Organic Fertilizer & Plant Available Nitrogen

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc.

Tim Stemwedel

Plant Available Nitrogen and Organic Fertilizers

What is an Organic Fertilizer Input? In General, from NOP Law and Regs

No Chemical reactions allowed in manufacture of product (synthetic materials)

Natural Processes are allowed , e.g. Enzyme hydrolysis of proteins

Mined minerals are allowed Manure products are allowed with possible restrictions Synthetic Materials may be allowed if added to Nation List

of Allowed Synthetic Substances kept by the NOP No live GMO materials Few other minor issues

204/07/23 Fertilizers and PAN, Tim Stemwedel, COFI

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California Organic Fertilizers, Inc

Mission StatementProvide organic input fertilizers that improve the physical and biological structure of the soil and/or provide extra nutrients directly to the crop when a deficit occurs during the growing season resulting in improved yield and quality.

Organic Nutrients

Soil Biology (Microbes)

COFI Inputs COFI Inputs

Compost Irrigation

Minerals Potassium, Phosphate, Calcium and Mineralized Nitrogen (NO3, NH3)

Proteins, Amino Acids, Guano

Mineralized Nitrogen

Ammonia & Nitrate


Importance Nitrogen and Carbon

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Nitrogen and Carbon are Connected together since All Organic forms of Nitrogen contain Carbon

Nitrogen (essential element of Protein) Carbon ( essential element of Protein and

Carbohydrates) Carbon Cycle and Nitrogen Cycle


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Carbon is in the form of Organic Matter

Organic matter is the vast array of carbon compounds in soil. Originally created by plants, microbes, and other organisms, these compounds play a variety of roles in nutrient, water and biological cycles.

Organic matter can be divided into two major categories: Active fraction Stabilized organic matter

The Active fraction is divided into living organisms fresh organic residue

Fertilizers and PAN, Tim Stemwedel, COFI04/07/23

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Carbon Cycle

Carbon is the Energy that Fuels the Microbes

Stabilized Carbon (humus)

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Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Cycling is Dependent on Carbon Nitrogen Cycling is Dependent on Microbes Nitrogen Cycling feeds the Soil (microbes)

which the Feed the Plant Healthy soils have a C:N ratio below 12:1. The Important point is that

BIOLOGY and Carbon as Organic Matter is REQUIRED!


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The Nitrogen Cycle


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The Organic Nitrogen Fertilizer Input Cycle

Organic Nitrogen Input is applied to the soil. Macro-organisms start the breakdown. (fungi,

protozoa) The result of this macrobial action is amines

and ammonia compounds. (plant food) Bacteria (Microbes vs Macrobes) further break

down amines & ammonia compounds into nitrites. (some loss to denitrification)

Plants cannot use this form of nitrogen, so it is further broken down by bacteria into nitrates. (plant food)

Plants can then absorb this form of nitrogen but this is also the form that is lost to leaching.


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The Nitrogen Fertilizer Input Cycle

A portion of the Nitrogen is bound into insoluble organic matter called Humus (Carbon)

Humus is the Carbon Containing ligno-protein residue of microbial tissue.

Humus is resistant to microbial degradation and becomes a long-term storage site for Nitrogen and Carbon. (Stable Fraction)


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Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle Our long-term goal should be to “feed

the soil”, the organisms living in the soil, that eventually “feed” the plant.

This needs to be done without increasing the C:N ratio. (high C:N ratio soil binds Nitrogen instead of releasing Nitrogen)

Our short-term goal is to “feed the plant” when deficits occur by using low C:N ratio soluble fertilizers.

The Nitrogen Cycle: By Mark Whitelaw04/07/23 Fertilizers and PAN, Tim Stemwedel, COFI

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Other Issues Affecting Nutrient Cycling

Excess use of Low PAN Inputs will increase the Soil C:N Ratio creating a Nitrogen deficit that will reduce the effectiveness of soil applied Nitrogen.

