Nitrogen Use Efficiency
Galen Mooso, Ph.D.
Agronomy Manager
J.R. Simplot Company
[email protected]
What does Nitrogen Use
Efficiency mean?
How important is Nitrogen
Use Efficiency to You and
Your Customers?
The Nitrogen Cascade
Galloway et al., 2007 Human Alteration of the Nitrogen Cycle: Threats,
Benefits and Opportunities. April 2007 – No. 4. UNESCO-SCOPE
“The central
challenge is how
to optimize the
use of nitrogen to
sustain human
life while
minimizing the
negative impacts
on the
environment
and human
health.”
Environmental Challenges with Nutrients
Encourages Wise Use and Modern
Fertilizer Formulations
Algae Blooms Soil Runoff-nutrients
Idaho
Algae Wave—Lake Erie—Dissolved P
IPNI 2008
Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle
• Main Nitrogen losses:
– Ammonia volatilization
– Denitrification
– Leaching
UW Discovery
Farms
Nitrogen Use Efficiency
Nitrogen use efficiency … “rarely
exceeds 70% ……. often ranges from
30-60%”
“conversion of N inputs to products
for arable crops can be 60-70% or
even more” (Kitchen and Goulding,
2001)
“Nutrient Reduction Strategies
Being Implemented by More States”
• “New regulations are being implemented across the
U.S. to help maintain and increase water quality and
agriculture is feeling the heat”
• “Another option farmers are finding helpful is the use
of fertilizer enhancing technology”
• “The more phosphorus and nitrogen taken up by the
crop, the less of these nutrients remain in the soil and
vulnerable to off site movement via erosion into
waterways and groundwater”
• “The need for new agricultural technology has always
been high, but is increasing even more so now to
meet the environmental standards being set”
FarmProgress.com, Oct 17, 2013
Fertilizer N Use Efficiency - Affected by:
• N supply from:
– Soil
– Fertilizer
– Other inputs
• Balanced supply of other
essential nutrients
• Plant uptake
• N losses
– volatilization, leaching, runoff,
denitrification (and nitrification)
• Affected by cropping
system management and
environmental conditions
Agricultural Nutrient Loss Concerns
• Air quality (N)
– Ammonia emissions (and NOx)
• PM2.5
– smog, human health impacts
• atmospheric deposition & acid rain
– biodiversity loss of natural systems
– eutrophication in sensitive aquatic systems
– Nitrous oxide (increased from 270 to 319 ppb)
• climate change/global warming
• stratospheric ozone depletion (UV risks)
• Water quality (N and P)
– groundwater nitrate-N contamination
– surface water N and P contamination
• eutrophication: lakes, streams/rivers,
estuaries, and coastal waters
A. Townsend
Alteration of Natural Systems
Source: U.S. Forest Service
Source: Russ Gibson, NPS Program Manager, Ohio EPA
National Groundwater Nitrate
USGS Circ. 1350. 2010
Probability of Nitrate Contamination of
Recently Recharged Shallow Ground
Waters in the Conterminous U.S.
Probability that nitrate-N
exceeds 4 mg/L
Nolan et al. Environ. Sci. & Technol. 2002. 36(10):2138-2145 (USGS)
Challenges to environmental
concerns as well as economics and
social are not always about the RATE
of Fertilizer but often the FORM of
Fertilizer being Recommended, the
Placement of the Fertilizer Application
and the Timing of the Fertilizer
Application!
4R Nutrient Stewardship
Applying the Right Source
at the Right Rate at the
Right Time and in the
Right Place within well
managed cropping
systems
Cropping system
Right is defined by practice impact
on meeting performance objectives
Modern Fertilizer Can Attribute to 40-60
% of Population Base--IFA
• Haber—Bosch—Nobel Prize winners—”together they
discovered how to make bread out of air, built city sized
factories and saved millions of lives” The Alchemy of Air
• Beginning of the modern era of Nitrogen fertilizer.
• Soluble Phosphorus Fertilizer vs Raw Rock Phosphate
– Based from naturally occurring ancient sea beds
• Potassium—mined from salt deposits (Canada, Great
Salt Lake or other ancient world marine deposits.
• Secondary and Micro-nutrients
Haber-Bosch Process
• Humankind is largely fed by food grown with
commercially fixed N fertilizer. Inventing a process to fix
N from the air that we breath into ammonia was daunting.
Attempts were made for over 100 years. Then in 1909
Fritz Haber, a German chemist, solved the problem in
principal. In 1910, Carl Bosch, pioneering new
engineering methods, commercialized the process.
