In this short video, Extension nutrient management specialist Fabian Fernandez discusses nitrogen inhibitors and other enhanced efficiency fertilizers. What types are there? Where do they make the most sense? Should you use them this spring? Enhanced efficiency fertilizers, such as nitrogen inhibitors and slow- and controlled-release products, are fertilizer that has been modified to reduce losses to the environment and increase nutrient availability. These products can help farmers increase yield, save on fertilizer costs, and protect the environment, but there are some things you should keep in mind. Nitrogen inhibitors Inhibitors are sometimes referred to as stabilizers, but I believe this word can be misleading. In the soil, there is nothing stable about urea or ammonium. They will eventually transform to a form of nitrogen that can be lost. The most important thing to remember about inhibitors is that they delay nitrogen transformation. Nitrogen inhibitors are classified into two
Anthony Hanson, IPM Extension Educator; Fei Yang & Bill Hutchsion, Extension Entomologists, Bruce Potter, Extension IPM Specialist; Angie Peltier, Ryan Miller, & Liz Stahl, Crops Extension Educators If you plan to have non-Bt corn fields in 2024, we are looking for potential European corn borer fall survey sites. To volunteer non-Bt fields for the 2024 fall survey, click here or contact Fei Yang ( yang8905@umn.edu ) or Anthony Hanson ( hans4022@umn.edu ). The economics of corn production challenge farmers to minimize production costs. Hybrid selection is one way to reduce costs. Planting corn hybrids without Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins for protection against European corn borer (ECB) (Fig. 1), corn rootworm, or both will reduce seed costs. However, farmers could inadvertently reduce crop revenues by selecting hybrids without carefully considering hybrid yield potential or insect populations in their fields. Figure 1. European corn borer tunneling in corn