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Nitrogen Efficiency Trial Highlights Potential of Instinct and BlueN in Integrated Crop Nutrition
Instinct® and BlueN™ Help Unlock Greater Nitrogen Efficiency
Collaborative field trials demonstrate how nutrient efficiency technologies can help reduce nitrogen losses, support crop performance and improve returns when fertiliser costs are high.
New research from a collaborative project involving Affinity Water, Corteva and Velcourt has demonstrated the potential value of combining nitrogen efficiency practices to help growers make better use of applied nitrogen while reducing losses to the environment. The work, carried out at Vine Farm in Hertfordshire, evaluated a range of approaches including the use of Instinct nitrification inhibitor, BlueN nutrient efficiency biostimulant and companion cropping (vetch, linseed and field beans).
The trials were designed to explore whether available technologies could maintain crop performance at reduced nitrogen rates or reduce diffuse nitrogen losses without compromising yield. The impact of nitrogen efficiency strategies individually and in combination were researched.
The season provided a challenging test for crop performance. Following an exceptionally wet autumn in 2024 that delayed drilling across many regions, crops then faced an unusually dry spring in 2025. These conditions reduced tillering and accelerated senescence in some crops, creating a difficult environment for evaluating nitrogen use efficiency practices.
The large tramline-scale trial told a compelling story. At a reduced nitrogen rate of 140 kg/ha, the combination of companion cropping and Instinct increased wheat yield, with yields increasing further where BlueN was added. Importantly, the reduced nitrogen rate treatment combining companion cropping, Instinct and BlueN achieved yields that were statistically similar to the farm standard 210 kg/ha nitrogen programme.
The trial also demonstrated significant reductions in nitrogen leaching losses. Where companion cropping and Instinct were used together, cumulative nitrogen losses in leachate were reduced by 58% compared with nitrogen fertiliser alone. Adding BlueN maintained substantial environmental benefits, with leaching losses remaining 44% lower than the standard fertiliser treatment.
Economic analysis highlighted the growing importance of nitrogen efficiency technologies as fertiliser prices increase. At nitrogen fertiliser prices representative of the 2024-25 season (£360/t ammonium nitrate), companion cropping and Instinct increased margin over input cost by £9/ha, with BlueN delivering a further £12/ha benefit. When nitrogen prices were increased to £525/t, the value of these technologies became even more apparent, with companion cropping and Instinct increasing margin by £64/ha and BlueN adding a further £30/ha.
Nick Anderson, Technical Director at Velcourt, said:
"Retaining more nitrogen within our farming systems allows us to reduce purchased nitrogen without reducing yield. Importantly, this also reduces the environmental impact of nitrogen fertiliser through reduced diffuse nitrate pollution. This work shows that nitrification inhibitors have a role to play alongside catch cropping and companion cropping as part of an integrated approach to crop nutrition, increasing financial margins whilst minimising the environmental footprint of crop production. "
Joe Martin, Field Technical Manager at Corteva Agriscience, said:
"These results reinforce the benefits of taking a whole-farm approach to nitrogen management. Instinct helps protect applied nitrogen from loss, while BlueN supports crop nitrogen supply. Combined with complementary practices such as companion cropping, these technologies can help growers improve nitrogen use efficiency, reduce environmental losses and maintain crop performance, particularly when fertiliser costs are high."
The report concludes that nitrogen efficiency technologies, including nitrification inhibitors, nutrient efficiency biostimulants and companion cropping, become increasingly valuable as fertiliser prices rise. As growers seek to balance productivity, profitability and environmental stewardship, integrated approaches that help retain and utilise nitrogen more effectively are likely to play an increasingly important role in arable production systems.
