With urea prices expected to remain up to 25 per cent higher than last season, many farmers are reconsidering their nitrogen strategy to incorporate liquid fertilisers with higher nitrogen efficiency.
At up to $1000 a tonne, and nitrogen losses commonly exceeding 50 per cent, a fertiliser strategy too focused on urea is unlikely to optimise crop performance.
Operations historically dependent on chemical-based fertilisers can start transitioning from long-term urea use to more natural nitrogen solutions, anytime.
NitrotainTE27 from ECTOL Plant & Crop Nutrients is highly efficient, providing 27 per cent total nitrogen that is fully used. Formulated to retain nitrogen in the plant or soil, through the incorporation of amino acids, NitrotainTE27 minimises atmospheric and leaching losses and the acidification of soils.
In addition, NitrotainTE27 reduces nitrate levels in crops and pasture, known to impact animal health.
“At ECTOL, our role is to help farmers optimise plant, crop and pasture productivity, whilst reducing inputs and ultimately, on-farm costs,” ECTOL’s John McKay said.
In comparative urea trials, a single application of NitrotainTE (preceding NitrotainTE27 with 22 per cent total nitrogen) at 4L/ha on pasture (sheep), compared to a single application of urea at 75Kg/ha, after 26 days, produced an additional 450kg/ha of DM compared to urea.
Agistment and hay silage growers, Tony and Kath Hogan, from Merrigum, Victoria, switched to liquid fertiliser in 2011.
“With ECTOL, we’ve been able to remove all chemical fertiliser use from the property, which has saved us money in farm inputs annually, whilst still boosting production,” Mr Hogan said.
Unlike urea, NitrotainTE27 also provides crops with essential trace elements that are critical to key plant functions, including the determination of yields, pathogen resistance and most importantly, animal health.
“At the current price of urea, nitrogen efficiencies achieved with NitrotainTE27 could reduce fertiliser budgets by 40-50 per cent,” Mr McKay said.
NitrotainTE27 is suitable for crops, pasture and horticultural plants. The standard application rate (via foliar or soil) is 10L/ha, and this can be varied with crop and soil conditions and economics.
For more information, phone (02) 9816 2057 or email info@ectol.com
NitrotainTE27 key take-outs
• 27 per cent total nitrogen, plus trace elements.
• Used in full — no atmospheric or leaching losses.
• Foliar or soil applied, no withholding period.
• Reduces nitrate levels in crops and pasture, known to impact animal health.
• Promotes increased yields and pathogen resistance.
• Optimise crop performance, with less inputs and less outlay.
• ECTOL liquid products are available in 1000 litre, 200 litre and 20 litre drums.