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.