Tech Talk: Nitrogen Stabilizer Efficacy

Farmers use nitrogen stabilizers to enhance the efficiency and reduce environmental loss of nitrogen from fertilizer and manure. The stabilizers are used to either reduce ammonia-nitrogen volatilization, or slow the conversion of nitrogen to the plant-available but leaching-prone form nitrate-nitrogen. There are many stabilizer products available in the marketplace, but the documentation of their efficacy varies. In support of the implementation of the Minnesota Groundwater Protection Rule, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is developing an overview of proven stabilizer products. This presentation by Jeppe Kjaersgaard (MDA) includes a review of the most common active ingredients and an overview of MDA’s list of products.