Protect your Fall-Applied Anhydrous with CENTURO

Set yourself up for success now and plan in advance for how you’ll minimize nitrogen loss risks and widen the application window with Centuro. 

According to Bryce Geisel, fall applications of anhydrous ammonia are a key part of many operations in Western Canada. Geisel is the senior agronomist for Koch Agronomic Services (KAS) in Canada.

"However, anhydrous ammonia can be susceptible to losses through denitrification by the time spring seeding occurs," Geisel says. "Understanding when these processes happen will allow you to make a more informed decision on how to best protect your investment."
 

UNDERSTAND RISK FACTORS

It’s not just anhydrous ammonia that’s susceptible to losses – all nitrogen sources are subject to denitrification and leaching after being nitrified to the nitrate form. 

The timing of that application also makes a difference. When nitrogen is applied in the fall, the time period between application and plant uptake in the spring leaves nitrogen sitting in the soil and the risk for below-ground losses increase. 

Let’s take a look at a type of nitrogen loss and what factors feed into it.

Denitrification is a nitrogen loss pathway and involves the breakdown of nitrates to gaseous nitrogen by bacteria in the soil. That gas then escapes into the atmosphere. The risk factors for denitrification are:  

• Fall and early spring applications
• Heavy textured soils with poor internal drainage
• Warm enough soil temperatures for soil microbes to be active
• Saturated soils greater than 60% water-filled pore space

KEEP NITROGEN WHERE YOU NEED IT

Now that you know the potential risks associated with untreated nitrogen, you need a reliable solution to protect your investment as you minimize the amount of inputs needed to produce the highest yield possible. To help keep your applied nitrogen where you need it during fall temperatures, many growers have turned to CENTURO™ nitrogen stabilizer from KAS. CENTURO treated ammonia effectively maintains its form throughout the fall and until the soil freezes. This process postpones the conversion to nitrate until spring, aligning with the timing of crop planting, thereby optimizing nutrient availability for the newly seeded crops. CENTURO protects your fall anhydrous ammonia application against denitrification and leaching by keeping applied nitrogen in the ammonium form three times longer than without an inhibitor.¹

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR RETAILERS & GROWERS

With the patented active ingredient Pronitridine, CENTURO also offers flexible storage and handling benefits for operational efficiencies.

• Can be added directly to anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks or delivery unite tanks.
• Early ammonia application avoids logistical bottle necks and waiting for ammonia during late fall applications.
• CENTURO is noncorrosive to the metals used in anhydrous equipment. 
• Can be stored for up to two years without degrading. 
•  Widen the window of application for ammonia by starting when the soil temperature is 15 degrees Celsius and declining.
• CENTURO is designed to work in ammonia with no additional actions needed after applying. 

Now is the time to make your fall anhydrous ammonia plans. Talk to your retailer today about adding CENTURO to your nitrogen management plan so you can protect your nitrogen investment and optimize yield potential. For more information on CENTURO, visit CENTURO.ca or contact your KAS representative.

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.