A Source Of Nitrogen You Can Rely On

With global urea supplies fragile (Rabobank, April 2025), and local pricing often upwards of $800 per tonne, many farmers are considering the use of more efficient, liquid nitrogen fertilisers.

At current pricing, an application of 100kg/Ha of urea could set farmers back approx. $80/ha. and with nitrogen losses commonly exceeding 50 per cent, a fertiliser strategy too focused on urea is unlikely to optimise crop performance.

Comparatively, NitrotainTE27 (NTE27) from ECTOL Plant & Crop Nutrients is highly efficient, providing 27% total nitrogen that is fully utilised. NTE27 is formulated to retain nitrogen in the plant or soil, minimising atmospheric and leaching loss and the acidification of soils.

With a recommended application of just 10L/ha, farmers can obtain the required N to boost their plants and crops this winter, for under $60/ha.

Even farming operations that are historically dependent on chemical-based fertilisers, the transition from long-term urea usage to more natural nitrogen solutions, can take place anytime.

“At ECTOL, our role is to help farmers optimise plant, crop and pasture productivity, whilst reducing inputs and ultimately, on-farm costs,” said John McKay, Director, ECTOL Plant and Crop Nutrients.

In comparative urea trials, a single application of NTE22 (preceding NTE27 with 22% total nitrogen) at 4L/ha on pasture (sheep), compared to a single application of urea at 75kg/ha, after 26 days, produced an additional 450kg/ha of DM compared to urea.

Agistment and hay silage growers, Tony and Kath Hogan, from Merrigum in Victoria, switched to liquid fertiliser in 2011: “With ECTOL, we’ve been able to remove all chemical fertiliser use from the property, which has saved us money in farm inputs annually, whilst still boosting production,” said Mr Hogan.

Unlike urea, NitrotainTE27 also provides crops with essential trace elements that are critical to key plant functions, including the determination of yields and pathogen resistance.

“At the current price of urea, not to mention market fragility, nitrogen efficiencies achieved with NitrotainTE27 could reduce fertiliser budgets by 40-50 per cent,” added Mr McKay.

NitrotainTE27 is suitable for crops, pasture and horticultural plants. The standard application rate (via foliar or soil) is 10L/ha, and this can be varied with crop and soil conditions and economics.

ECTOL liquid products are available in 1,000L, 200L and 20L drums.

For more information visit www.ectol.com/nitrotainte or phone +61 (0)2 9816 2057 to arrange a technical call.