8
UTEC®
Urea is one of the most widely used synthetic nitrogen-containing fertilizers, owing to its high nutrient content and
ease of use. However, its chemical properties can result in nitrogen loss after application, the extent of which can
vary depending on soil and climatic conditions. These losses occur during breakdown of the urea in the soil, with the
formation and release into the atmosphere of gaseous ammonia (NH3) and ammonium ions (NH4+). This process, called
urea hydrolysis, is catalyzed by the enzyme urease (see Figures 1a) and 1b) for a detailed explanation), which is produced
by plants and soil bacteria. Another prerequisite for urea hydrolysis is sufficient moisture in the soil.
= The SucceSSful formula for GreaTer YieldS
uTec®: from efficient fertilization to added yields
The urease inhibitor UTEC® is a liquid formulation contain-
ing NBPT as its active ingredient (a.i.). UTEC® temporarily
blocks the conversion of urea into ammonium, which very
effectively reduces nitrogen losses in the form of gaseous
ammonia.
under what conditions does uTec® work best?
In dry, warm weather
When there is low precipitation and irrigation
In soils with a high pH value
In soils with a low buffer capacity
In soils with low organic content
No-till agriculture
2
1B) CoNvErsIoN oF UrEA WITH UTEC®
UTEC®, a urease inhibitor, delays the conversion of urea into ammonium and ammonia. This reduces nitrogen losses
and promotes plant development – and increases your yields!
H2o(moisture)+
No3-
NitrateUTEC 46
NH4+
ammonium
hydrolysis
Enzyme:urease
inhibition
1A) CoNvErsIoN oF UrEA WITHoUT UTEC®
H2o(moisture)+
No3-
Nitrate
Urease converts urea into plant-available ammonium. In the process, gaseous ammonia is also created and escapes
into the atmosphere.
Urea
gaseous losses
ammonium
NH3 loss (gas)
NH4+
hydrolysis
Enzyme:
urease
UTEC®
for many reasons, uTec lends itself to efficient,
effective use in your operation:
Urea is usually spread onto the surface of the soil – an
approach, however, that results in the described loss
of nitrogen by conversion to ammonia gas. These losses
cannot be prevented except by natural precipitation or
irrigation with at least 14 l/m². This has been demonstrated
by trials (sanz-Cobena et al., 2011). Another possibility is
to work the fertilizer into the soil. However, recent stud-
ies have shown that the urea has to penetrate to a depth
of more than eight centimeters to prevent nitrogen loss
(Wissemeier et al., 2010).
This leaves the use of the urease inhibitor UTEC® as the
only way to significantly increase the nitrogen efficiency of
applied urea.
= mulTiple Value addS for Your operaTioN
reliable effectiveness
+ Greater yields
+ Easy to apply, highly stable
+ offsets negative environmental factors
= added Value
EFFECTIvENEss oF A UrEAsE INHIBITor(BAsF Agricultural Center)
0 7 14 21
0
20
40
100
80
60
Urea
UTEC 46
incubation time (days)
cu
mu
lati
ve N
h3
loss
(%
of a
pp
lied
N)
4
Unless urease inhibitors are used, after fertilizing with
urea between 30 and 50 % of its nitrogen can be lost
under field conditions. Under laboratory conditions the
figure can even be as high as 80 %. But if UTEC-treated
urea (UTEC 46) is applied, its conversion into ammonia is
delayed for up to 14 days.
During this time, the urea is gradually converted into
plant-available ammonium without gaseous losses.
The required nitrogen is therefore available longer, and
the improved nitrogen efficiency significantly increases
yields.
UTEC®
pluS = reliable effecTiVeNeSS
UTEC®
pluS = coNSiderable added Value
We have carried out more than 100 trials with stabilized
urea (UTEC 46) around the world. Across all of the tested
crops, average yields were over 6 % greater than when
fertilizing with conventional urea.
TrIAl rEsUlTs(BAsF Agricultural Center, Bunge, others)
country Year crop No. trials ø yield
eu 1999 - 2005 Wheat 23 + 5.5 %
eu 2002 - 2005 Corn 15 + 5.3 %
brazil 2007 Corn 5 + 7.3 %
brazil 2007 - 2009 Wheat 5 + 5.4 %
brazil 2009 Cotton 2 + 7.9 %
india 2009 rice 2 + 8.9 %
china 2009 Corn 19 + 6.3 %
Turkey 2012 Corn 2 + 6.7 %
Turkey 2012 Wheat 2 + 6.2 %
CoTToN(Bunge, 2009, Chapadão do sul/Ms, Brazil)
urea
100.0
uTec 46
111.8
3,000
3,500
4,000
5,000
4,500
4,176
4,665
kg/h
a
rel. yield %
WHEAT(Bunge, 2009, Chapadão do sul/Ms, Brazil)
uTec 46urea
100.0 106.5
3,000
3,500
4,000
5,000
4,500
kg/h
a
rel. yield %
3,9333,693
UTEC®
pluS = eaSY applicaTioN aNd hiGh urea STabiliTY
6
EAsy APPlICATIoN UTEC® is a ready-to-use solution and can be poured
directly into canisters. It is sprayed right onto the urea using
nozzles and then mixed for several minutes or until it has
taken on a uniform yellow color. Conventional blending
systems are suitable for this.
HIGH sTABIlITy The high stability of the urease inhibitor UTEC® on
urea lets you very flexibly adjust fertilization with
the treated urea (UTEC 46) to optimally meet your
operation’s requirements.
owing to its high stability, UTEC® can be very flexibly used as required.
sTABIlITy oF ACTIvE INGrEDIENT (A.I.) IN sTorED BUlk UrEA (bulk storage without being covered with plastic sheet, heating cabinet at 30 °C, approx. 50 % r.h.) (BAsF Agricultural Center)
0 80604020 100 120
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
lo
ss o
f a
.i.
(%)
Storage time (days)
stability of the a.i. in a competitor’s product
stability of the a.i. in EuroChem Agro’s UTEC 46
UTEC®
Fertilizers with a low yield efficiency often cause soil nitro-
gen levels in excess of what is permitted and required for
optimal plant nutrition. UTEC-treated urea (UTEC 46) has
a greater yield efficiency than conventional urea, resulting
in greater yields and a better N balance.
Apart from economic considerations, this can also serious
harm the environment. Nitrogen-containing ammonia gas
escapes into the atmosphere and returns to the ground in
precipitation, resulting in diffuse contamination of natural
and near-natural areas. A portion of the nitrogen in the
soil is additionally released in the form of laughing gas
(nitrous oxide), which is also an issue in connection with
the controversial greenhouse gas emissions caused by
agriculture. For the sake of protecting the Earth’s climate,
this should be avoided if at all possible. stabilizing the
urea with UTEC® reduces the described nitrogen losses,
making it a very effective means of reducing environmental
burdens.
pluS = reSource coNSerVaTioN aNdeNViroNmeNTal proTecTioN
sTABIlITy oF ACTIvE INGrEDIENT (A.I.) IN sTorED BUlk UrEA (bulk storage without being covered with plastic sheet, heating cabinet at 30 °C, approx. 50 % r.h.) (BAsF Agricultural Center)
ECA01-0912-A.D.
EUroCHEM AGro GMBH P.o. Box 10 10 47
68010 Mannheim
reichskanzler-Müller-strasse 23
68165 Mannheim
Germany
Phone: + 49 (0) 621. 8 72 09 - 0
Fax: + 49 (0) 621. 8 72 09 - 1 01
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.eurochemagro.com
® = registered trademark EuroChem Agro GmbH
