The IMPACT OF THE POLYMER COATING NUTRISPHERE™ IN INCREASING NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY AND CORN YIELD

Abstract

Currently, it is estimated that 50 to 60% of the N applied fertilizer is actually utilized by the crop with the remaining N lost through leaching or denitrification. A three year study was conducted at eight locations in North Carolina to examine the impact of Nutrisphere™ on corn yield, optimum N rate, maximum yield, tissue N concentration, plant biomass and N uptake. At six locations the study consisted of a split plot design where main plots were either 30% Urea Ammonium Nitrate (UAN) or 30% UAN plus Nutrisphere™ applied either at planting or layby with subplots consisting of five N rates that differed slightly across years. At two locations, two N solutions were applied at two rates to plots that received one of two starter fertilizer treatments. The overall trend indicated that Nutrisphere™ increased yield compared to the use of 30% UAN alone with a significant (p<0.10) yield increases of 0.74 Mg ha −1 from combined results at Bertie08 and Pamlico08, 0.93 Mg ha −1 from combined results at Guilford08 and Forsythe08 and 0.37 Mg ha −1 from the treatment with at planting application of N at Beaufort09 and Pamlico09. While Nutrisphere™ only reduced optimum N rate in two trials, there was a consistent increase in maximum potential yield across trials. Plant analysis found that Nutrisphere™ increased biomass at one location, although it did not affect tissue N concentration and did not result in consistent increases in plant N uptake. The significant impacts of Nutrisphere™ on plant biomass and corn yield indicate that it affects the N movement to the root surface over a short period of time after application. More research is needed to determine how Nutrisphere™ impacts N movement in the soil, N transformations and N uptake to improve recommendations regarding its use and potential for increasing yield.

Evaluation of Commercial Additives Used with Granular Urea for Nitrogen Conservation

“…The literature on Nutrisphere‐N is mixed as to its value as a fertilizer additive. Some studies have reported crop yield increases (Gordon, 2014; Heiniger et al, 2014; Maharjan et al, 2017; Wiatrak, 2014; Wiatrak and Gordon, 2014), while others have shown little effect on crop production or N transformations (Cahill et al, 2010; Chien et al, 2014; Connell et al, 2011; Edmeades and McBride, 2012; Forrestal et al, 2016; Franzen et al, 2011; Harty et al, 2017; Henning et al, 2013; Norton, 2011). Peng et al (2015) measured a reduction in nitrate leaching from soil columns when UAN was treated with Nutrisphere‐N.…”

Comparison of ammonia‐N volatilization losses from untreated granular urea and granular urea treated with NutriSphere‐N®

“…For example, under irrigated conditions, Nutrisphere-N® treated urea and/or UAN consistently reduced total NH 3 volatilization losses (Barbieri et al, 2018), increased yield in grain (Gordon, 2014;Wiatrak, 2014b) and rice (Dunn & Wiatrak, 2014) and improved yield and N uptake in corn (Maharjan et al, 2017;Wiatrak & Gordon, 2014). This is in contrast to more variable results using Nutrisphere-N® under rainfed conditions where Nutrisphere-N® increased yield of corn (Smith et al, 2014) and potatoes (Hopkins et al, 2008); Nutrisphere-N® did not reduce emissions in temperate grassland (Forrestal et al, 2016), forage bermudagrass (Connell et al, 2011), spring wheat, durum wheat (Franzen et al, 2011) and corn (Liu et al, 2019). Nutrisphere-N® did also not increase yield in temperate grassland (Harty et al, 2017), bermudagrass (Moyer & Kelley, 2008;Connell et al, 2011), Spring wheat and durum wheat (Franzen et al, 2011), corn (Liu et al, 2019;Tubbs et al, 2009), sugar beet (Norton, 2011) and perennial ryegrass (Lemus et al, 2013).…”

“…| Inhibitor efficacy at Rainfed sites Smith et al (2014) suggest greater yield advantages will be found when Nutrisphere™ is used under conditions where yield is not limited by lack of rainfall. For example, under irrigated conditions, Nutrisphere-N® treated urea and/or UAN consistently reduced total NH 3 volatilization losses (Barbieri et al, 2018), increased yield in grain (Gordon, 2014;Wiatrak, 2014b) and rice (Dunn & Wiatrak, 2014) and improved yield and N uptake in corn (Maharjan et al, 2017;Wiatrak & Gordon, 2014).…”

“…This charge makes the molecules stable at high ionic concentrations, which allows to hold other molecules in suspension. Adding it to a fertilizer like urea, Nutrisphere™ coats the fertilizer molecule (Smith et al, 2014). In the soil, the Nutrisphere™ coating binds to positively charged nickel ion co‐factors found in the urease enzyme so these cations are no longer available for forming the urease enzyme.…”

Coffee Orchard Response to Enhanced Efficiency Phosphate Fertilizer

“…It is estimated that the world population will increase up to 33% by 2050, from the current 7.2 billion to 9.6 billion people [1]. To provide adequate food, fiber, and renewable energy resources to meet this growth in population, we will need to dramatically increase crop yields [2], requiring, among several strategies, increasing the use of plant nutrients such as phosphorus (P) applied in the form of fertilizers.…”