On-farm Trial Results Show Value of N-Serve® Nitrogen Stabilizer
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Corteva Agriscience Nutrient Maximizer Sales Team members work closely with universities, retailers and farmers to regularly test performance of nitrogen stabilizers and to ensure products provide proven, reliable returns for customers each year.
Chris Kluemke, Nutrient Maximizer development specialist, recently sat down with us to talk about the results he’s seeing so far in 2024 on-farm trials.
“We’re seeing positive results with N-Serve nitrogen stabilizer on spring- and fall-applied anhydrous ammonia, even with multiple spring rains and warmer soil temperatures this year,” says Kluemke, who works with farmers in Indiana and Illinois. “Research shows that soils can lose more than 20% of total nitrogen after just one or two spring rainfalls if not protected.”
Fields treated with N-Serve® nitrogen stabilizer are showing, as of early May, up to 20% more nitrogen in the ammonium form than untreated samples.
Nitrogen in the ammonium form does not move in the soil, but nitrogen in the nitrate form readily leaches. The longer nitrogen stays in the ammonium form during the growing season, the less susceptible it is to leaching losses and, therefore, the greater the opportunity for plant uptake and yield potential to maximize nitrogen use efficiency.
The length of time the nitrogen stabilizer delays nitrification also is important, as it can help ensure nutrient availability in the soil during critical growth stages. That’s why the team is sampling soils every month and looking at several measurements, including the percentage of ammonium in the soil.
Fields where nitrogen was applied in the fall with N-Serve nitrogen stabilizer are showing, as of early May, up to 22% more nitrogen as ammonium than fields treated with Centuro nitrification inhibitor.
Results from Pike County, Illinois, farm that applied 200 units of nitrogen anhydrous ammonia 3/3/24 and collected soil samples 5/2/24.
Sample Product |
Sample Depth |
N03 PPM |
NH4 PPM |
Total Average PPM N |
% N as Nitrate |
% N as Ammonium |
N-Serve® nitrogen stabilizer |
12″ |
33 |
37 |
70 |
47% |
53% |
Centuro nitrification inhibitor |
12″ |
39 |
13 |
42 |
69% |
31% |
Untreated |
12″ |
27 |
13 |
40 |
67% |
33% |
“N-Serve nitrogen stabilizer keeps nitrogen in the corn root zone for longer periods of time to protect against nitrogen losses and is proven to reduce nitrogen leaching by 16%,” Kluemke says.
The team is continuing to monitor trial locations and will share more data as trials continue throughout the growing season. Watch for more results in upcoming Corn & Soy HQ articles.
Do not fall-apply anhydrous ammonia south of Highway 16 in the state of Illinois. Always read and follow label directions.
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