Title: The Effectiveness Of An Amino Acid Based Biological Amendment For Improved Yield and Nitrogen Sourcing.

Title: The Effectiveness of an amino acid based biological amendment for improved yield and nitrogen sourcing Authors: A. R. Sparda1, A. N. Scheaffer2, B. Vaughan3, R. Miller4 1Intuitive Consulting Solutions, Oakland, NJ, 07436 – Readfield, ME 04355 -973.886.9420 – info@intutiveconsultingsolutions.org, andrewsparda@gmail.com 2Institute for Restoration and Shalom, abescheaffer@me.com 3Chesterfield, VA 4Soils and Crop Sciences Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 Biologically-based fertilizers are increasingly being utilized in the agricultural industry. The hydrolysis of proteins resulting in an amino acid/protein based fertilizer product limited to molecular weights of less than 5,000 Kda, and a low C:N ratio, was evaluated. A green-house study was conducted in 2010 comparing the hydrolyzed protein to a Urea-KCl solution of comparable composition to assess the effect of this material on seed germination on four crops; and soil and foliar applications on crop growth. A field study was conducted on three sites in Weld County Colorado to evaluate corn yield response to an application of 36 kg/ha at three locations. Germination results indicate that the hydrolyzed protein at 1% has only a marginal impact on germination and seedling growth; however, higher concentrations have impact on carrots. Results of the foliar study (visual observations and tissue analysis) indicate that hydrolyzed protein foliar treatment using rates up to 60 mL application of a 2% fertilizer solution, equivalent to 36 kg N/ha resulted in no foliar burn of the leaves of the four crops evaluated. A comparable application of a Urea-K solution resulted in foliar burn. A significant increase in wheat nitrogen concentration and dry weight was noted for a soil application of 18 kg/ha of hydrolyzed protein over the control. Results of the field research show that an application of fertilizer product (Urea-KCl or hydrolyzed protein) increased corn grain yield at all irrigated corn locations over the control treatment. The greatest yield response resulted in a 2,640 kg/ha increase over the control at the Severance site. Hydrolyzed protein at the Water-Valley site was the highest yielding treatment with an increase of 350 kg/ha over the Urea-KCl treatment. Yield RSD values across treatments were 4.5%, 5.5% and 17.2% across the three locations. Soil respiration rates will be measured in ppm CO2-C and lbs / acre of N-Mineralized for the year per drying and re-wetting soil protocol. Continuing research objectives for the evaluation of hydrolyzed protein will include soil respiration rate in low and high respiration soils.   In addition, we intend to evaluate variable rates of hydrolyzed protein application on soil respiration rates.