Known as the Haber-Bosch Process, it is now
responsible for growing about half of the world’s
food. It was one of the greatest inventions of the 20th
century. Without it, 30-40% of the world’s population
would not be alive.
 NITROGEN Fertilizer Technologies—Modify the Nitrogen
Cycle!
Inhibitors—NBPT, DCD, N-Serve, Instinct ,NutriSphere-N
Controlled Release Sources—mechanism of control is
temperature.
Polyon, Duration, ESN, Osmokote, Gal-Xe*
*Gal-Xe is a new fertilizer technology that is licensed by J.R.
Simplot Company allowing easier coatings over angular
fertilizer materials.
Understanding the Nitrogen
Cycle
•Main Nitrogen
losses:
• Immobilization
• Denitrification
• Ammonia
volatilization
• Leaching
Urease
Inhibitor
Urea hydrolysis
CO(NH2)2 + H+ + H2O
urease
2NH4+ + HCO3-
NH4+
NH3 + H+
• Urease inhibitors interfere with the process of
urea hydrolysis
• The slowing of conversion of urea to ammoniacal
N can significantly reduce the potential for NH 3
volatilization
Nitrification…a natural process in soils
NH4+
-H+
+H+
NH3
Nitrosomonas
NO2-
Nitrobacter
NO3-
• Nitrification inhibitors interfere with activity of
Nitrosomonas bacteria, slowing the nitrification process
• This leaves more N in ammoniacal form, thus reducing
the chance of leaching and denitrification
Agrotain
(NBPT)
• Disrupts urease activity from 7 to 14 days
and decreases potential volatilization loss.
Primary use is on
surface applied urea
Combined with DCD
(Agrotain Plus/Super U)
slows nitrification when
urea or UAN are
incorporated into soil.
Volatilized Ammonia from 100 lbs (112kg) of Urea N/A
400
350
PPM of Ammonium
300
After 7 days, the NBPT is
inactivated, resulting in a spike of
ammonia. NutriSphere-N treated
urea is still protected, even during
extended dry periods.
250
200
Untreated
Urea
Agrotain®
NutriSphere-N®
150
N-N QDO®
100
50
0
6-Jun
13-Jun
20-Jun
27-Jun
4-Jul
11-Jul
Agrium
• Polymer coatings applied to soluble fertilizer
• Release by diffusion through coating
• Release rate determined by
– Polymer chemistry, thickness, coating process
– Temperature and moisture
• Controlled release vs delayed release
N Source and Additive Effects On Laboratory
Ammonia Volatilization
• Charge capacity 1800 meq./100 g
• Large Branched Polymer—Butenedioicmethylenesuccinic acid co-polymer, partial Ca salt
• Water soluble and slowly biodegradable (temperature
dependant)
• Exchangeable ion is Ca
• Applied to either dry granule or added to liquid solutions
NutriSphere-N: How it works
Nickel is the fuel source for
urease. Urease helps
convert urea to ammonia
and volatilization can occur.
Copper fuels nitrosomonas,
which helps convert
ammonium to nitrite, leading
to leaching and
denitrification
Iron fuels nitrobacter,
which helps convert nitrite
to nitrate, leading to
leaching and denitrification
University of Georgia
Evidence for Volatility Protection
University of Kentucky
Evidence of Slowed Denitrification
Winter Wheat NutriSphere-N Study
Yield, bu / acre
Belleville, Kansas 2009
‘Fuller’ wheat planted Oct 2008
Broadcast urea application Feb 2008
Harvested Jul 2009
LSD (0.05) = 6
Barney Gordon, KSU 2009
Nitrogen Rate
Yield, bu / ac
Winter Wheat NutriSphere-N Study
Belleville, Kansas 2009
Gordon, KSU 2009
Yield, bu / ac
Winter Wheat NutriSphere-N Study
Belleville, Kansas 2009
60 lb of N w/ N-N
was similar to 80 lb
of N without N-N
Gordon, KSU 2009
Winter Wheat NutriSphere-N Study
Belleville, Kansas 2009
‘Fuller’ wheat planted Oct 2008
Broadcast urea application Feb 2008
Harvested Jul 2009
Barney Gordon, KSU 2009
Rate N/ac.
