BioN vs Urea: What Multi-Farm Dry Matter Trials Show
Over the past several seasons, Agraforum has been running replicated pasture trials across multiple New Zealand farms to understand how BioN performs against urea when pasture dry matter is measured. Rather than relying on modelling or assumptions, these trials are based on harvested pasture that is weighed, dried, and independently analysed. This allows a direct comparison between BioN, urea, and untreated pasture under real farm conditions. This article explains how BioN is tested, why dry matter matters, and what the results show when performance is assessed across multiple farms, seasons and cuts. A representative example from Delos Farm is included to illustrate how results are measured in practice.
Why dry matter, matters.
Pasture growth is often judged visually or by fresh weight, but both can be misleading. Water content can inflate apparent growth without delivering real feed value. Measuring dry matter removes that uncertainty. By drying harvested pasture and measuring dry matter (kg DM/ha), we are measuring the actual feed grown, independent of moisture content. This approach gives farmers confidence that the results reflect real performance, not temporary visual effects.
To ensure results are fair, repeatable and defensible, all trial sites follow the same replicated methodology.
Each site uses a 30-plot design within the same paddock area:-
- 10 plots treated with BioN
- 10 plots treated with urea
- 10 plots left as untreated control
Plots are left to grow for a defined period and are then cut on the same day. Fresh pasture is weighed, bagged, and sent to an independent laboratory where moisture is removed and dry weight is measured. Results are expressed as kg DM/ha. The trial methodology and interpretation are overseen by Dr Gordon Rajendram, respected NZ Soil Scientist, ensuring results are independent, agronomically sound and statistically meaningful.
What the multi-farm data shows
When results are averaged across multiple farms, seasons and cuts, BioN has the same or better dry matter production than both urea and untreated pasture.
Importantly, this performance reflects steady Nitrogen supply over time, rather than a short-term growth spike. This has allowed BioN to match and, in many cases, exceed the cumulative performance typically achieved through repeated urea applications over the same period. These findings support the use of BioN as a biological Nitrogen source that can replace the need for repeated urea rounds, while still maintaining pasture growth and supporting compliance with the N Cap.
A worked example: Delos Farm (03/11/2025)
One representative example from the wider trial programme is a cut taken at Delos Farm on 03 November 2025. All treatments were applied side by side within the same paddock, under the same management and environmental conditions. Soil temperature at cutting was 13.6°C, suitable for biological activity.
Average dry matter yield (kg DM/ha)
- BioN: 3,101 kg DM/ha
- Urea: 2,694 kg DM/ha
Dry matter percentages were very similar across all treatments (real dry matter grown, 19–20 percent).
What this means for farmers
Across the full trial programme, BioN has demonstrated the ability to deliver pasture growth that allows farmers to go without repeated urea rounds under suitable conditions.
What this means in practical terms:-
- Skip urea rounds entirely under suitable conditions
- Maintain pasture growth through summer pressure
- Build a Nitrogen strategy that relies less on short-term N spikes
- Stay aligned with the N Cap while protecting production
- Support healthier, more biologically active soils
Synthetic N is used when soil temps dip below 12°C and can be used strategically if required, but BioN provides the ability to go without it in warmer seasons.
BioN is not about removing Nitrogen from your system.
It is about changing where it comes from.
Learn more
This article provides a high-level overview of how BioN is tested and how it performs when measured properly. The full trial results, including averages across all farms and cuts, are available in our downloadable report.
Download the full BioN trial results to see the complete dataset and methodology.
