Introduction

BECK’S Nitrogen Rate Studies
2014 PFR Partners
“Hitting the Bullseye”
Through this year’s intensive nitrogen research studies, Beck’s CIL PFR team tried to
evaluate the percentage of growers that were using economic optimum nitrogen rates.
The following is a summary of multiple locations where growers’ normal nitrogen rate
programs were compared to either decreasing their total rate by 30 lb./A. or increasing
the total rate by +30 lb./A. and +60 lb./A. This additional nitrogen was sidedressed
either early with the grower’s normal program or at growth stage V10 with our lateseason
programs. The summary analyzes the higher and lower nitrogen rates at each
timing as well as all of the trials together.
Growers with correct nitrogen rate = 35%
Growers with wrong nitrogen rate = 65%
This year’s results indicated that 35% of our PFR Partners were indeed implementing
economic optimum nitrogen rates. When these growers adjusted their normal rate
programs, no economic gains were incurred.
As far as the other 65% are concerned, they did experience economic returns higher
than their current nitrogen program by increasing or decreasing their total nitrogen rate.
Interestingly enough, 39% of those growers could have applied less nitrogen, and 61%
of them needed to apply more.
Simply put, 65% of our PFR Partners were using the wrong rate of nitrogen.
6