Yield
bu/ac
Urea
40lbs
85
$465.80
Urea + N-N
(+$2.80/ac)
40lbs
92
$504.16
Urea
60lbs
93
$509.64
Urea + N-N
(+$4.25/ac)
60lbs
101
$553.48
(up charge
$/ac)
Gross Return NSN Benefit
/ac. @$5.48/ bu
Benefit :
Cost
All treatments received 30 lbs/ac P205 pre-plant as DAP w/AVAIL
+$35.56/ac
13.7:1
+$39.59/ac
10:1
NutriSphere-N Increases the Nitrogen Use Efficiency of UAN
Applied Through the Pivot for Corn Production, Yuma, CO
250
+13 bu/ac
Yield, bu/ac
200
+16 bu/ac
150
100
50
175 lb N/ac
0
150 lb N/ac
1
2
2012
2013
UAN
1Total
N applied was 223 lb N/ac
2Total N applied was 200 lb N/ac
UAN + N-N
Agronomic Efficiency
AE=(Yn – Yo) / Fn
where Yn and Yo are the crop yields with
and without the nutrient being tested,
and Fn is the amount of nutrient applied.
AE is a measure how crop yields are
affected by nutrient applications (yield/lb
of nutrient applied).
Management of Urea-Containing Fertilizers For No-Tillage Corn
Using Nitrogen Stabilizers and Coated-Granule Technology
N Source
0 N/ac
70 N/ac
140 N/ac
210 N/ac
Urea
123
124
137
147
Urea
+ NBPT
123
135
150
158
Urea +
NutriSphere-N
123
135
151
158
ESN
123
139
150
158
UAN
123
126
139
147
UAN + NBPT +
DCD
123
134
151
158
UAN +
NutriSphere-N
123
137
155
159
FLSD.05=6 bu/ac
Gordon KSU, 2014
Effect of Nitrogen Stabilizers and Polymer Coating
on Urea Applications on No-Tillage Corn Yields
165
2006-2008
160
Yield, bu/ac
155
150
145
140
135
130
125
urea
120
0
50
+NBPT
100
+ N-N
150
ESN
200
250
Nitrogen Rate, lb/ac
FLSD.05=6 bu/ac
Gordon, KSU 2014
Effect of Nitrogen Stabilizers and Polymer Coating
on Urea Applications on No-Tillage Corn Yields
165
AE=.20
AE=.18
AE=.18
2006-2008
160
Yield, bu/ac
155
150
AE=.08
145
140
135
130
125
urea
120
0
50
+NBPT
100
+ N-N
150
ESN
200
250
Nitrogen Rate, lb/ac
FLSD.05=6 bu/ac
Gordon, KSU 2014
Effect of Nitrogen Stabilizers on Urea-Ammonium Nitrate
Solution Applications on No-Tillage Corn Yields
165
2006-2008
160
Yield, bu/ac
155
150
145
140
135
130
125
UAN
+NBPT w/ DCD
+ N-N
120
0
50
100
150
200
250
Nitrogen Rate, lb/ac
FLSD.05=6 bu/ac
Gordon, KSU 2014
Effect of Nitrogen Stabilizers on Urea-Ammonium Nitrate
Solution Applications on No-Tillage Corn Yields
165
2006-2008
160
AE=.20
AE=.17
Yield, bu/ac
155
150
AE=.09
145
140
135
130
125
UAN
+NBPTw/ DCD
+ N-N
120
0
50
100
150
200
250
Nitrogen Rate, lb/ac
FLDS.05=6 bu/ac
Gordon, KSU 2014
Homeland Security issues have restricted
shipping, handling and manufacturing of
Ammonium Nitrate because of detonable
characteristics related to terrorism.
Anhydrous ammonia restrictions from
both shipping by rail and retail handling.
Creates a need for developing different N
fertilizer sources and materials.
Fused Ammonium Sulfate Nitrate
FASN/ASN-26
A unique combination of ammonium nitrate and
ammonium sulfate Certified by DHS as Lowdetonablility. A patented process owned by
Honeywell and licensed to the J.R. Simplot Company
to be produced at the JRS Lathrop, CA plant
It fuses finely ground ammonium sulfate with liquid
ammonium nitrate (AN85) which is then granulated
It is a very stable fertilizer that can be blended with
other fertilizers like urea and muriate of potash.
Fūsn Ammonium Sulfate Nitrate
Three ways to combine Ammonium Sulfate (62%) & Ammonium Nitrate (38%)
1.
Bulk Blend
2.
Mixture of AS with melted AN
3.
