by Tim Chitwood, VP of Agronomy
QLF Agronomy has demonstrated the advantages of taking a carbon-based approach to managing and improving NUE (Nitrogen Use Efficiency) for many years. We have taken another step in expanding our same carbon-based approach with delivering a NEW technology in our line up as a high-quality option for foliar feeding nitrogen. “Amino 15” is that product.
L-CBF Amino 15
15N-0P-1K-0.5S with 10% sugars
- Foliar Nitrogen in a safe and effective liquid carbon-based package provides a cost-effective tank partner with a proven return on investment utilized in multiple fertilizer and pesticide applications.
- Superior consistency. L-CBF Amino 15 is manufactured using high-quality QLF sourced cane molasses, providing the user with a consistent source of available carbon for delivering energy to plants and animals.
- Over a pound of quality nitrogen and plant sugar with every gallon
Working with the nitrogen cycles resembles a circus in many ways. Constantly changing, often unpredictable, and usually many rings or stages to master. Throughout this process, farmers manage several pools of nitrogen in different forms; Nitrate (NO3), Ammonium (NH4), Urea (CO(NH2)2), and Organic Nitrogen (such as Amino Acid). Nitrogen can get away from us as it moves in all directions, and nitrates are the most challenging to hold onto because they are so mobile, i.e. nitrates and soil particles are both negatively charged. Often there is more nitrogen applied before the crop can use it and not stored in a form that can be easily recycled, such as organic forms. Soil health advocate and Regenerative Ag leader John Kempf promotes and understands “when all nitrogen in the soil is in an organic form (such as an Amino N) there will be no pollution, and producing high yielding crops!” He ranks these forms as follows:
1st Amino N
2nd Urea N
3rd Ammonium N
4th Nitrate N
Besides the risk of loss, excess consumption of the more energy taxing nitrogen forms can create unfavorable imbalances and a reduction in plant health. We need to think more about the diversity of nitrogen sources and delivery methods, bring balance to not only the amounts and timings but also better balance with biology. Ultimately plants need nitrogen to build protein. Some forms are more efficient in that process than others. It takes considerably more water and energy to build proteins starting with a nitrate form versus ammonium form. QLF Agronomy Researcher Greg Clark explains, “the assimilation of ammonium nitrogen is energetically efficient compared with nitrates since ammonium form can be directly incorporated into an amino acid.” Some forms require no energy and no additional water. Amino 15 delivers these top two energy-efficient forms of nitrogen; Urea solution form with two Amine (NO2) and a free L-form Amino Acid. Instead of robbing energy from the plant, these forms give an energy boost!
Foliar feeding takes another pathway around rather than through the soil complex to gain efficiencies. If part of your L-CBF Amino 15 application ends up on the soil vs foliage, that’s ok, we enhance soil biology too! Perhaps we should start calling our liquid broadcast “Soiliar” feeding. No matter how much product makes contact, hangs on, and successfully passes through the leaf compared to how much product runs off or droplets that miss the plant entirely and reach the ground, we know the coverage of both placements create benefits. “Soiliar” feeding L-CBF Amino 15 ensures better crop performance, that in turn feeds more carbohydrates through root exudates to your soil microbes. We recommend 3-6 gallons per acre to achieve more consistent results. Large field replicated research has verified two years in a row that we could improve yield and hold quality on wheat. Very affordable treatment costs at just $5 and $10 per acre generating over $50+ per acre Return-On-Investment. Use Amino 15 on most crops when you want a safe and effective foliar option for nitrogen. You can use on any stage of crops. At present QLF Agronomy has positive data for corn, soybeans, and wheat from research completed and we have continued and expanded Amino 15 field trials in 2020.
