The Benefits of Using Amino Acid Protein Nitrogen Fertilizers Like Ferticell® Explorer™ 10-0-0 and 16-0-0

April 24, 2025

Hydrolyzed soy protein (HSP) products, like Ferticell® Explorer™ 10-0-0 and Explorer™ 16-0-0 and our other products containing nitrogen also have polyamines (PAs), are pivotal in modern agricultural and biochemical applications. They provide essential nutrients for plant growth, while the PAs influence stress tolerance, ion transport, and crop productivity. First let’s examine their biochemical composition, roles, and mechanisms in plant development. Hydrolyzed soy protein is derived from soy proteins broken down into smaller peptides and amino acids through hydrolysis, heat treatment, or microbial fermentation. This process yields compounds like oligopeptides and polypeptides, alongside free amino acids, and biogenic amines. Biogenic amines (BAs) are nitrogenous compounds produced by decarboxylation of amino acids during hydrolysis or fermentation. In hydrolyzed soy protein, typical BAs include tyramine, histamine, putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, and spermine. Their formation is crucial for biological activities, yet excessive accumulation can influence metabolic pathways and plant responses. This also explains why Ferticell’s products containing Nitrogen have synergistic effects that are realized, as well as there is nitrogen in them that is not seen through normal analysis. In amino acids there is an additional average of 6.5% nitrogen that is part of their composition, so with
Explorer™ 10-0-0 that means an additional 3.9% or a 13.9-0-0*. Delving deeper there are other benefits that are not seen in using conventional nitrogen. Among them:

  • Protein Structure: Amines (NH₂ groups) in amino acids form peptide bonds, facilitating protein synthesis.
  • Neurotransmitter Precursors: Amino acids such as tryptophan and tyrosine can transform into serotonin and dopamine, respectively, playing roles in biochemical signaling.
  • Zwitterionic Behavior: Amino acids exist as zwitterions in solution, balancing ionic interactions critical for cellular stability.
  • Glycine acts as a transport for delivery of nutrients directly to the plants cells


Polyamines in Plant Biology are polycationic organic molecules found in all living cells. They perform key roles in plant physiology, influencing growth, development, and cellular processes.
Fundamental Roles:

  1. Cell Division and Differentiation: Polyamines regulate chromatin remodeling and gene expression, essential for normal plant growth.
  2. Flowering and Fruit Development: Polyamines enhance processes like pollen viability, ovule development, fruit set, and ripening.
  3. Nutrient Uptake: Their involvement in ion exchange increases plant absorption efficiency, promoting overall health and productivity.


Polyamines improve plant tolerance to abiotic stresses (e.g., drought, salinity, extreme temperatures) and biotic stresses (e.g., pathogens, pests) by triggering molecular and physiological defenses. They modulate antioxidant activity, cellular repair mechanisms, and osmotic balance. Mechanisms of Polyamine Action: Ion Exchange and Stress Responses. Polyamines influence ion transport across cellular membranes, maintaining ionic homeostasis and signaling under stress conditions.
Cation Transport Modulation:

  • Ion Homeostasis: Polyamines regulate transporters like H+ and Ca2+ ATPases, ensuring cellular ionic balance critical for metabolic stability.
  • Stress-Induced Remodeling: Under stress, polyamine levels adjust to enhance proline accumulation and enzymatic antioxidant activity.


Specific Effects:

  • Salinity Stress: Spermidine and spermine mitigate salinity-induced osmotic imbalances by enhancing ion transport and antioxidant responses.
  • Drought Stress: These polyamines promote grain filling and drought resistance in crops like wheat.


Ions play a crucial role in agriculture by enabling plant nutrient uptake, influencing soil fertility, and impacting soil pH and structure, all of which are essential for healthy crop growth.
Here's a more detailed explanation:

  • Nutrient Availability: Plants absorb essential nutrients from the soil in the form of ions, such as nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+), phosphate (PO43-), and potassium (K+).
  • Soil Fertility: The ability of soil to hold and release these ions (cation exchange capacity) is a key factor in determining soil fertility.
  • Soil pH: The presence and activity of ions, particularly hydrogen ions (H+), significantly influence soil pH, which in turn affects nutrient availability and plant growth.
  • Cation Exchange: Soil particles, especially clay and organic matter, have a negative charge that attracts and holds positively charged ions (cations) like calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and potassium (K+), making them available for plant uptake.
  • Anion Exchange: While less common than cation exchange, some soils also have positively charged surfaces that can hold negatively charged ions (anions) like nitrate (NO3-) and phosphate (PO43-).
  • Water Quality: Excessive amounts of certain ions, like nitrate, can leach into groundwater and contaminate water sources, posing a threat to both human and environmental health.
  • Ionic Liquids in Agriculture: Ionic liquids (ILs) are emerging as a promising area of research in agriculture, with potential applications in pesticide delivery, plant immunity induction, and sustainable agricultural practices.


In conclusion the practical utilization of hydrolyzed soy protein and polyamines, Explorer™ 10-0-0 and Explorer™ 16-0-0, has transformative implications for sustainable agriculture:

  1. Fertilizers: HSP provides organic nitrogen and essential amino acids to support plant growth and development.
  2. Abiotic Stress Tolerance: Polyamines enhance resilience to environmental challenges like drought and salinity.
  3. Crop Yield and Quality: PAs improve yield metrics and post-harvest fruit preservation, extending shelf life.
  4. Biotic Stress Defense: Their role in pathogen and pest resistance bolsters crop health.


