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Testing Soil Nitrogen Availability & Nitrate Loss Reduction in Nutrisphere-NL
Nutrisphere-NL Improves NUE:
NutriSphere-NL when added to UAN urea-based liquid nitrogen fertiliser improves Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) through the availability of N for crop uptake.
This is achieved mainly through the reduction of N loss to the atmosphere and nitrate loss through soil pore water and field drainage.
Nutrisphere-NL | Study and test framework
We will be going over the results and findings from the 3 tests that were conducted to assess the use of Nutrisphere-NL to validate that it improves NUE.
Test & Study 1 | Drainage and Nitrate Concentration test | NIAB Field Trials, Salle Farms, Norfolk
Test & Study 2 | Agronomic Performance Replicated Trial | NIAB Field Trials, Salle Farms, Norfolk
Test & Study 3 | Soil Column Experiment | John Innes Laboratory Trial, John Innes Centre, Norwich
Tests conducted by:
The National Institute of Agricultural Botany is a plant science research company based in Cambridge, UK.
The John Innes Centre, located in Norwich, Norfolk, England, is an independent centre for research and training in plant and microbial science founded in 1910.
Study & Test One | Drainage & Nitrate Concentration
NIAB Field Test | Salle Farms | Norfolk
Objective
To determine whether NutriSphere NL reduces nitrate losses to the field drains
The test scenario was November 2020.
Method
This test was conducted as a split field trial, as the image shows. The location chosen was Salle Farm, Norfolk, and was carried out by NIAB.
Results | Test One
The tile drain nitrate concentration was reduced by an average of 14% through the use of NutriSphere NL.
The Guthrie Center Iowa USA had a similar split field trial which achieved a 21% reduction.
Study & Test Two | Agronomic Performance Replicated Trial
NIAB Field Trial | Morley | Norfolk
How Nitrogen availability to the crop was calculated:
Nitrate Leaching Reduction 21% - Guthrie Center, Iowa, USA. 2006
Nutrient utilisation efficiency (NUE) is the product of physiological and apparent recovery efficiency. To calculate this:
NUE (kg kg–1) = PE x ARE
How this calculation was constructed:
Agronomic Efficiency (AE) - The economic production per unit of nutrient uptake.
AE (kg kg-1) = (Gf-Gu/Na)
Gf is the grain yield (grain + straw) fertilised plot.
Gu is the grain yield (grain + straw) unfertilised plot.
Na is the quantity of N fertiliser applied.
Physiological Efficiency (PE) - The biological yield obtained per unit of nutrient uptake.
PE (kg kg-1) = (Byf-byd/Nf-Nu)
Byf is the biological yield (grain + straw) fertilised plot.
Byu is the biological yield (grain + straw) unfertilised plot.
Nu is the N uptake (grain + straw) N fertiliser applied.
Apparent Recovery Efficiency (ARE) - The nutrient uptake per unit of nutrient uptake.
ARE (%) = (Nf-Nu/Na) x 100
Nf is the N uptake (grain + straw) of the fertilised plot.
Nu is the N uptake (grain + straw) of the unfertilised plot.
Na is the quantity of N fertiliser applied.
Replicated Plot Trial | Application method and treatment
Objective
To quantify if NutriSphere NL improves nitrogen availability to the crop.
Method
Replicated plot trial at Morley Farm, Norfolk conducted by NIAB Morely in November 2020.
Outcomes & Key Facts | Soil Mineral Nitrogen, Nitrate and Ammonium
Key Facts | Total Soil Mineral Nitrogen | Soil type: Sandy Loam (light)
Over 6 months the SMN was 22% higher than the UAN + NL treatment, compared to the UAN alone.
A similar sponsored test was conducted by Campden BRI in 2018 and demonstrated a similar uplift of 28% of SMN compared to untreated UREA.
Key Facts: Soil nitrate concentration
The August timing shows differences between treatments, recording 35% higher (2.1 mg/kg) soil nitrate concentrations where NutriSphere-NL was applied.
Outcomes & Key Facts | Crop Biomass, Grain Yield and Nitrogen Uptake
An increase in average grain yield of 0.3 t/ha (+2.6%) where NutriSphere-NL was applied.
Grain weight increased from 74.4 to 75.5 kg/hl, where NutriSphere-NL was applied.
Nitrogen content UAN 1.81g/100g dmb to UAN + NL 1.83g/100g dmb.
Protein content UAN 10.34% dmb to UAN + NL 10.45% dmb.
(All statistically significant results P= 0.1)
(Dmb = Dry matter basis)
Grain Yield Increase 2.6% - 0.3 t/ha Increase
Grain Weight Increase 1.5% - 1.1 kg/hl Increase
Nitrogen Increase 1.1% - 0..02 g/100g Increase
Protein Increase 1.1% - 0.11% dmb Increase
Both straw and grain nitrogen uptake increased (by 5.9% and 3.5% respectively), when NutriSphere-NL was added to UAN.
Mean total nitrogen (straw + grain) increased 4.0% from 211.3 to 219.8 kg N/ha, when NutriSphere-NL was added to UAN, reflecting increased Nitrogen Use efficiency.
