An interview with Markus Schmid, BASF
Markus Schmid, BASF
BASF created one of the earliest slow-release nitrogen products as well as the well know nitrification inhibitor DMPP. Could you talk us through BASF’s history and position today? More than 100 years ago, BASF was responsible for the pioneering invention of the Haber Bosch process (ammonia synthesis). It allowed the synthetic production of fertilizers that marked the start of modern agriculture. Today, BASF produces fertilizers only as by-products from chemical processes or for specific customers. As the inventor of the nitrification inhibitor 3-4 dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), BASF is still the leading producer of this active ingredient. DMPP has a very strong performance profile, particularly when compared to dicyandiamide (DCD) which requires higher application rates and can cause plant damage. DMPP is used by Compo Expert and Eurochem in their respective fertilizers Novatec and Entec. BASF has developed easy and ready-to-use formulations based on DMPP that are used for mineral fertilizers marketed under the Vibelsol® brand, and for organic fertilizers sold under the Vizura® brand.
BASF’s product Limus®, a urease inhibitor, was launched in 2015 with two active ingredients – 75% NBPT and 25% of a new compound N-(n-propyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NPPT). I believe it’s the only urease inhibitor with two active ingredients. How did this come about in the development process and what advantage does it confer? As part of an early development of urease inhibitors, BASF’s R&D team screened for new compounds. Our scientists found there is a range of urease enzymes in the soil that stem from plants, bacteria and fungi. These are similar enzymes but differ in size, shape and surface area of their reactive cavities where urea is hydrolysed. BASF scientists identified that a mixture of two urease inhibitors allows control of a broader range of enzymes than the current market standard NBPT. This finding was translated from the lab into the greenhouse and finally to the field. Over 120 field trials on all continents and in a broad range of crops show that Limus® is 40% more effective than NBPT. That means at the same application rate of NBPT, Limus delivers 2.1% higher yield. Alternatively, customers can achieve the same performance they have come to expect with NBPT by using Limus® at 60% of the NBPT use rate. Studies indicate 0.6 kg of Limus® is equivalent to 1 kg of NBPT.
Why do you think these products are still popular today? Nitrogen fertilizers, that are stabilized with urease- and nitrification inhibitors can play a key role in optimizing the crop output per unit of fertilizer used. They are the only technologies that directly reduce the impact from fertilizers on climate warming.
Can you explain the role for nitrogen fertilizers in the context of climate warming? Agriculture contributes to 9.9% of global CO2 emission equivalents, by Methane and Nitrous Oxide (N2O) emissions. Methane stems from animal production, while the nitrous oxide is related to the use of organic and mineral fertilizers. N2O is a very potent climate gas, that is 265 times stronger than CO2, has an atmospheric lifetime of more than 100 years and is also involved in ozone layer depletion. Fertilizer production has been optimized over the years, e.g. via the use of catalysts to eliminate N2O. However, the emissions from the farmers’ fields remain the main source of N2O.
So, if nitrogen fertilizers are increasing greenhouse gas emissions, what can be done to reduce their impact?
It has been demonstrated, that the climate gas emission rate per hectare is directly linked to the use rate of nitrogen fertilizers. However, to just cut the fertilizer rate is not a solution to the problem, because the crop nutrition will suffer, and farmers will ultimately loose yield. BASF has shown in long-term field trials, that 20% of yield is lost when the optimized N-rate is reduced by 50%. Therefore, farmers should adapt the nutrient stewardship concept 4R to optimize their crop yield per unit of fertilizer. A very efficient method is to use urease inhibitors and nitrification inhibitors to stabilize the fertilizers. They slow down biochemical processes in the soil that are responsible for gaseous and leaching losses from fertilizers. This way, DMPP can reduce the direct N2O emissions on average by 50%. Urease inhibitors also contribute to the reduction of direct N2O emissions on average by 25%. The stabilizers Limus® and Vibelsol® are formulated products that fertilizer producers and distributors can add easily during fertilizer handling. In general, nitrogen stabilizers are a triple win: Farmers can expect higher yields and simplified farm operations, fertilizer companies can differentiate themselves in the market and the environment is less impacted by unwanted offsite effects from fertilization.
How do you see the future of fertilization?I think the future of fertilization will differ from the past significantly. The needs of society and the changing requirements regarding sustainability will trigger change. We will see more precise applications based on digital tools in combination with new products. Urease and nitrification inhibitors will be used more broadly as these can be part of the solution. We may also see innovations based on novel modes of action. BASF is actively working on innovations that will be launched in the coming years. We are looking into possibilities to include urease inhibitors directly into the urea production process and are exploring new ways to capture the value from reduction of fertilizer emissions. ●
