expected and was blocking the spray some. A person can learn a lot from doing and, man, I am getting schooled.

Not much in the way of rain expected for a full week.

I have some corn with zero herbicide yet, been too wet. One field is Liberty Link, you need to spray that in hot weather. Was 65 for a high yesterday, 70 is forcast today. Sprinkling right now.... Corn keeps getting taller. A tough year. Fortunately the only bad weeds is the volinteer corn from last year the corn blew down so bad. That is why I put Liberty Link. But if I don't get anything down, will just be a breeding grounds for weeds for years to come.

I talk a good story on here, wish it could farm half as good as I talk around here. Mostly I just try to manage one disaster after the next any more.

Paul