Exposing the High Cost of Low-Rate Stabilizers

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This includes buying into dual inhibitor products that promote effective above and below ground protection when the parts per million (ppm) of active ingredients are not agronomically effective.

While some stabilizers may claim to deliver the same results, the reality is low-rate products are not the same as products with higher active ingredient concentrations.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE RIGHT RATE

A common misconception in the market is that imitator products are "just as good as" name brand products like SUPERU™ fertilizer, ANVOL™ and CENTURO™ nitrogen stabilizer.

The percentage of active ingredients in these other products may not be high enough to be agronomically effective. To get value and results from your stabilizer, you need to choose an option with a higher active rate.

A laboratory incubation with University of Arkansas in 2020 demonstrated that 1,500 parts per million (ppm) DCD on urea was not significantly different than untreated urea at inhibiting nitrification activity over a 10-day period.1 This means growers using low-rate dual inhibitors are not effectively preventing nitrogen conversion, which results in loss from leaching and denitrification.

With a variety of products on the market claiming to have dual protection, selecting a solution with the right formulation is a critical step to ensuring your nitrogen is protected from loss.

Urea treatment DCD NBPT comparison chart

¹The underlying data is based on third-party laboratory studies funded by Koch Agronomic Services; results may vary based on a number of factors, including environmental conditions. The underlying data was provided by Roberts, University of Arkansas (2019-2020) Research Trial Financial Support Agreements with Koch Agronomic Services, LLC. Neither the universities or institutions, nor the individual researchers referenced, endorse or recommend any product or service.

²Contain label does not list out individual amounts of NBPT, Co-Polymers, Alcohols, Emulsifiers beyond the total sum of 100%. Calculations were based on internal analysis from four samples (2014, 2015, 2017, 2020).

³Calculation for parts per million (ppm) is based on the amount of active ingredient and product application rate listed on the product label and the bulk density as listed on the SDS determining active ingredient amount per ton of nitrogen source.

⁴NBPT (278 ppm for urea and 139 ppm for UAN) and Duromide (469 ppm for urea and 234 ppm for UAN) are listed as individual active ingredients on the ANVOL label. Combined (NBPT + Duromide) the total active ingredient concentration is 747 ppm for urea and 373 ppm for UAN.

INVEST IN PROVEN DUAL PROTECTION

To get real results and a stronger return on your investment, you need a solution that has a high concentration of active ingredients and is backed by years of research. Growers across the United States have seen exceptional results with SUPERU premium fertilizer as it contains a proven, agronomically effective level of DCD and NBPT and is backed by 30 years of research. Depending on conditions, SUPERU fertilizer is proven to reduce leaching losses by 30% to 50%.

NBPT the proven urease inhibitor found in SUPERU fertilizer, slows the conversion of urea into ammonia gas, allowing time for incorporation by rainfall or other means. While DCD, the proven nitrification inhibitor, slows the bacteria responsible for the first step of nitrification.

Having a higher level of DCD is crucial in achieving agronomic effectiveness. The amount of DCD present in a dual inhibitor has a significant impact on its ability to prevent nitrogen loss through denitrification. Studies indicate the concentration of DCD in the soil has a direct effect on the percentage of nitrification, indicating that higher DCD concentrations result in a more effective inhibition of nitrification.

A SOLUTION FOR ABOVE GROUND PROTECTION

In some cases, dual inhibitor products don't contain an active ingredient load high enough to be agronomically effective for below ground protection. So, if proven above ground nitrogen protection is what you need, ANVOL nitrogen stabilizer is a highly effective solution.

ANVOL features a Koch patented active ingredient, Duromide, that delivers the longest-lasting urease inhibitor protection over a wider range of soil environments. Duromide was developed to extend the protection of nitrogen above ground and is more durable than NBPT.

The synergistic effect of NBPT and Duromide results in a rapid inhibition response. ANVOL gets to work faster while also providing efficacy beyond the window of protection offered by NBPT alone.

UNRIVALED BELOW GROUND NITROGEN DEFENSE

Nitrification inhibitors are an important tool for protecting nitrogen and keeping the valuable nutrient available in the root zone in the ammonium form where it’s less susceptible to loss. CENTURO™ nitrogen stabilizer, featuring the patented active ingredient Pronitridine, is the first EPA-registered nitrification inhibitor specifically formulated for anhydrous and UAN to help protect against nitrogen loss from leaching or denitrification.

DCD and Pronitridine have different chemical makeups and interact in a different way with the AMO (ammonia monooxygenase) enzyme found in Nitrosomonas bacteria. DCD is a smaller molecule which works as a competitive inhibitor by temporarily blocking the active site of AMO. Pronitridine has a complex molecular structure that provides two modes of action, both competitive inhibition and non-competitive inhibition, effectively stopping ammonia from converting to nitrate. By slowing the conversion of ammonium to nitrate, CENTURO will hold the nitrogen in the ammonium form three times longer than without an inhibitor.¹

CHOOSE PROVEN PROTECTION OVER EMPTY PROMISES

Don’t put your trust in low-rate formulations to protect your investment. Connect with a KAS representative today to learn more about how you can stabilize your nitrogen with our proven solutions that protect your nitrogen and your bottom line.

		For Urea			For UAN
Product	Active Ingredient (%)	Application Rate (qt/ton)		Parts Per Million (ppm)³	Application Rate (qt/ton)	Parts Per Million (ppm)³
BrazeN	This information is not publicly available.
Contain	NBPT & Co-Polymers²		3	159 NBPT	1.5	80 NBPT
Excellis Maxx	NBPT (12%) DCD (2%)		1	152 NBPT 25 DCD	0.78	119 NBPT 20 DCD
Nitrolock	This information is not publicly available.
Trident	NBPT (10%) DCD (10%) Solvent & Co-Polymer Blend (80%)		1.5	183 NBPT 183 DCD	1.5	183 NBPT 183 DCD
SUPERU	Preformulated Product			600 NBPT 8500 DCD	Not Applicable
ANVOL	NBPT (16%) Duromide (27%)		1.5	747 NBPT + Duromide⁴	0.75	373 NBPT + Duromide⁴
CENTURO	Pronitridine		Not Applicable		6	1103 Pronitridine

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