OptRx™ Crop Sensors: Your Questions Answered (Part 3)

What are the best applicator options for using OptRx crop sensors? For optimum performance, OptRx should be used to apply nitrogen when the healthiest corn is between V5-V12 (about 2 foot to 7 foot tall).  When using OptRx sensors on wheat, topdress application can occur anytime between tillering and stem elongation.

The ideal side dress applicator for using OptRx for corn application is a self-propelled high clearance applicator that can clear V12 corn.  These applicators lengthen the application window and also cover more acres per hour than a pull type applicator. In addition, if you have a high clearance self-propelled machine with spray booms, you can affordably convert this to a side dress applicator by adding drop hoses to the booms between the corn rows.  Drop hoses dribble liquid nitrogen on top of the ground between the rows.  Tank mixing UAN stabilizers with liquid nitrogen reduces the risk of losing nitrogen to the air because it provides more time for nitrogen to be incorporated into the soil by rain.  Another way to reduce losses of nitrogen to the air is to use a Hagie or Miller high clearance machine fitted with a nitrogen toolbar that injects liquid nitrogen into the soil. In wheat production, any top-dress applicator will work. The type of machine will depend on where you are located geographically. I hope that these posts have helped answer some of the questions you might have about OptRx crop sensors. OptRx can benefit your operation in many ways, and applying the right amount of nitrogen to the right plant can help you maximize your profit potential.