1. MESA® MethEx-Sulfate of Ammonia
The Only Nitrogen Source That Offers the Synergy of Ammonium Sulfate and Meth-Ex® in One Homogeneous Particle
Introduction

2. UF/MU Historical Overview
Nitroform in the 60’s
Nutralene/Triaform 70’s & 80’s
Nutralene technology sold in 1997
Trade marks also changed hands
MESA developed
MESA is the result of ongoing development in the area of polymerization and granulation.
MESA has a patent pending.

3. Mesa Is an Exclusive Nitrogen Source That is Produced by Resinating Methylene Ureas with Sulfate of Ammonia to produce an
Oligomer Sulfate
Exclusive

4. A Closer Look at the Two Components of MESA

5. Ammonium Sulfate Ammonium sulfate Total N 21% (typical) 21% Ammoniacal
24% Sulfur
A very popular N source in many areas with high pH.
A common component of many less expensive Ag grade homogeneous products due to relatively low cost and availability.

6. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage

7. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
Plants can take Nitrogen ions in both the Ammonium (NH4+) and the Nitrate (NO3-) form.
Recent studies have shown increased benefits of the ammonium form of nitrogen in forage and grains.
Fred Below University of Illinois—better nutrient accumulation by the plant.
Ron Mulford University of Maryland -- increased yield.

8. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
Ammonium released by ammonium sulfate upon application is immediately available for plant uptake.
Ammonium is a soluble source of readily available nitrogen.

9. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
Positively charged NH4+ is attracted to negatively charged soil particles and root surfaces. It resists leaching and is non-volatile.
Ammonium is not subject to denitrificaiton or leaching!

10. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
By contrast urea is broken down rapidly in soils by urease enzymes to form negatively charged Nitrates. As much as 40% loss can occur in 7-10 days.
Nitrates are subject to both denitrification and leaching.

11. Mineralization of Urea
Ammonium (Carbonate)
Urease
Nitrobacter
Nitrate
Volatilization
Leaching
Plant
Uptake
Turf has high organic matter at the soil interface which harbors nitobactor and urease enzymes.
Due to the presence of this organic layer the losses of urea to volatilization and leaching can be staggering.

12. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
If too much urea is released at once an excessive amount of negatively charged Nitrate ions (NO3-)become available which leach or volatilize.

13. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
Ammonium Sulfate also supplies soluble sulfur.
Why is that important?

14. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
Sulfur ranks forth in importance of the 16 essential elements right behind N, P, & K

15. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
Sulfur is used in photosynthesis, chlorophyll production and the formation of phospholipids

16. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
Grasses require about 30 pounds of sulfur per acre, more if clippings are removed.

17. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
The use of modern fertilizers, the switch to unleaded gas, and the clean air act of 1990 have all removed sulfur from the atmosphere.
Older forms of phosphate fertilizers often contained sulfur such as single superphosphate
Purer automobile fuels and reduced sulfur dioxide emissions from factories have greatly reduced the sulfur in the atmosphere.
In many areas sulfur can be a hidden hunger because the symptoms of deficiency mimic those of nitrogen.

18. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
Sulfur works closely with nitrogen to produce plant proteins and in the production of chlorophyll.
Sulfur deficiency symptoms first show as yellowing of new growth as opposed to nitrogen where the old growth yellows first. With regular mowing it may be difficult to distinguish sulfur from nitrogen deficiency in turf.

19. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
Ammonium sulfate is 24% sulfur all of which is soluble and available to the plant.

20. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
A typical SCU product only contains about 7% sulfur which is insoluble and not readily available.

21. The Ammonium Sulfate Advantage
Immediate availability
Reduced loss
Soluble Sulfur
If only the release could be controlled!

