EASY Experiences

Andrew Schutz, EASY N cereals Waterloo

Making the switch to an easier option

Andrew and Darryl Schutz are making things easier on their farm.

After years of applying dissolved urea to crops on their 1,600 hectare property near Waterloo in South Australia, the brothers switched to using Incitec Pivot Fertilisers’ EASY N fertiliser in 2008.

EASY N is a liquid nitrogen fertiliser with three different forms of nitrogen – urea, ammonium and nitrate for immediate availability to plants.

“We used to apply nitrogen to crops by dissolving urea in hot water,” Andrew said.

“But when the price of urea went up last year we found that EASY N was just as affordable and easier to use.”

Andrew and Darryl apply 100 L/ha of EASY N to their canola crops from late winter to early spring at stem elongation and before flowering.

EASY N is also used in their wheat crops at rates of 50 – 80 L/ha and last year the brothers started using the liquid fertiliser in barley at 25 L/ha.

Andrew said the availability and ease of use were the main attractions of using EASY N.

“It’s very easy to store on farm. We have a tank on-site, as well as a truck with a tank attached, so it is easy to bring it out on to paddocks when you’re working,” Andrew said.

“We also have more flexibility when applying EASY N. When we used the urea solution, we would have to wait to apply before a rain front to wash the nitrogen in.

“While we still like to do that before we apply EASY N, it is less critical.”

Wide range of benefits

Agronomist Craig Davis from AW Vater & Co said by using EASY N, Andrew and Darryl had reduced the time and labour costs associated with mixing urea with water on-farm.

“When they calculated how much time was spent mixing the urea with hot water before applying, EASY N was a more attractive option,” Craig said.

“Andrew and Darryl are also well set up for EASY N application, with a self-propelled sprayer that provides good coverage to crops.”

Craig said in his areas of the Murray Mallee, mid-north and Yorke Peninsula of South Australia, growers were switching to EASY N for topdressing for a wide variety of crops.

He said growers were applying the liquid fertiliser at rates of between 25 – 120 L/ha, predominantly using streaming nozzles to deliver it at the higher rates.

“The flexibility of applying EASY N and the reliability of the nitrogen being available to the plant are big selling points,” he said.

“It’s also very easy to handle. Storing solid fertilisers can be expensive, whereas EASY N is stored in tanks.

Craig added that there were some agronomic advantages as well.

“The Schutz’s property is made up of heavier soils, so there can be slower conversion of urea into plant available forms, and therefore it can be unavailable to plants for up to three weeks.

“But with the ammonium and nitrate content of EASY N, nitrogen is immediately available to plants.”

For more information on EASY N fertilisers, contact your local Incitec Pivot Fertilisers’ Distributor.

® EASY N is a registered trademark of Incitec Pivot Limited.

Top