Two-rate nitrogen trials
Hundreds of full-rate N trials run over the past decade in Illinois have been used to develop the N rate calculator that generates Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) N rates. While using the MRTN rate maximizes the dollar return to N, it is a lower N rate than many producers use currently. Reluctance to lower rates following years of high yields with high N rates is understandable, given that the yield-goal-based N rates used into the early 2000s called for raising N rates as yields increased.…