Published on 11/14/13

Nitrogen essential to cotton, corn production

By Clint Thompson

Corn and cotton share an essential attribute: They need just the right amount of nitrogen to generate high yields.

Low dosages can result in stunted plants or yellow, lower leaves, which is very common in corn.

“There’s a lot of emphasis on corn with nitrogen now, making sure it has enough nitrogen all throughout the growing season,” said Glen Harris, a soils and fertility agronomist with the University of Georgia Tifton campus. “Most growers that shoot for high yields will tell you they never want to see those lower leaves turn yellow. If some of those turn yellow, then it’s probably a loss of yield potential.”

Too much nitrogen, however, could result in the nutrient being leached away later in the planting season. Typically, corn and cotton need two applications of nitrogen, once at planting and the other during side-dressing (between first square and first bloom). Too much nitrogen at planting time could lead to a deficiency of the essential nutrient later in the planting season because of leaching.

Too much nitrogen up front can also result in cotton growing too fast.

“With cotton, it’ll keep wanting to grow vegetatively and not reproductively or put bolls on,” Harris said. “Corn, technically, it could cause lodging. You could cause some imbalances with other nutrients. For example, we like to put 10 pounds of sulfur on, and that’s fine, but if you put a lot of nitrogen on, you’re probably going to have a sulfur deficiency. The more nitrogen you put on, you have to bump up that recommendation for sulfur, too.”

Nitrogen is one of 16 essential plant nutrients. It is key to the growth of a plant, and so are amino acids and proteins. It is also responsible for the plant’s color.

The abnormal amount of rainfall this summer could also affect nitrogen amounts still in the soil. Many Georgia farmers are concerned that the heavy rains washed away any traces of nitrogen.

“When we get that much rain, our soils are so sandy, we usually don’t count on having a lot of nitrogen left over next year. We usually get rainfall in the winter time and it leaches out things like nitrogen,” Harris said. “This year, we lost a lot of it after we put it out.”

Harris encourages Georgia farmers to take soil samples during the winter in order to have a better understanding of their fields’ nutrient needs.

For more on soil and plant nutrients, search the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences publication website at www.caes.uga.edu/Publications/.

Clint Thompson is an agriculture writer based in Tifton, Georgia.

Authors:

Clint Thompson

Experts/Sources:

Glen Harris

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Download Image

CAES News

UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera

Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.

At the 2024 Georgia Life Sciences Summit held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta, Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences received the Golden Helix Innovation Award for his research in technologies to mitigate “forever chemicals” in water resources. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker)

CAES News

Nothing lasts forever: CAES professor finds solutions to break down ‘forever chemicals’ 12/05/24 Carson McAfee

University of Georgia Professor Qingguo “Jack” Huang always wanted to do one thing: solve problems. Growing up in a small city in central China, Huang’s favorite subject in elementary school was math, granting him the opportunity to work on many problems. In high school, his passion transitioned to science, where he learned he could feed those same interests in a way that benefited others. He was finishing high school in the 1980s when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring made its way to Chinese newspapers, capturing Huang’s attention.

Georgia Simmons at the office of U.S. Sen. Warnock

CAES News

Georgia 4-H alum, CAES student spends semester serving at the nation's Capitol 12/03/24 Josie Smith, Cooper Hardy

Third-year University of Georgia student and Banks County 4-H alum Georgia Simmons has been in the center of the political action this fall with the Georgia 4-H Washington DC Intern Program. Simmons, an environmental resource science major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, works in the office of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. As an intern on his staff, she interacts directly with policy experts and lawmakers, participating in the legislative process while earning a semester of credit hours.

Longtime faculty member George Vellidis was named the first permanent director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture. IIPA was launched in 2022 and has grown to include more than 70 faculty members. (Photo by Paul Privette for UGA CAES)

CAES News

Vellidis named director of Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture 12/02/24 David Mitchell

University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Professor George Vellidis has been named director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture (IIPA). His term began on Nov. 1, and he will serve as the unit’s first permanent director. “Dr. Vellidis has been a vital member of our UGA faculty for years and played a key role in launching IIPA,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “Whether it’s his impact as a first-class researcher and educator or the work he does behind the scenes to elevate our reputation in the field abroad, his presence has made UGA a hub for precision agriculture research.”

In Georgia alone, there are nearly 400,000 individuals employed in some segment of hospitality. With the unique mix of leisure travel in coastal Georgia and convention travel in Atlanta, HFIM students have a wealth of opportunities to choose the area that suits them best.

CAES News

UGA redefines Southern hospitality through a thriving degree program 11/27/24 Claire S. Kinnard

There are nearly 400,000 individuals employed in some segment of hospitality in Georgia. With the unique mix of leisure travel in coastal Georgia and convention travel in Atlanta, University of Georgia hospitality and food industry management students have a wealth of opportunities to choose the area that suits them best. This versatile experience — with its focus on quality curriculum, meaningful interaction with local and national business, and experiential learning — has already begun graduating the next generation of hospitality leaders.

CAES News

That's the spirit! 11/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras, Claire S. Kinnard

Wheat breeders spend years meticulously crossing varieties to coax the best traits out of each species, carefully propagating plant varieties that are healthier, heartier and better suited for the environments where they are grown. Professional brewmasters are equally painstaking when choosing the components that will give their beers a specific flavor profile.