Trials & Evidence

Real field data behind the Triplex system

Triplex is built on measured field data, not claims or averages.
It exists because real-world results consistently show that a large proportion of nitrogen never reaches the crop — even in good-looking, high-yielding fields.

explaining the evidence behind that conclusion and how Triplex responds to it.

  • Across UK and European data, one point comes up again and again:

    Crops can yield well while still losing 40–50% of available nitrogen.

    This happens because:

    • Soil nitrogen is often underestimated

    • Total nitrogen supply exceeds crop uptake capacity

    • Losses occur quietly through leaching and volatilisation

    Triplex focuses on making those losses visible.

  • In a UK winter wheat field:

    • Applied nitrogen: 280 kg N/ha

    • Measured soil nitrogen: 129 kg N/ha

    • Total nitrogen available: 409 kg N/ha

    At harvest:

    • Grain nitrogen removed: 224 kg N/ha

    This gives a true Nitrogen Use Efficiency of ~55%.

    Even though:

    • Yield was strong

    • Protein target was met

    Nearly half the nitrogen available was lost.

    At fertiliser prices of ~£400/t ammonium nitrate, this equated to over £200 per hectare paid for but not used.

  • This example highlights a common issue:

    • Standard plans often look only at applied nitrogen

    • Soil nitrogen is treated as background noise

    • Efficiency looks acceptable on paper

    • Losses remain hidden

    Triplex addresses this by:

    • Counting soil nitrogen as real nitrogen

    • Looking at total supply, not just rates

    • Designing nutrition to match realistic uptake

  • Long-term nitrogen studies using labelled nitrogen have consistently shown that:

    • Only a small proportion of applied nitrogen is taken up in the season of application

    • A significant share of crop nitrogen comes from soil mineralisation

    • Excess supply increases loss risk without improving yield

    This supports the core Triplex principle:

    More nitrogen does not automatically mean more crop response.

  • Field observations and trials show that liquid application:

    • Delivers more even nutrient distribution

    • Improves placement in dry or variable soils

    • Reduces salt stress compared to granular fertilisers

    This helps explain why Triplex focuses on delivery efficiency, not just formulation.

  • Triplex does not chase headline yield results.

    Instead, it:

    • Measures what’s already available

    • Quantifies losses in kg and £

    • Supplies nutrition in a form that’s harder to lose

    • Reviews outcomes at harvest

    This creates a feedback loop, not a one-off trial result.

  • xA Triplex trial is not about:

    • A dramatic yield jump

    • A single-season headline number

    It is about:

    • Seeing how much nitrogen is currently being lost

    • Comparing efficiency field by field

    • Building confidence in nitrogen decisions

    • Improving performance year on year

    Many growers start with one field to see the numbers for themselves.

  • Triplex is designed to be:

    • Measurable

    • Repeatable

    • Explainable

    There are no hidden ingredients or claims that can’t be backed up with field data.

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