The lab study compared Nutrisphere-N®, NZONE®, Instinct® and SUPERU premium fertilizer by evaluating the percent of nitrogen remaining in the ammonium form. Keeping nitrogen in the ammonium form eliminates the risk for losses to denitrification and leaching. Using an EEF such as SUPERU inhibits the nitrification process, keeping nitrogen in the ammonium form longer, so it can be readily available for plant uptake.
Performed in two soil types with varying pH levels, SUPERU maintained the highest percent of nitrogen in the ammonium form over a four-week period across both samples at 68⁰F.
Understanding the Results
In the example above, if you were to apply 100 pounds of SUPERU fertilizer or Instinct treated nitrogen fertilizer to the Maryvn sandy loam (6.7 pH), after four weeks 71 pounds of the 100 pounds SUPERU fertilizer would still be protected from denitrification and leaching losses, compared to 56 pounds of nitrogen using Instinct.
The researchers concluded that Nutrisphere-N and NZONE did not slow urea hydrolysis or nitrification and further concluded the data in this study did not support the use of Nutrisphere-N or NZONE for the purpose of reducing nitrogen loss.
Nitrification Rate Factors
Several factors can impact the rate of nitrification including moisture, temperature, soil pH, soil properties, ammonia concentrations, and tillage. In the graph above, comparing the percent nitrogen remaining in the ammonium form illustrates that even similar soil types can have slightly differing rates of nitrification.
In this study, we can attribute the increased rate of nitrification to the higher soil pH level of the Renshaw sandy loam, which is in the optimum range for nitrifying bacteria.
For more information on this study or to learn how SUPERU can be a solution for your growers, contact your KAS representative today, or learn more here.
Source: R. Jay Goos and Elizabeth Guertal; Evaluation of Commercial Additives Used with Granular Urea for Nitrogen Conservation; Agronomy Journal, March 21, 2019
- Lab Incubation Study: 68°F
SUPERU® and the SUPERU logo are trademarks of Koch Agronomic Services. Nutrisphere-N® is a trademark of Verdesian Life Sciences. NZONE™ is a trademark of AgXplore. Instinct® is a trademark of Corteva Agriscience.