Studies on the effectiveness of various sulfur fertilizers under controlled conditions

Three factorial experiments with four replications were conducted in a greenhouse to examine the effectiveness of gypsum, elemental sulfur (ES powder) and three S containing N fertilizers, viz., ammonium sulfate (AS), urea + ES, and Ureas (20% AS and 80% urea). All experiments were conducted twice in different years.In the first experiment with uncropped soil, the effects of soil type, leaching rate (2.3 and 6.9 mm water per day) and urea addition on sulfate leaching losses were studied. Leaching losses decreased in the order Ureas > ammonium sulfate (AS) > gypsum urea + ES. Increasing the leaching rate greatly increased sulfate losses from both soils. Losses were greater in the sandy Typic Hapludoll than in the clayey Oxic Paleustalf. Sulfate adsorption was found to decrease strongly with rising the pH in both soils. Hydrolysis of urea temporarily raised the pH of the soil, thereby increasing the sulfate leaching losses.In the second experiment the effects of S rate (0–65 mg per kg soil), split application and leaching rate (0 and 2.3 mm per day) on sulfate leaching losses and apparent S recovery (ASR) by three successive cuts of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were studied. Herbage yield more than doubled when S was applied. The effectiveness of the sulfate fertilizers was greater when S was split-applied than given all at once. With split applications the ASR decreased in the order: Ureas > AS > gypsum > urea + ES > ES powder. ES fertilizers were least effective, because the oxidation rate of ES to sulfate was clearly too slow.In the third experiment the effects of S rate (0–40 mg per kg soil) and split application on sulfate leaching losses and ASR in the grain of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were studied under leaching conditions (2.3 mm per day). Grain yield increased strongly due to S application. Split application greatly increased the effectiveness of the sulfate fertilizers and appeared to be an effective tool in satisfying the S need of the crop under leaching conditions. Again, ES fertilizers were least effective, because the oxidation rate of ES was too slow to meet the S demand of the crop.In all experiments leaching losses of sulfate from the ES fertilizers were smaller than from the sulfate fertilizers.     

Effect of source and nest size of N fertilizers and temperature on nitrification in a coarse textured, alkaline soil

Nitrification occurring in an alkaline sandy loam soil fertilized with urea, ammonium sulphate (AS) and ammonium chloride (AC) was studied in the laboratory at 20°C and 40°C for 30 days. Nitrogen fertilizers were applied as nest of sizes 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g. Unfertilized control and soil mixed with 50 mg N kg^-1 were also included as treatments.Nitrification in all the fertilizer treatments decreased markedly with increasing nest size. At 20°C, differences among the three N sources were not significant at 5 days after incubation but marked differences appeared thereafter. All the N was nitrified by 30 days in case of fertilizers mixed into the soil. In nest placement, nitrification ranged from 30.1 to 75.5%, 28.3 to 74.6% and 35.3 to 88.7% for urea, AC and AS, respectively. When equal amounts of fertilizers were placed in a nest, nitrification occurred at a slower rate with urea than with AC and AS. Rates of nitrification were significantly higher at 40°C than at 20°C. At 20 days, nitrification from different nest sizes ranged from 8.4 to 64.9% and from 24.9 to 87.0% at 20°C and 40°C, respectively. The difference in nitrification at two temperatures were more pronounced at higher nest sizes than at smaller nest sizes. While nitrification with the three N sources decreased linearly with increase in N concentration (nest size) in soil at 40°C, it showed a quadratic relationship at 20°C. At equal N concentration, the highest rate of nitrification occurred with urea and the lowest with AC. At the same rate of applied N (50–2000 mg kg^-1), AC and AS increased electrical conductivity of soil by 1.3–9 times that of urea. Apparent mineral N recovery of applied N decreased with the increase in nest size.     