React AS and AN to form double-salts (Fusion)
FASN (Sulf-N®26)
Fusion
Bulk Blended
• AN fertilizer blends available
from U.S. distributors
• AS and AN can be separated
into component parts
• Oxidizer; hazardous material
• Blend not compatible with other
fertilizers
Mixture
• Product available in EU
• Heterogeneous product
composition
• Oxidizer; hazardous material
• Mixture not compatible with other
fertilizers
• Homogenous proprietary product
composition*
• Differentiated product
characteristics
–Nonhazardous material
–Significantly reduced explosive
potential
–Compatible with other fertilizers
“Fūsn” of AN and AS resulting from FASN
process provides unique product characteristics
Oxidizer Burn Tests
FASN DOT Certified as non-oxidizer
Lathrop Fūsn Plant
Honeywell’s/SIMPLOT’s Fūsn (26-0-0-14)
ASN®26 technology produces the only Fused-ASN available in the market
ASN 26 Product Specifications
• Dry, granulated, solid fertilizer, 26-0-0-14S
• Percent Nitrogen: 26%
• Ammonium Nitrogen: 19.5%
• Nitrate Nitrogen: 6.5%
• Percent Sulfur: 14%
• Sulfate Sulfur: 14%
• Moisture %: <0.5%
• Free Acidity: <0.1%
• Solution pH: >=AS
• Critical Relative Humidity: 69%
Physical Analysis
• SGN: 250-350
• UI: 60
• Particle Size Distribution:
• < 2.00mm 1.0% Max
• >4.75 mm: 4% Max
Why is the 2-to-1 chemistry so important?
One way to think about it…
AN and AS can only form two types of double salt: 2-to-1 and 3-to-1
With 2-to-1 double salt, a single AS molecule
has only two ANs to guard
The 3-to-1 double salt is like shackling
another AN to the guard
The 2-to1 double salt is better than 3-to-1 at keeping AN locked up
Only Fūsn converts over 95% of the AN into
the 2-to-1 form of the double salt
N Source and Additive Effects On Laboratory
Ammonia Volatilization
Del Moro and Horneck OSU 2014
Simplot Agribusiness Fertilizer Technology Evaluation
Effect of N source on corn yields at Nampa, Idaho, 2014
300
Pioneer P0876CHR
290
280
267
Corn Yield, bu./ac*
270
258.4
260
253.9
250
240
230
227.8
220
210
200
Urea
Urea + N-N
*adjusted to 15% moisture
26-0-0-14 is a blend of urea and AMS
Fusn
26-0-0-14
N Source
Each data point represents two
0.5 ac plots
Effect of Nitrogen source on corn yields at Nampa, Idaho
300
2012-2014
290
Corn yield, bu./ac*
280
270
261
260
267
250
240
237
230
220
210
200
a
Urea
*adjusted to 15% moisture
All plots received 100 lb/ac/yr of
P2O5 as SSP (MAP w/ AVAIL)
LSD.1= 16 bu/ac
b
b
SSN
Fusn
N source
Each data point represents the mean
of 2 approximately .5 acre plots/year
for 3 years
Ranger potato sample on August 8, 2014
GSP w/ AMS
GSP w/ Fūsn
Petiole Nitrate concentration on Ranger Russet
Potatoes as affected by N source
Pivot 5A-Nitrates
2014
Nitrate Levels , ppm
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
5/31/2014
6/10/2014
6/20/2014
6/30/2014
7/10/2014
Sample Dates(Time)
Fusn
GSP
7/20/2014
7/30/2014
8/9/2014
Ranger Russet Potato Yield Distribution of as Affected by Fūsn (26-0-0-14)
Near Wilder, ID
700
Potato Yield, cwt/ac
600
500
2014
572
601
203
164
400
300
200
100
0
186
206
109
98
27
86
21
73
GSP
Culls
GSP + Fusn
#2
4 -6 oz
6 - 10 oz
10 oz <
Based on 10 random samples (4 rows x 10 feet long) per treatment at harvest
Effect of Fūsn (26-0-0-14) on Ranger
Russet Potato Quality Factors1
Potato Quality Traits
GSP
GSP + Fūsn
US# 1
77%
80%
6 oz. <
61%
68%
Process undersize
9%
7%
Unusable
17%
13%
Bruise Free
70%
62%
Specific Gravity
1.086
1.086
Fry Color 0
100%
98%
Sugar Ends
11%
16%
$3845
$4050
JRS Ranger Contact Return, $/ac
Based on the yield samples taken at harvest and then evaluated by the inspection
service, Fūsn increased grower returns by $205/ac based on JRS contract pricing.
1State
of Idaho Federal/State Inspection Service
Take Home Thoughts
 Commercial N fertilizers are relatively unstable in the
environment
 N losses occur due to NH4 volatilization, nitrification
and denitrification process that are difficult to control
 Applying the Right Source of N fertilizers at the Right
Rate in the Right Place at the Right Time improves N
use efficiency
 The correct use of N stabilization products can
improve N use efficiency decreasing N losses to the
environment and increasing grower returns
Thank You