Arginine is the key to zero nitrogen waste – Arevo

Arevo’s products are based on the amino acid arginine. A major advantage of this particular amino acid is that it is absorbed extremely efficiently by plant roots. But even more important for the environment is its ability to attach to soil particles and other types of growing substrate.

This is because arginine has a positive charge that causes it to attach to negatively charged soil particles, much like a magnet. The positive charge of arginine and its ability to remain in the soil is also very consistent in different soil conditions. To understand how it works, we need to look at the so-called isoelectric point.

The isoelectric point is the pH at which a molecule carries no net electrical charge. If the pH is lower than the isoelectric point, the molecule will carry a positive charge. If the pH is higher than the isoelectric point, the molecule will carry a negative charge.

Soil pH is usually around 5.5-7.0. This is the reason why arginine and lysine carry a positive charge in soil and bind well to cation exchange sites. It is also the reason why conventional fertilizers cause so much nitrogen waste. Mineral fertilizers contain nitrate which is always negatively charged and therefore has difficulty remaining in the soil.