New Purdue Extension Publication Offers Farmers Tips On Phosphorus Application

Oct 23, 2015

By Chelsea Clodfelder

A new Purdue Extension publication offers Indiana farmers tips on phosphorus applications by focusing on four simple principles.

The publication, Tips for Environmentally Friendly Phosphorus Applications in Indiana, is intended to help farmers better understand how and when to apply phosphorus fertilizers to their fields in a way that isn’t damaging to the environment.

"The fast and simple approach, such as broadcast P fertilizer application, is not the best approach environmentally,” said co-author Tony Vyn. "The dissolved P in all P fertilizers is water soluble and can become an environmental hazard under certain weather conditions following application to the soil surface with no incorporation.”

The tips correspond to the “4R Principles,” which are specific to Corn Belt cropping systems of differing tillage and crop rotations:

P pub Right rate: Apply the correct rate of P fertilizers; test your soil, and only apply fertilizer where it’s needed.

Right source: Understand the amount of phosphorus that is in the fertilizer and account for the other nutrients it contains.
Right time: Applying P fertilizer at the wrong time can be detrimental to water quality, so avoid applying it just before a heavy rain is expected and consider split applications and immediate incorporation to reduce risks.
Right placement: Placement choices, such as broadcasting and shallow or deep banding, can affect the environment more than crop yield; tillage practices also can affect placement options.

Source:purdue.edu

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.