* 1. Explorer™ 10-0-0 is listed as 10% hydrolyzed soy nitrogen, and contains 60% amino acids (60.9% by analysis).
* 3. Amino acids contribute an additional 6.5% nitrogen yielding 0.065 X 60 = 3.9% more nitrogen than the 10% analyzed or 13.9% with 98% (efficiency) of it being used by the plant.

Ferticell®’s Stress Relief Prescription Part 2

August 6, 2024
Abiotic stress is now impacting large parts of the U.S. This article is for those not using Ferticell® products as a preventative measure and include those that are, who now need more information on mitigation to prevent losses (Read more on abiotic stress in Part 1 of the series, https://www.agweb.com/news/crops/crop-production/ferticellrs-non-gmo-prescription- prevent-and/or-overcome-weather-related). Since we can’t control sunlight, rain, all salinity, and all nutrients, we can control inputs to prevent or reverse the stress. Plants are now beginning to reach a level of dormancy and if not acted upon it’s harder to overcome and if left untreated the yield can decline by 8-40%. We know our products work because of what they contain and do not e.g. no salt. We can improve the soil biome and soil structure to increase water holding capacity, water productivity, and water infiltration (now is the time to start the transition to less salt inputs before it is mandatory). This is especially needed in heavy clay soils or high salinity soils since they may hold water at a force greater than plants can extract it and further increase stress. Another issue is high levels of N means low absorption that leads to stress especially N with a high salt index, like UAN 32 at 71+, that impacts all aspects of metabolism. Ferticell® products are non-GMO and contain natural plant growth phytohormones, found in algae, microorganisms, unicellular fungi, and bacteria. Among them: Abscisic Acid {ABA}, Auxins {lAA), Cytokinins, Ethylene, Gibberellins {GA's), and Jasmonic acid. Water is not needed to activate when applied, is absorbed by the plant and active immediately in the plant for better outcomes. Ferticell® products: Allows faster, efficient fertilizer assimilation. Increases root development by increasing lateral and deeper roots, longer tap roots are important in finding water for drought resistance and survivability. Has lower salt content than seaweed or kelp products reduces salt burn potential versus the high salt conventional fertilizers that share some common ingredients. Promotes continuous feeding to retard or reverse dormancy. These products counteract abiotic stress and continue growth while increasing survivability. Nutri Plus™ 2.5-0-0, is a bio stimulant with 19 of 20 essential peptides + amino acids, with a total of 42. Amino Acids are considered the best natural bio stimulant and catalyst, second to water, stimulates the metabolic processes in the plant. The high levels of Aspartic and Glutamic acid are precursors to the other metabolic processes. The high Glycine content of Nutri-Plus promotes and supports chlorophyll activity. Universal™ 0-0-1 has a 25% algae content to handle all four stressors and hydration. It promotes biological activity in the root zone, for a stronger plant set, deeper roots for more efficient nutrient exchange and uptake. Helps your plants reach water before and during stress to make nutrient more readily available. Microelements™ 1-0-0 is a comprehensive package with the added benefit of freshwater algae that further aids plants during stress. Its sulfur is vital for photosynthesis, respiration, and the formation of cell membrane structure in the plant. Now that stress is occurring the above products are the most helpful in combination, the 3 options in rank of effectiveness for severe stress with #3 being the most efficient. Use what’s the best based outcome based on your budget: Option #1 32% UAN or 28% UAN and 2 Qt./acre Universal™ Option #2 1 Qt./acre Nutri Plus™ and 1 Qt./acre Microelements™ Option #3 1 Pt./acre Universal™, 1 Pt./acre Nutri Plus™, and 1 Qt./acre Microelements™ Our freshwater algae helps to drive the internal plant mechanism to act so it continues to thrive and function. Unlike other algae/seaweed products Universal™ has no salt index. Other products further stress plants before they might reverse them from the issues of stress, if at all. This added salt could actually kill the plant by burning it and since salt acts to excrete water, it further removes moisture from the plant. Nutri Plus™ also provides a small amount of plant-based nitrogen which will further encourage the desire to live and function. The inclusion of the sulfur and iron in Microelements™ will stimulate production of green color and photosynthesis for food and oxygen, helping to keep the plant thriving. FERTICELL® PRODUCTS ARE THE BEST “TANK BUDDY” ON THE MARKET!

Why Wait for Nitrogen Fixing?

June 25, 2024
Ferticell™ plant based amino acid Explorer™ 10-0-0 is absorbed within the first 3 hours, foliar or soil, and is immediately available. No wasted salt-based nitrogen for your soil, and Free of Chlorides. Enhances other forms of nitrogen when used in tank mixes with Pro-Primer™ 2-0-0.  Ferticell™ plant-based stimulants/nutrients uses freshwater algae extracts. This proprietary technology combines bacteria, enzymes and minerals that interact synergistically to stimulate plant growth, flowering, and fruiting while reducing stresses. It is a biological form of proteins, natural amino acids, Cytokinin, Auxin, soil cells extract, and a complete natural nutrient formula for a plant. Ferticell™ ammoniacal nitrogen needs no fixation for plant use, high efficiency, and no volatilization. Advantages come from providing high concentrations that are directly absorbed for plant use, even in poor soil biome areas. Our algae cell carrier is then available as a nutrient source “prebiotic” for the biome.

The Best Tank Load Buddy!

June 25, 2024
Ferticell’s products offer a unique value when used in conjunction with conventional fertilizers or other inputs. They assist in transporting conventional inputs into the plant. Our combination of single cell organisms are absorbed by plants and allow for passage between the cellular structure to an empty cell where it is delivered, instantly. Like pesticides we are concentrated for greater value.
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