Optimizing yield, preserving the environment
Nitrate-based fertilizers - such as ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate and NPK-based compounds - are pure nutrients offering the required precision, efficiency and reliability to meet the agronomic and environmental imperatives of sustainable agriculture.
Yara nitrate-based fertilizers and precision farming tools reduce leaching and are the natural choice for farmers who care for the environment.
Urea or AN?
Almost all nitrogen fertilizer, whether applied as Urea, AN or AHL, is ultimately transformed into nitrate before being taken up by plants. Leaching, therefore, is independent of the nitrogen form applied. Differences can be observed during, or immediately after, spreading:
- A majority of field trials reveal higher efficiency of nitrates, resulting in lower N surpluses and reduced risk of leaching.
- The spreading accuracy of AN is higher than that of Urea, due to higher bulk density and lower concentration.
- Urea is non-ionic and thus mobile. It is susceptible to leaching and runoff by heavy rainfall upon spreading. Urease inhibitors delay hydrolysis and therefore tend to exacerbate the problem. Environmental conditions (low soil temperature, lack of moisture) can have similar effects.
- Higher volatilization losses observed with Urea are usually compensated by higher dosage. Since volatilization cannot be predicted, this help-along significantly increases the risk of over- fertilization and leaching.
