The polymer coating allows Smartfert N to be applied in any weather and it can be mixed with other dry fertilisers enabling it to be applied as part of a farm’s overall fertiliser programme.
One application of Smartfert N provides nitrogen for continuous plant growth over three to four months and on dairy pasture, nitrogen applications can be reduced to two or three times a year.
In the past three years New Zealand farmers who have tried Smartfert N report significant increases in dry matter production per kg of nitrogen applied.
Dr Richard Cookson, Waikato farmer and ex-scientific researcher, did his own trial which indicated Smartfert N was capable of generating 16% more pasture drymatter at half the application rate of nitrogen compared to uncoated urea.
Cookson, whose career includes developing nitrogen inhibitors, said the product’s ability to limit the amount of nitrogen released to that needed by pasture offered huge efficiencies and environmental benefits for the pastoral sector.
Smartfert science adviser Dr Doug Edmeades said cracking the controlled release technology was akin to the holy grail of fertiliser development and that there are too many new age N products on the market which have not been properly assessed.
More? 0800 fertco (0800 337 826)
