U-Maxx tested

St. Louis – Agrotain International, LLC released the results of an independent study to determine if U-Maxx, untreated urea and methylene urea inhibited beneficial soil microorganisms. Specifically, the study investigated the impact of U-Maxx on three microorganisms known to be beneficial to turfgrass: Bacillus megaterium, Aztobacter chroococcum and Pseudomonas fluorescens.

“Agrotain has always been committed to supplying golf course superintendents with the technical tools to help them do their job better,” says Mike Stegmann, president and c.e.o. at Agrotain International. “So after realizing that misinformation was circulating within the industry, we knew we had to set the record straight. Ultimately, we want superintendents to make their own choices based on facts.”

ABC Laboratories, Inc., located in Columbia, Mo., conducted the study, which was done in compliance under FDA non-clinical laboratory studies with “good laboratory practice regulations.” It tested granular forms of U-Maxx, untreated urea and methylene urea prepared at concentration levels that simulate application rates used in real-world, field applications and at higher levels to simulate over-application. These included one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet and two pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in the final test tubes.

“Because the goal of the study was to provide accurate information to turf managers, a protocol was developed that mimicked application rates most often used on an actual golf course,” says Alan Nees, vice president for turf and ornamental sales at Agrotain International. “Study results overwhelmingly conclude that U-Maxx does not kill beneficial microbes.”

The study compared the growth of the three indicator microorganisms, as well as their purity and colony and cellular morphology. Upon conclusion of the test period, all test and reference items showed positive growth for all three species indicating that U-Maxx does not inhibit microbial activity.

Research data also determined that there was growth in all the test and reference items, therefore confirming U-Maxx stabilized nitrogen technology has no bactericidal effect and thus concludes it does not negatively affect beneficial life in the soil and, in fact, is a beneficial source of nitrogen for high quality turf and ornamentals.

“Misinformation occurred because some competitors didn’t do their homework and confused two inhibitory technologies,” explains Nees. “The nitrification inhibitor used in the agricultural industry is called N-Serve and is registered as a pesticide under FIFRA. The nitrification inhibitor used in U-Maxx is dicyandiamide. It’s a carbon nitrogen compound that is broken down by beneficial microbes and is not regulated as a pesticide by U.S. EPA or any other regulatory agency worldwide. If the effect was to kill microbes, it would have to be regulated as such.”

In addition to using an independent testing laboratory to conduct the study, findings of the study have been independently reviewed and corroborated with professors and researchers from the University of Kentucky, Auburn University and Michigan State University.

Mark Coyne Ph.D., assistant professor of soil microbiology at the University of Kentucky concludes, “There appears to be no significant inhibitory affect of the tested compounds on the three typical soil organisms.”

For more information about the study, or to view complete research findings, visit www.stabilizednitrogen.com.