With farm profitability under pressure, agronomists are urging growers to maximise nitrogen performance this spring by considering urease inhibitors.
Rising fertiliser costs, combined with the legacy of harvest 2025 and weak grain prices, are squeezing margins and making efficient nitrogen use more important than ever. COFCO Sales Manager Russell Davison notes that delayed purchases have added pressure to supply chains: “Inclement autumns have shifted cropping to spring, and with fertiliser orders pushed back, there’s concern over availability. The UK fertiliser sector doesn’t operate on a ‘just-in-time’ basis, and with most raw materials imported, logistical challenges are a real risk.”
Cash flow is another factor, particularly following the removal of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). Essex grower Steve Crayston says, “Traditionally, fertiliser purchases were timed around BPS payments. Without them, growers must juggle cash flow, which affects when fertiliser is bought.”
Urease inhibitors, such as Limus, offer both agronomic and economic benefits. BASF Business Development Manager Andrew Clune explains that untreated urea can lose around 20% of nitrogen to volatilisation, with losses as high as 80% under poor conditions. “Limus-treated urea retains more nitrogen in the soil, supporting higher yields. We regularly see around a 5% yield uplift compared with untreated urea, making it a cost-effective option despite the additional input.”
Use of treated urea is also important for compliance. The Urea Stewardship Programme, part of the Government’s Clean Air Strategy 2019, mandates urease inhibitors when applying urea outside 15 January to 31 March. “Best practice protects the environment and keeps nitrogen where it should be – in the soil,” Clune says.
Growers already using inhibitors report clear benefits. Steve Crayston trialled Limus before the guidelines and now applies it across all spring crops. “We were impressed with the results. Urea plus Limus is better value than ammonium nitrate, both in terms of cost per kilo of nitrogen and performance,” he says.
Davison adds: “Using urease inhibitors is a straightforward way to save money, protect soil nutrients, and support environmental recovery — it just makes sense for modern arable farms.”
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