The goal of any enhanced-efficiency nitrogen (N) fertilizer is to supply enough N when and where the plant needs it, writes Tai McClellan Maaz, Director, Nitrogen Program, International Plant Nutrition Institute. However, not all enhanced-efficiency fertilizers function the same way. It is important to select the product that will most meet your agronomic, economic, and environmental goals.
1. MODE OF ACTION. There are two basic types of enhanced-efficiency N fertilizers. The first includes controlled-release products, such as polymercoated urea. The second is stabilized N, which includes enzyme inhibitors such as urease or nitrification inhibitors.
Each of these products target different processes in the N cycle, and therefore regulate different forms of plant-available N and downstream loss pathways.
