GROUNDFIX. EXAMPLES OF NPK SUBSTITUTION ON 400+ TRIALS ON FIELD CROPS
GROUNDFIX. EXAMPLES OF NPK SUBSTITUTION ON 400+ TRIALS ON FIELD CROPS
blog::blog.category:Publications
Published:19.03.2025
Spring is a critical period for establishing future crop yields. Properly balancing agricultural practices and nutrient management is essential to ensuring optimal plant growth. Fertilization during sowing plays a key role in productivity, as nutrient deficiencies during early growth stages can severely impact yield potential.In recent years, the fertilizer market, especially in Europe, has faced challenges due to energy crises, inflation, and supply chain disruptions. In 2025, nitrogen fertilizer prices have increased, with calcium ammonium nitrate reaching €370 per ton and UAN at €311 per ton. These increases are due to fluctuations in natural gas prices, geopolitical instability, and currency depreciation, affecting fertilizer availability and costs. At the same time, phosphate and potash fertilizers have remained relatively stable but are expected to rise due to shifting crop rotations and increased demand. More farmers are turning to combined nutrition strategies and biological products to optimize costs and improve fertilizer efficiency.
The efficiency of plant uptake of mineral fertilizers is mainly determined by the type of fertilizer, soil properties, and agronomic conditions. According to research, the effectiveness of nitrogen fertilizers decreases by 40-50%, phosphate fertilizers by 35-40%, and potash and complex fertilizers by 15-20%.The main ways of nitrogen loss include leaching the nitrate form into deeper soil layers, ammonia evaporation under alkaline conditions, and denitrification of nitrates into gaseous nitrogen forms under anaerobic conditions. Phosphate fertilizers are often fixed in the soil by binding to calcium, iron, and aluminum ions to form insoluble compounds, which reduces their availability to plants. Potash fertilizers can be lost through leaching in light sandy soils or fixation by soil particles, making them temporarily unavailable to plants. Understanding the mechanisms of nutrient loss is key to optimizing fertilizer use and increasing its effectiveness. To respond to these challenges, the BTU product line includes the biological product Groundfix, which helps to increase the availability of nutrients to plants and improve fertilizer uptake.
Groundfix: A Microbiological Solution for Nutrient Efficiency
Groundfix, a microbiological soil fertilizer, enhances nutrient availability and uptake. It contains a potent mix of beneficial microorganisms, including:
Bacillus spp. – Mobilizes phosphorus from organic and mineral compounds, fixes molecular nitrogen from the atmosphere, produces bioactive substances that enhance plant immunity, and promotes the decomposition of organic matter in the soil.
Priestia spp. – Releases phosphorus bound in organic and mineral compounds. Produces the enzyme silicate, which increases the mobility of silicon and potassium fixed in soil minerals.
Agrobacterium spp. – Free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterias that produce phytohormones promoting plant growth and root development. Capable of biodegrading pesticide residues and immobilizing heavy metals, preventing their uptake by plants.
Secretes phytohormones and lytic enzymes that enhance plant immunity, growth, and development. Produces exopolysaccharides, improving soil aeration and moisture retention.
Titer of the product is not less than 1.0 × 109 CFU/cm3. All these bacteria offer multiple benefits:
increases the availability and mobility of phosphorus and potassium in the soil
increases the number of different forms of nitrogen in the soil;
increases the utilization rate of nutrients from fertilizers by 1.2-1.5 times;
improves agrochemical indicators of the soil;
increases the soil's biological activity, improves the health of the soil, and prevents its degradation;
increases plants stress resistance;
increases the productivity of agricultural crops.
Groundfix in action
Over 400 experiments have been conducted using the Groundfix product, including more than 300 trials where it was applied independently. On average, these studies showed a 10.1% increase in yield. Most experiments focused on corn, with over 60 trials demonstrating an average yield increase of 0.53 t/ha. Similarly, more than 60 trials on sunflowers showed an increase of 0.37 t/ha. For cereals, over 20 trials recorded an average increase of 0.5 t/ha, while more than 20 trials on legumes showed an improvement of 0.2 t/ha.
According to our trials, we can state that Groundfix significantly increases the absorption of nutrients and plant productivity.Based on these results, we calculated the additional nutrients supplied to the plant, using the standard NPK requirements needed to produce 1 ton of grain.
Crop
Average yield increase, t/ha
Increase in nutrient uptake, kg/ha
N
P
K
Cereals
0,52
9,4
4,4
2,6
Corn
0,53
8,5
3,7
2,4
Sunflower
0,37
10,4
5,6
8,9
Rapeseed
0,31
9,3
5,6
3,1
*For the calculation, it was taken that for the formation of 1 ton of grain is needed: cereals – N18 P2O58.5 K2O5; corn – N16 P2O57 K2O4.5; sunflower – N28 P2O515 K2O24; rapeseed N30 P2O518K2O10.
In the table above, we present data on the increase in yields in different crop groups following the application of Groundfix. We also determined the required amount of nutrients to form this increase, which is the result of the action of BTU biological product.The effectiveness of Groundfix has been confirmed through multiple trials. For example, a corn trial in Greece showed outstanding results when combined with our bioproducts, particularly the bioadhesive Liposam and the foliar-applied natural nitrogen fixer Azotohelp.Trial Setup:Control: 100% NPKTest Group: 80% NPK + Groundfix (5 L/ha) with Liposam 0,5 l/ha + Azotohelp 0,5 l/ha with Liposam 0,3 l/ha
Results:
Yield increase of +0.4 t/ha despite a 20% fertilizer reduction.
Economic benefit of +€32,2/ha after accounting all input costs.
Groundfix is a game-changer for modern agriculture, helping farmers maximize nutrient efficiency while reducing fertilizer dependency. By incorporating this biological solution, growers can enhance crop productivity, lower costs, and contribute to more sustainable farming practices. With its proven ability to improve nutrient uptake, optimize soil health, and support resilient crop growth, Groundfix represents the future of efficient fertilization.
Dmytro Yakovenko,
Oleh Baranovskyi, Agronomists of BTU
Do you have any questions?
Fill out the form and our manager will contact you within two working days.
Cookies
This site uses cookies to ensure usability, traffic analysis and content personalization. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
.png)
.png)