Missouri Study Shows The Environmental Advantage Of ESN

The figure above shows the nitrate measured in the subsoil for ESN and urea. Suction lysimeters are a device used to extract the soil solution for the purpose of measuring soluble nutrients in the soil. When placed at different depths in the root zone, they are useful for monitoring the downward movement of mobile nutrients such as nitrate nitrogen.

Note that subsoil nitrate concentrations with ESN are only a little more than for an unfertilized control early in the season while urea moved downward early in the season. This means nitrogen from ESN is staying in the root zone and more available for plant uptake during the time when plants need it most. The early summer was an extremely wet period and conventional N fertilizers were subject to severe losses. Nitrogen treatments were broadcast and incorporated before planting.