Low Cost Way To Side Dress Corn

Low cost way to side dress corn FERTILIZER APPLICATION Fertilizer Application (58f) 17-2-8 "I was looking fora low-cost way to side-dress nitrogen on no-till corn but I didn't want to spent the $5,000 to $6,000 for a high-pressure unit or a knifing system so I came up with my own low-cost design that acually works as good or better than anything on the market," says Stewart Whitney, Pavilion, N.Y. "I had the 3-pt. toolbar custom-built at a cost of $268. It's fitted with 5 Deere single disc fertilizer openers taken off a Deere 7200 planter. Liquid nitrogen is metered to the openers by a low-pressure Demco squeeze pump direct-driven by a hydraulic motor. "The discs cut through heavy residue, placing nitrogen beneath the soil surface for less volatilization and more efficient use of nutrients by plants. Using a low-pressure pump is safer than high-pressure systems and liquid nitrogen is safer and easier to use and transport than anhydrous. I carry nitrogen tanks on either side of the tractor. "There's minimum disturbance of surface residue, keeping erosion to a mini-mum. "It cost about $500 to build since I already had a hydraulic motor, tanks and Deere single disc openers, which I still use on the planter. Side dressing lets you reduce the total amount of nitrogen required by 25%. Thus, if you would normally apply 150 lbs. preplant or at planting, you would use only 110 lbs. by side-dressing yet still reach your yield goals. With nitrogen at 18 cents a pound, the savings would be $7.20 per acre." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Stewart A. Whitney, 10442 Linwood Rd., Pavilion, N.Y. 14525 (ph 716 768-2194).

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