Transformation of calcium cyanamide and its inhibitory effect on urea nitrification in some tropical soils

Transformation of calcium cyanamide and its inhibitory effect on urea nitrification was studied in some tropical soils. Three soils, from Onne, Mokwa and Samaru, representing different agro-climatological zones of Nigeria were incubated with calcium cyanamide, urea or a mixture of both for eight weeks at 30 °C and at field capacity moisture content. The recovery of inorganic N (NH ₄ ⁺ plus NO ₂ ^- plus NO ₃ ^- )from calcium cyanamide varied from 64% to 87% in different soils. Most of the inorganic N accumulated was in NH ₄ ⁺ form. Nitrification of the accumulated NH ₄ ⁺ in all the soils was slow.Urea (75 mg N kg^–1 soil) was completely nitrified within a week in the Samaru and Mokwa soils whereas in the Onne soil the rate of nitrification was slow. Addition of CaCN₂ at the rate of 10 mg N kg^–1 soil generally delayed ammonification of urea and nitrification was severely inhibited in all the soils. Addition of CaCN₂ at the rate of 20 mg N kg^–1 soil further reduced the ammonification of urea and completely inhibited the nitrification. High recovery of inorganic N from calcium cyanamide and its effective reduction of nitrification of urea make it suitable source of N for plants in the tropics, provided it is managed to avoid phyto-toxicity.     

Large granules,nests or bands: Methods of increasing efficiency of fall-applied urea for small cereal grains in North America

In North America where the climate is cool enough only one crop is grown yearly, N fertilizers are sometimes applied in the previous fall rather than in the spring for fall- or spring-sown cereal grains. However, in areas where snow accumulates in winter, fall application of N fertilizers is generally inferior to spring application. Substantial nitrification takes place in winter and subsequent N loss occurs primarily in early spring by denitrification after the snow melt. Immobilization of N is also greater with fall- than spring-applied N fertilizers. Nitrogen is more efficiently retained in the soil as NH₄ and thus more effectively used by plants if formation of nitrite (NO₂) and NO₃ is reduced or prevented by inhibiting nitrification. The nitrification is reduced when urea is placed in bands, because of high pH, ammonia concentration and osmotic pressure in the soil. The rate of nitrification is further reduced when urea is placed in widely-spaced nests (a number of urea prills placed together at a point below the soil surface) or as large urea granules (LUG) by reducing contact between the nitrifying bacteria and the NH₄ released upon urea hydrolysis. A further reduction in nitrification from LUG can be obtained by addition of chemical nitrification inhibitors (such as dicyandiamide (DCD)) to LUG. The concentration of a chemical inhibitor required to suppress nitrification decreases with increasing granule size. The small soil-fertilizer interaction zone with placement of urea in nests or as LUG also reduces immobilization of fertilizer N, especially in soils amended with crop residues. The efficiency of fall-applied N is improved greatly by placing urea in nests or as LUG for small cereal grains. Yields of spring-sown barley from nests of urea or LUG applied in the fall are close to those obtained with spring-applied urea prills incorporated into the soil. Delaying urea application until close to freeze-up is also improved the efficiency of fall-applied N. This increased effectiveness of urea nests or LUG is due to slower nitrification, lower N loss over the winter by denitrification, and reduced immobilization of applied N. Fall application of LUG containing low rates of DCD slows nitrification, reduces over-winter N loss, and causes further improvement in yield and N uptake of winter wheat compared to urea as LUG alone in experiments in Ontario; in other experiments in Alberta there is no yield advantage from using a nitrification inhibitor with LUG for barley. Placement of LUG or nests of urea in soil is an agronomically sound practice for reducing N losses. This practice can eliminate or reduce the amount of nitrification inhibitor necessary to improve the efficiency of fall-applied urea where losses of mineral N are a problem. The optimum size of urea nest or LUG, and optimum combination of LUG and an efficient nitrification inhibitor need to be determined for different crops under different agroclimatic conditions. The soil (texture, CEC, N status), plant (winter or spring crop, crop geometry, crop growth duration and cultivar) and climatic (temperature, amount and distribution of precipitation) factors should be taken into account during field evaluation of LUG. There is a need to conduct region-specific basic research to understand mechanisms and magnitudes of N transformations and N losses in a given ecosystem. Prediction of nitrification from LUG or urea nests in various environments is needed. In nitrification inhibition studies with LUG and chemical nitrification inhibitors, measurements of nitrifier activity will be useful. Finally, there is need for development of applicators for mechanical placement of LUG or urea prills in widely-spaced nests in soil.     

