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Improving nitrogen efficiency could help farmers boost returns on fertilizer investments

Using enhanced efficiency fertilizers to reduce nitrogen losses.

Leanna Nigon, director of agronomy and research at The Fertilizer Institute, says EEFs help farmers better manage crop nutrients.

“We have major reductions in losses, both in ammonia and nitrous oxide, when we’re using an EEF,” she says. “We are reducing the losses to the atmosphere by roughly 20 to 50 percent.”

She tells Brownfield growers should evaluate their current nutrient management plan before selecting a product.

“Look at your nitrogen rate and your yield,” she says. “What are you getting bushels-wise for every unit of nitrogen that you’re putting down? Once you identify where you think you could optimize the nitrogen cycle, that is when you can identify what type of EEF product you should use.”

Nigon says improving nitrogen-use efficiency could help farmers maximize the value of their input investment.

AUDIO: Leanna Nigon, The Fertilizer Institute