Volatilization of ammonia from urea-ammonium nitrate solutions as influenced by organic and inorganic additives

Fertilizers containing urea can suffer from nitrogen (N) loss through ammonia volatilization, resulting in reduced effectiveness of the fertilizers. The loss of N may be reduced by use of organic or inorganic additives.Laboratory experiments were conducted on surface soil samples (0–15 cm) from two agricultural soils (St. Bernard and Ste. Sophie) to determine the impact of ammonium thiosulfate (ATS), boric acid, and a humic substance from leonardite, on NH₃ losses from surface-applied urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) solutions. Experiments were carried out using moist soil samples in closed containers. Evolved NH₃ was carried out of the containers and trapped in boric acid solution using an ammonia-free humidified air flow.Total NH₃ losses in these experiments ranged from 12.1 to 21.3% of the N applied. The reduction in NH₃ volatilization (expressed as % of added N) due to additives ranged from 13.6 to 38.5% and 3 to 36.3% in St. Bernard and Ste. Sophie soils, respectively. More NH₃ volatilized from the boric acid or humic treated UAN solutions than from ATS-UAN solutions.Boric acid, ATS, and the humic substance, all significantly reduced urea hydrolysis in both soils in comparison to the untreated UAN solution. Further, the humic substance and boric acid treatment induced significant reduction in NO₃-formation. The results suggest that humic substance and to a lesser extent boric acid may function as urease and/or nitrification inhibitors. ATS treatment, particularly at higher levels increased NO₃-formation in both soils. The reason for this increase in nitrate formation is not clear.     

Soil properties related to the dynamics of ammonia volatilization from urea applied to the surface of acidic soils

Ammonia volatilization after urea application is the most likely mechanism responsible for variation in urea performance even on acidic soils. The rate and the cumulative amount of NH₃ loss are important features for any soil. Field rates of NH₃ volatilization were simulated by using ventilated enclosures in the laboratory. The daily rates of NH₃ volatilization from 36 soils of widely differing properties from Northern Ireland were measured for 14 days. Cumulative loss rates for each soil were fitted to a logistic model from which the total cumulative loss (A_max) and the time for maximum rate of volatilization (T_max) were calculated. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to relate A_max and T_max to soil properties.A_max values ranged from 1.6 to 26.1% and averaged 16.8% of the urea-N applied. Titratable acidity (TA) was the single soil property most related to A_max accounting for 65% of the variance. Including moisture loss and pH_KCl in the multiple linear regression equation explained 74% of the variance. T_max values ranged from 0.0 to 10.6 days after urea application. Non-buffered urease activity and loss-on-ignition accounted for 70% of the variance in T_max. Including clay and CaCO₃ in the multiple linear regression equation explained 80% of the variance.In the absence of rainfall, the most important characteristic of the NH₃ volatilization process will be A_max. Under field conditions, rainfall will alter the dynamics of the NH₃ volatilization process depending on when it falls and on the T_max value for the soil. Since sufficient rainfall to prevent NH₃ volatilization is unlikely to occur in Ireland on many of the occasions when urea is applied, less NH₃ volatilization will occur from soils with high T_max values. Lowest rates of NH₃ volatilization will occur from soils with high values of TA, low values of non-buffered urease activity and high values of loss-on-ignition.     

Improvement of nitrogen efficiency by addition of ammonium thiosulfate in the liquid fertilization of maize

Ammonium thiosulfate ((NH₄)₂S₂O₃, ATS, 12-0-0-26 S) has been reported to inhibit both nitrification of NH₄ and hydrolysis of CO(NH₂)₂ in soil. A field test on maize was carried out adding ATS to UAN (10% by volume). Addition of ATS to UAN tended to increase grain yield and ear-leaf N concentration at silking in all treatments, although the differences were not statistically significant at p = 0.05. The response to the addition of ATS appears to be related to N nutrition and not to S nutrition as ear-leaf S concentration always ranged over the adequate level.Due to the dry weather during the growing season, nitrate leaching was negligible; therefore it is assumed that results obtained were related with lower NH₃ volatilization losses.     

