Protect urea-based fertilisers
Introducing Limus®
Limus® is a highly effective and unique, dual-active urease inhibitor from BASF, available as both protected urea granules and as a tank mix additive for urea containing liquid mineral fertilisers. Limus® protects urea-based fertilisers, minimising nitrogen losses from ammonia volatilisation and ensuring optimal nitrogen is available for your clients’ crops.
Legislation
Ammonia is a pollutant that contributes to smog, eutrophication, and ecosystem changes. The UK government is legally obliged to reduce ammonia emissions and legislation focusing on urea-based fertilisers is expected. Urease inhibitors are one of the main proposals being evaluated.
Urease enzymes and urease inhibitors
Urease is an extracellular enzyme produced by plants and microbes in the soil. Urease enzymes have an active site that can bind urea. Once bound, the enzyme starts to convert urea into ammonium. This temporarily raises the pH of the soil around the urea. If the pH spike is not buffered by sufficient rainfall, this results in ammonia volatilisation.
Urease inhibitors work by binding to the active site, preventing the urea from doing so, thus temporarily inhibiting the conversion process and reducing ammonia formation.
What makes Limus® unique?
Soils differ in their urease enzyme composition and urease activity. A broad range of organisms in soil (bacteria, fungi and plants) produce slightly different urease enzymes and these different urease enzymes require different urease inhibitors.
Limus® is the only urease inhibitor available that contains two active ingredients (NBPT & NPPT), enabling it to bind to a wider variety of urease enzymes. This dual-active combination along with a multi-patented innovative formulation make Limus the most effective urease inhibitor available.
Limus® reduces ammonia emissions by up to 98%
In both the field and lab, Limus® reduced ammonia emissions by up to 98%, with average reductions of 83% seen in the lab across a range of soil types, and 70% across 93 field trials.
Limus® increases application timing flexibility
Urea based fertilisers should be applied shortly before rainfall to minimise ammonia losses from volatilisation. Limus® protected urea/UAN can be applied independent of weather conditions, allowing for greater flexibility and a more efficient use of resources.
Limus® improves yield by 5% compared to unprotected urea/UAN
Across 107 BASF trials, Limus® protected urea and UAN improved yield by an average of 5%. This result was mirrored in a set of six replicated trials with ADAS on winter wheat, where Limus® protected granular urea yields were 5% higher, delivering an additional 0.5t/ha.
Limus® raises performance to the same level as ammonium nitrate
Across 74 BASF trials, Limus® raised the performance of granular urea up to the level of calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate. In the six trials with ADAS, at a rate of 260kg/ha N, Limus® protected granular urea outperformed AN by an average of 1.5%.
Limus® outperforms all other urease inhibitors
Limus® outperforms all other available urease inhibitors in efficacy and storage stability. Across 107 BASF trials, Limus® protected urea and UAN yields were 2.2% higher than NBPT. In the six ADAS trials, Limus® yields were 3% higher. Finally, Limus® provides longer a.i. stability versus generic NBPT and 2-NPT formulations. Even at 200C, Limus is stable for more than 12 months.
For more information, please visit: north_east www.agricentre.basf.co.uk/limus
Limus® contains NBPT + NPPT. Limus® is a registered trademark of BASF plc. Always read the label and product information before use. Ensure all warnings and restrictions on all labels are adhered to.
