How well do fertilizer enhancers work?

ABSTRACT

Fertilizer enhancers can provide economic and environmental benefits but their efficacy needs to be assessed appropriately. This study analyzed available trial results of three different fertilizer enhancer products to determine if the results support product claims. All available trial results were considered for a meta-analysis of each product. Product effect was calculated for each experiment in a manner that could be compared with manufacturer claims. The distribution of trial results was examined and factors that may have influenced results assessed. Previously published assessments of the products were compared. N-Boost biostimulant sprayed with dissolved urea increased pasture nitrogen response by an equivalent of 18.0 kg N/ha compared to urea alone in nitrogen-responsive and label-conditions trials. For SustaiN Green urease-inhibitor-treated urea, pasture nitrogen response was 50% higher than untreated urea if low-ammonia-volatilization-risk trials were excluded. AVAIL phosphate fertilizer enhancer increased crop yields by 4.1% over untreated fertilizer in fertilizer-responsive and non-high-soil-phosphate trials.

KEYWORDS:

• efficient fertilizer use
• meta-analysis
• nutrient use efficiency

Acknowledgments

Donaghys Ltd funded the N-Boost component of this paper. Jenkins and Randhawa were involved in N-Boost research and development and Jenkins continues to be a consultant to Donaghys. The authors acknowledge the support of farmers in conducting the on-farm N-Boost trials. We express our gratitude to Bert Quin for discussion of an earlier manuscript and access to trial results.

Additional information

Funding

Donaghys Ltd, 001.