Transformations and losses of fertilizer nitrogen on no-till and conventional till soils

A field study was conducted in 1982 to measure the effect of no-till (NT) and conventional till (CT) systems on N transformation after surface and subsurface applications of N fertilizers. Urea, urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution, (NH₄)₂SO₄ (AS), and CA(NO₃)₂ were applied to NT and CT plots (5.95 m²) at a rate of 448 kg N ha^–1. A comparison of fertilizer N recovered in soils receiving incorporated or surface applied N was used to estimate NH₃ volatilization while denitrification was estimated from fertilizer N recovered in the presence and absence of nitrapyrin with incorporated N. Immobilization was assessed in microplots (0.37 m²) after surface application of (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ to NT and CT systems at a rate of 220 kg N ha^–1.The results indicate little difference between NT and CT systems on urea hydrolysis rates and immobilization of surface applied fertilizer N. Approximately 50% and 10% of the surface applied N was recovered in the inorganic and organic fractions, respectively, on both tillage systems. The N not recovered was likely lost from plot areas through soil runoff. Incorporation of UAN, urea and AS resulted in 20 to 40% greater inorganic N recovery than from surface application. Nitrification rates were greater under the NT than the CT system. The similarities in concentration in the various N pools observed between the two tillage systems may be partially due to the short length of time that NT was imposed in this field study (<1 year) since other researchers using established tillage systems (>5 y) indicate that NT tends to promote decreased efficiency of fertilizer N.     

Interdependence of ammonia volatilization and nitrification in arid soils

The effect of applied-N (urea) on interdependence of ammonia volatilization and nitrification was studied in twelve arid soils varying mainly in soil texture and CaCO₃. Ammonia volatilization from applied urea was observed only above a threshold N concentration in soil (V_i). Values of V_i ranged from 50 in sandy soils to 250 g N g^-1 in loamy and clay loam soils. Soils with higher CaCO₃ showed lower values of V_i. Concentration of applied-N in soils, in relation to V_i determined its transformation pathway(s). Below V_i, all of the applied-N was nitrified in all soils with a delayed nitrification period ranging from 0 to 5 days. Above V_i, ammonia volatilization was first to start. This reduced NH₄ ⁺ concentration in soil and nitrification started later after the delay period was over. Duration of delay period increased with applied-N, sand content and CaCo₃. Often 80% or more of the total ammonia, volatilized during the delay period. NH₄ ⁺ concentration in soil at which volatilization ended was generally higher than V_i. It was concluded that both ammonia volatilization and nitrification were interdependent only if concentration of applied N was more than V_i. Above V_i only one process predominated at a time as volatilization stopped soon after the start of nitrification even if NH₄ concentration in soil was sufficient to sustain both processes.     

Urea management for lowland transplanted rice as affected by application of farmyard manure

