Sollio, McGill join forces on novel coated fertilizer study; PurYield is being marketed as a nutrient uptake enhancer
Sollio Agriculture has partnered with McGill University to test the benefits of PurYield, a new coated fertilizer which enhances nutrient uptake by plants. Researchers will compare it to commonly used uncoated urea fertilizer to assess its impact on corn grain growth, yield, and quality, as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Previous trials showed a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The new study aims to validate these environmental benefits over five years, with funding from Sollio and a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
"Innovative fertilizer technologies allow agriculture to be part of the solution, to achieve Canada's goal of net-zero emissions," explains Joann Whalen, James McGill Professor in Soil Science at McGill University. "Corn is a staple food crop that removes about 30 tonnes of CO2 equivalents per hectare from the atmosphere every year."
"Using improved efficiency fertilizers, farmers can further reduce the GHG emissions from their farms, resulting in a lower carbon footprint," says Dr. Whalen. "In our field trials, we are collecting robust information about the performance of PurYield and other fertilizers on commercial farms. This allows us to advise farmers and agronomists about fertilizers that are cost effective, produce high-yielding, nutritious crops and improve soil and ecological health in sustainable agro-ecosystems."