Getting the most bang for your buck with nitrogen (N) is always a hot topic with conservation minded farmers like no-tillers and strip-tillers (we have a roundtable discussion dedicated to it at the upcoming National No-Tillage Conference).

Alexander Ryzhkov, who just started no-tilling, asked for some advice on this very topic in the No-Till Farmer Email Discussion Group on Christmas morning.

“This is my first year no-tilling corn,” he says. “In my area, the average annual precipitation is 20 inches, with July and August having irregular rainfall. Our fields have black soil, and the main limiting factor is moisture. My planned yield is 100 bushels per acre. Please advise, in your opinion, the best way to apply nitrogen for corn: pre-plant, at planting, or split application?”

No-tillers from across the world immediately chimed in with their thoughts, delivering Alexander several Christmas presents in the form of practical insights from the field. And it’s clear from the following responses that there’s more than just one way to get the job done with N in no-till.  

“With just 20 inches of rainfall, I would lean towards getting most of the nitrogen injected in soil with the planter or some broadcast before planting if you feel lucky about getting it rained in,” says Robert Hemingway from Hindsboro, Ill. “I have some experience with sidedressing between the rows not being very efficient. Also, no rain with Y-drops can be kind of sketchy.” 

“Have you looked into any of the microbial products that help with a portion of the needed Nitrogen? I have been using a couple of them for years,” says Jim Guy from Rosholt, S.D. “There are in-furrow options, liquid on-seed options, and dry flowable on-seed options and foliar options. Whichever may fit into your operation. I would further discuss more details of my experiences with them if you’re interested.” 

“Probably not an option for you, but I've gotten the best bang for my buck knifing anhydrous in the fall with N Serve (Spring is probably better, but I’d rather start planting when conditions are good to go) then spraying 32% UAN with burndown right after planting,” says Thomas Brass from Rockford, Ill. “I plant green into a living cereal rye cover crop. I also add a starter fertilizer in-furrow through the planter. I'm still debating if that is necessary though. I'm in silt loam soils at around 3% organic matter. I've debated sidedressing but tissue tests have always shown my N levels were where they needed to be. If you have equipment to sidedress, I’d consider or try different methods to see what works for you.” 

“We use a spike wheel applicator to inject liquid N,” says Ulrich Zink from Germany. “It works well in the dry German middle east. It can be done before and around seeding time. The combination of N, P and micronutrients can also be done.” 

“I’m in a semi-arid climate and I've been applying 70-75% of my required nitrogen at planting,” says Daniel Klausmeyer from Goddard, Kan. “Then, I apply a sidedress pass with Y-drop applicators on my sprayer. I've tried different methods and timing intervals, but I feel this works the best for me.” 

“When we started no-tilling, we put urea on 2-x-2 with the planter with good results other than slowing down the planter,” says Dan Roemhildt from Janesville, Minn. 

“Splitting your applications are your best management options,” says Rod Somerfield. “Have some there for early growth and set yield, with the ability to adapt to conditions and keep costs down. This will all likely depend on how close to the plant's greatest N needs you can still be able to apply additional N.”

“I’ve been cultivating under the principles of the no-till system for the last 40 years and of course what you are asking about is a frequent question and one that does not have only one answer,” says Roberto Peiretti from Argentia. “As a rule of thumb, splitting applications tends to offer N close to the evolution of the crop demands along the crop cycle, even so depending on several reasons, it may be more practical and feasible or even not possible to be carried out in practice. Among some of the reasons we can find (for this): the type of soil, the rainfall pattern, the scale of the operation, the target yield interacting with the ability of your soil to provide N from its own reservoir, etc. If you are interested in more details, please let me know, I will try to be more detailed with my explanation.” 

As a spectator, it’s cool to see the magic of farmers helping each other out with no hesitation — and offering their time for 1-on-1 follow-up conversations. Is there anything new you’re trying with your N program in 2026? Let me know at NNewman@LessiterMedia.com, and sign up for the free Email Discussion Group to join the conversation with fellow no-tillers. Happy New Year!