Innovative rhizobia in NODULATOR® XL heightens yield potential

BASF highlights functional crop care products at Agri-Trade

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 6, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, in Red Deer at Agri-Trade, BASF Canada Inc. (BASF) showcased products from its new Functional Crop Care unit including NODULATOR^® XL, a pea and lentil inoculant featuring a unique strain of rhizobia for increased yield potential.

Rhizobia are soil bacteria that, in a symbiotic relationship with their host plant, produce root nodules to conduct nitrogen fixation. The more active strain of rhizobia has the ability of improving nitrogen fixation, which results in increased yield potential.

"NODULATOR XL consists of an innovative strain in today's inoculant market — a new highly active strain of rhizobia," said David Townsend, Brand Manager - Functional Crop Care for BASF. "The rhizobia have shown increased root biomass, faster canopy closure, and improved nodulation versus older strains, leading to increased nitrogen fixation and higher yields."

According to recent field scale trials, the new strain of rhizobia in NODULATOR XL has been shown to boost yields by three to eight per cent in peas and lentils. Along with the high rhizobia count, the inoculant also offers ease-of-use with the solid core granule formulation for better flow and less bridging, leading to a more consistent application and bigger, greener plants.

"When compared to traditional peat crumble, the solid core granules have proven to provide greater durability," said Townsend. "The solid core granules, unlike the peat crumble, are consistent in their shape and size, allowing for better flowability, better uniformity and more accurate placement."

NODULATOR XL is available in three convenient formulations: self-adhering sterile peat, solid core granules and liquid inoculant.

"With the addition of inoculants, BASF now offers growers a complete crop protection cycle from the seed to the inoculants and to the herbicide and fungicide treatments," added Townsend.

For more information about NODULATOR XL or other BASF biologicals visit www.agsolutions.ca.

Always read and follow label directions.

NODULATOR XL is a registered trade-mark of BASF SE, used with permission by BASF Canada Inc.

© 2013 BASF Canada Inc.

BASF - The Chemical Company

BASF Canada, located in Mississauga, Ontario is a subsidiary of BASF SE, and an affiliate of BASF Corporation. BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,600 employees in North America, and had sales of $18.5 billion in 2012. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visit www.basf.us. To find out more about BASF's activities in Canada visit www.basf.ca or follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/basfcanada.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of €72.1 billion in 2012 and more than 110,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

SOURCE: BASF Canada Inc.

Christina Stroud
BASF Canada Inc.
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected] 

Alison Inglis
ON Communication
Tel: [phone] x 224
E-mail: [email protected]