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Illinois | I find that a lot of surveys I have participated in that ask about the MRTN do not have a substitute program as an option. I think some may pick MRTN because they use another program, but that is not an option.
1. yes we have used it
2. No they would not play a major role, nor would I want them to
3. Some of the rate do, some of them don't.
Once you move to a variable rate application I don't see how the MRTN plays any role in nitrogen management decisions. It is purely an economic rate calculator based on average results.
I know there are areas within each field that respond very differently to N applications. I definitely know there are fields that respond differently to N applications. The MRTN would give them all the same rate. Just look at the results from the MRTN test plots. The MRTN rate is just an average of the results. it misses some optimum rates by 100# too high and too low. I would rather know and track what the nitrogen response is on my own fields rather than use the average of all of my neighbors best N rates to pick mine.
Price of N and price of corn are important factors when determining rate, but there are a lot more that need to be considered in a successful N program.
It doesn't take into account varying soil type or supply power. It doesn't take into account N product being used, or timing or number of applications. It doesn't factor anywhere that you can actually put in soil nitrate values in season to fine tune your rate. It doesn't take into account yield goal or planting population etc etc etc
The fact that this is the best advice the collective universities can give is somewhat sad in my opinion. | |
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Do your N rates = MRTN?
