Seeking opinions - N serve in spring ammonia

With the weather extremes we have had - especially rainfall, I am concerned about nitrogen loss. During June of 2010 I received 17 inches. During June of 2011 I received 16 inches. This would be south of Iowa City. Needless to say I lost a lot of bushels. Any nitrogen applied under those circumstances is subject to loss. I can side dress with 28 or 32 percent at the end of May, but I have so many contours and point rows I hate driving over corn. N - serve slows soil organisms down around the band of anhydrous. When the soil gets saturated and lacks oxygen for the soil organisms they (organisms) attack the oxygen molecule on the nitrate or nitrite molecule. So, if I can keep the ammonia band from being attacked I should be able to carry the nitrogen later into the growing season and especially to a point where the weather might calm down. I did use N - serve last year. Costs around $10 an acre. I guess I looked at it as an insurance policy that nitrogen would be there. My soils are heavy - fine textured, no sand. Probably could use more tile. Dow the maker of N - serve says there is a benefit when used during the spring. Can't remember maybe 7 bushels??? I have a couple guys saying forget it - fall use only. Do you guys have any experience or opinions?? Thanks.

If I used NH3 I would use "N"serve. The risk of warm wet weather early is just too great not to use it for the benefit of the later nitrogen needs of your corn. The $10/per acre cost is easily gained back, even with $3 corn.

Weather extremes seem to be the norm! After a record winter last year, this winter has been a non event. But we recorded a record low temp. here a few weeks back. And we had a months worth of rain in less than 12 hours in mid Feb. Record flooding last year during growing season.

Putting liquid N on the surface, I have been trying different additives. Agrotain +, Nutrisphere, N-Fixx, etc. This year the plan is to use N-Fixx, AND Instinct. I believe instinct is the same thing as N-serve? If I remember correctly, the N-fixx works at the surface, and the Instinct works below the surface, both attempting to keep the N to work for me.

Well, JD Seller, that is just the way I think. With my fine / tight soils I don't think leaching of nitrogen is as bad as breakdown by soil organisms and then the subsequent loss of the N molecule to the air. With anhydrous being lower cost then 28 or 32 percent I can pay for the N - serve with the savings. If I get heavy spring rains I am more assured that my nitrogen is still there. In 2010 I lost about half a crop due to nitrogen loss with the extreme rainfall.

ALWAYS. The n serve helps lock the n to the soil particles until it's needed. Late in the year is not the best time to use it. I use it in my burnoff and second spray if I add some more n. During the over the top boost, I use a drop nozzle with a glyphosate to decrease any leaf burn.