22. Meth-Ex 40® Meth-EX 40 Total N 40% 7% Urea N 11% WIN 22% SAWSN
The methylene urea component is made up of:
11% long chain WIN molecules
1% Dimethylenetriurea (DMTU) a water-soluble condensation product resulting from the reaction of two molecules of formaldehyde with three molecules of urea, with the elimination of two molecules of water, and having a minimum total nitrogen content of 41%.
10.5% Methylenediurea, a water soluble condensation product resulting from the reaction of one molecule of formaldehyde with two molecules of urea, with the elimination of one molecule of water. It has a minimum total nitrogen content of 42% and is a source of slowly available nitrogen." (AAPFCO)

23. The Meth-EX Advantage

24. The Meth-EX Advantage
Methylene ureas are made by reacting urea with formaldehyde to form ureaformaldehyde (UF) polymers

25. The Meth-EX Advantage
Old UF technology did a poor job of controlling the ratio of long chain to short chain molecules and the result was lots of HWIN

26. Water Soluble Nitrogen
Methylene Ureas
Traditional UF MUC
TMPU
TMTU
DMTU
UREA
MDU
Older ureaformaldehyde products are skewed toward the HWIN chain lengths which last well beyond the season of application and are relatively unpredictable.
Water Soluble Nitrogen
Water Insoluble N
HWSN
HWIN

27. The Meth-EX Advantage
The very long chain polymers are not predictable and release over a period of months to years. Turf managers had UF banks in their soil
A UF bank refers to nitrogen stored in long chain polymers. When the ratio of long chain polymers is high, over time they can build up in the soil because the application exceeds the rate of mineralization. It is difficult to predict when they will release. They can release at inopportune times due to high rates of microbial activity, for example when temperature and moisture levels are both very high.

28. Methylene Ureas Weeks of Release Urea 2-4 weeks
Methylene Diurea 1-8+ weeks
Dimethylene triurea 3-12 weeks
Trimethylene tetraurea 5-16 weeks
Tetramethylene pentaurea 8 weeks – 12+ months
Weeks of Release

29. The Meth-EX Advantage
Meth EX brand improves on traditional methylene ureas by precisely controlling the ratio of long, medium, and short length polymers.

30. Water Soluble Nitrogen
Methylene Ureas
High Activity MUC
UREA
MDU
DMTU
TMTU
TMPU
Water Soluble Nitrogen
Water Insoluble N
HWSN
HWIN

31. The Meth-EX Advantage
The result is a more efficient controlled release nitrogen source where all of the N is available in the season of application.

32. Meth-Ex 40 has twice as much RGS (78% vs 38%)
Methylene Ureas
Good Stuff
Really Good Stuff
40% N
5.5
22.0 OWSN
9.4 HWSN
3.1
Meth-Ex 40
31.4/40 = 78%
15/38 = 39%
38% N
5.3
6.2
8.8 HWSN
17.7 HWIN
Traditional UF
Meth-Ex 40 has twice as much RGS (78% vs 38%)

33. The Meth-EX Advantage Microbial release High AI Extended feeding
Excellent color
Predictable
Low solubility
Encourages soil microbial activity, release tied to soil temp and moisture to better correlate with plant demand. High AI so more N is used by the plant in the preferred feeding window, result is more efficient feeding.
Extended feeding for fewer applications, less labor, more consistent growth and appearance.
Consistently rated among the best N sources for color and turf quality.
No catastrophic release and almost no loss to volatilization or leaching.

34. The Marriage of Ammonium Sulfate and Meth EX!
Total N 30%
10.5% Amm.
3% urea
5% WIN
11.5% SAWSN
12% Sulfur
A homogeneous granule that combines the two N sources.
There is currently no AOAC methodology to delineate the amount of ammonium sulfate that effectively becomes controlled release due to the influence of the methylene urea reaction.
On paper the CRN calculates to 55%.
Performance indicates that the CRN includes a significant portion of the Ammoniacal N.

35. MESA Single granule Not a coating Patent pending 100% plant food
Ten years in development
University tested
Ammonium sulfate crystal(s) are resinated with methylene ureas molecules. Discrete AS crystals are no longer visible. There may be one or more crystals included in each MESA granule. When the granule is broken there is not a catastrophic release.
AOAC method uses ground samples (40 mesh) which are leached with 250ml water. Using un-ground samples the CRN is much higher.

