ESN Wheat Fact Sheet 0408.qxp - Agrium Wholesale

A New Generation in
Smart Nitrogen
Controlled Release Fertilizer
A smarter source of nitrogen. A smarter way to grow.
wheat

ESN - A New Nitrogen Technology For Wheat
ESN Recommendations For Wheat
Establish Proper Nutrient Management Practices
All sound nutrient management programs start with proper soil testing.
The maximum benefits of ESN will not be realized if other limiting factors
are not properly managed. Take a good soil test following recommended
procedures and apply other nutrients and lime as recommended from the
soil test. Eliminating other soil chemical, physical, and biological limitations
will help realize the maximum benefit from ESN. We do not recommend
ESN without proper soil testing.
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ESN - A New Nitrogen
Technology For Wheat
ESN is a new agricultural grade
controlled-release nitrogen (N)
fertilizer from Agrium. ESN
maximizes N-use efficiency and
minimizes N losses to the
environment by encapsulating N
inside a special polymer coating.
Predictable Nitrogen Release
The unique coating allows water
to diffuse into the granule,
dissolving the N within. Nitrogen
inside the coating liquifies, yet
remains encapsulated. The N
solution moves through the
coating at a controlled rate
reducing N exposure to various
loss mechanisms.
Soil Temperature
The N release rate through
the coating is governed by
soil temperature, which also
determines wheat growth and
nutrient demand. The rate, at
which water and N solution
move through the coating, is
slow in cold soils and increases
as the soils warm thereby
increasing N supply as wheat
demand for N increases. ESN
provides a steady N supply for
the growing wheat plant.
Improved Nitrogen-Use
Efficiency and Reduced
Losses
By supplying N as the crop
needs it, N-use efficiency is
increased. For growers, better
efficiency means increased
continued on next page
Nitrogen Nutrition of Wheat
Proper N nutrition of wheat is critical to high yields and quality. Nitrogen
stimulates tillering, head development, and protein storage in the grain.
Nitrogen sufficiency at tillering is crucial, because potential head number
is influenced by tillering success. Excessive N early can cause excessive
vegetative growth and lodging. Head size can suffer if N deficiency occurs
before stem elongation. Winter wheat uses about 30-40% of its N by the
five to six leaf stage (start of stem elongation) and about 60-70% from the
start of stem elongation to maturity. Controlling the rate of N supply can
also increase grain protein by providing greater N availability during
heading. The controlled N release of ESN can help produce high yields
and quality while reducing excessive vegetative growth.
Interactions of weather conditions, timing of N demand, and potential for
N loss should be considered in determining the most appropriate ESN
application for different geographies and uses. The following recommendations
are the result of field-testing over several years at many locations. Actual
results may vary depending on weather and soil conditions.
US Great Plains
Wheat is a dominant crop in the semi-arid plains of the US. The potential
for winter N-loss is low in this environment. ESN generally performs best
on winter wheat when applied in the fall at seeding. ESN should be
applied on spring wheat in the spring at planting time but may also be
applied in the fall. For fall applications, ESN is recommended as a single
N source to provide controlled feeding during the fall establishment period
and rapid growth the following spring. ESN blends easily with other
granular fertilizers and provides convenient one-pass fertilization. Spring
top-dress applications on winter wheat or spring pre-plant applications on
spring wheat usually perform best if blended with soluble nitrogen sources,
such as ammonium sulfate or urea. Blending should follow guidelines for
post-dormant spring top-dress described in Table 2.
Eastern Humid Regions - US Corn Belt
Wheat is a common crop in the humid regions of Eastern North America, but
N management presents numerous challenges. Excess precipitation during
winter and especially during early spring produces high potential for N loss by
leaching and denitrification. Most of the N fertilizer is top-dressed in the
spring in order to avoid some of these losses. Nitrogen sources containing
urea are subject to volatilization losses when applied in this manner. ESN is
a tool that can help overcome these losses if used properly.

