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5/8/2024
Extensive grower trials of Utrisha®N show yield gains from supplemental nitrogen
A South Australian farmer who trialled the new biostimulant Utrisha®N on a potato crop has reported a yield increase of two tonnes per hectare, underlining the results of numerous grower trials of the unique plant health product across the country.
Utrisha N contains a bacterium (Methlyobacterium symbioticum) that converts atmospheric nitrogen into a form the plant can utilise. It needs to be applied just once, by foliar spray, to provide a continuous supply of nitrogen all season long.
Scott Merrett from Legacy Farm in Penola, South Australia, worked with Nutrien Ag Solutions sales agronomist, Henry Smith, on a trial on 10 hectares of Innovator potatoes in December 2023. Utrisha N was applied about two months after planting, at approximately 50% row closure, at a rate of 333g/ha.
Mr Smith said while there were no obvious signs during the season, the results were clear when the harvester went in. The trial reported a 2.8% yield increase from 74t/ha to 76t/ha, which equated to at least a 25-times return on investment from Utrisha N.
Mr Merrett said he was keen to purchase Utrisha N for the coming season to repeat the results over different soil types.
Henry Smith, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Mount Gambier and Scott Merrett, Legacy Farm, Penola.
Onions on left - 2 months after treatment with Utrisha N, right untreated.
Trial results in other crops
In Queensland’s Lockyer Valley, a trial in organic potatoes involved using Utrisha N in conjunction with a standard organic fertiliser program of organic soil ameliorants. Utrisha N is certified by OMRI and Australian Certified Organic for use in organic crop production. Potato yield increased by 8.3% compared to the standard organic fertiliser program, with more uniform tuber set and sizing, increasing marketable yield. This potentially helps processing efficiency due to the consistency of potato size.
The strong results were also reported from an onion trial site in the Lockyer Valley. Utrisha N was applied at the four-to-six leaf stage in conjunction with a standard fertiliser program of Preplant NPK blend, followed by in-crop soluble potassium nitrate and micronutrient program. Brown onion yield increased by 22.5% and red onion by 10%, compared to onions subject to the standard fertiliser program.
At Stanthorpe, a grower trial in Wombok returned an increase yield of 9% compared to a standard fertiliser program when 333g/ha of Utrisha N was applied at the four-leaf stage and in conjunction with a standard fertiliser program.
Corteva Agriscience Plant Health Manager, Dan Cornally, said with grower trials completed in many other horticulture and broadacre crops, including grapes, strawberries, wheat, canola and lentils, Utrisha N offered a new nitrogen management strategy for growers.
Innovator variety potatoes at the time of Utrisha N application, mid-December 2023.
“Conventional nitrogen fertilisers can be challenging for growers to manage yield and quality,” Mr Cornally said.
“Utrisha N converts aerial nitrogen to ammonium and when applied at the appropriate growth stage allows growers to hedge against unseasonal conditions because Utrisha N will be in crop and proving some level of nitrogen.”
The ability to mix Utrisha N with many crop inputs means an application can be built into a field management program for that crop. Farmers and agronomists can plan how best to manage the rest of the nutrition program that needs to be applied to the crop to maximise the yield and quality.
“There are also environmental programs being implemented which reward growers for reducing their inputs and/or improving sustainability,” Mr Cornally said.
“Utrisha N may have a beneficial role to play in those programs and we will continue to work with growers to help them achieve their sustainability goals and understand if this is an appropriate way for their operation to use the product.”
For further information about Utrisha N, including label, SDS, technical manual, storage and handling tech notes, visit the product page or call 1800 700 096.