Farmyard manure (FYM) applied to rice-growing soils can substitute for industrial fertilizers, but little is known about the influence of FYM on the effectiveness and optimal management for industrial N fertilizers. A field experiment was conducted in northern Vietnam on a degraded soil in the spring season (February to June) and summer season (July to November) to determine the effect of FYM on optimal timing for the first application of urea. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with two rates of basal incorporated FYM (0 or 6 Mg ha^–1) in factorial combination with two timings of the first application of 30 kg urea-N ha^–1 (basal incorporated before transplanting or delayed until 14 to 16 d after transplanting). The FYM was formed by composting pig manure with rice straw for 3 months. Basal incorporation of FYM, containing 23 kg N ha^–1, increased rice grain yield in both seasons. The yield increase cannot be attributed to reduced ammonia loss of applied urea-N, because FYM did not reduce partial pressure of ammonia (pNH₃) following urea application in either season. Basal and delayed applications of urea were equally effective in the absence of FYM, but when FYM was applied rice yields in both seasons were higher for delayed (mean = 3.2 Mg ha^–1) than basal (mean = 2.9 Mg ha^–1) application of urea. Results suggest that recommendations for urea timing in irrigated lowland rice should consider whether farmers apply FYM.     

Lowering ammonia volatilization losses from urea application by activation of nitrification process

The aim of this work was to lower ammonia volatilization losses by increasing the rate of nitrification. This was achieved by eliminating the gap in timing between urea hydrolysis and ammonium nitrification. Soils were pretreated with a small amount of ammonium salt which led to the activation of the nitrification process. When nitrification passed its lag period, urea was applied to the soils. Ammonium produced by urea hydrolysis was quickly oxidized into nitrate and did not accumulate in the soil. This resulted in decreased ammonium concentrations in soil, and consequently, in decreased ammonia volatilization losses.This report is part of a doctoral thesis by the first author.     

Chemical interactions between soil N and alkaline-hydrolysing N fertilizers

Chemical interactions between soil N and alkaline-hydrolysing N fertilizers labelled with¹⁵N were studied in the laboratory using twelve-irradiated soils. Fertilizer was recovered in the soil organic N fraction via the process of NH₃ fixation. NH₃ fixation at day 7 varied from 1.8 to 4.6% of the N added as aqua ammonia at 1000 mg kg^–1 soil. The amount of NH₃ fixed increased with increasing rates of application of NH_3(aq) and urea. The rate of NH₃ fixation decreased with time, with more than 55% of the total NH₃ fixation in 28 days occurring in the first week following application of 2000 mg urea-N kg^–1 soil. Soil pH and NH₃ fixation varied in response to N source, and increased in the order of di-ammonium phosphate 3 fixation, resulting in the release of unlabelled ammonium (deamination) and a real added nitrogen interaction in all but two of the soils studied. The release of NH ₄ ⁺ initially increased up to a pH of 7.5, was inhibited between pH 8.5 and 9.0, but increased thereafter. The balance (N_bal) between NH₃ fixation and deamination was either positive or negative, depending on the pH of the fertilized soil, which was directly related to N source and concentration for a given soil.     

N2O and NO emissions from a field of Chinese cabbage as influenced by band application of urea or controlled-release urea fertilizers

A field experiment was conducted in an Andosol in Tsukuba, Japan to study the effect of banded fertilizer applications or reduced rate of fertilizer N (20% less) on emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO), and also crop yields of Chinese cabbage during the growing season in 2000. Six treatments were applied by randomized design with three replications, which were; no N fertilizer (CK); broadcast application of urea (BC); band application of urea (B); band application of urea at a rate 20% lower than B (BL); band application of controlled-release urea (CB) and band application of controlled-release urea at a rate 20% lower than CB (CBL). The results showed that reduced application rates, applied in bands, of both urea (BL) and controlled-release urea fertilizer (CBL) produced yields that were not significantly lower than yields from the full rate of broadcast urea (BC). The emissions of N₂O and NO from the reduced fertilizer treatments (BL, CBL) were lower than that of normal fertilizer rates (B, CB). N₂O and NO emissions from controlled-release urea applied in band mode (CB, CBL) were less than those from urea applied in band mode (B, BL). The total emissions of N₂O and NO indicated that applying fertilizers in band mode mitigated NO emission from soils, but N₂O emissions from banded urea (B) were no lower than from broadcast urea (BC).     

