Liquid, foliar and fertigation nitrogen technology

Nitrogen is a very important macronutrient in plants, with many functions, and therefore is needed in large quantities. For example, nitrogen is vital to build chlorophyll (essential for photosynthesis), proteins and enzymes.  As such, adequate nitrogen is essential to optimise plant growth and development.

While the application of inorganic nitrogen is essential in modern agricultural practice, it is estimated that 50-70% of it is lost, and not utilised by crops. Hence there is a need to improve nitrogen use efficiency, to help ensure that crop needs are met, and minimise losses to the environment. Locking up the nitrogen too strongly can reduce efficacy and product performance, however a rapid flush of nitrogen can result in a lot of environmental losses. 

PiNT is a ureic/cation complex that decreases the rate at which ammonium is released. This cation complex serves to reduce leaching and volatilisation, while providing an optimal dose over a multi-week span to meet the needs of the crop or turf. Releasing nitrogen in this way encourages production of a more robust root system, improving the growth habit of the plant. This in turn increases cytokinin levels, which ultimately improves the yield of crops, and can improve the quality of turf.

A trial in the US, on mixed bentgrass and Poa annua, studied the application of our liquid nitrogen technology. Our iNTrench™ K product was applied (which contains PiNT technology) and was compared to a polymethylene urea base application (36.6 kg/ha of N), and/or a urea ammonium nitrate ‘spoon-feed’ (4.9 kg/ha), over a seven-week period. As shown in the graph, the turf quality was significantly better (P<0.05) when iNTrench K was used throughout. Bars with different letters are significantly different to each other (P<0.05).