Sustainable Solutions: Patent Pending Nitrification Inhibition Research to Elevate Crop Production
Phoenix, AZ – November 5, 2024 – Tessenderlo Kerley, a leader in innovative crop nutrition solutions, announces new advancements in nitrification inhibition research led by Dr. Zack Ogles, which is currently patent pending. This breakthrough enhances soil nutrition, significantly boosts crop yields, and protects the environment, offering farmers a powerful tool to maximize productivity and sustainability.
Addressing Farmers’ Challenges
In a year marked by lower commodity prices and higher input costs, Tessenderlo Kerley products offer a solution to help farmers reduce costs and achieve their highest yields. Our products provide essential sulfur nutrition and enhance nitrogen use efficiency, ensuring that more nutrient inputs contribute to healthy crop production rather than being lost to the environment.
Collaborative Research with Auburn University
Our partnership with Auburn University independently verified our findings. Over several years, trials confirmed our thiosulfates inhibit nitrification as effectively as commercially available inhibitors, while also providing sulfur nutrition. A detailed research paper is currently under review and expected to be published soon.
Field Studies on Yield and Profitability
Field studies across five site-years revealed significant yield and profitability benefits. Combining UAN with 30 pounds of sulfur (10.4 gallons per acre) of Thio-Sul increased yield by 12.26 bushels per acre, equating to an increased profit of $44.39 per acre. Similarly, 15 pounds of sulfur (5.20 gallons per acre) of Thio-Sul resulted in an 11.81 bushel per acre increase, with a profit boost of $48.87 per acre. These results highlight the value of sulfur nutrition and additional nitrogen protection benefits provided by thiosulfates.
Meeting Environmental Standards
As environmental impact becomes a growing concern, our products enable growers to be more efficient and environmentally responsible. By preventing nitrogen losses, our thiosulfates help protect natural resources while supporting higher yields.
Benefits to Growers
Our thiosulfate products offer three key benefits:
1. Sulfur Nutrition: Enhances yield and crop quality.
2. Improved Nitrogen Use Efficiency: Protects nitrogen from losses due to leaching, denitrification, and volatilization.
3. Environmental Protection: Helps growers achieve maximum yield while safeguarding natural resources.
About Dr. Zack Ogles
Dr. Zack Ogles is an accomplished agronomist with a strong academic background, having earned his M.S. in Horticulture and Ph.D. in Agronomy and Soils from Auburn University. In recent years, Dr. Ogles has concentrated his research efforts on optimizing nitrogen stabilization and use efficiency. He currently holds a patent pending for nitrification inhibition, a significant focus due to the environmental impacts of nitrates and the economic challenges faced by growers. Over the past five years, he has conducted numerous trials to refine both conventional and organic fertigation practices in vegetable production, specifically targeting essential nutrients such as calcium, sulfur, nitrogen, and magnesium.
In 2016, he joined Tessenderlo Kerley as an Agronomist, focusing on the Southeastern United States. He has since advanced to the role of Manager of Agronomy, overseeing operations across North America. Dr. Ogles specializes in soil fertility and crop production, bringing a wealth of knowledge to his work.
Throughout his career, Dr. Ogles has collaborated with a diverse range of crops and management systems, gaining experience with various vegetable crops, row crops, and turf grasses. His research program at Tessenderlo Kerley fertilizers aims to equip growers with relevant, up-to-date information to enhance productivity and profitability sustainably.
###
About Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. is a leading producer of liquid fertilizers and an established leader in the production and marketing of crop nutrition and crop protection products used in agriculture. Part of the Tessenderlo Group, founded in 1919, and The Kerley Chemical Company, founded in 1947, Tessenderlo Kerley is dedicated to producing high-quality fertilizers that promote environmental sustainability and profitability for growers.
In addition to agriculture, Tessenderlo Kerley specializes in specialty products for the mining, water treatment, and process chemical industries. They have 12 manufacturing plants across the country, including a new facility in Defiance, OH set to open in early 2025.
Company website: tkinet.com
Director of Marketing & Communications, Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.
Stacy Dill
T: +1.602.346.1942