Amino 80: What It Is, Composition, Benefits & How to Use in Agriculture

Amino 80 is a water-soluble powder containing at least 80% total amino acids — the highest-concentration grade of compound amino acid fertilizer — used to formulate high-strength biostimulants, low-volume foliar sprays and specialty crop nutrition programs in agriculture. It delivers nearly twice the active amino acids per kilogram of the popular Amino 45 grade.

This guide explains what Amino 80 is made of, how it differs from Amino 35 and 45, where its high concentration pays off most, and how to apply it correctly. It is written for fertilizer formulators, biostimulant blenders, agronomists and distributors evaluating a maximum-density amino acid source.

What is Amino 80?

Amino 80 is a fine, light-yellow to brown powder containing at least 80% total amino acids on a dry-weight basis, together with ≥12% total nitrogen and ≥80% organic matter. It is the top grade in the standard 35 / 45 / 80 compound amino acid product range.

It is produced by hydrolysis of protein-rich raw materials — most commonly duck feather keratin, soy protein or animal collagen. Long protein chains are broken into short peptides and free L-amino acids, then the hydrolysate is concentrated and spray-dried into a free-flowing powder that dissolves 100% in water with no residue.

Because the amino acids are in free L-form, plants absorb them directly through leaf cuticles and root membranes within hours — bypassing the mineralisation step required by conventional nitrogen fertilisers. At 80% concentration, one kilogram of Amino 80 carries the same active payload as roughly 1.8 kg of Amino 45, which is why it is the preferred grade when formulation density, freight cost or inclusion rate matters.

Quality verification matters at this concentration: our Amino Acids 80 grade has been independently tested by Eurofins, confirming 75.37% free amino acids out of the ≥80% total amino acid content.

Composition of Amino 80

The table below is the typical specification for an Amino Acids 80 grade produced from hydrolyzed duck feather protein (our reference product at Everwell Bio):

Typical amino acid spectrum (verified by third-party laboratory analysis):

The spectrum is naturally rich in glycine and glutamic acid — the two amino acids most involved in chlorophyll synthesis and micronutrient chelation — and in proline and serine, the key osmoprotectants that help crops maintain turgor under drought and salinity stress.

How Amino 80 Works in the Plant

Amino 80 works through the same three mechanisms as all free-amino-acid biostimulants — but at roughly double the intensity per gram applied:

1. Direct protein synthesis. Free L-amino acids are absorbed through leaves and roots and assembled directly into plant proteins, enzymes and chlorophyll, saving the plant significant metabolic energy compared with synthesising amino acids from mineral nitrogen.
2. Natural chelation. Glycine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid bind Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and Ca into organic complexes that cross leaf and root membranes far more efficiently than free mineral ions — improving micronutrient translocation.
3. Stress osmoregulation. Proline, serine and glycine-betaine accumulate in cells as osmolytes, protecting membranes and enzymes during heat, drought, frost, salinity and herbicide stress, and accelerating recovery afterwards.

Benefits of Amino 80

Applied at the right rate and stage, Amino 80 delivers:

• Maximum actives per kilo. More than 800 g of amino acids per kg of product — lower inclusion rates, less packaging, lower freight cost per unit of active.
• High-strength formulation capability. Stable at 20–50% inclusion in liquid biostimulant concentrates without precipitation or caking.
• Rapid stress recovery. The concentrated proline and glycine fraction makes it the grade of choice for rescue sprays after frost, hail, heat waves or herbicide phytotoxicity.
• Low-volume application. At 0.05–0.15% dilution, full-rate amino nutrition fits into low-volume spray programs and UAV/drone spraying.
• Enhanced NPK efficiency. Tank-mixed with NPK solutions, it raises apparent nutrient utilisation, especially under cold-soil or root-restricted conditions.
• Clean, residue-free. 100% water-soluble, no clogging of drip lines or spray nozzles, no salt build-up, no residue on produce.

Application: How to Use Amino 80

Amino 80 is fully water-soluble. Because the concentration is high, dilution rates are roughly half those used for Amino 45:

Compatibility. Amino 80 is compatible with most NPK solutions, micronutrients, humic acid, seaweed extract and common crop-protection products. Avoid tank-mixing with strongly alkaline products (pH > 8) or concentrated copper fungicides; always jar-test before first commercial use.