(Dmb = Dry matter basis)
Straw Nitrogen 5.9% - 1.9 kg N/ha dmb Increase
Grain Nitrogen 3.5% - 6.3 kg N/hl dmb Increase
Nitrogen Total Uptake 4.0% - 8.8 kg N/ha dmb Increase
Agronomic efficiency increased 5.4%, from 17.59 to 18.55 kg nitrogen harvested per kg nitrogen applied, when NutriSphere-NL was added to the UAN.
Apparent Recovery efficiency which is the quantity of nutrient uptake per unit of nutrient applied increased by 6.1%.
The Agronomic and Apparent Recovery efficiency increased by 11.8% from 11.2 to 12.5kg N /fertiliser N, when NutriSphere-NL was added to the UAN.
Agronomic Efficiency 5.4% Increase
Apparent Recovery Efficiency 6.1% Increase
Combined Efficiency 11.8% Increase
RESULTS | TEST TWO
Crop yield response was around 0.3 t/ha at Morley, which was statistically significant at P=0.1, suggesting improved nitrogen use efficiency when the fertiliser was treated with NutriSphere-NL.
The increases in cereal yields support European research by Verdesian over 6 years 2015-2021, where yields in all crops tested have shown to increase on average by 3%.
Nutrient Utilisation Efficiency 11.8% - 11.2 to 11.5 Kg/N Increase
Cereal Yield Increase 3.0% - 2015 to 2021 EU Tests Increase
Study & Test Three | Soil column experiment
John Innes Laboratory | John Innes Centre | Norwich
Soil Column Experiment | The John Innes Centre
Objective
To examine whether nitrate distribution patterns down the soil profile are affected by the use of NutriSphere-NL with UAN urea-based liquid nitrogen fertiliser.
To quantify whether the use of NutriSphere-NL changes the short-term composition and structure of the microbial community.
Method
This report focuses on the work looking at nitrate concentrations in soil columns in two seasons (2019) and (2021).
Soil used in columns experiment taken from Salle Farms.
1. Watering Routine
3x / week - Applied at 500ml ( = 18.6mm rainfall) increased to 1,000 ml from 19th April 2021
2. Data Analysis
Bacterial assessment: Shannon diversity index; formulae for entropy & estimating species diversity.
3. Germinated
Wheat seed in water for 3 days
4. Grown
For 4 days before planting in glass column
5. Grown
In soil for 7 days, first fertiliser treatment
6. Grown
In soil for 32 days, second fertiliser treatment
7. Data Analysis
Harvest biomass
Key Facts | Soil Pore Water: Nitrate Concentration (mg/kg)
Top Layer 33% Lower Nitrate Concentrations
Bottom Layer 75% Reduction Soil Pore Water
Middle Layer 0% Undetectable Nitrate Concentrations
Soil pore water for NO3 and NH4 concentrations in the top layer were found lowest with UAN + NutriSphere-NL.
Readings taken at weekly intervals in the top, middle, and bottom layers for the first nitrogen fertiliser application in 2021.
16S Metabarcoding
The relative abundance of phyla found in the soil bacterial communities, as sampled and fingerprinted through 16S metabarcoding shows that the communities did not differ among the fertiliser treatments.
*The soil bacterial community changed significantly between the first and second sampling in all treatments. This may be a result of the application of fertiliser, but it may also be a result of the root exudates associated with the wheat.
Key Facts | Taxa capable of synthesising urease
Microbial Diversity Results
NutriSphere-NL completely suppresses urease activity
Nutrisphere-NL treatment has an almost undetectable abundance of Taxa capable of synthesising urease.
NutriSphere NL | Mode of action
NutriSphere NL enables more of the applied nitrogen to be available to the plant.
NutriSphere NL has no negative effect on soil bacteria.
The mode of action for NutriSphere NL has been proven by The University of Bologna.
Key Facts | NutriSphere NL is a UREASE Inhibitor
Achieves zero impact on soil biome.
Enables nitrogen inputs to be reduced.
Proven Quality through improved NUE.
NutriSphere NL
All Studies & Tests | Key outcomes
Test One: Conclusion
The tile drain nitrate concentration was reduced by an average of 14% through the use of NutriSphere NL.
Test Two: Conclusion
Yield and crop nitrogen content were higher on average with NutriSphere-NL added to UAN.
Crop yield response results had improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) when the fertiliser was treated with NutriSphere-NL.
Achieved an 11.8 % increase in Nutrient Utilisation Efficiency where NutriSphere-NL was applied.
Test Three: Conclusion
UAN + NL, has demonstrated a significant reduction in nitrates contained in the soil pore water by between 33% and 75%.
Based on the microbial diversity studies and the resulting taxa. The application of NutriSphere-NL completely suppressed urease activity.
This is further confirmed by the granting of the CE mark for Nutrisphere NL as a urease inhibitor (PFC5) under the EU Regulation 2019/1009 (FPR).
Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs Figures
Official DEFRA figures for urea-based fertilisers and urease inhibitors (UI), sold onto UK farms, confirm that NutriSphere NL has the highest annual offtake between 2021/23, and is 56% of the urease inhibitor-treated UAN market.
Studies & Tests | Summary
Proven quality through improved NUE.
Link To Presentation
You can find more information on this research in the link to our presentation: