U2U@MRCC: Corn Split Nitrogen Application
Welcome to the Corn Split N decision support tool.
This product is designed to help farmers and farm advisors understand the risks and benefits of using post-planting nitrogen (N) application for corn production. The Corn Split N tool combines historical weather and fieldwork data with economic considerations to determine the feasibility and profitability of completing a second (split) N application within a user-specified time period. This tool may help you with decisions that:
- Increase corn yields
- Reduce nitrogen costs
- Reduce nitrogen losses to the environment
- Affect the likelihood of completing in season fieldwork
With the Corn Split N tool you can quantify the costs and benefits of post-planting nitrogen applications for your farming operation to help your bottom line and the environment.
To get started, click on any location within the gray area of the map or use the search feature.
Tool Tips:
-
Use white user location icon (
) in upper right hand corner of map to zoom to current location of computer being used.
-
Use the layer icon (
) in the upper right hand corner of the map to control your viewing options.
- Tested with browsers: Internet Explorer 11 & later; FireFox 27.0 & later; Chrome 33.0 & later; Safari 6.1.6 & later.
This tab allows you to customize inputs for your farm and view summarized results.
Location: Bureau Co., Illinois; Region: 1
Planting Date:
Soil:
Yield Goal:
bu/acre
Initial Nitrogen Application:
lbs
Apply N by what stage?
V8 expected by Jun 28
Apply Nitrogen from:
to:
Yield penalty for not getting post-planting N applied:
bu/acre
Yield benefit from post-planting N application:
bu/acre
Reduced N applied due to post-planting N application:
lbs/acre
Yield penalties/benefits and reduced N usage are critical inputs. The provided default values should be adjusted with help from Univ. Extension specialists or crop consultants to ensure accuracy for your soil and climatic conditions. More info
Nitrogen Price ($/lb):$/lb
Corn Price ($/bu):$/bu
Sidedress Cost ($/acre):$/acre
Implement width (ft):
Implement speed (mph):
Field efficiency:
Acres worked per hour: 16.4
Acres:
Calculated hours needed: 91.7
Hours in field per day:
13
Days worked in 7:
Days in selected period: 21
Average days suitable in period: 11.2
Average hours suitable in period: 167
Economic Analysis using Field Work Days Data from the last n Years.
Scenarios | Acres | Units/acre | Dollars/unit | Total Dollars | |
Input Acres Completed | |||||
Additional cost of post-planting fertilizer application | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Yield loss due to unfertilized acres | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Yield gain due to post-planting fertilization | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Nitrogen saved (lb) due to post-planting fertilization | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Net Benefit of Post-planting N application on n acres | 0 | ||||
Average Scenario | |||||
Additional cost of post-planting fertilizer application | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Yield loss due to unfertilized acres | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Yield gain due to post-planting fertilization | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Nitrogen saved (lb) due to post-planting fertilization | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Average Net Benefit of Post-planting N application on n acres | 0 | ||||
Worst Case Scenario | |||||
Additional cost of post-planting fertilizer application | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Yield loss due to unfertilized acres | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Yield gain due to post-planting fertilization | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Nitrogen saved (lb) due to post-planting fertilization | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Worst Case Net Benefit of Post-planting N application on n acres | 0 | ||||
Best/Max Case Scenario | |||||
Up to nnnn acres of post-planting N application completed in 1 year out of 33 years, or 3% of years | |||||
Breakeven Scenario | |||||
Number of acres (out of nnnn acres) requiring post-planting N application to breakeven |
Note: This information is educational and should not be the sole source of information used to make a management decision.
Total Dollars are rounded to nearest thousand.
Total Dollars are rounded to nearest thousand.

Summary of Acres Completed using 33 years of Field Work Days History
Acres Completed if Start on xxxx and End on These Dates
Completion Percentile | endweek-1 | endweek | endweek+1 | endweek+2 |
50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
70 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
80 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
85 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
95 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note: Percentiles are based on USDA Crop Progress & Condition Reports for each Crop Reporting District (CRD). Actual field work days are determined by weather, soil texture and drainage. Each point in the figure to the right is a single year for the selected CRD.
Crop Calendar Summary
Corn Stage | Estimated GDD to reach Stage | Estimated Date of Stage | Occurs within this range for all years (1981 - 2014) |
V2 | 368 | Jun 06 | - |
V4 | 536 | Jun 14 | - |
V6 | 704 | Jun 21 | - |
V8 | 872 | Jun 28 | - |
V10 | 1040 | Jul 05 | - |
Note: post-planting application using ground vehicles for application should be completed by V10.