Response of irrigated maize to urea-ammonium nitrate and ammonium thiosulphate solutions on a sulphur deficient soil

Ammonium thiosulphate solution, (ATS, (NH₄)₂S₂O₃, 12% NH₄-N and 26% S), is a nitrogen-sulphur fertiliser which can also inhibit nitrification, inhibit area hydrolysis and also solubilize micronutrients in alkaline soils. A three year field study was conducted in northeastern Italy to compare the growth, yield, and nutrient uptake of irrigated maize (Zea mays L.) fertilised with 250 kg N ha^-1 urea-ammonium nitrate solution (UAN, 30-0-0) or UAN plus ATS. Dry matter (DM) yield, sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N) uptake were measured at several growth stages. Grain was measured and analyzed at maturity. Maize grain yield and N uptake were increased respectively 30.6% and 42.2% in the first year by adding ATS to UAN. Adding 10% by weight ATS to UAN (22.8 kg S ha^-1) increased grain yields by 1.9, 1.7 and 1.6t ha^-1 for the three years of the study. To distinguish whether the response was due to S or other ATS attributes, ATS was compared to an equivalent amount of S from single superphosphate (SSP). Plots fertilised with ATS gave grain yields 0.5 and 1.2 t ha^-1 greater than plots fertilised with equal rates of S from SSP in the last two years of the study. This added yield from ATS over SSP may have been due to beneficial effects of ATS on N or micronutrient availability or to the split application of the S from ATS.     

Effectiveness of the urease inhibitor NBPT (N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide) for improving the efficiency of urea for ryegrass production

In a field experiment ammonia volatilization and yield response were measured when calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), urea or urea plus 0.5% w/w N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (U + NBPT) were surface-applied to an established perennial ryegrass sward. NBPT lowered cumulative NH₃ loss from ventilated enclosures over 13 days from 8.1% of the urea N applied to 1.9% and delayed, by approximately 5 days, the time at which maximum loss occurred. Ammonia volatilization from CAN was low being less than 0.1% of the N applied. However, actual NH₃ volatilization loss rates were probably underestimated due to the low air exchange rates used in the ventilated enclosures.The relative efficiency of urea compared to CAN was 91.2% in terms of dry matter yield. Recovery of N by difference was 57.2% for urea compared with 68.7% for CAN. NBPT improved the yield performance of urea making the amended fertilizer comparable to that of CAN.     

Ammonia losses from surface-applied urea as related to urea application rates,plant residue and calcium chloride addition

Volatile losses of NH₃ from surface-applied urea are known to decrease in the presence of soluble Ca-salts or with a decrease in easily decomposable organic matter content (EDOM), both of which influence urease activity. How these factors interact to affect NH₃ losses is not fully understood. Studies were conducted to determine the effect CaCl₂ in sand with varying rates of EDOM on NH₃ losses from surface applied urea. The same effects were examined on agricultural soils containing partially decomposed native organic matter (NOM). Determinations were made in the laboratory on field soils, sand free of organic matter and sand with known amounts of grass clippings (GC, EDOM). Low levels of GC in sand with low amounts of added urea resulted in little NH₃ loss. Ammonia loss increased as more N was applied at the low levels of GC. The loss was independent of urea application rates at high levels of GC. Ammonia losses were reduced more effectively at low EDOM and NOM in the presence of Ca. Incubation of sand with GC at low rates prior to urea addition increased NH₃ losses relative to high levels of non-incubated GC. For the above situation incubation for as high as 24 days resulted in equivalent NH₃ losses. The amount and state of decomposition of existing organic matter affected the degree of NH₃ loss from surface placed urea and its control by added Ca-salts. Microbial decomposition of EDOM, such as might occur in the spring prior to urea addition, led to greater NH₃ losses. Greater loss of NH₃ from urea might be an indication of a larger ureolytic microbial population leading to increased urease production.     

