What about differences in nitrogen uptake or efficiency between hybrids?
You have probably heard that certain hybrids respond better to late-season nitrogen applications. Hybrids that silk later in the season benefit most from later nitrogen applications that are closer to the grain fill period. Applications closer to the pollination stage reduce the risk of loss and increase the potential plant nitrogen available for grain fill. The Granular Agronomy Nitrogen service incorporates this understanding and adjusts the nitrogen rates by silk timing for each Pioneer-brand hybrid. For other hybrids, nitrogen rates are also hybrid specific being based on published maturity ratings, but might not be quite as exact. The Pioneer Nitrogen Uptake in Corn article discusses hybrid nitrogen uptake and efficiency.
Aside from application timing, differences in hybrid nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) might exist under certain conditions. Current internal and external research reveals that widely varying weather and local field conditions make it difficult to show a consistent difference in hybrid NUE. We continue to research this and we have the ability to add those parameters into our model if research proves predictable differences.