Mel... Old fert guy that started in late 40's and was around to 70's told me it didn't matter how you applied soil fertility... "pittle it on, poop it on, just get it on" !  Sooner the better, best fall, winter O.K. whenever.  The N has to come from somewhere to decompose 40:1 cornstalks (C:N ratio) to 10:1 OM.  If it is not applied then will come from the OM as it is oxidized and make SON (soil organic nitrogen) available.  No supplimental applied N will deplete supply needed by the spring-planted crop (both corn and soybeans!) in early stages and likely lower grain yield potential.  Saprophytic fungi (SF, decomposes only dead tissue) grows and functions well at low soil surface temperatures near freezing and best with higher moisture ie. late winter to early spring.  The residue just needs soil contact to stimulate germination of SF triggering carbon food source availability.  Best to crack open the stalk (rind containing high lignin exposing the easier to decompose cellulose inside the stalk).  Tillage speeds up this process, at a higher cost, both machinery to soil OM loss, which is not necessary to achieve successful planting process and optimum crop growth and grain yield.

Review previous post:  Recipe for composting cornstalks... and direct planting into the old corn row area.
http://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=253012&mid=1934027#M1934027