When no-tilling, soils are cool at planting relative to more conventional systems. As a result, nitrogen management and timing can have a significant impact on your success. 

It can be important to get some nitrogen starter nutrients close to the seed for early growth. Most of us use pop-up and/or 2-by-2-inch fertilizer placement to get young plants off to a good start. These practices generally help plants get to the V2 stage without any nutrient shortages.

However, in moist, early growing seasons, plant roots don’t seem to keep up with plant growth. If you’re putting on 10 or fewer units of nitrogen starter and the rest of the nitrogen has been deep-banded as ammonia or 28%, plants in mid-growing stages may be short of nitrogen.

Deep-banding anhydrous or 28% provides a good supply of nitrogen for later in the growing season, but may not be close enough to the plant roots to provide adequate nitrogen for early season growth. You may need to make another source of nitrogen available to growing plants until they reach these deeper nitrogen bands.

Consider supplying nitrogen for the seedlings and small plants as pop-up or 2-by-2; include another source of nitrogen for mid growing stages; and then apply the majority of the nitrogen in pre-plant bands or sidedress. The correct solution may depend on how easily you can change your planting and fertilization system.

Nitrogen At-Plant

One option is to put coulters for applying 28% on your planter about 4 inches from the row…