Ask An Agronomist: The Value of Enhanced-Efficiency Fertilizers
When you invest in fertilizers that support your crop’s production, the goal is to get the greatest return on investment (ROI). The hope is that your soil will make the most of the nutrients you applied and support plant growth and greater yields across your fields.
However, the nutrients in traditional fertilizer products can be susceptible to loss and have a negative effect on your ROI. Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) can help you ensure that the nutrients you apply are delivered to your crops when and where they need it while reducing losses and improving uptake.
Reducing Nitrogen Loss
The fertilizer you apply to your field is designed to supply your soil with the nutrients it needs to support plant growth and help improve yield, productivity and profitability. Preventing the loss of key nutrients, such as nitrogen, allows you to get the greatest return on your nutrient investment.
Traditional applications of nitrogen can result in significant loss. In certain conditions, up to 60% of the nitrogen you apply can be lost and removed from your soil. Nitrogen is most commonly lost through leaching (nutrients are washed away from the root zone), denitrification (excess water causes loss to the atmosphere) and volatilization (lost to the air as ammonia gas).
EEFs are designed to help protect against these nitrogen loss mechanisms.
Protecting Your Nitrogen Investment
Products like EEFs alter the behavior of soil nutrients to help you to prevent and reduce loss, increase plant uptake, improve nutrient availability and release nitrogen at a predictable rate. They can help you make the most of your nitrogen investment while supporting greater productivity and profitability. For example, ESN can help growers see up to 10 times their return on investment while improving their nutrient management program.
Categories of EEFs
These products can be separated into two broad categories, slow and controlled release nitrogen fertilizers and nitrogen stabilizers or inhibitors.
Slow-release products slow down the release of nitrogen in the soil through a biochemical breakdown of the material. The nitrogen is released based on the complexity of the materials and biological and natural activity to reduce nitrogen’s exposure to loss.
Controlled-release products alter the release of nitrogen in the soil. For example, ESN releases nitrogen through diffusion at a rate that is controlled by soil temperature and matches the demand of the growing crop. Because of this controlled release, these products reduce the amount of nitrogen that is exposed to loss.
Inhibitors and stabilizers are chemicals added to the fertilizer that slow the rate of transformation of one form of nitrogen to another. This process reduces the exposure of nitrogen to various loss mechanisms. For example, products like urease inhibitors slow down the conversion of urea to ammonium to reduce volatilization losses.
These enhanced-efficiency fertilizer products all work to improve nutrient availability and reduce nitrogen loss in their own way.
Enhancing Nutrient Availability and Sustainability
4R Nutrient Stewardship practices help you to optimize fertilizer efficiency. They help use the right source of fertilizer, at the right time, in the right place and at the right rate. By effectively managing your fertilizer, you can improve your input ROI, increase nutrient availability, increase production and enhance overall sustainability.
EEFs are a natural fit with 4R Nutrient Stewardship as they are designed to improve nutrient availability and reduce loss.
- EEFs can support the right source of fertilizer by using a form of nitrogen that is best suited to your crops needs.
- Controlled-release fertilizers can support the right rate by better aligning the release of nutrients with the needs of your growing crops to reduce the amount of nitrogen susceptible to loss and increase nitrogen uptake.
- Slow-release fertilizers can support the right time by releasing nutrients based on crop demand and soil conditions to provide the nitrogen your crops need all season long.
- EEFs can support the right place by reducing the amount of nitrogen susceptible to loss.
Programs and Incentives Supporting Implementation
Various incentives are available to help growers get started with EEFs. Due to their positive impact on the environment, there are several government programs that support the use of these products.
In the United States, growers can access the Environmental Quality Incentive Program or the Conservation Stewardship Program to support EEF use and implementation. Growers can access financial and technical support through these programs and may be eligible for financial incentives that award farmers for their investment in conservation.
ESN: A Smarter Source of Nitrogen and a Smarter Way to Grow
Fertilizer plays an essential role in crop production and will continue to support the global demand for food. Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers allow you to manage this critical input more efficiently and more effectively to improve on-farm productivity and profitability. Products like ESN are designed to reduce nitrogen loss and improve uptake, allowing you to enhance sustainability while making the most of your nitrogen investment.
Reach out to your local rep today to explore the difference that ESN can make in your field.
Interested in learning more about EEFs and the value of ESN? Explore the following resources:
The Science Inside How ESN Works
Maximize Your Nutrient Applications and Minimize Nitrogen Loss
ESN, Your Insurance Against Nitrogen Loss
Choosing Enhanced Efficiency Nitrogen Fertilizer Products
ESN: A Proud Partner in Sustainable Crop Production
Protecting Your Nitrogen Investment With Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers
Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers: What Are They & How Do They Work?
