Nh Delta technology. How the product works

Transcription

1 Nh Delta technology How the product works

2 Nh Delta Nh Delta is a technology that can be used to improve the performance of nitrogen fertiliser products, - through reduced environmental losses - improving energy efficiency - altering plant growth habit

3 Plant available N Plants can take up nitrogen in three forms: Amine (NH2) Ammonium (NH4) Nitrate (NO3)

4 Nitrogen breakdown in soil In soil, microorganisms (bacteria) rapidly convert (oxidise) nitrogen to nitrates NH2 NH4 NO3 So regardless of the initial form, most nitrogen that is applied is taken up by the plant as nitrate.

5 Environmental losses The form of nitrogen applied and the conversion between forms, leads to significant losses of applied N. Ammonium volatilises to ammonia gas (NH3) and is lost to the atmosphere. Nitrate (NO3) cannot bind to cation exchange sites in the soil and readily leaches with water. Typically, up to 60% of N applied to crops can be lost regardless of the type of N applied, climate and soil type.

6 Preventing environmental loss Nh Delta technology is a process that reacts an NH2 source with a nutrient metal - making it difficult for soil bacteria to convert it to other forms of N. Nh Delta alters the charge on the NH2 molecule allowing it to bind to soil cation exchange sites. Prevents volatilisation as NH3 Prevents leaching as NO3 I unit of N as Nh Delta can theoretically replace 3 units of N using conventional fertiliser - all fully bio-available.

7 Nh Delta chemistry NH2 (urea form) Delta Metal mineral (cation) Nh Delta technology links urea molecules with a compatible cation, ensuring greater stability in the soil. Altering the charge on the urea molecule allows bonding to cation exchange sites in the soil. The mineral element chosen improves crop growth and can help in reducing plant stress.

8 Maximising crop growth, whilst protecting ground water from excessive nitrate contamination* is all of our responsibility. If you want to improve your use of nitrogen, talk to us about Delta technology. *Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources Bionature UK Ltd. Caistor Lane Tealby Market Rasen Lincolnshire LN8 3XW. Working in association with Ecoculture Biosciences S.L. C/ Rambla Obispo Orberà 11; Almeria. España.

9 Plant benefits of NH Delta Feeding plants N in the NH2 form has significant agronomic benefits. The form of N a plant takes up dictates both the energy efficiency (how much resource the plant uses to grow using the N), and where the plant allocates its growth...

10 Nitrogen metabolisation Following absorption of nitrates by roots (passive uptake with water), NO3 has to be converted into usable forms before the plant can use them to grow (requires energy for conversion). NH2 (Delta Nh) is actively absorbed by the roots using proton expulsion pumps. The NH2 can then be easily used by the plant without the need for conversion (less energy). Because N forms have different uptake mechanisms and require different levels of work to make them usable in the plant, they have different metabolic costs...

11 Energy costs Energy cost of N use is expressed in units of carbon - the key building block of plant growth. The total energy cost of taking up and using N in the plant is: NO3 - uptake cost = (1.2g CO2), conversion cost to NH4 = (6.2g CO2) Total energy = 7.4g CO2 / g -1 product NH4 / NH2 - uptake cost = (0.6g CO2), conversion cost = nil Total energy = 0.6g CO2 / g -1 product

12 Plant benefits of reduced energy costs By holding and releasing N to the plant in the most carbon efficient form, Nh Delta technology allows energy efficiency up to 12 times higher than conventional fertilisers. This is of prime importance during any osmotic stress periods where carbon intake (respiration) is restricted, due to stomatal closure. When total C is restricted, using it effectively helps to maintain normal growth. Nh Delta technology will increase growth efficiency under all conditions but is particularly effective during carbon limiting stresses when conventional fertilisers (already inefficient) become even less efficient. It is rare for any crop to go through a growing season without exposure to one or more stresses, limiting yield potential.

13 Effect of N on plant growth habit The quantity and relative proportion of the different forms of N taken up by crops, will dictate the speed and type of plant growth they will exhibit. This is due to the effect that the different nitrogen forms have on plant growth hormone production. It is the total quantity of growth hormones produced (auxins and cytokinins combined), that dictate total growth. The balance of auxin to cytokinin ratio drives where the plant allocates it growth. Form and quantity of N uptake, dictates production of auxin and cytokinins...

14 Nitrate NO3 growth Plants produce higher levels of auxins when nitrates accumulate in leaves prior to conversion to useable N forms. When plants take up mostly NO3, the auxin (AUX) to cytokinin (CYT) ratio favours vegetative growth (more auxin). Apical dominance, tall stems, long internodes, smaller roots, more shoot mass. This classic N response, should really be considered an NO3 response, as regardless of type of fertiliser applied it is mostly NO3 that gets taken up with conventional fertilisers (ref slide 4). This is a trade off, with more growth due to feeding, but disproportionately in the unharvested parts of the plant.

15 Delta NH2 growth Plants produce higher levels of cytokinins when root mass increases. During high NO3 exposure root growth slows, but when taking in NH2 roots expand and cytokinin production increases. When plants take up mostly NH2, the auxin (AUX) to cytokinin (CYT) ratio favours reproductive growth (more cytokinins). Shorter stems, shorter internodes, larger roots, more branching - more grain, flower, fruit and tuber production. This response, gives bushier more productive plants, with energy allocated to the parts of the crop that we harvest, rather than to vegetative growth. Nh Delta based fertilisers stimulate production of reproductive growth, by releasing N to the plant in a way that produces a more balanced hormone production.

16 TIM LAMYMAN UK WINTER WHEAT RECORD HOLDER Tim doesn t take half measures - he thinks big and follows his convictions. Last year Tim decided to beat the UK winter wheat record using the best inputs available to him - seed, agrochemicals and of course fertilisers. Using a combination of HNCa Delta and 1-4-All pushed me across the finishing line ahead of the rest, no doubt about it. That was an impressive t/ha despite 2013 being a difficult growing year and on grade 2 land. For more information on this remarkable achievement visit NHCa Delta and 1-4-All are smart fertiliser products of Ecoculture Biosciences SL, Almeria, Spain.

17 Winter wheat standard NO3 NHCa Delta

18

19 Nh Delta - key facts Nh Delta technology stabilises N in the amine NH2 form. Prevents bacterial degradation in the soil Nh Delta is fully bioavailable to the crop Better root growth and better root function through cytokinin type development. Higher yielding plants Nh Delta reduces environmental impact to air and water systems. Lower application rates of N for sustainable agriculture. Greater efficiency in high stress conditions