BioN vs Urea: December Trial Update Across Multiple Farms
We have now completed the latest December pasture cuts across four replicated BioN trial sites in Mid Canterbury, providing a clear view of how BioN is performing under early-summer conditions.
This update focuses on measured performance in summer, where nitrogen efficiency and consistency become increasingly important. Rather than relying on short term response windows, these results reflect sustained performance assessed through repeated cuts over time.
All figures presented are based on actual harvested biomass. There is no modelling or projection, only measured paddock data.
Trial Design & Methodology
All trials follow the same replicated plot design.
At each site:
- There are 30 trial plots assigned in each of our 4 trial farms, giving 120 trial plots in total.
- Each farm has 30 plots, 10 are randomly assigned for treatment using either BioN, urea, or control (no treatment).
- Fresh pasture is harvested from each plot and then weighed.
- Each sample is then measured for dry matter percentage by Canterbury Feed Assessment Ltd.
This approach ensures that differences observed between treatments reflect real pasture production rather than modelling assumptions, moisture effects, or management variation.
The December cuts reflect typical early-summer conditions.
December Dry Matter Results (Four Farms)
When results from the December cuts are averaged across all four trial sites, BioN continued to deliver higher dry matter production than a standard urea programme.
Average dry matter yield (kg DM/ha):
- BioN: ~2,097 kg DM/ha
- Urea: ~1,977 kg DM/ha
Average days growing: 25
This represents an average advantage of approximately 120 kg DM/ha in favour of BioN across the most recent cuts. While individual site responses varied, the overall trend was consistent across farms, reinforcing that the response is repeatable under different paddock conditions rather than being driven by a single location.
Dry Matter Percentage Consistency
Across the four trial farms:
- Farm 1 had 27 days growth with a cut taking place on 23/12/2025.
- Farm 2 had 25 days growth with a cut taking place on 24/12/2025.
- Farm 3 had 25 days growth with a cut taking place on 23/12/2025.
- Farm 4 had 25 days growth with a cut taking place on 24/12/2025.
Dry matter percentages were very similar between BioN and urea treatments across all sites. Because DM% remained consistent, the yield differences measured reflect genuine biomass production rather than moisture content. This consistency is critical when interpreting pasture trial data and gives confidence that the response being measured is real feed grown.
What This Means Later in Summer
Later summer cuts are often where nitrogen strategies are tested.
In practical terms, the December results indicate that BioN can support:
- More consistent pasture growth through summer rotations
- Reduced reliance on repeated urea applications
- Greater flexibility around nitrogen timing
- Continued nitrogen supply rather than a single response event
Rather than delivering a one-off lift, BioN is showing the ability to contribute to sustained pasture growth across multiple cuts and sites.
Putting the Results in Context
When assessed across multiple farms and successive cuts, BioN has continued to match or outperform a standard urea programme when performance is measured by true dry matter production.
This aligns with the core principle behind BioN:
supporting pasture growth by fixing atmospheric nitrogen biologically over time, rather than relying solely on repeated synthetic nitrogen inputs.
Access the Full Trial Data
This update presents a summary of the latest December results.
For full transparency, including:
- Site-by-site results
- Historic cut data
- Cumulative performance
- Dry matter percentages
- Methodology details and interpretation
You can access the results to date below. Please note that as additional cuts are completed the updated results will be reported.
Further cuts will continue as weather conditions allow, and results will be published as new data becomes available.
