Atlanta, Georgia, USA
March 24, 2009
- Foliar applications of
NDemand® 30L, powered by Nitamin®, at early tillering boost
yield, plump percentage
- Nitamin® Steady Delivery®
plant nutrition technology tested at North Dakota State
University and in commercial trials
- Stem elongation with
NDemand® 30L applications provide extra forage, income for
growers.
Commercial and university research
on malt barley in North Dakota and Montana has shown higher
yields, better crop quality and other production efficiencies
from nitrogen (N) fertility programs that include NDemand® 30L
powered by Nitamin®
compared to conventional fertilization using urea as the sole N
source.
In university trials on malt barley at North Dakota State
University (NDSU), NDemand 30L®, a foliar-applied
Nitamin Steady
Delivery® technology, delivered average yield increases of
up to 8 bu/A and a one-pound-per-bushel increase in test weight
over the control when it was applied at early tillering.
Researchers also noted higher plump percentages from the early
tillering applications of NDemand 30L.
“In barley, we still recommend a standard application of N at
planting, but growers have the option of applying NDemand 30L at
early tillering in fields with thin stands to obtain a
substantial yield increase,” says Dr. David Franzen, NDSU
agronomist. He added that with N prices higher than in previous
years, NDemand 30L is an efficient way for growers to reduce the
amount of total N that they apply.
In commercial trials in Montana conducted on irrigated malt
barley, Wilbur-Ellis agronomists recorded yield increases of up
to 22 bu/A with an application of NDemand 30L at the early
tillering stage. Plump percentages increased from 84 to 88
percent with a foliar application of NDemand 30L.
“The increase in plump percentage was spectacular,” says Jim
Lyons, Wilbur-Ellis agronomist. “For those who are producing
barley for malt, the plump percentage – or percentage of plump
kernels – is as important as yield, and the NDemand 30L trials
delivered better quality in every weather and soil condition in
which it was tested.”
The patented polymer technology in Nitamin, manufactured by
Georgia-Pacific Plant Nutrition and distributed primarily by
Wilbur-Ellis Company, provides an effective slow-release
nitrogen source for multiple crops. In the barley studies,
researchers applied NDemand 30L, a Wilbur-Ellis brand that is
powered by Nitamin and was specifically designed for use as a
foliar-applied slow-release product. It is a blend of methlyene
urea, urea, and triazone that contains 30 percent N, of which 60
percent is slowly available. The remaining 40 percent is urea,
which provides a readily available N component.
John Kruse,
Georgia-Pacific Plant Nutrition senior agronomist, says the
study results show that NDemand 30L provides growers with a
cost-effective way to make planned, in-season foliar
applications to boost yields and crop quality while lowering
overall N use. He also noted that NDemand 30L features lower
salt index and lower biuret concentration, leading to increased
crop safety.
“NDemand 30L was developed specifically for planned, foliar
application on numerous crops to help growers increase yield and
manage their total N applied to the crop,” Kruse says. “This
improved N efficiency also allows for reduced nitrate leaching
and better environmental stewardship.”
NDSU Barley trials
The barley trials conducted by NDSU in 2008 near Valley City,
ND, focused on optimal crop stage for the application, which was
two gallons per acre. A soil application of nitrogen and
phosphorus was made prior to planting to support a yield goal of
80 bu/A. Foliar applications of NDemand 30L were made at early
tillering, early jointing, boot and flowering stages. The
highest yield and test weight were achieved at early tillering,
Dr. Franzen says. In addition to an 8 bu/A yield increase,
researchers also recorded a one lb/A increase in test weight of
the barley and an increase in the plump percentage from 81.9 to
84.7 percent.
“Traditionally, most of the N for barley production is applied
at the pre-plant stage,” Dr. Franzen says. “Based on these
studies, I would recommend that growers look at their crop at
early tillering and see what their yield expectations would be.
Two gallons per acre of NDemand 30L at early tillering could pay
off if their stand is on the thin side and the plants would
benefit from additional tillering that would result in a yield
increase.”
Montana Irrigated Barley Trials
In commercial trials conducted by Wilbur-Ellis on irrigated malt
barley farms in Montana, yield increases of up to 22 bu/A
compared to check plots were recorded when one gallon of NDemand
30L was applied with a strobilurin fungicide through the
irrigation pivot at early tillering. Wilbur-Ellis’ Lyons
reported a visual difference in the crop within four days with
improved color and density of the barley. He added that the
grower cooperators also maintained excellent malt standards for
protein in the test fields.
An added benefit that Lyons noted was the NDemand-treated fields
showed noticeably longer stem elongation, which adds to the
density of barley straw used as forage in the winter months.
“For growers who use Nitamin on their barley acres, it’s another
benefit that can mean additional straw tonnage,” Lyons says.
About Nitamin fertilizers
Manufactured by Georgia-Pacific and primarily distributed by
Wilbur-Ellis Company, Nitamin 30L and Nitamin Steady-Delivery
liquid slow-release plant nutrition products provide a steady
supply of nitrogen to the plant, minimizing N fluctuations that
have a negative impact on plant growth and quality. Nitamin 30L,
a blend of slowly available and readily available N components,
was developed for use as a foliar-applied fertilizer for use on
crops and turfgrass. Nitamin Nfusion was designed to be blended
with quick-release liquid N fertilizers to provide an economical
high-efficiency nitrogen source based on seasonal crop N demand
and regional growing conditions.
About Georgia-Pacific Plant Nutrition
Georgia-Pacific Plant Nutrition is a business group of
Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC - a market leader in chemical
products for the paper, pulp and building products industries,
as well as other industrial manufacturing processes.
Georgia-Pacific Chemicals has been a major raw material supplier
to leading fertilizer producers for over 20 years and has over
40 years of experience with urea-based polymer technology. The
company's headquarters office is located at 133 Peachtree
Street, 19th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30303. For additional
information, please visit the company’s Web sites
http://www.gp.com/chemical/ and http://www.nitamin.com/ or call
the Nitamin hotline at 866-2nitamin.
About Wilbur-Ellis Company
Founded in 1921, and with total sales exceeding $2 billion,
Wilbur-Ellis Company specializes in the marketing, distribution
and formulation of crop protection products, fertilizers and
animal feed in the United States. Through its Connell Bros. and
Animal Feed Divisions, Wilbur-Ellis exports specialty chemicals
and animal feed throughout the Pacific Rim. For more
information, please visit www.wilburellis.com.
North Dakota State University does not endorse Georgia-Pacific,
Nfusion or the use of Nfusion.
NITAMIN, Steady Delivery and the Georgia-Pacific logo are
trademarks owned by or licensed to Georgia-Pacific Chemicals
LLC. NDemand is a registered trademark of Wilbur-Ellis Company. |
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