This excess Carbon (raw organic matter) is unstabilized and serves as energy for microbes once Nitrogen is present resulting in Nitrogen going to the Stable Fraction.

Fertilizers and PAN, Tim Stemwedel, COFI

Excess Carbon

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Organic Fertilizers

04/07/23 13Fertilizers and PAN, Tim Stemwedel, COFI

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Other Issues……….

What about the mineralization rate of various Inputs? Inputs have various rates of mineralization Mineralization rate is affected by the

Input, Composition, Temperature, Soil Microbial Activity, etc.


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Differences in Input Characteristics

Organic Nitrogen Inputs vary dramatically in how they Affect the Soil Food Web and Nutrient Cycling.

They may be Differentiated by the C:N Ratio

C:N Ratio determines how much of the N stays in the Active Fraction and how much goes to the Stable Fraction


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Differences in Input Characteristics

Organic Nitrogen Inputs may be Characterized by their Plant Available Nitrogen ( PAN)

PAN is the amount of Nitrogen that will be Available to the Plant during the Growing Season

In General: The higher the C:N ratio the lower the PAN



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Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN)

PAN is the quantity of Nitrogen Available during the growing season after a fertilizer is applied.

The amount of Nitrogen Immobilized is dependant on the C:N Ratio.

Higher the C:N Ratio the more N is Immobilized


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How to Calculate PAN Variables:

C: N Ratio of Organic Fertilizer Percent Nitrogen in Organic

FertilizerTotal Pounds to be AppliedMicrobes have 8:1 C:N RationMicrobes use 25% Carbon for

Growth, 75% for Energy


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PAN Calculation Total N =

(Pounds used) x (Percent Nitrogen) Total Carbon =

(Total N) x (C:N Ratio) Carbon used for New Tissue =

(Total C) x 25% (microbes use 25% of C for new tissue)

Nitrogen Immobilized = (New tissue) / C:N Ratio of Microbes (8:1)

PAN = (Total Nitrogen) – (Total Immobilized)

In-Season Efficiency (PAN) / (Total Nitrogen)


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Examples (PAN) Turkey Litter 4% N, 12.5 C:N, 1000

lb/Acre

Calculate for Total N: 1000 x 4% = 40 lbs Calculate for Total C: 40 x 12.5 = 500 Calculate 25% Lb New

Tissue: 500 x 25% = 125


Calculate N

Immobilized, Using Microbe C:N of 8: 125 / 8 = 15.63 Calculate PAN: 40 - 15.63 = 24.37 Calculate In-Season

Efficiency: 24.37 / 40 = 61%

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Examples (PAN) Protein Fertilizer 8% N, 4.0 C:N, 1000 lb/Acre

Calculate for Total N: 1000 x 4% = 80 lbs Calculate for Total C: 80 x 4 = 320 Calculate 25% Lb New

Tissue: 320 x 25% = 80


Calculate N

Immobilized, Using Microbe C:N of 8: 80 / 8 = 10 Calculate PAN: 80 - 10 = 70 Calculate In-Season

Efficiency: 70/ 80 = 87.5%

04/07/23

Fertilizing Material PAN Efficiency Layer Poultry Litter 69% Broiler Poultry Litter 53% Feather Meal 88% Seabird Guano 94% Liquid Fish 92% Corn Steep 88% Molasses Deriv. 81% Liquid Guano 97%

Organic FertilizersPAN EfficiencyPAN Efficiency

23Fertilizers and PAN, Tim Stemwedel, COFI04/07/23

Fertilizing Material $/Ton 0r Gal. $/ lb N

Layer Poultry Litter 4% N $250 $4.55 Broiler Poultry Litter 4% N $250 $5.88 Feather Meal 12% N $750 $3.57 Meat & Bone 8% N $600 $4.44 Seabird Guano 12% N $900 $4.00 Liquid Fish 5% N $4.00 $17.37 Liquid Guano 4.5% N $4.00 $18.35

Organic FertilizersCost Analysis Including PANCost Analysis Including PAN

24Fertilizers and PAN, Tim Stemwedel, COFI04/07/23

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Which Product is Faster Acting and Provides the Most PAN?

