Supplemental Nitrogen on Soybeans: Can Early Nitrogen Increase Yield?Video: Supplemental Nitrogen on Soybeans: Can Early Nitrogen Increase Yield?
Can supplemental nitrogen help soybeans reach higher yield potential? Technical Agronomist Tim Sickman walks through an ongoing trial at the Nutrien Innovation Farm in Owensboro, Kentucky, exploring whether a modest amount of nitrogen applied at planting can support higher-yielding soybean environments.
The trial compares 30 pounds of supplemental nitrogen across both 15- and 30-inch rows, along with treatments that include sulfur and micronutrients. Similar trials conducted in 2024 and 2025 delivered a six- to seven-bushel yield response, prompting the team to expand the research this season.
Early observations show that treated soybeans are slightly taller and averaging about two additional nodes on the main stem. These added nodes could create more opportunities for blooms and pods, but the true results will come at harvest when the team evaluates pod development, seed fill and final yield.
In This Video:
Why high-yield soybeans may need supplemental nitrogen
Results from the 2024 and 2025 trials
Nitrogen treatments in 15- and 30-inch rows
Fertilizer placement and application methods
Differences in plant height and node counts
Potential effects on pod development and yield