A smarter source of nitrogen. A smarter way to grow.
The northern part of the region, north of approximately interstate 80, is
characterized by winter soil temperatures below freezing. Under these
conditions, the encapsulated N in ESN can be protected against winter
and early spring losses. In this area, ESN can be applied either in the fall
or in the spring. When applied in the fall, ESN performs best when used
as the sole nitrogen source.
The southern part of this region, south of approximately interstate 80, may
have soil temperatures too warm to sufficiently retard N release from ESN.
Under these conditions, premature N release and greater potential for N loss
may occur. In this region, ESN may not provide adequate protection for fall
applications and is recommended as a spring top-dress.
In areas where fall application of conventional N sources is not
recommended, spring ESN application is preferred. However, conventional
N sources are sometimes applied in the fall contrary to recommended
best management practices. If N is to be applied in the fall, research
has shown that ESN out-performs conventional N sources. This is not
an endorsement against the local recommended practices, but a
management tool to reduce potential fall and winter N loss.
Table 1. Geographic regions and general use guidelines for ESN
Region Boundary N-loss Potential Recommended Use
Semi-arid Low Fall: Preferred
Great Plains
Spring: Acceptable
Humid US North of High Spring: Preferred
Corn Belt Interstate 80 Fall: Acceptable
South of High Spring: Preferred
Interstate 80
Fall: Not recommended
yields, improved grain quality,
and reduced workload by
replacing multiple N applications
with a single application. The
protective coating benefits the
environment by reducing the
exposure of fertilizer N to
leaching, volatilization, and
denitrification losses. The result
is improved environmental
stewardship and increased
production efficiency.
Field Testing ESN’s Value
For Wheat
ESN has been tested and
proven as an effective N
source for wheat by university
researchers and growers in
both the United States and
Canada. Testing in a variety
of environments has
demonstrated the versatility of
ESN and how it should be used
in various conditions.
Performance of spring ESN applications often improves when blended
with a conventional N source. Winter wheat breaks dormancy and takes
up N at soil temperatures that may be too cool for sufficient release from
ESN. Supplying 25-60% of the N with a conventional N source, such as
ammonium sulfate or urea is recommended to provide the immediate N
needs of the wheat crop. ESN blends easily with conventional N fertilizers
such as ammonium sulfate, urea, phosphates, and potash. The later the N
application occurs, the greater the demand for immediate N supply and
the lower the percentage of ESN recommended in the blend (Table 2).
Table 2. Wheat development and ESN nitrogen management
Recommended Blend
Time of Application ESN Conventional N
Fall: at planting or after emergence 100% Not needed
Winter/spring: on dormant wheat 75-100% 0-25%
Spring: on actively growing wheat 40-75% 25-60%
(2 to 5 leaves)
Spring: just before jointing 0-30% 70-100%
(beginning of stem elongation,
5 to 6 leaf stage)
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ESN - A New Nitrogen Technology For Wheat
Map of U.S. Regions
Other
Considerations
Fall
(preferred)
or spring
Spring
(preferred)
or fall
Spring
• ESN is not recommended for
application before October in the
Eastern humid regions, but may
be applied as early as mid-
September in the semi-arid
Great Plains.
• Spring wheat should follow
recommendations for
post-dormant spring top-dress
applications, using an appropriate
blend of ESN and a soluble N
source such as urea or
ammonium sulfate.
• Where greater grain protein is
desired, ESN has consistently
produced greater protein than
conventional N sources. For this
objective, a greater proportion of
N as ESN than the percentages
described for blending may provide
a greater protein advantage.
• Cooler weather conditions
during vegetative growth may
suggest lower percentages of
ESN in the nitrogen blend.
• Warm weather conditions during
vegetative growth may suggest
higher percentages of ESN in the
nitrogen blend.
How can we help
To make ESN a part of your nitrogen program, contact an authorized retailer or Agrium
representative. For technical information, our agronomists can be reached during business
hours.
Agronomists
Sales Representatives
Agronomy Info. Line
13131 Lake Fraser Dr. SE
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2J 7E8
Ray Dowbenko
(403) 225 7174
4582 S. Ulster Street
Suite 1700
Denver, CO, USA
80237
Alan Blaylock
(303) 804-4479
Canada
Alberta
Daren Bryant
(403) 815-4787
Saskatchewan
Mandy Huska
(306) 547-7217
Manitoba
Craig Davidson
(204) 761-5991
Ontario
B.J. Bilas
(517) 669-5499
U.S.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Mark Mangin
(303) 588-8333
Breese, IL
John Niemeyer
(618) 526-7728
DeWitt, MI
B.J. Bilas
(517) 669-5499
Hillsboro, ND
Andy Steinberger
(701) 436-3930
800-661-NPKS (6757)
USA and Canada
877-265-0405 USA
email: esn@agriumat.com
www.AgriumAT.com
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