Product A: (4-0-2) Combination of Fish and Molasses Fish is 50% Soluble (max) with 3:1 C/N

ration Molasses has 40:1 C/N ration

Phytamin Clear: (4-0-1) 100% Mineralized (soluble) Nitrogen as

NH3 & NO3

C:N ratio of 0.2:1Fertilizers and PAN, Tim Stemwedel, COFI04/07/23

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Organic Fertility Goals Increase the Soil Food Web in order to

increase the Activity of the Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles

Increase the Active Fraction of Organic Matter (This is where the N is mineralized)

Improve the Efficiency of Fertilizer Inputs through product choice

Maintain a C:N Ratio of the Soil Below 15:1 so we don’t create a Nitrogen sink.


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Crop Demand vs Mineralization

What do we do when the Crop Demand for Nitrogen is less than the mineralization rate of the Fertilizer Input? Apply more fertilizer? What kind of fertilizer? When should it be applied? Can the cost be minimized?


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Decision Making Information

Mineralization Rate of Inputs (how fast the N is available)

PAN of Inputs (what the useable N is) Soil Nitrogen Levels of Nitrate, Ammonia

and Total Nitrogen (how much N we need to add)

Total Nitrogen from all Sources (fertilizer, soil, compost, etc.)

Crop Demand for NitrogenFertilizers and PAN, Tim Stemwedel, COFI04/07/23

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Nitrogen Input Info Liquid or Dry Fertilizer

Dry Fertilizers have a 6 to 12 week Mineralization Rate depending on the Product

Liquid Fertilizers have a 0 to 4 week Mineralization Rate depending on the Product

In order to Synchronize Availability with Demand higher rates of Dry Inputs compared to Liquid Inputs will be needed due to the Mineralization Rate and PAN


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In-Season Fertility Options Increase Pre-Plant Fertilizer Rates

Requires substantial increase in fertilizer use do to dynamics of mineralization.

In-Season Application of Dry Fertilizer Requires knowledge of Mineralization rate.

Use low C:N Ratio Soluble liquids containing MINERALIZED Nitrogen to increase PAN. Provides immediately available Nitrogen and

may be applied over several applications.


Organic Fertilizers

04/07/23 31Fertilizers and PAN, Tim Stemwedel, COFI

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Importance of Biology

A Biologically Active Soil is Critical for Active Nitrogen and Carbon Cycles

Lack of Biological Decomposition will inhibit the release or Mineralization of Organic Nitrogen

Lack of Biological Decomposition will inhibit the release of CO2 that is Essential for Plant Growth.


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Examples:


Organic Nitrogen With Biology

Phyta-GrowLeafy Green Mix

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Examples:


Organic Nitrogen With No Biology

Phyta-GrowLeafy Green Mix

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Examples:


Phytamin Clear with No Biology

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Take Aways

PAN affects the true cost of a product. Solubility and Availability are Critical if

you need a fast acting fertilizer. Use of low Carbon products reduce

Nitrogen Immobilization. Highly Mineralized Products are best for

short season crops and Peak N demand periods

Synchronizing applications with crop demand will reduce Costs and increase yields.


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More Specific Take Aways

COFI Phyta-Grow Products have much higher PAN than Poultry Litter containing products (70-80% PAN compared to 45-50% PAN)

Phytamin Fish Plus has low C:N and high Soluble Nitrogen (90% plus PAN)

Phytamin Clear is 100% Mineralized Nitrogen (Nitrate and Ammonia) (100% PAN)


04/07/23 Fertilizers and PAN, Tim Stemwedel, COFI 38

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Thank You!

This presentation will be available at www.organicag.com

Tim Stemwedel contact information: 7600 N. Ingram, Suite 121 Fresno, CA 93711 559-250-1245 Email: [email protected]


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Organic Fertilizer & Plant Available Nitrogen

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