Corteva Agriscience nitrogen management specialist Jake Wiltrout says the conversion from ammonium form of nitrogen to the nitrate form of nitrogen is influenced by temperatures. “If you just think generally about weather patterns, it typically warms up in the spring. You’re getting increased bacterial activity in the soil, which is converting ammonium nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen, which we don’t want to happen. And then, when you add in the effect of heavy spring rains, this increases the timeframe in which the nitrate nitrogen is susceptible to loss.” Nitrogen stabilizers are recommended to keep ammonium nitrogen in the soil profile longer so it is more available to the plant. Water quality regulations are a significant concern and Wiltrout says nitrogen stabilizers address those issues, too.
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