Terra Range Series: Opportunity for farmers to meet climate targets

The Terra Range Series is proudly brought to you by Agriland Media in collaboration with Target Fertilisers.

The opening instalment of this series detailed the development of the Terra Range, which is a collaboration between Target Fertilisers and Brandon Bioscience, which has been developed as an alternative to untreated, inorganic nitrogen (N) fertiliser.

Using PSI Precision Technology, Brandon Bioscience produces the biostimulant PSI362, which is derived from the brown seaweed, Ascophyllum nodosum, which grows exclusively in the north Atlantic Ocean.

PSI362 stimulates the nitrate transponders in the plant, which in turn stimulate N uptake and utilisation. It is also DAFM-approved.

With proven multi-level activity in the plant through absorption, transportation and utilisation, PSI362 Precision is expertly coated onto fertiliser granules, providing farmers with the solution to apply up to 25% less N on farm while maintaining yields.

A natural product with no harmful residues, PSI362 increases the assimilation of additional protein and yield in the crop, as successfully demonstrated through grazing trials conducted by Target Fertilisers from May to August 2021.

The trial, which involved the use of two Target fertiliser products on five farms – the PSI362-treated TerraN and S and the untreated SuperCAN CCF, revealed a 24.5% reduction in N application, while using TerraN and S.

With similar growth rates achieved via both products, the trial indicated that by using TerraN and S, N applications can be reduced by up to 25% without compromising yield.

Target Fertilisers also conducted grass silage trials on the same farms in both 2020 and 2021.

In the 2020 grass silage trials, there was no major pre-cut yield difference across the five farms combined at the 1.6 bags/ac of TerraN and S, when compared to the two bags/ac of SuperCAN CCF.

At the lower application rate, the performance of the PSI362-treated Terra N and S delivered almost the same herbage mass.

In 2021, fertiliser application averaged 3.2 bags/ac with the grass DM yield on each farm proving similar, despite the lower application of N when using the PSI362-treated TerraCUT and S.

Summarising the findings, Jeremiah Murphy of Target Fertilisers commented: “Over the two years, using both straight N and high N compounds, our results with the Terra Range have shown similar yields of grass when reducing N by 20%.

“This presents a wonderful opportunity to meet climate targets in lowering N application using the Terra Range, thus benefiting from improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and the additional environmental benefits.”

Farmer experience

“It’s amazing how well the Terra Range works”, according to Padraic Cummins of Oranmore, Co. Galway who, along with son David, was among the group of farmers who participated in Target Fertilisers’ grass silage trials in 2020.

“I can definitely see visual improvements in sward quality, density and colour when I am on treated grass and comparing it with non-treated areas.

“I can tell when all the N has been used by the growth rate and the colour; that’s not so obvious to us when applying other N fertilisers.”

Padraic, who runs a 280-cow Jersey-cross herd, added: “When you break down the performance, it costs the same as regular CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate), but with the added benefit of reducing our chemical N while maintaining grass production use and improving water quality in the area. It’s an obvious choice.”

“With the Terra Range, it’s quite remarkable that you can use less N and grow the same amount of grass. It’s a real win-win for the environment and farmers alike.”

Winner of the 2023 FBD Better Farming Award (AgTech Ireland Best Agritech Science Product) and the 2021 Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena Award, the Terra Range is designed to meet the increasing environmental considerations of Irish farmers and growers.