Homepage SPECTRO TURN 21: THE LONG WORK OF NITROGEN
Sugar Fertilizer or Sugar Fertilizer with a Nitrification Inhibitor? Which Is More Efficient?
# Sugar Fertilizer or Sugar Fertilizer with a Nitrification Inhibitor? Which Is More Efficient?
Ammonium sulfate, one of the most widely used nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture, is commonly known among farmers as *“sugar fertilizer.”* Because it provides nitrogen and sulfur, both of which are essential for plant growth, it has been an important fertilizer preferred by growers for many years.
However, thanks to advances in modern fertilizer technologies, new-generation products have also become available, helping plants make more efficient use of the nitrogen they receive.
One of these products is *Spectro Turn 21*, which contains a nitrification inhibitor.
So, what is the difference between conventional sugar fertilizer and *Spectro Turn 21*?
## Nitrogen Losses May Occur with Conventional Sugar Fertilizer
After conventional ammonium sulfate is applied to the soil, the nitrogen it contains gradually begins to convert into nitrate over a certain period of time. Nitrogen in nitrate form, particularly under excessive irrigation and heavy rainfall, can move downward through the soil profile and away from the plant's root zone.
This may result in:
- Insufficient nitrogen uptake by the plant,
- The need for more frequent fertilizer applications,
- Increased fertilizer costs,
- Yield and quality losses.
Nitrogen losses have become one of the major challenges faced by growers, particularly in orchards using drip irrigation and in crops requiring frequent irrigation.
## How Does Spectro Turn 21 Work?
*Spectro Turn 21* slows the conversion of nitrogen into nitrate through the nitrification inhibitor *DCDA (Dicyandiamide)* incorporated into the ammonium sulfate.
As a result, nitrogen:
- Remains in the soil for a longer period,
- Remains available for plant uptake in the root zone for longer,
- Has a significantly reduced risk of being lost through leaching,
- Is utilized more efficiently from the applied fertilizer.
Unlike conventional ammonium sulfate, *Spectro Turn 21* is designed not only to supply nitrogen to the plant, but also to help preserve the applied nitrogen and keep it available for a longer period.
## Effective Nutrient Supply for 70–110 Days in the Soil
Thanks to its nitrification inhibitor technology, *Spectro Turn 21* helps maintain a more controlled availability of nitrogen for *70 to 110 days*, depending on soil conditions.
This provides significant advantages, particularly in:
- Fruit orchards,
- Vineyards,
- Vegetable production,
- Field crops,
- Areas with frequent irrigation.
Because the plant can utilize the nitrogen it needs over a longer period, its development can continue in a more balanced manner.
## What Have We Observed in Applications?
In applications where *Spectro Turn 21* has been used, growers have observed:
- Plants maintaining their healthy appearance and deep green color for a longer period,
- More balanced vegetative growth,
- Nitrogen deficiency symptoms appearing later,
- More efficient planning of fertilizer application programs.
By helping prevent nitrogen from being lost within a short period, plants can make more effective use of this nutrient throughout their growth stages.
## Additional Benefits Provided by Sulfur
*Spectro Turn 21* is not only a source of nitrogen. Thanks to its sulfur content, it:
- Supports protein synthesis,
- Contributes to the plant's metabolic processes,
- Helps improve the availability and utilization of nutrients in the soil,
- May provide beneficial effects in alkaline soils and soils with high pH.
The combined supply of nitrogen and sulfur provides an important advantage by supporting both vegetative growth and the overall nutritional status of the plant.
## Why Spectro Turn 21?
Conventional sugar fertilizer supplies nutrients to the plant. *Spectro Turn 21*, in addition to supplying nutrients, is designed to help preserve those nutrients in the soil and keep them available to the plant for a longer period.
In short, *Spectro Turn 21*:
- Reduces nitrogen losses,
- Remains effective in the soil for a longer period,
- Improves the plant's utilization of nitrogen,
- Increases fertilizer use efficiency,
- Contributes to balanced and sustainable plant development.
In modern agriculture, it is no longer enough simply to apply fertilizer; it is also important to obtain *maximum efficiency from the fertilizer applied*. Nitrification inhibitor fertilizer technologies offer growers significant advantages precisely in this area.