Where Amino 80 Excels

• Biostimulant & specialty formulation — the core use case: maximum amino density for premium liquid and soluble products.
• High-value crops — grapes, berries, citrus, avocado, protected vegetables, golf and sports turf, where quality parameters (Brix, colour, firmness, shelf life) drive revenue.
• Stress-rescue programs — rapid recovery after frost, heat, salinity or herbicide damage.
• Hydroponics & fertigation — clean, fully soluble nitrogen source for soilless systems.
• Export-oriented supply chains — lower weight per unit of active reduces sea-freight cost to distant markets.

Amino 35 vs 45 vs 80: How to Choose

The number on the bag is the guaranteed minimum total amino acid content. Choose by application method and value per hectare:

For a deeper comparison of the mid-grade, see Amino 45 Explained.

Packaging & Supply

Everwell Bio supplies Amino 80 in 20 kg kraft paper bags with PE inner liner (standard export packaging) or in 1 mt jumbo bags on request. Every batch ships with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) covering total amino acids, free amino acids, total nitrogen, moisture, pH, solubility, heavy metals and microbial limits — our Amino 80 has additionally been verified by Eurofins, one of the world's leading testing laboratories.

Monthly capacity across the 35 / 45 / 80 grades is 4,000 tons, and we ship to 20+ countries — typically 15–25 days by sea from Shanghai or Qingdao.

Frequently Asked Questions about Amino 80

What is Amino 80?

Amino 80 is a water-soluble powder containing at least 80% total amino acids — the highest-concentration grade of compound amino acid fertilizer. It is produced by hydrolysis of protein sources such as duck feathers or soy and is used to formulate high-strength biostimulants, low-volume foliar sprays, fertigation programs and specialty liquid concentrates.

What is Amino 80 made from?

Amino 80 is made by hydrolyzing protein-rich raw materials — most commonly duck feather keratin, soy protein or animal collagen — into short peptides and free L-amino acids, then concentrating and spray-drying the hydrolysate. At Everwell Bio, Amino Acids 80 is produced from hydrolyzed duck feather protein, with 75.37% free amino acids independently verified by Eurofins.

What is the difference between Amino 45 and Amino 80?

The number is the guaranteed minimum total amino acid content: Amino 45 contains at least 45%, Amino 80 at least 80%. Amino 80 delivers nearly twice the active amino acids and organic nitrogen per kilogram, so lower rates are needed and freight cost per unit of active is lower. Amino 45 is the economical all-round grade; Amino 80 is preferred for high-strength biostimulant concentrates, hydroponics, rescue sprays and weight-sensitive export formulations.

What is Amino 80 used for?

Amino 80 is used for formulating high-strength liquid biostimulants at 20–50% inclusion, low-volume foliar sprays at 0.05–0.15%, fertigation at 1–2 kg/ha, rapid crop recovery after drought, frost, salinity or herbicide stress, hydroponic nutrient programs, and seed treatment at 0.05–0.1% solution.

How do you apply Amino 80?

Apply Amino 80 as a foliar spray at 50–150 g per 100 L of water (0.05–0.15%), through drip irrigation at 1–2 kg per hectare, or include at 20–50% when formulating biostimulant concentrates. Dilution rates are roughly half those of Amino 45. Spray in cool hours and repeat every 10–14 days during active growth.

Is Amino 80 safe for organic farming?

Yes. Amino 80 derived from hydrolyzed feather protein is a non-synthetic input produced by physical and enzymatic hydrolysis, accepted by most organic certification programs including EU 2018/848, OMRI and JAS. It leaves no chemical residue and is safe to apply up to harvest.

Sources & Further Reading

• Amino 45 Explained: composition, benefits and use
• What is compound amino acid powder?
• Amino 35, 45, or 80: How to choose
• How to apply amino acid powder
• Benefits of amino acid powder as fertiliser
• Which crops benefit most
• Everwell Amino Acids 80 — product page