[CRF Research in US] 
Nousbo and Illinois State University: Joint Research on Controlled Release Fertilizer

2024-03-13

Since 2020, Nousbo has been working to establish its presence in the US corn belt market. This article introduces our ongoing efforts, focusing on local test fields in the state of Illinois, USA.

▲ Nousbo's Overseas Clients and Branches

Nousbo CRF Production Technology

Nousbo exports controlled release fertilizers (CRFs), manufactured with its patented production technology, to international markets including the USA, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, etc.), Europe, and South America (Mexico), securing more than 50 clients across 18 countries worldwide (as of 2023). 

▲ US Combine Harvester

Joint Research Project for the Localization of Overseas Products

Nousbo currently operates local subsidiaries in one location in China (Shanghai) and two locations in the USA (Alabama and Houston), establishing a global network. In countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Mexico, Nousbo has been conducting joint research with universities and farms through local test fields to verify the effectiveness of CRFs and to localize the products. The overseas local experiments are essential for adapting the product to the diverse soils, crops, and climates of each country.

▲ Nousbo Test Farmland in Illinois

U.S. Corn Belt (Illinois, Iowa) 

The USA, a vast continent, exhibits significant variation in size and climate across its states, cultivating staple crops like rice, corn, and soybeans in specific areas. The ongoing test in Illinois State University’s corn belt is entering its fourth year. Illinois, the most populous state in the Midwest, has most of its population living in Chicago. Along with Iowa, Illinois is a key part of the Midwest corn belt, exporting mainly to Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and China.

▲ Cultivated Soil After Harvest in the Test Plot

Illinois experiences its rainy season in March, which is when fertilizers are typically applied to the cornfields as a base dressing. This practice has led to environmental issues, such as fertilizers seeping into the groundwater and causing algae blooms. Nousbo’s CRF is expected to enable efficient corn production, with the added advantage of controlling leaching for up to one year. The completion of the experiment is anticipated to accelerate Nousbo’s entry into the American corn belt market.

Corn Cultivation for Bioethanol Production

The United States has developed large-scale agricultural machinery, such as planting machines, fertilizing machines, and harvesters, to farm the expansive corn belt. There has been a recent increase in corn cultivation for bioethanol production rather than for feed. American farms, primarily large-scale operations, strive to reduce labor and labor costs since even a 1% increase in yield can significantly impact income.

▲ US Cultivation Tractor and Fertilizer Applicator

Fertilization in US Cornfields: Issues with Anhydrous Ammonia and UAN

Unlike in Korea, many farms in the USA apply anhydrous ammonia in the fall and then apply UAN liquid fertilizer between rows after planting in the spring. However, applying anhydrous ammonia in the fall can lead to high volatilization losses as it easily becomes gaseous, and applying UAN as a liquid fertilizer in the spring can lead to delayed efficacy and easy leaching and volatilization.

▲ Detailed Look at US Cultivation Tractor and Fertilizer Applicator

Nousbo and Illinois State University: Joint Research on Controlled Release Fertilizer

To address these issues, Nousbo is conducting field tests on CRF fertilizers suited to American farming methods in local corn fields, using the aforementioned machinery, through joint research with Illinois State University.

▲ Nousbo CRF Treatment in the Illinois Test Field

CRF treatment in joint research test plots in Illinois shows that controlled release fertilizers, compared to conventional practice fertilizers, have higher fertilizer use efficiency and can solve problems such as greenhouse gas emissions and groundwater contamination in the USA. The joint research with professors from Illinois State University is ongoing, and tests are being conducted to see if it can be an alternative to traditional anhydrous ammonia and UAN treatments. 

Aiming to secure the global fertilizer market beyond the domestic market in Korea, Nousbo is advancing as a technology-based agricultural company, focusing on localization and technological development overseas.