Nitrogen is one of the essential nutrients for crop development, but the amount of nitrogen applied is not automatically equal to the amount plants will actually be able to use.
Once fertilizer is applied, nitrogen undergoes various transformations in the soil. The form in which it is supplied, temperature, moisture, soil characteristics and application timing can all influence its availability to plants.
For farmers, the relevant question therefore becomes not only “How much nitrogen am I applying?”, but also “How much of the applied nitrogen can remain available to the crop when it actually needs it?”
Understanding the main mechanisms through which nitrogen can be lost helps farmers build a fertilization strategy that is better adapted to the conditions of each farm.
How is nitrogen lost from the soil?
Three processes are particularly important when assessing nitrogen fertilization efficiency:
- Nitrogen volatilization
Volatilization refers to the loss of part of the applied nitrogen into the atmosphere in the form of ammonia.
The risk is particularly relevant for fertilizers containing urea nitrogen when they remain on the soil surface under conditions that favor losses.
From a fertilization management perspective, controlling this process aims to give the applied nitrogen more time to reach the soil zone where it can be used by the crop.
- Nitrogen leaching
Leaching occurs when nitrogen in nitrate form is carried downward through the soil profile by water and may move below the root zone.
The risk is influenced by soil conditions, rainfall or water input, and the form in which nitrogen is present.
From an economic perspective, nitrogen that moves below the root-accessible zone represents part of the fertilization investment that can no longer be used by the crop.
- Denitrification
Denitrification is a biological process through which nitrogen in nitrate form can be converted into gaseous compounds.
This process is favored particularly under waterlogged conditions, when oxygen availability in the soil is reduced.
As a result, the same nitrogen rate can perform differently from one field to another or from one season to another, depending on the conditions under which it is applied.
Why does the amount of nitrogen applied not tell the whole story?
In a fertilization strategy, application rate remains an essential benchmark, but it should be considered together with nitrogen use efficiency.
In practice, farmers need to match the amount applied with crop demand, soil analysis and fertility, the nitrogen form used, moisture conditions, application timing and the risk of processes that may reduce the amount of nutrient available to plants.
The objective is therefore not simply to increase the amount applied, but to choose a strategy that allows nitrogen to remain as available as possible in relation to crop demand.
The difference between the amount applied and the amount the crop can actually use is relevant both agronomically and economically.
How do nitrification inhibitors help manage nitrogen?
After application, nitrogen forms in the soil undergo a series of transformations. Through nitrification, ammonium nitrogen is gradually converted into nitrate nitrogen.
Nitrate is a plant-available form, but it is also mobile in the soil, which makes it more exposed to leaching and, under certain conditions, denitrification.
A nitrification inhibitor is designed to slow down this transformation. The aim is to keep nitrogen for a longer period in a form that is less exposed to these loss mechanisms and to better synchronize nutrient availability with crop requirements.
Where does the NG range fit into a fertilization strategy?
This is where CICh’s NG range comes into the fertilization strategy. The range includes AMOSULF NG, UREA NG and UTIL SAN NG.
The range is positioned within fertilizer technologies designed for nitrogen management and protection. N-Guard is a vegetable-oil-based nitrification inhibitor, and the principle behind the technology is to slow the nitrification process.
For UTIL SAN NG, for example, CICh indicates reduced nitrogen losses associated with leaching and denitrification, together with a nitrogen protection period of 90–110 days.
This approach is designed to extend the period during which nitrogen remains available to the crop and to better align nutrition with critical periods of nutrient demand.
However, integrating a product from the NG range should not be done independently of field conditions. Application rates should take into account soil fertility, the crop grown and its stage of development.
What about volatilization? Why does the fertilizer form matter?
Nitrogen protection strategies should also be correlated with the form of nitrogen being applied.
In the case of fertilizers containing urea nitrogen, another important stage is the transformation of urea. Under certain conditions, this process can favor nitrogen losses through volatilization.
