N-Min and N-Calc - Unique Service
"The GrowHow N-Min Service is a practical way to optimise Nitrogen inputs and take the guesswork out of calculations."
Ross Leadbeater
GrowHow Business Adviser
Calculating the optimum fertiliser recommendation is not easy. It depends on many factors - soil type, soil organic matter, winter rainfall, soil temperature, previous cropping, current crop, yield & quality expectations, the amount of Nitrogen already taken up by the crop and more.
GrowHow's unique N-Min Service takes the guesswork out of fertiliser calculations.
N-Min is the only Nitrogen test that measures both Soil Mineral Nitrogen (SMN) and the Additional Available Nitrogen (AAN) to give a Total Nitrogen measurement of what will be available to the crop during the growing season.
This is how it works.
1. Soil samples are taken down to 60cm, or maximum rooting depth, in early spring and sent to the laboratory:
- The samples are analysed for mineral Nitrogen content and incubated to establish how much AAN is going to be available to the growing crop.
2. The total Additional Nitrogen figure is adjusted to account for Nitrogen supplied from the 60-90cm soil depth.
3. Allowance is made for leaching losses, deposition and efficiency of uptake.
These three elements are combined to produce a measure of the Total Nitrogen Reservoir.
N-Calc
uses the N-Min result to assess Soil Nitrogen Supply (SNS) more accurately. With the farmer's yield & quality expectations it will calculate the optimum Nitrogen fertiliser rate for cereals and OSR.
SNS = Crop N + Soil N
N-Calc has been developed from GrowHow's own and independent research work. Recently ADAS was commissioned to review, update and improve N-Calc by incorporating all the latest research. It is an ongoing process.
GrowHow N-Calc recommendations will:
- Ensure farmers' yield & quality aspirations are met
- Allow changes in economic circumstances to be accounted for
- Minimise the environmental impact of crop production
- Ensure that every £ spent on Nitrogen is well spent
"Takes the guess work out of fertiliser calculations." - Michael Taylor
Click here to view the video
For details of local service providers email: advice@growhow.co.uk or telephone the GrowHow Advice Centre: 0151 357 5758.
