NH3 Stabilizer Benefits

We have had some unseasonably warm temperatures for February, and that has many of us thinking about NH3 applications. In fact, anhydrous ammonia is already going on in the southern part of our territory.

A common question we get this time of year is, “Should we use a stabilizer in the spring?”

Our general answer is yes. We need to do everything we can to make sure nitrogen is available during the majority of crop uptake in June. Corn does not use a large amount of nitrogen until it is roughly a foot tall. Keeping nitrogen stabilized in a non-mobile form early in the season helps ensure it is there when the crop needs it most.

Over the winter, I attended a conference hosted by EFC Field Analytics and Adapt-N, where a six-year study was presented comparing nitrogen loss with and without stabilizer. The results showed an average nitrogen loss of 8 to 20 pounds per acre without a stabilizer.

When you put numbers to that, factoring in nitrogen cost and lost yield potential, that can translate into a $40 to $90 per acre loss. This is to avoid spending roughly $15 per acre on a stabilizer.

The data supports what we have been recommending for years. Using a stabilizer with your anhydrous application helps keep nitrogen where it belongs, in your soil and available to feed your crop.

If you have questions about stabilizing nitrogen for spring 2026, contact any of us at Smith Fertilizer and Grain. We would be glad to visit with you about the best plan for your acres.