Study of Pivot Bio In Replacing N in corn production

Les Anderson

Side dressing in our part of the state is difficult because of terrain, limiting us to broadcasting urea. Ag Partners results on 74,000 acres over 6 years indicated a negative .05 bushel yield penalty for side dressing urea. Last year, I had two plots; one with 120# Esn up front with Pivot Bio vs 160# N side dressed, and one with 120#N with PivotBio vs 160#N side dressed. Both had a 2-3 bushel advantage with the Pivot Bio, and had a $20-30 advantage because of the additional cost of side dressing, Agrotain, and application vs a single application. This year we will add the N stablizer (keeps N in ammonium for longer) product Nxtgen from Corteva, along with the Pivot Bio vs side dressing. One plot would be a 40-pound reduction and the other would not.