Ballance research looks to improve nitrogen efficiency

11 November 2013

Ballance research looks to improve nitrogen efficiency on farm

New research by Ballance Agri-Nutrients has shown farmers have a much tighter weather window if they want to minimise ammonia volatilisation from urea and ensure the best nitrogen boost possible.

Urea is the most common form of nitrogen fertiliser in New Zealand, promoting rapid pasture and plant growth. However nitrogen uptake can be weather dependent with farmers trying to time applications to coincide with rain so nitrogen gets quickly into the soil and gaseous losses are minimised.

At last week’s Grasslands Conference, Ballance Science Manager, Aaron Stafford, said that a new study, undertaken by Landcare Research, has shown the amount and timing of rainfall post application was considerably more critical than previously thought.

“Previously 10 mm of rainfall within 24 hours of application was considered sufficient to minimise volatilisation and hence the best nitrogen uptake.

“This new work highlights the critical link between rainfall or irrigation post application. New data suggests that beyond eight hours after application, the amount of rainfall has minimal impact on suppressing ammonia loss from urea.”

Mr Stafford said previous research showed that when urea was applied at 100 kg N/ha to a moist soil, if rainfall did not arrive until 24-48 hours after application, total ammonia losses were in the order of 20-30% of the N applied.

“Our new research sought to replicated these results, but at rates of urea more typical for pastoral application (30-60 kg N/ha). The results were very consistent with the previous research, in that 10 mm of rainfall at 8 hours after application reduced ammonia loss to around 8% of the N applied, whereas 10 mm of rainfall occurring a day after application had very little effect on reducing ammonia loss (still around 20-30% of the N applied).

“This suggests that ammonia loss occurs soon after urea is applied. Basically, it needs to be raining at the time of application to minimise ammonia loss from urea.”

The new research further confirms the value of farmers using urea treated with a urease inhibitor. It supports previous Ballance science-based claims that its SustaiN Green product, which is urea coated with the urease inhibitor AGROTAIN® nitrogen stabiliser, offers farmers more flexibility to apply nitrogen when it is needed without trying to second-guess the weather.

“We know SustaiN Green showed an average 50% reduction in ammonia volatilisation relative to urea. The new data suggests this product should be used in preference to urea unless it is raining at the time of application,” said Mr Stafford.

Mr Stafford says the work is important from both a productivity and an environmental perspective.

“Urea is the most common form of nitrogen fertiliser and when used efficiently can enhance farm productivity. However ammonia losses from urea can reduce nitrogen conversion efficiency, reducing its cost effectiveness, while also potentially being detrimental to the environment”

SIDEPANEL: The maths…

While SustaiN Green is priced slightly higher than standard urea, costs are offset.

Urea treated with AGROTAIN used at typical application rate at 25 kg per hectare will cost $3.20 per hectare more than applying commercial urea.

However the additional cost of using it can be easily offset by taking into account the 47% reduction in ammonia losses and subsequent improvement in nitrogen availability and uptake.

Using the 20% ammonia loss shown in this study from a typical urea application rate of 25 kg N/ha, farmers will lose about 5 kg N/ha. Treated urea (SustaiN) will conserve 2.5 kg N/ha. At a typical 10:1 N response, this means 25 kg more dry matter per hectare from SustaiN. Assuming a conversion efficiency of 12.5 kg DM/kg milk solid (MS), and a milk pay out of $7 per kg MS, the value of the 2 kg extra milk solid will be $14/ha as opposed to the cost of $3.20/ha for SustaiN.

ENDS

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