Positive trial data on foliar fertiliser anticipates NFU's vision of net zero emissions by 2040

25th February 2020

BFS Fertiliser Services, a leading crop nutrition specialist, has released new trial data which reinforces the efficacy of PolyNPlus™, its revolutionary foliar fertiliser, in significantly reducing the total nitrogen required for optimum crop performance. Reducing emissions to enhance productivity is a key element of the NFU's vision for the farming industry: "Achieving Net Zero: Farming's 2040 Goals".

Formulated with ureic polymers, PolyNPlus eliminates nitrate losses and minimises ammonia emissions. When applied in a coordinated programme with soil-applied nitrogen, the result is high yields and increased grain protein content using less nitrogen than in standard farm practice. In addition, as PolyNPlus can be tank-mixed with crop protection products, it reduces the number of passes needed, saving time and application costs. These benefits also chime with the NFU's vision of the farming industry "working smarter to use fewer inputs".

A series of trials were conducted in the UK during 2019 to test the efficacy of PolyNPlus:

Velcourt, international farm managers and agronomists, conducted a trial on Crusoe winter wheat in Casthorpe, Lincolnshire to measure the effects of different application rates and timings between soil-applied nitrogen only and soil-applied with PolyNPlus. The study showed (see table and graph below) that, using PolyNPlus, significantly lower levels of nitrogen were required to produce comparable or better yields.

NIAB, one of Britain's oldest agricultural research centres, conducted a series of trials which showed (see graphs below) that PolyNPlus had positive effects on grain yield and protein content in KWS Zyatt winter milling wheat.

The data from the trials shows that:

• Provided sufficient soil-applied nitrogen is used at the start of the growing season, two foliar applications of PolyNPlus can replace the third tranche of soil-applied nitrogen, resulting in higher yields with less total nitrogen.

• PolyNPlus potentially will increase the protein in the grain of milling wheat which improves the baking quality of flour such as dough elasticity.

• PolyNPlus is safe to apply direct to the leaf.

• PolyNPlus is particularly useful during dry spells when a crop's uptake of soil-applied nitrogen is low.

Further trials are being undertaken in 2020 to determine how farmers can use PolyNPlus to maximum effect.

Rosalind Platt, managing director at BFS Fertiliser Services, said: "We are delighted that our breakthrough PolyNPlus range of foliar nitrogen anticipates the NFU's drive to reduce the farming industry's greenhouse gas emissions to "net zero" by 2040. The data from independent tests on PolyNPlus demonstrates clearly that less nitrogen is needed than in standard farm practice at the same time as yields and protein content are improved. Uniquely, at BFS we can also tailor the product to add individual farmers' specific trace element requirements."