Why Side Dressing Corn?

Providing additional soil nutrients through fertilizing is a practical way to help your corn grow tall. Side dressing, or adding fertilizer after the plant has established itself, provides an additional stimulation for optimal growth.

Do you have to side dress corn?

Typically, corn is side-dressed at the 6 leaf (V6) stage; however any time prior to V12 will achieve management goals. Soil type heavily influences the side-dressing decision. High clay soils should have a planned split-application of nitrogen fertilizer due to the risk of nitrogen loss by denitrification.

What is the purpose of side dressing?

Side dressing is the application of fertilizers in a shallow furrow or band along the side of vegetable row crops or in a circle around individual plants. Side dressing gives extra nutrients to vegetable crops so that they can produce to their full potential.