By Liam O’Connor
Ag chem firm Corteva Agriscience’s first biostimulant in the nutrient efficiency market, Utrisha N, has picked up certification from the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use on organic farms in Canada.
The biostimulant, launched last November for the 2022 growing season, is meant to capture nitrogen out of the air and convert it into a form which can then be used by the crop to which it’s applied, and would supply nitrogen to that crop for the lifecycle of the plant.
Sold as a wettable powder carrying a nitrogen-fixing strain of bacteria, Utrisha N goes on as a foliar application through standard sprayer equipment, enters the plant through the stomata and colonizes in the leaf cells, said Kirsten Ratzlaff, product manager for seed-applied technology.
“It then converts (nitrogen) from the air into ammonium, resulting in a constant supply of nitrogen for the plant.”
As nitrogen is seen as one of the most crucial crop inputs, Corteva Agriscience believes Utrisha N can maximize the potential of crops where it’s applied. The company bills the product as an “effective solution” to improve efficiency in cereals, canola, corn and soybeans.
“Nitrogen fertilizer is subject to loss and is not necessarily available when the crop needs it,” said Ratzlaff. “Utrisha N provides an alternative source of nitrogen that reduces dependency of nitrogen uptake from the soil and ensures the plant has access to nitrogen all season long.”
According to Ratzlaff, use of Utrisha N also offers farmers the potential to reduce their carbon footprint.
“Utrisha N provides a sustainable source of nitrogen, without the risk of leaching into water tables or releasing additional greenhouse gases.”
Oregon-based OMRI is a not-for-profit agency providing independent review of ag products such as crop inputs and livestock health care products meant for use in certified organic production and processing. It also provides reviews aligned with Canada Organic Regime (COR) standards.
— Liam O’Connor reports for Glacier FarmMedia from Saskatoon.
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