Evaluation of compacted urea fertilizers prepared with acid and non-acid producing chemical additives in three soils varying in pH and cation exchange capacity; I. NH3 volatilization

Efficacy of different acid-producing chemical additives was evaluated in terms of pH, urea hydrolysis, NH₄-N dynamics and NH₃ volatilization in an Alfisol, a Vertisol and an Inceptisol. Compacting phosphogypsum (PG), diammonium phosphate (DAP), ZnSO₄ and KCl separately with urea slowed down urea hydrolysis and reduced NH₃ volatilization loss. Peak volatilization loss of NH₃ occurred between 2 to 4 days of fertilizer application in Vertisol and Alfisol, but between 4 to 6 days in Inceptisol. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil influenced more in reducing NH₃ loss than native soil pH, as lower amount of NH₃ was lost from Vertisol (pH=8.0, CEC=43.92 cmol_c kg^-1) than from Alfisol (pH=5.8, CEC=13.82 cmol_c kg^-1). The loss from Inceptisol was in between the above two soils.     

The influence of soil properties on the effectiveness of phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD) in reducing ammonia volatilization from surface applied urea

Urea can be an inefficient N source due to rapid hydrolysis by soil urease leading to NH₃ volatilization. The current study investigated the effect of the urease inhibitor phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD) incorporated at two concentrations (0.5% and 1% w/w) within the fertilizer granule on NH₃ volatilization from surface applied urea. The daily rates of NH₃ loss from 20 soils of widely differing properties from Northern Ireland were measured over 14 days using ventilated enclosures under simulated spring conditions. Cumulative loss rates were calculated and fitted to a logistic model from which total NH₃ loss (Amax) and the time to maximum rate of loss (Tmax) were determined. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis related the effectiveness of PPD in reducing NH₃ volatilization from urea to soil properties.The total cumulative loss of ammonia from unamended urea varied from 0.37 to 29.2% depending on soil type. Ammonia volatilization appeared to be greatest on a soil with a high pH (R² = 0.65), a low titratable acidity (TA) (R² = 0.63) and a soil that was drying out (R² = 0.50). Soil pH was negatively correlated with TA (r = –0.826, P < 0.001) suggesting that soils with a low TA may have received recent lime. Including cation exchange capacity (CEC) and % N as well as pH-KCl in the multiple linear regression equation explained 86% of the variance.The effectiveness of PPD in reducing Amax varied between 0% to 91% depending on soil type, the average over all 20 soils being 30 and 36% for 0.5% and 1% PPD respectively. The most important soil properties influencing the effectiveness of the urease inhibitor were soil pH-H₂O and TA accounting for 33% and 29% of the variance respectively. PPD was less effective on a soil with a high pH and low TA. These were the soil conditions that led to high NH₃ volatilization from unamended urea and may explain why PPD had limited success in reducing ammonia loss on these soils. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that 75% of the variation in the % inhibition of NH₃ loss by PPD could be significantly accounted for by pH-H₂O, initial soil NO ₃ ^- -N concentration, % moisture content and % moisture loss.The delay in Tmax by PPD ranged from 0.19 to 7.93 days, the average over all 20 soils being 2.5 and 2.8 days for 0.5% and 1% PPD respectively. TA, % moisture content, urease activity and CEC were soil properties that significantly explained 83% of the variation in the % delay in Tmax by PPD in multiple linear regression analysis. However, none of these soil properties were significant on their own. As urea hydrolysis occurs rapidly in soil, delaying Tmax under field conditions would increase the chance of rain falling to move the urea below the soil surface and reduce NH₃ volatilization. A urease inhibitor should be more effective than PPD on soils with a high pH and low TA to be successful in reducing high NH₃ losses.     

Use of urease inhibitors and urea fertilizers on winter wheat

Phosphoroamide urease inhibitors were evaluated for their ability to increase grain protein and yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) when added to surfaceapplied urea-based fertilizers. Six urease inhibitors [trichloroethyl phosphorodiamidate, diethyl phosphoric triamide, dimethyl phosphoric triamide, N-(diaminophosphinyl)-cyclohexylamine, N-benzyl-N-methyl phosphoric triamide, and phenylphosphorodiamide] were evaluated. Nitrogen treatments were urea prills, urea solution, and ureaammonium nitrate (UAN) solution broadcast and UAN solution band applied. Ammonium sulfate and no N treatments were included as controls. Fertilizer treatments were applied in the fall and spring. Soils were Ryker silt loam (Typic Paleudalf), Rensselaer loam (Typic Argiaquoll), and Avonburg silt loam (Aeric Fragiaqualf).Grain yield was a more responsive indicator of N addition than was grain N content. Urea prills and ammonium sulfate were more effective fertilizers than was UAN solution. UAN was not more effective applied in a band than broadcast. Urease inhibitors did not improve the efficiency of urea fertilizers since NH₃ volatilization did not appear to be a problem following addition of urea fertilizers in spring or fall.Journal Paper No. 10528. This work was supported in part by a grant from Allied Chemical, Solvay, NY 13209.     