Effect of lime nitrogen on the efficiency of urea and other ammonium nitrogen fertilizers

Five pot experiments were conducted with wheat and rice in a net house to study the effect of lime nitrogen (LN, contains about 55% calcium cyanamide) amendment rates on the efficiency of urea, the recovery urea-¹⁵N, the efficiency of the three nitrogen fertilizers(NF), on the efficiency of urea in the three soils, and on NO ₃ ^- -N leaching from a flooded soil. A rate of LN-N of 5–8% of applied fertilizer N increased the recovery of labeled urea-N by 9.42%. The effect of LN on the efficiency of NF was urea > ammonium sulfate > ammonium chloride. Under flooded conditions, LN decreased NO ₃ ^- formation and leaching.Responses of several crops to LN amended fertilizers were also studied in field experiments. At equal NPK applications, the efficiency of basal applications to rice, wheat, corn, potatoes, soybean, peanut, grapes, peaches, melon and watermelon were bette r with LN than without. Efficiency with a basal fertilizer for rice or wheat with LN were the same as with the same fertilizer without LN applied in split applications.     

Effects of type and amount of applied nitrogen fertilizer on nitrous oxide fluxes from intensively managed grassland

Five field experiments and one greenhouse experiment were carried out to assess the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizer type and the amount of applied N fertilizer on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from grassland. During cold and dry conditions in early spring, emission of N₂O from both ammonium (NH ₄ ⁺ ) and nitrate (NO ₃ ^– ) containing fertilizers applied to a clay soil were relatively small, i.e. less than 0.1% of the N applied. Emission of N₂O and total denitrification losses from NO ₃ ^– containing fertilizers were large after application to a poorly drained sand soil during a wet spring. A total of 5–12% and 8–14% of the applied N was lost as N₂O and via denitrification, respectively. Emissions of N₂O and total denitrification losses from NH ₄ ⁺ fertilizers and cattle slurry were less than 2% of the N applied. Addition of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) reduced N₂O fluxes from ammonium sulphate (AS). However, the effect of DCD to reduce total N₂O emission from AS was much smaller than the effect of using NH ₄ ⁺ fertilizer instead of NO ₃ ^– fertilizer, during wet conditions. The greenhouse study showed that a high groundwater level favors production of N₂O from NO ₃ ^– fertilizers but not from NH ₄ ⁺ fertilizers. Inereasing calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) application increased the emitted N₂O on grassland from 0.6% of the fertilizer application rate for a dressing of 50 kg N ha^–1 to 3.1% for a dressing of 300 kg N ha^–1. In another experiment, N₂O emission increased proportionally with increasing N rate. The results indicate that there is scope for reducing N₂O emission from grasslands by choosing the N fertilizer type depending on the soil moisture status. Avoiding excessive N application rates may also minimize N₂O emission from intensively managed grasslands.     

Nitrogen leaching and plant uptake from controlled-release fertilizers

Controlled-release N fertilizers are commonly used in the production of container-grown ornamental crops, yet the relative effects of various nutrient sources on N leaching are not well known. A 27-week experiment was conducted to evaluate N leaching loss and plant growth following two applications of six controlled-release N fertilizers and one soluble N fertilizer to container-grownEuonymus patens Rehd. The controlled-release fertilizers evaluated were (noncoated) isobutylidene diurea, oxamide, urea formaldehyde, and (coated) Osmocote, Prokote Plus, and sulfur-coated urea. Of the fertilizers tested, the coated fertilizers generally out-performed the noncoated fertilizers in reducing N leaching losses, stimulating plant growth, and increasing tissue N concentrations. Low N concentrations in the leachate of some treatments indicated efficient nutrient use by the plant. In other treatments, low N concentrations in the leachate merely reflected incomplete N release from the fertilizer. A daily application of NH₄NO₃ resulted in a constant rate of N loss but was not the most effective in promoting growth. Plant growth, tissue N concentrations, and N leaching losses were all increased by doubling the fertilizer application rate from 1 kg N m^–3 to 2 kg N m^–3.     

