Precision Nitrogen Management of Corn for Improving Farm Profitability and Water Quality in Southern Illinois

Variable nitrogen management in corn could decrease growers’ cost of production as well as environmental nitrogen losses in line with a goal of Illinois Nutrient Reduction Loss Strategy. The main objective of the proposed study is to integrate current models with variable nitrogen management to improve site-specific nitrogen management of corn. This study will develop algorithm for variable nitrogen management in corn in southern Illinois, will validate the algorithm through several site-year trials, evaluate economics of using variable nitrogen rate, and will quantify environmental loss from variable nitrogen management versus current nitrogen recommendation systems in Illinois.