When it comes to maximizing nitrogen efficiency, triazone technology stands apart as one of the most effective and reliable slow-release mechanisms available for foliar and soil applications. At TradeMark Nitrogen, this technology forms the foundation of Substain-N® (28-0-0) — a highly efficient nitrogen solution designed to feed plants steadily over time, minimizing losses and maximizing growth potential.
What Is Triazone?
Triazone is a unique cyclic molecule formed when urea reacts with formaldehyde under controlled conditions to create a water-soluble, stable ring structure. Unlike conventional urea or ammonium forms, triazone nitrogen resists immediate breakdown, offering a gradual and predictable nitrogen release profile.
Chemically, the triazone ring contains three nitrogen atoms and three carbon atoms, forming a structure that’s both highly stable and slowly hydrolyzed. This molecular stability is key — it allows nitrogen to remain available to plants for days or even weeks after application rather than volatilizing or leaching away.
Foliar Uptake and Mechanism
When applied as a foliar spray, triazone penetrates the leaf cuticle and enters plant tissues more gradually than urea. The slow diffusion rate helps prevent leaf burn and allows nitrogen to be absorbed in sync with the plant’s metabolic demand. Inside the leaf, enzymes and light-driven reactions convert triazone nitrogen into urea and ammonium forms, which are then assimilated into amino acids and proteins.
Studies have shown that this controlled metabolism — a combination of enzymatic reduction, photolytic transformation, and gradual mineralization — results in more efficient nitrogen utilization compared to quick-release sources. In essence, triazone acts like a reservoir of nitrogen, slowly unlocking its nutrients as the plant’s energy and sunlight drive conversion within the leaf tissue.
Why Triazone Matters
Traditional nitrogen fertilizers are prone to loss through volatilization, leaching, or denitrification — particularly under warm, wet, or alkaline conditions. Triazone nitrogen addresses these challenges through molecular stability and slow hydrolysis, helping ensure that more applied nitrogen stays available for plant uptake.
For growers, this translates to:
- More consistent feeding throughout the growing cycle
- Reduced burn risk on sensitive foliage
- Fewer applications needed for sustained performance
- Improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)
Substain-N®: Triazone Technology in Action
TradeMark Nitrogen’s Substain-N® contains 28% total nitrogen, with over 20% derived from triazone, providing both immediate and slow-release forms for balanced nutrition. This formulation supports high-performance crops across turf, sod, citrus, and row-crop systems — delivering uniform greening, steady growth, and improved nitrogen retention.
By leveraging the triazone mechanism, Substain-N® gives growers a dependable way to maintain nutrient availability even under fluctuating weather and soil conditions. Whether used as a stand-alone foliar treatment or integrated into a fertility program, its controlled-release profile ensures sustained nitrogen delivery — exactly when plants need it most.
In Summary
Foliar triazone technology represents a significant advancement in nitrogen management. By coupling slow-release chemistry with biological compatibility, products like Substain-N® from TradeMark Nitrogen exemplify how modern fertilizer design can improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability — helping growers move the needle with nitrogen, one application at a time.
— TradeMark Nitrogen —
“Moving the Needle with Nitrogen”