Recent research on problems in the use of urea as a nitrogen fertilizer

Recent research on the NH₃ volatilization, NO ₂ ^- accumulation, and phytotoxicity problems encountered in the use of urea fertilizer is reviewed. This research has shown that the adverse effects of urea fertilizers on seed germination and seedling growth in soil are due to NH₃ produced through hydrolysis of urea by soil urease and can be eliminated by addition of a urease inhibitor to these fertilizers. It also has shown that the leaf burn commonly observed after foliar fertilization of soybean with urea results from accumulation of toxic amounts of urea in soybean leaves rather than formation of toxic amounts of NH3 through hydrolysis of urea by leaf urease. It further showed that this leaf burn is accordingly increased rather than decreased by addition of a urease inhibitor to the urea fertilizer applied. N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) is the most effective compound currently available for retarding hydrolysis of urea fertilizer in soil, decreasing NH3 volatilization and NO ₂ ^- accumulation in soils treated with urea, and eliminating the adverse effects of urea fertilizer on seed germination and seedling growth in soil. NBPT is a poor inhibitor of plant or microbial urease, but it decomposes quite rapidly in soil with formation of its oxon analog N-(n-butyl) phosphoric triamide, which is a potent inhibitor of urease activity. It is not as effective as phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD) for retarding urea hydrolysis and ammonia volatilization in soils under waterlogged conditions, presumably because these conditions retard formation of its oxon analog. PPD is a potent inhibitor of urease activity but it decomposes quite rapidly in soils with formation of phenol, which is a relatively weak inhibitor of urease activity. Recent studies of the effects of pesticides on transformations of urea N in soil indicate that fungicides have greater potential than herbicides or insecticides for retarding hydrolysis of urea and nitrification of urea N in soil.     

Estimated NH3-volatilization losses from surface-applied urea on a wet calcareous Vertisol

Severe losses of NH₃ by volatilization are often reported when urea is surface applied to calcareous soils. Applications on wet soils may increase these losses. This study with N rates of 0, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 kg ha^?1 estimates the efficiency of urea application and predicts NH₃-volatilization losses when urea is surface applied on a wet calcareous soil. Placements consisted of three different methods of applying urea on or in the dry soil just prior to irrigation and a surface-broadcast treatment following irrigation. There were no significant yield differences between dry-soil placements, but all dry-soil placements gave significantly higher yields than did broadcast placement of urea on the wet soil. Thus, a second-order regression equation relating N rate and yield for dry-soil placements and another for wet-soil placement were used to determine the efficiency of wet- vs dry-soil applications of urea and to predict NH₃-volatilization losses from the wet soil. The efficiency was determined by three different procedures. The first compared the amount of N needed for wet- vs dry-soil conditions to produce discrete yields. The second compared the slope of the yield curves at discrete yield levels to determine the ratio of the amount of N needed to produce one additional increment of yield under wet- vs dry-soil conditions. The third was an estimation of the availability coefficient according to a method recently developed by HR Tejeda and others. Predicted NH₃ -volatilization losses were calculated from the efficiency values because loss of NH₃ from urea applied on or in dry soil followed very shortly by an irrigation should be almost nil. The efficiency factors averaged 55% for the first procedure and 51% for the second while the availability coefficient was 59%. Thus, the average estimate for efficiency of urea on wet vs dry soil was 55% and predicted losses of N by NH₃ volatilization averaged 45% when urea was applied to the wet surface of this calcareous soil.     

