Feature

BASF: The 4R’s Has Been A Good Start but Embracing

Stabilized Nitrogen Fertilizers Is the Next Big Step Change

Nitrification is one of the key processes for soil nitrogen conversion. The
use of nitrification inhibitors can effectively regulate the conversion of soil
nitrogen, improve the yield and quality of crops, and reduce the pollution
of atmospheric nitrogen and water caused by nitrogen fertilizer loss. BASF
is a leader in the field of nitrification inhibitors. The DMPP nitrification
inhibitor developed by BASF has the advantages of long time and small
amount of nitrification inhibition, and has become a benchmark product in
Markus Schmid
this field. Recently, AGROPAGES interviewed Dr. Markus Schmid, Head of
Head of business mgmt, N-management of BASF
business mgmt, N-management of BASF, on the development status and
development prospects of nitrification inhibitors.

What types of nitrification inhibitors are currently on

the market?
Markus: Nitrification Inhibitors are part of a sub category “Stabilized
Nitrogen fertilizers (SNF)” of the big group of “Enhanced Efficiency fertilizers
(EEF)”. SNF can be grouped again into two parts: i) Urea based fertilizers
with urease inhibitors (UI) and ii) N fertilizers with nitrification inhibitors (NI).
Urease inhibitors slow down the hydrolysis of urea to ammonia.
Ammonia is a gas that can be absorbed by the soil as ammonium. Slowing
down the conversion of urea to ammonia reduces the volatile gas losses
and increases the crop uptake. NI’s are products that reduce the activity of
certain soil bacteria that metabolize ammonium into nitrate. Both ammonium
and nitrate can be taken up by the crop as important nutrients. Nitrate is
mobile in the soil and is vulnerable to being moved out of the rooting zone
of crops and may leach into ground water. NI’s reduce this risk of loss by
keeping the N fertilizer in the ammonium form, so that when the nitrate is
available the crop has developed and its roots can capture more of the
nitrate. The inhibition of these bacteria is temporary and they recover fully
to maintain healthy soils. Some of the products on the market today are
indicated below (not complete list).
Urease
Active Ingredient Formulation
Inhibitor
NBPT Agrotain (Koch)
2-NPT - convenient rather than only thinking about the crop
NBPT，NPPT Limus (BASF)
Nitrification
Inhibitor
DCD AgRho NH4 Protect (Solvay)
In addition to nitrification inhibitors,
what other methods can be used to
improve nitrogen fertilizer utilization?
Markus: The fertilizer industry has developed a best
fertilizer management practice, also known as 4Rs. The
aim is to enable farmers to optimize the use efficiency
of fertilizers by applying the right fertilizers, at the right
rate at the right place and the right time. Nitrification and
urease inhibitors fit nicely into the 4Rs. For example,
urea treated with a urease inhibitor is a product, that is
protected against ammonia losses and that does not
need to be mechanically incorporated or washed into
the soil. It achieves the same yield performance as
ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers. This is a great tool
for farmers, where ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers
are not available. Nitrification inhibitors also complement
the 4Rs. A fertilizer treated with an NI will reduced the
risk of leaching of nitrate and thus increase the NUE.
This allows farmers more flexibility to the timing of when
to apply fertilizers. For example, the NI product Vibelsol
is designed to be used on ammonium and urea based
NPK fertilzers. Vibelsol protects against nitrate leaching
for 4-10 weeks. The farmer can apply the NPK when
nutrient demand. Beyond the on the farm benefit, NI
reduce Nitrous Oxide emissions by about 50%.  As you
probably know, N2O long-lasting greenhouse gas that is
265 times more powerful than CO2.

Nitrapyrin N-Serve (Corteva)，Instinct (Corteva) What advantages does your company

DCD + 1,2,4 Triazol have in the field of nitrification inhibi-
Alzon (SKW P)，Piadin (SKW P)
1,2,4 Triazol + 3-MP tors?
DMPP Vibelsol (BASF)，Vizura (BASF)
Markus: BASF has a long history in agriculture

76 Annual Review 2019