TIMING NITROGEN APPLICATION

     I recently participated in discussions centering around fertilizer and timing of application.  Here are a few points that peak my interest.
1--A recent study I came across stated that our crops, on average, only utilizes 40% of the applied nitrogen.  Question? --what happened to the remaining 60%???  I don't find any excess N in my soil tests.
2--Brassica tap roots are severely damaged when deep banding nitrogen with the seed.  Roots will grow around the banded N and not through.  The remedy is to apply N prior to seeding, or after the plant is established.
3--A farm operation I am familiar with uses a CrossSlot drill, and Uran for an N source.  The soil structure of this operation is quite good with high infiltration capability.  They indicate their conventional tilling neighbors are out yielding their winter wheat.  I suspect that the neighbors use NH3 as a N source.  They further state that they, on the other hand,  dramatically out yield their conventional tilling neighbors growing spring crops.  Why? --it's speculation on my part; however, I think that possibly the uran is working against them with their winter wheat, and working for them with their spring crops.  Reasoning: --These operations are in an annual crop area and they are seeding fall wheat and banding their N into dry ground following the harvest of a spring crop.  When the rains come, the nitrate portion of uran is being driven below the roots and the wheat plant is catching what it can from the ammonia form which is not transported in the soil solution.  In effect the winter wheat is shorted nitrogen in the early development stage.   In the spring, with a large portion of the useable soil profile filled from winter moisture, the nitrate from the uran is not moving through the soil profile as fast, or as far, allowing the plant access to the full amount of applied N.
     A potential solution then for the operation mentioned above, may be to fall apply nitrogen in the ammonia form(NH3, Urea, or NH4), and apply Uran(Solution 32) to spring crops with it's half nitrate half ammonia form.
4-- Expect significant loss of N from any nitrogen source if it is surface applied in our environment.  If you have to surface apply I would do it in the rain or as close to a rain as possible.
5-- For adding additional nitrogen to a crop that is established I am thinking that the Spoke Wheel Applicator  would be something to look into.  It's been around for about 20 years, and it places liquid fertilizer up to 4" below the soil surface.  The videos I have seen places it in ULD category.