Degradation of the nitrification inhibitor 1-amidino-2-thiourea in soils,and its action in Nitrosomonas pure culture and soil incubation experiments

The degradation of guanylthiourea (GTU) via 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-thiadiazole (TDZ) to dicyandiamide (DCD) was studied in selected soils. All three compounds could be determined by HPLC. GTU decomposed rapidly (within hours-days), the reaction from TDZ to DCD continued more slowly (within days-weeks). Soil type and temperature had an essential effect on the rate of degradation; conspicuous was a more rapid breakdown of GTU in presence of ammonium sulfate (AS) than in combination with urea.Each compound is a nitrification inhibitor; inNitrosomonas cell suspensions, 0.5 ppm GTU and 10 ppm TDZ achieved an effect comparable to 200 ppm DCD.The combination of these two effects—degradation in soil and inhibition of nitrification—were studied in soil incubation experiments. The three substances had inhibitory effects also in soil, however at significantly different application rates (20 ppm GTU or TDZ and 30 ppm DCD). Using these concentrations, AS/DCD and urea/GTU showed similar effects.Urea/GTU retarded nitrification by the factor 1.7 as compared to urea/DCD. AS/GTU had no advantage over AS/DCD which can be explained by the more rapid degradation of GTU in presence of AS.Urea/GTU apparently presents a promising possibility to utilize N-fertilizers more efficiently.     

Ammonia losses from ammonium-containing and -forming fertilizers after surface application at different rates on alkaline soils

The objective of this investigation was to compare the susceptibility of different ammonium containing and forming fertilizers to NH₃ losses and to determine the effect of application rates on NH₃ volatilization. Losses of NH₃ from five fertilizers, namely (NH₄)₂SO₄, CAN, urea, MAP and DAP were determined. The fertilizers were surface-applied to a sandy clay loam Arniston soil and a clayey Gelykvlakte soil of which the pH values were respectively 9.0 and 8.9. The application levels were equivalent to 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 240 kg N ha^–1. After a contact period of 3 days NH₃ losses were determined. Ammonia was lost from both soils under all treatments. More NH₃ was lost from the clayey Gelykvlakte soil compared with the sandy clay loam Arniston soil. Loss of NH₃ from the various fertilizers was ranked as follows: Urea > DAP > (NH₄)₂SO₄ > MAP > CAN. Ammonia losses increased with increasing application rates, but the proportion of N lost, decreased. Losses of NH₃ may be reduced by selective choice of fertilizer type and application rate.     

A comparative study of urea hydrolysis rate and ammonia volatilization from urea and urea calcium nitrate

A comparing of urea hydrolysis and NH₃ volatilization from urea supergranules and urea calcium nitrate (UCN, a new fertilizer produced by Norsk Hydro A/S, Norway) was made on two different flooded soil types, a high-CEC clay loam (Ås) and an intermediate-CEC clay loam (Kinn).Nitrogen loss by ammonia volatilization was reduced from 17% by surface application of urea supergranules (USG) on flooded Ås soil to 3% and 6% by UCN briquettes at either the same urea or nitrogen concentration as USG. A significant reduction was even found with the surface application of prilled UCN, 12% and 18% N-loss for prilled UCN and urea, respectively. The floodwater pH and NH ₄ ⁺ content was lower with UCN than urea, which reduced the potential for ammonia volatilization.NH₃-loss (5%) was significantly less when USG was surface applied on Kinn soil, while NH₃-loss from UCN briquettes was independent of soil type. The reduction in NH₃-loss from USG on Kinn soil was due to a decrease in the pH and NH ₄ ⁺ content of the floodwater caused by a reduced rate of urea hydrolysis.The rate of urea hydrolysis was lower with UCN than USG in both soils, but the difference between UCN and USG was greater in the Ås soil than in the Kinn soil. Three days after deep placement (10 cm), 18% of UCN urea and 52% of USG urea were hydrolyzed in Ås soil, while only 12% UCN and 17% USG were hydrolyzed in the Kinn soil.The surface application of USG on flooded soil reduced the rate of urea hydrolysis as compared to deep placement. 30% and 17% of USG urea was hydrolyzed after four days on Ås and Kinn soil, respectively. During the first few days the rate of hydrolysis of UCN was more affected by the soil type than the application method. Four days after surface application 32% and 13% UCN urea was hydrolyzed on Ås and Kinn soil, respectively. The rate of urea hydrolysis exhibited a zero-order reaction when USG and UCN-briquettes were point placed in flooded soils.     

