Centuro From Koch Agronomic Services Gains FIFRA Approval
A new nitrification inhibitor, Centuro, from Koch Agronomic Services has received approval from the EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This is the first nitrification inhibitor to receive FIFRA registration in more than 40 years. Centuro is a nitrification inhibitor for anhydrous ammonia and UAN.
“Our team of agronomists, chemists and technology specialists have spent the past nine years working on a technology that could make a grower’s nitrogen investment more efficient. Today, we have Centuro, which has been scientifically proven to reduce nitrogen loss and optimize nutrient-use efficiency,” Justin Hoppas, executive vice president of Koch said in a news release. “Farmers throughout the Corn Belt are facing growing economic and environmental pressures, and we understand fertilizer additives must perform and pay off. Centuro is now available as one more tool in a grower’s toolbox to increase agricultural efficiencies and optimize their crop nutrition investments.”
According to the company, Centuro keeps the applied nitrogen in the ammonium form three times longer than without an inhibitor. The ammonium form of nitrogen is less susceptible to loss through denitrification and leaching.
According to two years of research at Iowa State University, Centuro reduced nitrate leaching by an average of 44% in fall-applied anhydrous ammonia and an average of 23% in spring-applied anhydrous ammonia compared to untreated anhydrous ammonia.
“With so much focus on nitrate in our rivers and streams, calls for farmers to curb nitrogen loss are increasing,” Jean Payne, president of the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association said in a news release. “Farmers are aware of this challenge and are voluntarily seeking products that can reduce the potential for leaching of nitrates into nearby waterways. Through our research in Illinois, we can confidently tell our farmers that when you use a registered nitrification inhibitor like Centuro, your nitrogen is in the soil longer so more can be absorbed by the plant.”
At this time, Centuro is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency for more information.
The company reports that across a two-year study in Nebraska, Illinois and Missouri, Centuro increased the nutrient use efficiency of anhydrous by up to 25%. And fall-applied ammonia treated with Centuro increased corn yield by an average of 8 bu/acre compared to untreated fall-applied ammonia, and by an average of 7 bu/acre in spring applications.
For storage and handling considerations, Centuro has a subzero freeze point, high flash point and long shelf life. Centuro is noncorrosive and does not require stainless steel tank storage.
