Warm weather delays fall fertilizer application

Farmers encouraged to check soil temps before applying nitrogen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 4, 2016

Warm weather delays fall fertilizer application

Farmers encouraged to check soil temps before applying nitrogen

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) advises farmers and fertilizer applicators to check soil temperatures before fall application of ammonium-based nitrogen fertilizers. Warm weather this season has kept soil temperatures around the state from dropping below 50˚ F, the recommended temperature to apply nitrogen and avoid fertilizer loss.

On average, soil temperatures reach 50˚ F during the first week in October in northern Minnesota and the fourth week of October in southern Minnesota. However, that has not happened this year, with soil temps remaining above 50˚ F in many parts of the state.

To assist tracking soil temperature, the MDA has 48 monitoring stations on its on line soil temperature map at: http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMTA0LjY1OTE4MTcxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTEwNC42NTkxODE3MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODY3Mjg0JmVtYWlsaWQ9aW5mb0ByZWRsYWtlbmF0aW9ubmV3cy5jb20mdXNlcmlkPWluZm9AcmVkbGFrZW5hdGlvbm5ld3MuY29tJnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&100&&&https://app.gisdata.mn.gov/mda-soiltemp/.

Soil temperature is measured at a six inch depth; the same depth anhydrous ammonia is typically applied. Station data on the MDA online map is updated every 15 minutes with the help of satellite uplink technology from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the National Weather Service.

In addition to delaying application until soil temperature stays below 50˚ F, University of Minnesota Extension best management practices for nitrogen use recommend using a nitrification inhibitor when fall applying anhydrous ammonia in south-central Minnesota. Fall applied urea is not recommended for south-central Minnesota.

In southeast Minnesota’s karst region and statewide on coarse-textured soils, fall application of nitrogen fertilizer is not recommended regardless of soil temperature. Specific nitrogen fertilizer use recommendations by region of the state can be found at: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/nitrogenbmps.