Corteva Agriscience is advising maize growers to consider adding the nitrogen stabiliser Instinct, which is said to extend the nutrient’s availability during establishment.
According to the company, the product has shown reductions in leaching of around 50%, as well as denitrification through greenhouse gases of 45%.
“Maize establishment season is upon us and huge amounts of slurry and digestate will be applied to crops to get them off to the best possible start,” says Clare Stapley, category marketing manager for Corteva.
“For efficiency, agronomic, and environmental reasons, it’s logical to keep as much of the nitrogen in those inputs where they need to be.
“Stabilisers increase and extend nitrogen availability. Across our trials programme the average yield response is over 10%.”
It uses Optinyte technology, which slows down the conversion of ammonium to nitrate, preventing losses and ensuring more stays in the rooting zone.
It can be mixed into slurries and digestates before application or sprayed on afterwards. It can also be used with any fertiliser containing ammonia, including sludge, urea, UAN, and ammonium nitrate.
“The most important element of use is ensuring good soil contact, so it should be applied before cultivation, or when rain is due to ensure good incorporation,” adds Clare.
Corteva adds that dairy farmers who face nitrogen limitations could find significant advantages in Instinct.
“Forage maize has an NMAX limit of 150 kgs N/ha so it is often undersupplied with nitrogen,” says Ryan Came-Johnson, area manager in the South of England.
“Modern varieties are typically higher yielding and therefore may have higher nitrogen requirements. If they don’t get adequate nutrition, they will never reach their full yield potential.”
He adds that growers could potentially apply less artificial nitrogen because they are getting more from what they are applying. The product can also be used on cereals, oilseed rape, sugar beet, potatoes and grass.