This is why nitrogen management technologies may address different mechanisms: some are designed to slow nitrification, while others aim to limit losses associated with urea transformation.
This distinction is important when farmers choose between different types of fertilizers and nitrogen protection technologies.
NITRO 30: three forms of nitrogen in one liquid fertilizer
Another option in the CICh portfolio is NITRO 30, a liquid nitrogen fertilizer.
NITRO 30 contains 30% total nitrogen, distributed across three forms: nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen and urea nitrogen.
According to CICh technical documentation, nitrate nitrogen is intended to provide an immediate effect, while the ammonium and urea forms provide a more gradual effect.
The formula also includes technologies designed to protect nitrogen against volatilization and nitrification.
According to CICh technical information, the volatilization inhibitor is intended to limit the conversion of urea into ammonia for up to 14 days, providing time for incorporation through rainfall or other means.
The nitrification inhibitor is designed to delay ammonium nitrification, with a stated protection period of up to 40 days.
NITRO 30 therefore approaches nitrogen efficiency differently from the solid fertilizers in the NG range: it combines three forms of nitrogen in a liquid solution together with technologies intended to manage different nitrogen loss processes.
NG range or NITRO 30? The choice starts with the farm’s technology
The two options should not be presented as products between which there is one universally correct choice.
The NG range provides solid fertilizer options with N-Guard technology and can be integrated into a strategy focused on nitrification management and reducing the risk of losses associated with leaching and denitrification.
NITRO 30 is a liquid solution containing 30% nitrogen in three forms, together with technologies designed to protect nitrogen against volatilization and nitrification.
The choice should be based on the crop being fertilized, soil type and fertility, crop nutrient requirements, moisture conditions, application timing, the preferred nitrogen form, the equipment available on the farm and the overall fertilization strategy.
How do you build a strategy for more efficient nitrogen use?
A fertilization strategy should not begin solely with the question “Which product should I apply?”, but with an assessment of the field and the crop’s nutrient requirements.
Soil analysis, pH, crop type and growth stage, fertilization history, moisture conditions, nitrogen source and application timing are all factors that can influence the decision.
Application rates should be established according to soil fertility, crop type and development stage.
In this context, nitrogen protection technologies become one component of the strategy, rather than a substitute for agronomic field assessment.
From nitrogen applied to nitrogen used by the crop
In a context where input costs directly influence farm economics, fertilization efficiency means more than simply establishing a nitrogen application rate.
It means understanding which form of nitrogen is being used, when it is applied, which loss risks it is exposed to, and how nutrient availability can be aligned with crop demand.
The NG range and NITRO 30 offer two technological approaches to nitrogen management, which should be integrated according to the specific conditions on each farm.
For support in choosing the right product and developing a fertilization strategy adapted to the crop, soil and technology used, farmers can contact the CICh Năvodari team.
Frequently asked questions about nitrogen losses in soil
- What are the main causes of nitrogen losses from soil?
Nitrogen can be lost through several processes. Volatilization involves the loss of nitrogen into the atmosphere in the form of ammonia, leaching can move nitrate nitrogen below the root-accessible zone, while denitrification can convert nitrates into gaseous compounds, particularly under waterlogged conditions. - What is a nitrification inhibitor?
A nitrification inhibitor slows the conversion of ammonium nitrogen into nitrate nitrogen. By delaying this process, nitrogen can remain for longer in a form that is less exposed to leaching and denitrification. CICh’s NG range uses N-Guard technology for this purpose. - What forms of nitrogen does NITRO 30 contain?
NITRO 30 contains 30% total nitrogen: 7.5% nitrate nitrogen, 7.5% ammonium nitrogen and 15% urea nitrogen. The formula therefore combines a form with immediate availability with forms that provide a more gradual effect. - How do you choose the right nitrogen fertilizer?
The choice should be correlated with crop requirements, soil fertility and characteristics, crop development stage, moisture conditions, application timing, nitrogen form and the technology available on the farm. There is no universal solution for every field, and application rates should be adapted to specific conditions.