2023 IFS webinar series
A programme of webinars covering a variety of topics relating to fertiliser production and crop nutrition
During 2023 the IFS will continue to organise webinars for those involved and interested in the production and application of fertilising products. These webinars will be in the same format as in previous years.
Society Members will be able to attend all these webinars without charge, as well as having free access to the presentation charts, a recording of the webinar, and a pdf copy of the written paper, where applicable. For UK attendees, each webinar will be worth BASIS FACTS CPD points.
Non-members are also welcome to attend, for a charge of £15 per webinar, or £25 for a webinar plus access to a pdf of the presentation charts, recording of the webinar and pdf of written papers, where applicable. Selected webinars will be free to all.
For those who are unfamiliar with the quality of Society talks, we are offering a ‘taster’, to enable non-members to attend one webinar (only, excluding recordings and pdfs) for free. To take advantage of this offer, enter the code IFSFREEWEB into the Coupon box in your basket when registering for a webinar.
Detailed information on the webinars that comprise this programme is shown below. Updates will be added as these are finalised. Webinar registration will open for each webinar as its details are confirmed, and will be accessed from the section for each webinar, below.
A new definition of ‘Plant Nutrient’ and its implications for fertilizer regulations globally
Patrick Brown, University of California, Davis, and Achim Dobermann, Chief Scientist, International Fertiliser Association
Problems with current fertiliser nomenclature
Hans Lambers, The University of Western Australia
Wednesday 25 January 2023
How fertiliser application and specific genetic variants combine to impact on the acrylamide forming potential of wheat
Joe Oddy, Rothamsted Research
The effects of the application of Zn-enriched fertilizer in improving the grain nutritional quality of maize
Lester Botoman, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Management of multispecies swards with reduced N compared to high N grass monocultures
Shona Baker, University College Dublin, Ireland
Wednesday 22 February 2023
Monitoring of critical rotating equipment
Alexander Høiby and Mathieu Leroux, Yara International, Norway
How super-duplex materials assure high reliability in urea plants
Manuel Prohaska, MPC2, Austria
Wednesday 19 April 2023
Handling and storage of ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer
Kish Shah, Consultant, UK
The Lessons Learned from 150 Safety Incidents in Urea Plants
Mark Brouwer, UreaKnowHow.com, Netherlands
Wednesday 17 May 2023
Evaluating the robustness of agronomic scientific research
Andrew Maguire, Washington State University, USA
Farmer led innovation good practice
Tom Sizmur, University of Reading, UK
Wednesday 31 May 2023
A new definition of ‘Plant Nutrient’ and its implications for fertilizer regulations globally
Prof Patrick Brown, University of California Davis, USA and Achim Dobermann, Chief Scientist, International Fertilizer Association, France
Patrick Brown is one of the main developers of the New Paradigm for Plant Nutrition, which was explained to us by Achim Dobermann, Chief Scientist of the International Fertilizer Association, in October 2021. Achim focused on the program for change that the IFA is aiming to drive through the industry, that has the new definition of a plant nutrient at its core. This presentation augmented this by looking in more detail at the scientific considerations that have led to the need for a new definition, and the practical benefits that this will provide to the industry.
The scientific case for replacing the terms P2O5, K2O, CaO in fertilizer nomenclature with % P, K Ca
Prof Hans Lambers, The University of Western Australia
This presentation explained the questionable scientific basis of these widely used abbreviations, along with an alternative approach that is more robustly based on scientific understanding.
2 BASIS FACTS CPD PN points were awarded to this webinar.
How fertiliser application and specific genetic variants combine to impact on the acrylamide forming potential of wheat
Joe Oddy, Rothamsted Research, UK
This research looked at how fertiliser application and specific genetic variants combine to impact on the potentially harmful acrylamide forming potential of soft wheat. Adding sulphur fertiliser helps to reduce grain asparagine content (which is the key precursor to acrylamide). This research indicated that a N : S application rate of 10 to 1 (kg/ha) was sufficient to prevent large increases in asparagine.
The effects of the application of Zn-enriched fertilizer in improving the grain nutritional quality of maize
Lester Botoman, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Malawi
This research sought to establish the quantitative effects of the application of Zn-enriched fertiliser in improving the grain nutritional quality of maize. It found that the use of such fertiliser does increase the Zn content of the maize grains, and that this was to an extent that would have a substantial effect on the dietary intake of people in the area. This work now needs to be extended to cover more of the soil types that occur in Malawi.
Management of multispecies swards with reduced N compared to high N grass monocultures
Shona Baker, University College Dublin, Ireland
The key finding from this research was that a rotationally grazed multi-species sward (containing six species) produced more grass over a two year period than did a perennial ryegrass monoculture, whilst receiving half of much nitrogenous fertiliser. A key research need now is to investigate how to best manage such multi-species swards over a longer time period.
This webinar will be worth 1 AP and 1 PN BASIS FACTS CPD points.
How super-duplex materials assure high reliability in urea plants
Manuel Prohaska, MPC2, Austria
Are you aware about the urea industry’s state-of-the-art construction materials? Nowadays all leading licensors use high-end ferritic-austenitic steels, so-called superduplex or hyperduplex stainless steels, in the urea synthesis section as their material class of choice. This presentation will explain why duplex steels are superior to the previously used austenitic stainless steels and how the corrosion properties of these steels are measured. Especially the correlation of traditional and still commonly used immersion test methods and state-of-the-art electrochemical methods as the Double-Loop – EPR test and their promising applications shall be explained.
Monitoring of critical rotating equipment
Alexander Høiby and Mathieu Leroux, Yara International, Norway
The focus of this presentation will be on machinery health condition monitoring based on vibration / process data. This will describe a large program in Yara to establish proper condition monitoring for our critical rotating equipment, leveraging the System 1 solution of Bently Nevada.
BASIS FACTS CPD points have been applied for.
Handling and storage of ammonium nitrate-based fertiliser
Kish Shah, Consultant, UK
The presentation will describe the main types of AN-based fertiliser and their potential hazardous properties. Safe methods of storage will be summarised. Handling and transport operations will be described with the relevant safe procedures. An overview of major accidents which involved these products will be given.
The Lessons Learned from 150 Safety Incidents in Urea Plants
Mark Brouwer, UreaKnowHow.com, Netherlands
In 2017, AmmoniaKnowHow.com and UreaKnowHow.com introduced global open source risk registers for ammonia and urea plants. On January 1, 2023, the Risk Register Safety Incidents in Urea Plants contained 150 safety incidents. This presentation provides the detailed analysis of these incidents: In which plant sections and during which project phase do these incidents occur, which incidents occur most frequently, and which hazards have the highest risk factor.
The presentation elaborates the most critical safety hazards and recommends its prevention and mitigation measures. A surprising conclusion is that most safety hazards may lead to a sudden release of toxic ammonia. The paper provides suggestions on how to safely behave in a urea plant, and how to identify a maximum number of safety hazards.
Attendance at this webinar will be worth 1 PN and 1 HS BASIS FACTS CPD points.
Evaluating the robustness of agronomic scientific research
Andrew Maguire, Washington State University, USA
Abstract under preparation.
Farmer led innovation good practice
Tom Sizmur, University of Reading, UK
Abstract under preparation
BASIS FACTS CPD points will be applied for.