Improving nitrogen use efficiency on a farm can help to optimise the use of nutrients, as well as maintaining and improving soil health.

If you want to improve nitrogen use efficiency on your farm, Vixeran can help fill that gap between your crops’ nitrogen supply and demand.

Vixeran converts atmospheric nitrogen into a nutrient form that is readily accessible to plants.

Effective on a range of crops from cereals to potatoes, field beans, and others, this nitrogen-fixing biofertiliser will improve yield in a sustainable way.

Frank McGauran from Syngenta said: “Potato crops have repeated surges in demand for key nutrients, especially nitrogen, through the growing season to fuel rapid canopy growth and then during tuber bulking.”

“And it is also incredibly important during tuber initiation, when the plant’s vigour at that time will dictate the number of tubers set and ultimately the yield of the crop.”

VIXERAN, when applied early in the growing season, delivers a consistent supply of nitrogen (up to equivalent of 30kg/ha) to the plant, even if conventional fertiliser supplies are disrupted by weather or soil conditions.

This supplementary nutrient supply allows the plant to increase marketable tuber numbers and overall yield.

To deliver the optimal performance from VIXERAN, Frank recommends that it should be applied during tuber initiation about 20 days after emergence.

“Apply when daytime temperatures reach at least 10^oC to 12^oC, and ensure good coverage of both soil and leaf in a water volume of 100–200L/ha.”

Tuber initiation or hooking is the ideal timing for VIXERAN application on potatoes.

Margaret Murphy of Syngenta said: “Field beans, a leguminous crop, form root nodules which actively fix nitrogen for the crop’s use, but there is a pinch point where an additional source of nitrogen can help.”

“These root nodules begin to senesce as the crop reaches the critical pod filling stage. This forces the plant to redirect nitrogen from its foliage to fill the seeds, potentially compromising overall plant health and yield.

“A foliar application of Vixeran supplements the nitrogen supply to the crop allowing the plant to carry on filling the seeds without compromising crop health. This nitrogen optimisation supports the plant to produce higher yields.

“We recommend Vixeran on beans any time from the four-leaf stage to first flowers open. For best results, apply when growing conditions are good, with daytime temperatures reaching at least 10^oC,” Margaret concluded.