Nitric oxide emissions from agricultural soils in temperate and tropical climates: sources, controls and mitigation options

Global annual NO emissions from soil are of the order of 10 Tg NO-N. This is about half the amount fossil fuel combustion processes contribute to the annual global NO_x budget. Reducing the emissions of soil derived NO_x requires an understanding of the source of the flux and the processes that determine its magnitude. A thorough investigation of possible mitigation strategies and the consequences of their implementation is also necessary. The ratio of NO and N₂O emissions from soils can be used as an indicator of the dominant NO production pathway operating. Fertilizer application (rate, type and time of application), soil temperature, soil water content and soil management practices all affect the emission rate and are reviewed. Mitigation options include reduction in N fertilizer use through an increase in fertilizer use efficiency, preferential use of NH⁴NO₃ instead of urea, improved timing of fertilizer application, the use of nitrification and urease inhibitors, improving the fertilizer uptake efficiency of crops in tropical agriculture and changes in land management. Several of the viable mitigation strategies, mainly those increasing fertilizer use efficiency, have the capacity to reduce global annual NO emissions by 4% (0.4 Tg NO-N y^-1). For other strategies including use of inhibitors, changing cultivation or land use, the possible reductions are too uncertain to justify quantification on the basis of present knowledge.     

Nitrogen transformations near urea in soil: Effects of nitrification inhibition,nitrifier activity and liming

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to gain a better understanding of N transformations which occur near large urea granules in soil and the effects of dicyandiamide (DCD), nitrifier activity and liming. Soil cores containing a layer of urea were used to provide a one-dimensional approach and to facilitate sampling. A uniform layer of 2 g urea or urea + DCD was placed in the centre of a 20 cm-long soil core within PVC tubing. DCD was mixed with urea powder at 50 mg kg^–1 urea and enrichment of soil with nitrifiers was accomplished by preincubating Conestogo silt loam with 50 mg NH ₄ ⁺ -N kg^–1 soil. Brookston clay (pH 5.7) was limited with CaCO₃ to increase the pH to 7.3. The cores were incubated at 15°C and, after periods of 10, 20, 35 and 45 days, were separated into 1-cm sections. The distribution of N species was similar on each side of the urea layer at each sampling. The pH and NH ₄ ⁺ (NH₃) concentration were very high near the urea layer but decreased sharply with distance from it. DCD did not influence urea hydrolysis significantly. Liming of Brookston clay increased urea hydrolysis. The rate of urea hydrolysis was greater in Conestogo silt loam than limed Brookston clay. Nitrite accumulate was relatively small with all the treatments and occurred near the urea layer (0–4 cm) where pH and NH ₄ ⁺ (NH₃) concentration were high. The nitrification occurred in the zone where NH ₄ ⁺ (NH₃) concentration was below 1000µgN g^–1 and soil pH was below 8.0 and 8.7 in Brookston and Conestogo soils, respectively. DCD reduced the nitrifier activity (NA) in soil thereby markedly inhibiting nitrification of NH ₄ ⁺ . Nitrification was increased significantly with liming of the Brookston soil or nitrifier enrichment of the Conestogo soil. There was a significant increase in NA during the nitrification of urea-N. The (NO ₂ ^– + NO ₃ ^– )-N concentration peaks coincided with the NA peaks in the soil cores.A practical implication of this work is that large urea granules will not necessarily result in NO ₂ ^– phytotoxicity when applied near plants. A placement depth of about 5 cm below the soil surface may preclude NH₃ loss from large urea granules. DCD is a potential nitrification inhibitor for use with large urea granules or small urea granules placed in nests.