The nitrogen fertilization campaign is about to start for winter cereals and also for the cultivation of rapeseed. At this time, the farmer must manage the best information that allows him to choose the most suitable nitrogen fertilizer for his farm and that adapts to the physicochemical characteristics of the soil and the prevailing weather in the geographical area of operation.
All the initiatives launched within the framework of the EU, such as the Green Pact or ‘From farm to table’, are aimed at promoting a healthier and more sustainable agriculture where the footprint of human activity is significantly reduced in the environment. At this point, the emissions, either in the form of gases (CO2 especially) or by washing (depending on the type of nitrogen fertilization) are leading the member countries of the EU towards the most efficient nitrogen.
three chemical forms
Therefore, given the wide range of products that can currently be found on the market, the Fertiberia Group launches some keys so that nitrogen fertilization is carried out in a sustainable way with the environment.
According to their specialists, «It must be taken into account that not all have the same fertilizing power, neither the same concentrations nor the same environmental traceability. It is essential that before investing in plant nutrition solutions, the technical data sheet of the product is analyzed and the seller is always required to avoid generating confusion.
To interpret it properly, a nitrogenous fertilizer can have three chemical formsalone or combined with each other:
• Urea or Amide
• Ammoniacal
• Nitric.
Nitrogen in ureic or amide form presents as main characteristic It cannot be directly assimilated by the crop, so it needs a transformation to become ammoniacal nitrogen.
This transformation is conditioned by the temperature and humidity present in the soil. In certain areas we can have humidity in the months of application of covertsfrom January to March, but almost in all probability we will not have a temperature for this transformation to be done properly, which causes nitrogen losses in the form of ammonia gas that can range from 15 to 50%.
However, Nitrogen in ammoniacal form is fixed in the clays of the soil and has hardly any lossesso the crop will absorb it depending on its transformation to nitric form.
Nitrogen in nitric form is the majority and more rapidly absorbed crops nitrogen, this being the most efficient form per unit of nitrogen provided.
profitable strategies
There are strategies to be more efficient, profitable and sustainable in coverts such as:
- Divide them into several applications if the crop allows it.
- use nitrogenous containing nitric forms.
- Apply nitric forms accompanied by sulfur, which provides the fertilizer with more efficiency in addition to completing the fertilization with another necessary element, being optimal for use in early and late coverts.
“At Fertiberia we continue to research to offer farmers a complete range where they can choose the nitrogen that best suits their growing conditions.”
