Olds College of Agriculture & Technology is collaborating on a research project with Nytro Ag Corp., Canadian distributor of Green Lightning Ag. Nitrogen is essential for crop performance and is a costly input for producers. Green Lightning Ag has developed a water-based enhancement system that converts atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available nitrate without forming ionic salts.
This innovative approach, which involves utilization of treated water on crops, is designed to reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers, improving soil health while lowering the cost of inputs for producers.
The applied research project, which began in 2025, will evaluate the agronomic and agronomic performance of the treated water when applied to wheat, barley and canola, which are common crops in central Alberta. It will involve a three-year small plot trial ending in 2028 that will investigate whether this technology, when used as a substitute for synthetic nitrogen at equivalent total nitrogen input levels, can maintain or improve crop performance compared to conventional fertilizer practices.