Evaluation of Urea Nitrogen Fertilizer Treated with Nutrisphere Polymer Additive to Increase Fertilizer Efficiency
The use of polymer additives to regular soluble fertilizers has been shown to increase the uptake of fertilizer nutrients into target crops. The mechanism of activity of the polymers is thought to slow down the reaction of the fertilizer nutrient ions and molecules with various soil compounds. The Nutrisphere polymer additive is added to urea or urea containing nitrogen fertilizers.
IPNI-2008-CAN-SK40
02 Mar 2009
2008 Annual Interpretive Summary
This project consisted of three experiments each comparing three forms of N fertilizer including regular granular urea, Nutrisphere®-treated urea, and Super Urea. The three experiments were conducted on spring wheat, barley, and canola. This study was initiated in April 2008 and it is planned to be repeated in 2009.
In wheat and barley, the three forms of N were applied at 45, 90, or 135 kg N/ha. All N was side-banded 2 in. to the side of the seed row using a no-till seed drill. A zero N check was included to determine if there was a response to N at the site. A response to N was found in both wheat and barley, but no difference was found between the three N application rates. The wheat experiment showed a difference between the forms of N with Nutrisphere®-treated urea and Super Urea yielding significantly more than regular urea. There was no difference between Nutrisphere®-treated urea and Super Urea in wheat. In the barley experiment, there was no significant difference between forms of N.
The canola experiment used one rate of N (90 kg N/ha) and four forms of N, including urea, Nutrisphere®- treated urea, Super Urea, and ESN® or controlled-release urea. A significant response to N fertilizer was apparent, but no significant response to the forms of N was observed. SK-40F