Types of Corn & Soybean Fertilizers

Nitrogen

• Crops need nitrogen to grow. Yet due to a combination of denitrification, an imbalance of nitrogen and oxygen to support soil bacteria needed for crop growth, leaching and surface volatilization when the fertilizer is applied to the crop, but is unable to reach the soil, soil becomes deficient of nitrogen, which diminishes crop yields. Farmers increasingly turn to nitrogen fertilizers to replenish the soil for corn, but also for soybeans, according to Ohio State University. Fortifying soil with nitrogen restores soil balance and increases crop yields, especially when fertilizer is applied at optimal times of the growing season. The more widely used nitrogen-based fertilizers for corn and soybeans are anhydrous ammonia, ammonia sulfate, urea, ammonium nitrate and solutions containing up to 32 percent nitrogen, states Ohio State University.

Phosphorous

• Phosphorous (P) is a starter fertilizer used to prime soil prior to seeding and to reinforce soil containing young plants. Soil easily loses its natural P content due to run-off from rain and irrigation, requiring farmers to replenish P levels to boost soil conditions for plant growth. P is an extremely important starter fertilizer for corn as it enhances plant development; however, it's less essential for soybeans, states Farm and Ranch Guides. Apply it to corn using the banding method, and use the broadcast application for soybeans to generate higher crop yields.

Potassium

• The oxide form of potassium is potash. It, along with nitrogen and phosphorous, are considered the three main types of commercial fertilizers used by United States commercial agricultural farmers, claims the EPA. Globally, 14 percent of potassium used on crops is for corn and 8 percent for soybean, and 46 percent of potassium fertilizer is used for corn in the United States, according to the Southeast Farm Press. Potassium fertilizer contains potassium chloride, potassium sulfate and potassium nitrate. Potassium is a relatively safe fertilizer that produces little adverse effects to the environment when applied correctly. It's used to increase crop production of corn and soybeans and acts as a soil primer before seeding applications. In particular, potassium is found to stimulate early plant growth, raise protein production, enhance efficiency of water use, build cold tolerance and improve disease and insect resistance of corn and soybeans, states the Southeast Farm Press.