Nutrient Use Efficiency

What is
Nutrient Use Efficiency?

Simply defined as the % of what the target crops use compared to the volume of fertilizer that was applied.
Average use of 3 commonly applied macro nutrients:

N – 50% 
K – 30-40%
P – 15-25%

In a recently published study from the University of Illinois corn only
used 21% of the N from applied N as opposed to 79% supplied by the soil. 

Those numbers should give farmers caution and show us that we should consider strategies to improve
the NUE of applied fertility products. 

How often have your fertility manufactures chosen to discuss NUE with you? 

Is there any value to applying nutrients in excess even if we can consider them (P and K) like a soil savings account? 

There is potential to improve the NUE numbers if we understand soil properties, nutrient interactions, the value of soil health and use of NUE products. The staff of Farmer 1st Agronomy is passionate about NUE and generating ROI for the farmer in the process. We can walk through facts about nutrients, soils and NUE products that are available to farmers. 

Applied N not used by plants is eventually converted to nitrate or N2 gas and is lost. P and K will eventually have 50-70% of applied product become available over time. Soil properties such as pH, organic matter and clay type have impacts on nutrient availability. Nutrients applied in excess can have negative impacts on other needed elements in the plant; as example excessive calcium antagonizes many nutrients like P, K, S, Bo, Mg and Mn. 

Many in the industry are recommending increasing the volume of nutrients applied but not focusing on nutrient efficiency by maximizing product availability, soil release and nutrient synergism while minimizing nutrient antagonism. F1A will focus on nutrient return on investment and efficiencies with customers without sacrificing output. 

Goals: NUE in corn

N = .75# applied N:1 bushel harvested grain

P = no crop yield value over 40 ppm in soil which is 2x over the critical P soil level

K = parent clay type determines soil levels. Supplement sufficient+ levels of soil K with high solubility K products side dressed and foliar. While buildup of K does not cause environmental issues there is limited economic return to aggressive K applications. 

Secondary Nutrients – S, Ca and Mg – understanding soil antagonism and foliar timing is key along with in plant ratios. 

Micronutrients = understanding sufficiency ranges and antagonism issues. Using nutrient chelation and leaf penetration products to maximize availability.