What is OEN ?
OEN is more than a protected urea. It is proven to reduce ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions, as well as nitrate leaching, and is available in a range of nitrogen, NS and NPK grades.
Is it registered in the EU?
The active ingredient, NUTRISPHERE, is recognised by the Department of Agriculture in Ireland as a nitrogen stabilising product as it limits the loss of volatilisation.
It is registered in the EU as a urease inhibitor through ANSES in France.
How does it work?
NUTRISPHERE is a unique carboxylic carbohydrate that sequesters nickel which de-activates the urease enzyme. Its mode of action is proven by the University of Bologna, in the top 200 of universities across the world.
How is it different to other urease inhibitors?
It is dual acting and reduces nitrate leaching as well as ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions. It is also compatible with phosphate and has no deterioration during a 12- month storage period.
Does it reduce emissions?
- Reduces volatilised ammonia by 87% in 7 days, 85% in 14 days and 79% in 21 days compared to untreated urea - source ADAS GB field study
- Reduces accumulative ammonia loss through volatilisation by 86% over 20 days compared to untreated urea - source University College Dublin lab study
- Reduces nitrous oxide losses by 54% compared to UAN - source California Department of Food and Agriculture
- Reduces nitrate losses by 45% compared to UAN - source NIAB TAG and John Innes Centre
- Reduces movement of total nitrogen down through the soil profile by 34% - source Wessex Water Company
Is OEN proven in the UK and Ireland?
In 41 independent UK and Ireland yield trials, OEN gave performance equal to or better than nitrates.
NUTRISPHERE gave an average 5.4% yield increase across 6 crops from 70 field trials over 6 years - source Verdisian.
Across 6 European crops over 5 years, it gave an average 3% yield increase.
Can OEN increase nitrogen use efficiency?
OEN increased NUE by 15% in grass compared to CAN, source trial work Korpa, Iceland, and by 4.5% in wheat compared to UAN, source NIAB TAG and John Innes Centre.
Is NUTRISPHERE used elsewhere in the world?
It is applied globally on over 29 million hectares.
Is OEN stable in the bag?
OEN has a minimum shelf life of 12 months as a straight nitrogen.
When blended with sulphur fertilisers, it has no deterioration during a 12-month storage period.
When blended with phosphate fertilisers, it has no deterioration during a 12-month storage period.
It is compatible with NPK fertilisers.
Are there specific restrictions for storing on farm?
No, OEN does not have the same transport or storage restrictions as AN.
What environmental impact does OEN have on the soil?
NUTRISPHERE is a highly water-soluble organic compound primarily created from the fermentation of maize.
It gave a 10% positive improvement on soil bacteria survival after 64 days compared to untreated urea - source University of Athens
It had no impact on reproduction or mortality of earthworms even at x10 application rate - source Eurofins, France
It is not classified as hazardous to the environment.
What environmental impact does OEN have on water?
As 12-month study performed with NUTRISPHERE at up to 10 times the agronomic dose determined there was no long-term effect on the mobility of Daphnia (water flea) and on the growth of algae - source Eurofins France
An acute 96-hour study performed with NUTRISPHERE at up to 10 times the agronomic dose determined there was no effect on freshwater fish mortality.
