From rate to efficiency: the new nitrogen paradigm in winter forages

The results show that it is not about applying more nitrogen, but about applying it better. Nanoparticle-based foliar formulations achieve greater synchronization with crop demand and increase dry matter production.

Nitrogen is the main driver of growth in winter grasses. In oat crops, its role is decisive in protein synthesis, chlorophyll formation, and leaf area expansion, directly impacting the crop’s ability to intercept radiation and convert energy into biomass.

From a productive standpoint, an adequate nitrogen supply translates into higher growth rates and more efficient dry matter accumulation. In livestock systems, where the goal is to maximize forage availability, nitrogen becomes the most influential factor in final yield.

Requirements and use efficiency

Oats have a high nitrogen demand due to their rapid growth and high biomass production. Depending on the environment and production objective, requirements may range between 80 and 150 kg N per hectare. However, the key lies not only in the applied amount, but in how efficiently the crop utilizes that nutrient.

Under real field conditions, less than half of the nitrogen applied through traditional sources is effectively used. Volatilization converts nitrogen into gaseous forms that are lost to the atmosphere, especially when urea remains on the surface without incorporation. Leaching moves nitrate into deeper soil layers, beyond the reach of roots. Additionally, immobilization by soil microorganisms can temporarily retain the nutrient, reducing its immediate availability.

According to Aapresid, these losses represent one of the main challenges to improving nitrogen use efficiency in Argentina’s agricultural and livestock systems.

Critical demand periods

Oat crops do not require nitrogen uniformly throughout their cycle. During the initial stage, from emergence to tillering, nitrogen is key for the formation of vegetative structures that define yield potential. At this stage, adequate nitrogen availability promotes tiller formation and early development.

However, from advanced tillering through stem elongation, demand increases significantly. During these stages, the crop defines its architecture and maximizes its growth rate, so any nutritional limitation directly impacts dry matter production.

Research from REM and INTA shows that nitrogen deficiencies during these critical periods can significantly reduce yields, even if the crop had a good initial establishment.

Foliar fertilization: a more efficient strategy

Given the limited nitrogen availability from urea and the operational challenges associated with its use, foliar fertilization emerges as a highly efficient alternative. By being applied directly to the plant, nitrogen avoids many soil-related losses and achieves faster, more effective absorption.

This technology allows for more precise nutrient management at key stages, aligning supply with crop demand. Moreover, it is operationally simpler, as it can be integrated with crop protection applications, optimizing time and resources.

Crop response to these applications is usually rapid and visible, making it a valuable tool in systems where timing is critical.

Nanotechnology and next-generation fertilizers: the role of MIST N

In this context of increasing efficiency demands, advanced technologies such as MIST N®, developed by Kioshi Stone, stand out. This is a foliar fertilizer formulated with high-purity nitrogen nanoparticles, designed to deliver this nutrient quickly and efficiently when crops face nutritional limitations or peak demand.

Thanks to its nanoparticle formulation, nitrogen is rapidly absorbed through the foliage and incorporated into plant metabolism. This process helps restore photosynthetic activity, improve leaf area development, and accelerate crop growth rates—factors directly linked to dry matter accumulation.

This characteristic is particularly important in winter forages such as oats, where growth dynamics are highly sensitive to nitrogen availability and where environmental conditions often limit the efficiency of traditional soil applications.

Additionally, the high efficiency of this technology allows for significantly lower application rates, around 1.5 to 2.5 liters per hectare. This not only improves fertilization precision but also contributes to more efficient and sustainable production systems.

Trial results: higher efficiency and production

During the 2025 season, three treatments were compared at the “Cuenca del Salado” experimental field: an unfertilized control, urea application (100 kg/ha), and Mist N (1.5 L/ha), in an oat crop with three cuts, analyzing dry matter production (kg/ha). The evaluation aimed to determine the efficiency and response of each nitrogen source throughout the crop cycle.

Results showed that nitrogen fertilization significantly increased dry matter production compared to the control. Urea achieved a rapid response in the first cut; however, in systems with successive cuts, nitrogen availability declined over time, partly explaining the lower relative response observed in later cuts.

Foliar application of MIST N® demonstrated high efficiency, matching or surpassing urea in subsequent cuts due to its rapid absorption and lower environmental dependency, achieving higher yields and generating greater biomass, uniformity, and stability under variable environmental conditions.