The specialised smart fertiliser developed by award-winning scientist and an authority on plant physiology, Dr David Marks of Levity Crop Science, uses LimiN chemistry to hold nitrogen in the amine form.
ProdOz crop science technologist Zen Kynigos who works with farmers across Australia and trained under Dr Marks, says when it came to nitrogen (N) fertilisers, it was not just the quantity that mattered but also the form.
“In almond production, most conventional nitrogen fertilisers deliver comparable results because, despite their differences, the nitrogen ends up being taken up largely as nitrate,” Zen explains.
“This has led many to believe that the form of nitrogen doesn’t make a difference. But that’s not the full story,” he says.
“In reality, different nitrogen forms play very different roles in plant metabolism.
“Nitrate, the dominant form in most fertilisers, is processed in the leaves and stimulates vegetative growth.
“Amine nitrogen, on the other hand, is processed in the roots and promotes root and reproductive development, including flowering and kernel filling.
“This growth partitioning explains how we can influence where and how a plant grows by supplying different forms of nitrogen.
“Rather than fuelling excess leafy growth, Lono shifts plant resources toward roots, fruit, and buds, helping build the parts of the almond tree that matter most for yield. Lono reduces fertiliser loss to the environment and improves long-term tree performance,” he says.
The best time to apply Lono was during the almond tree’s peak nitrogen uptake period from bloom to the end of kernel fill. Applications outside this window, either before bloom or after kernel fill, were less effective due to limited nutrient uptake, Zen adds.
“A recommended program involves two to four applications of 5L/ha during this key period. For every 1L/ha of Lono used, growers can typically reduce conventional N inputs by 3kg/ha. A full Lono program could replace up to 60kg/ha of traditional fertiliser – or be used alongside it to enhance yield.”
Zen says it is shocking how much fertiliser is wasted in agriculture.
“With nitrogen, in general, approximately only one-third of what’s applied is used by the crop,” he says.
“Most farmers know what they are using is not ideal and inefficient, but they’ve had to use what’s available.
“Crop science is advancing and we’re now able to give farmers another option, one that’s more beneficial to their crop and the environment.”
