A balanced and effective fertilization program — the formula for success from BINFIELD

A balanced and effective fertilization program — BINFIELD’s formula for success, demonstrated at the Digital Field innovation site

During the presentation of Ukraine’s first online agricultural innovation site, Digital Field, BINFIELD presented effective technological solutions for crop fertilization that ensure intensive plant growth and development in difficult weather conditions, promote maximum nitrogen efficiency and minimize its losses during the growing season.

For basal application of nutrients when growing corn and sunflower at the site, the complex granular fertilizers FERTIS 5-15-30+S+B+Zn and FERTIS 8-24-24+S+B+Zn were used. The fertilizer grades were selected taking into account the biological characteristics of the crops and agrochemical diagnostics of the plots carried out by Agrilab specialists. The fertilizers stand out for their fast solubility in the soil, a high content of water-soluble phosphorus — more than 90% of the total content — and micronutrients in the granules.

An easy start

One of the key stages of crop growth, in particular for corn, is the organogenesis stages, when generative organs are laid down, that is, the future yield structure is formed. This happens at early growth stages. For corn, depending on the maturity group, it is the 3rd–6th leaf. Year after year, this coincides with a time when the soil is not sufficiently warm and plants suffer from nutrient deficiency — above all, phosphorus.

“We can significantly minimize the impact of these stress conditions by applying the micro-granulated fertilizer Easy Start TE-Max 11-48-0 to the seedbed zone at sowing,” noted 

Ruslan Omelianovych, BINFIELD research agronomist.

The average long-term yield increases from using this product are 0.6−0.8 t/ha for corn and 0.35−0.45 t/ha for sunflower. Applying a small amount of the micro-granulated fertilizer Easy Start TE-Max 11-48-0, compared with basal application, with precise placement in the seedbed zone makes it possible to obtain crops that develop dynamically from emergence. However, it should be remembered that this agronomic practice does not replace fertilizer application before primary tillage but is an effective addition to it, the agronomist noted.

For a clear example, the soil temperature dynamics and plant development in the conditions of 2016 are shown below.

“We pay special attention to studying nitrogen nutrition when applying UAN with the nitrification inhibitor Novatec ONE. Our task is to maximize the efficiency of the applied nitrogen by reducing unproductive losses through leaching into the lower soil horizons in case of excessive rainfall in a short period and gaseous losses due to denitrification,” explained Ruslan Omelianovych.

This is achieved by slowing down nitrification, namely its first stage, by suppressing the activity of Nitrosomonas bacteria. In this way, we accumulate the ammonium form of nitrogen in the soil, which is transformed into the nitrate form as the soil temperature rises, in line with crop needs.

Long-term trials show that when using the nitrification inhibitor Novatec ONE, the share of ammonium in the structure of mineral nitrogen forms increases and potential denitrification, i.e. gaseous nitrogen losses, decreases. “We are also working on the possibility of reducing nitrogen fertilizer rates when using this product. We are getting interesting results,” the specialist shared.

The average long-term yield increases from applying UAN with the nitrification inhibitor Novatec ONE are 0.6–0.7 t/ha for corn and 0.5–0.6 t/ha for winter wheat

BINFIELD is actively working on implementing modern and effective technological solutions in crop fertilization. “With the support of one of our key foreign partners, COMPO Expert GmbH, an R&D centre for studying crop mineral nutrition has been operating in Chernihiv Region for 5 years in a row. The scope of work includes more than 80 trial variants on crops such as winter rapeseed, winter wheat, corn, sunflower and soybean. The research areas are very diverse,” Omelianovych noted. “They include basal application of mineral fertilizers, seed treatment with various physiologically active substances, a very detailed study of nitrification inhibitors and foliar feeding. In addition, every year we conduct a huge number of studies in different regions of our country with different soil and climatic conditions.” The project of the first online agricultural innovation site, Digital Field, became a new challenge and experience for BINFIELD. Such demo fields are a great platform for sharing experience, interesting discussions and making the right decisions. “In close cooperation with our project partners, we successfully overcame all the challenges, including weather ones, and are committed to further painstaking work on promoting effective technological solutions in crop cultivation,” Omelianovych concluded.

Svitlana Tsybulska (AGP-Media)