36. A Sample of University Trials and Test Data
Performance
A Sample of University Trials and Test Data

37. Iowa State University Reduced Clippings w/ same quality…..
Treatment
Clippings
Quality
Urea
14.8
7.7
Am Sulfate
15.8
7.5
MESA®
13.4
7.6
SCU
24.2
IBDU®
17.9
7.3
Nitroform®
8.2
6.1
Nutralene®
10.8
7.4
Scott’s MU
3.2
Check
4.5
Two applications of 1LB/1000 May 1 and June 1, 1989
Data represents an average of 13 observations taken May-August
55% fewer clippings than SCU

38. Iowa State University Reduced Clippings w/ same quality…..
Treatment
Clippings
Quality
MESA®
13.4
7.6
SCU
24.2
7.7
Check
3.2
4.5
Two applications of 1LB/1000 May 1 and June 1, 1989
Data represents an average of 13 observations taken May-August
55% fewer clippings that SCU

39. North Carolina State Equal quality ratings with less growth
Source
Quality
Growth
Nutralene®
7.67
4.65
8.49
5.74
Nitroform®
7.00
5.25
6.38
3.98
IBDU®
6.00
4.18
5.04
3.83
SCU
7.33
8.35
10.43
8.24
MESA®
5.80
8.09
3.64
Millorganite
7.27
8.78
4.75
Urea
7.02
8.40
3.81
P+K
6.33
3.90
6.09
3.72
Check
6.67
5.03
6.11
4.31
Bermudagrass at 1.5LB N Three Treatments
Quality rating is equal to SCU with 35% lower growth rate

40. North Carolina State Equal quality ratings with less growth
Source
Quality
Growth
SCU
7.33
8.35
10.43
8.24
MESA®
5.80
8.09
3.64
Check
6.67
5.03
6.11
4.31
Bermudagrass at 1.5LB N
Three Treatments 6/9, 8/8, 9/
Quality rating is equal to SCU with 35% lower growth rate

41. University of Florida Superior Color
Source
Rate
Quality
MESA®
1 LB
8.46
SCU
1LB
8.36
2 LB
8.20
7.96
Check
6.69
Treatments done August of 1999
One pound rates were applied monthly
Two pound rates were applied every other month
[Same amount of total N used, we can infer that the reason SCU looks worse on the 2# treatments is lack of staying power]
Severe weather (Hurricane Irene) impacted plots with over 20 inches of water in Sept & Oct.
MESA had more consistent clipping yields which were less in the first evaluations than SCU
SCU had higher clipping yields in the first weeks with trailed off significantly
This resulted in slightly lower average yields for SCU.
MESA has slightly better quality.

42. University of Florida Growth & Quality on Bermuda
University of Florida 3rd Year of Three Year Study
May 1, 1991 – March 15, 1992
3# N every 90 days
Quality scale 0-10
Growth KG/HA-Day
SCU much higher growth same quality

43. University of Florida Growth & Quality on Ryegrass
University of Florida 3rd Year of Three Year Study
May 1, 1991 – March 15, 1992
3# N every 90 days
Quality scale 0-10
Growth KG/HA-Day
SCU higher growth same quality

44. Features Advantages & Benefits

45. Features of Ammonium Sulfate
Soluble sulfur
Ammoniacal N
Quick response
Deep green color
Acidification

46. Features of Meth-EX 40 Predictable High activity index No flush growth
Controlled release
Long feeding

47. Features of MESA Excellent color No flush growth Predictable
Fast response
Long feeding
No foliar burn

48. Compared to Coated Products
No catastrophic release, lock off
Reduced clipping yields
Longer feeding
Less loss to leaching or volatilization
On average 30-35% of the coatings are ruptured prior to application
Excessive available urea N results in flush growth, high clipping yields, disease susceptibility, poor mowing…..
Response is usually shorter than MU, MESA
Lower N efficiency, more leaching and volatilization

49. Compared to Homogenous AM Products
Not 100% Soluble
Longer duration
No reliance on coated products for CRN
Greatly reduced potential foliar burning
Leaching and volatilization
Low N efficiency
Decimated by high rainfall or irrigation
Need frequent applications

50. Ask Your Lebanon Turf Products Dealer for a List of MESA Products Today