nitrogen

A synthesis of field research published July 8 concludes that overapplication of synthetic nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer reduces the diversity and function of beneficial soil microorganisms, but argues that precision reduction — not abandonment — is both the practical and economically attractive response.

A controlled greenhouse experiment by Germany’s Leibniz Institute for Horticultural Sciences found that nitrified urine fertilizer combined with fecal compost produced kohlrabi yields statistically equivalent to synthetic fertilizer, while increasing total plant nitrogen uptake 13% and leaving fivefold less residual mineral nitrogen in soil.

Nagoya University’s plasma agriculture review finds electricity-driven nitrogen fixation boosts crop yields in over two-thirds of studies, offering a fossil-free path from air to ammonia that doesn’t rely on the Haber-Bosch process.

The ENVI committee’s July 6 indicative vote extends the carbon border levy’s scope well beyond the Council position and proposes EU fertilizer producers and their customers receive financial support from a Temporary Decarbonization Fund starting in 2027.

Startup says AI-optimized plasma process could bring decentralized green ammonia production closer to the cost of conventional supply.

Nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from the Mississippi-Atchafalaya watershed is expected to create a 7,027-square-mile hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico this summer, highlighting persistent nutrient pollution challenges.

Yara’s Q1 EBITDA beat estimates as nitrogen margins surged, even as the CEO warned Hormuz tensions are straining farmer affordability worldwide.

Aarhus University researchers found wheat roots release natural compounds that suppress nitrifying bacteria, pointing toward lower-fertilizer wheat breeding.

The institution forecasts sharp increases in nitrogen, phosphate, and potash prices, with urea expected to post the largest annual gain as supply disruptions and trade restrictions tighten global markets.

This breakthrough provides a new approach to developing nitrogen-fixing microbial partnerships for cereal crops, though significant biological challenges must be addressed before commercial use is feasible.

A Farm Bureau survey highlights the severity of the fertilizer affordability crisis, as rising nitrogen prices force growers to reduce applications. Ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz may further increase costs for the 2027 planting season.

After the Strait of Hormuz crisis, fertilizer prices rose unevenly. Urea has become much less affordable than anhydrous ammonia, making nitrogen costs the biggest part of corn production budgets since the 2022 fertilizer shock.

Rising urea and DAP import prices, driven by the Strait of Hormuz crisis, are increasing the gap between global fertilizer costs and India’s fixed farm-gate prices. This trend is adding pressure to government subsidy spending.

The deal advances renewable ammonia developments totaling hundreds of thousands of tonnes a year aimed at European import markets.

Paraguay’s cancellation of a power tariff decree leaves the $665M plant’s funding in doubt months after its final investment decision.