ReturN-OS field data - '24 (updated - Oct 29)


                                                                                                                                        October 2024

“ReturN-OS has value to the farmer at 25 lbs N per acre.”

If you ask any plant nutrition expert, they’ll be the first to admit that understanding soil biology and plant fertility interactions is far from an exact science.  But, PivotBio agronomists have started rolling the ball to engage with customers and potential customers on gaining confidence that farm producers can at least maintain yields while reducing our dependence on synthetic commercial grade fertilizer.

For the 2024 growing season, PivotBio agronomists had about a dozen locations with simple side by side comparisons and another two dozen sites with replicated strips to start to tell the story that PivotBio microbial nitrogen is just as effective as synthetic nitrogen.  Well, the first half of that data is available, and here are the take home messages to date:

*  In 10 spring grain comparisons across the far northern plains, ReturN-OS, with a 25 lbs/ac reduced nitrogen rate, out-yielded the untreated comparison at 100% Full N by 1.8 bu/ac (80% wins!) – “Full N” rates determined by the trial cooperating farm

* This 80%-win rate is a great first step in demonstrating that ReturN-OS provides another quality source of nitrogen (microbial) that is just as effective in driving yields as synthetic commercial grade nitrogen

*In 8 comparisons, where ReturN-OS was tested against the untreated check (same "Full N" rates for both treatments), there was no further yield enhancement with ReturN, confirming that more nitrogen isn't always better.  The maximum ROI in utilizing PivotBio's ReturN is with reducing commercial grade synthetic nitrogen

* Grain crude protein content, test weight, and grain moisture (test weight and grain moisture data not shown) were NOT significantly impacted with any ReturN-OS treatments.

Diversify your farm's nitrogen risk by conversing with your local PivotBio representative.  Please understand that nitrogen is very dynamic, often resulting in year to year and even location to location performance variability. 











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