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Improve Your Nitrogen Use Efficiency with the RIGHT Carbon Source

January 13, 2025

Brian Knapp

Regional Sales Agronomist MO

641.777.0557

brian.knapp@qlf.com

Brian Knapp; RSA Southern IA, & MO

 

Conventional wisdom tells us that splitting nitrogen applications throughout the growing season can improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE). However, simply adding more nitrogen won’t solve the problem. Instead, we should be asking critical questions about improving NUE:

  • Can you reduce or eliminate the volatility you notice (like the smell when opening a nitrogen tank) during application?
  • Can you reduce nitrogen leaching while increasing the total amount of nitrogen available in the soil?
  • Can you stabilize nitrogen without harming soil microbes or disrupting the balance of soil biology?
  • Can you improve soil health while using synthetic nitrogen profitably?
  • Can you afford to invest in an additional product and still achieve all these benefits?

The answer is YES, you can! With L-CBF BOOST, Nitrogen Use Efficiency can be significantly improved.

Over a decade ago, QLF Agronomy developed L-CBF BOOST, a liquid carbon-based fertilizer that is low-pH, carbohydrate-rich, high-energy, and molasses-based. This nutrient-dense product feeds soil biology naturally while improving plant nutrition.

During the early stages of development, research revealed that just a 10% inclusion of BOOST with Urea Ammonium Nitrate (UAN 28-32%) could address all the above questions. Through years of independent research and replicated farm trials, the results consistently demonstrated the value of BOOST, explaining why demand for the product continues to grow.

In 2024, Ag-Tech Research near Garden City, MO, conducted a replicated nitrogen trial comparing three treatments:

  1. UAN alone.
  2. UAN with humic acid.
  3. UAN with BOOST.

The goal was to evaluate how different carbon sources impact NUE, as each has unique features and benefits.

Producers often ask about the differences between carbon sources, as these can play vital roles in improving nitrogen performance. Humic acids, for example, provide soil structure and additional exchange sites to protect nitrogen in the soil, but they do not lower pH or supply carbohydrates.

BOOST, on the other hand, is molasses-based and reduces NH3 volatility (low pH) from the moment it’s mixed with UAN and after application to the soil. Some producers reported that humic products alone didn’t reduce ammonia odors, but adding BOOST eliminated the smell immediately.

BOOST also provides carbohydrates that feed soil microbes, helping retain nitrogen in the form of microbial biomass (organic nitrogen), which resists leaching and becomes available for plants over time. While multiple carbon sources can benefit soil biology, BOOST recycles nutrients through biological processes in the soil, offering both long-term and immediate availability depending on conditions.

Here’s a breakdown of the trial results:

The 2024 growing season at Garden City, MO, began with ideal planting conditions, but once the crop emerged, weather turned extremely wet. For 45 days, the fields remained saturated, creating challenging conditions for nitrogen management. Despite this, BOOST improved NUE and delivered favorable results, showing how nitrogen tied to a carbon source resists movement and remains available in the soil.

By feeding soil microbes and fostering a healthier biological cycle, BOOST not only retains nitrogen but also improves plant nutrient uptake and soil health.

To learn more or create a nitrogen program tailored to your operation, contact your QLF Agronomy Regional Sales Agronomist or local QLF BOOST Dealer.

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