Effect of magnesium sulphate addition to urea on nitrogen loss due to ammonia volatilization

Fertilizer was applied as urea alone or as a mixture of urea and magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄·1H₂O) to study the effect on ammonia volatilization under laboratory conditions in relation to soil texture, N:Mg ratio, air flow rate, fertilizer form (solid or liquid) and organic material. When the mixture of urea and magnesium sulphate (UMM) was applied at a ratio of 1:0.21, significantly lower NH₃-N losses than from urea were found in 2 of 6 soils, and 4 soils showed a similar tendency. Increasing the N:Mg ratio to 1:0.5 resulted in significantly lower NH₃-N loss. Lower air flow rates reduced ammonia loss from UMM more than from urea alone. The effectiveness of UMM over urea was not improved in the liquid form. Increase of organic material had no influence on NH₃-N loss from urea alone or UMM.     

Ammonia volatilization from point-placed urea in upland,sandy soils

The upland fertilization practice in Africa of placing N fertilizer below the soil surface near the plant might be facilitated through use of urea supergranules (USG). Since little is known about N losses from point-placed urea on light-textured African soils, laboratory studies were conducted in a forced-draft system to determine (a) the influence of soil properties on ammonia loss from USG and (b) to compare N loss from USG with that from broadcast N sources. Ammonia loss from 1.1 g USG placed at a 4-cm soil depth ranged from 2.9 to 62% of the added N on six light-textured soils. Ammonia loss was correlated with soil clay content (r = –0.93^**) but not with pH. A more detailed study on a soil from Niger revealed significantly less ammonia loss from either surfaced applied urea (18%) or surface-applied calcium ammonium nitrate (7%) than from USG placed at a 4-cm depth (67%). Amendment of surface-applied urea with 1.7% phenyl phosphorodiamidate (PPD), a urease inhibitor, essentially eliminated ammonia loss (1.9%). An¹⁵N balance confirmed that ammonia volatilization was the major loss mechanism for all N sources. The results suggest that point-placed urea may be prone to ammonia volatilization loss on light-textured African soils moistened by frequent light rainfall. In such cases, broadcast application of urea, CAN, or urea amended with PPD may be less prone to N loss.     

An assessment of N loss from agricultural fields to the environment in China

Using the 1997 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Methodology, and statistical data from the China Agricultural Yearbook, we estimated that the direct N₂O emission from agricultural fields in China in 1990 was 0.282 Tg N. Based on micro-meteorological field measurement of NH₃ volatilization from agricultural fields in different regions and under different cropping systems, the total NH₃ volatilization from agricultural fields in China in 1990 was calculated to be 1.80 Tg N, which accounted for 11% of the applied synthetic fertilizer N. Ammonia volatilization from agricultural soil was related to the cropping system and the form of N fertilizer. Ammonia volatilization from paddy fields was higher than that from uplands, and NH₄HCO₃ had a higher potential of NH₃ volatilization than urea. N loss through leaching from uplands in north China accounted for 0.5–4.2% of the applied synthetic fertilizer N. In south China, the leaching of applied N and soil N from paddy fields ranged from 6.75 to 27.0 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1, while N runoff was between 2.45 and 19.0 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1.     

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.     

Urease activity and inhibition in flooded soil systems

Ammonia volatilization is an important mechanism of N loss from flooded rice soils. Inhibition of urease may delay the formation of conditions favorable to NH₃ volatilization in the floodwater, thus giving the soil and plant a better chance to compete with the atmosphere as a sink for N. The experiments reported here were designed to identify the site of urea hydrolysis in flooded soils and to attempt selective urease inhibition with some of the inhibitors reported in the literature.Studies with three flooded soils using¹⁵N-labeled urea showed that 50–60% of the urea was found in the floodwater, despite incorporation. This floodwater urea is hydrolyzed largely at the soil—floodwater interface and subsequently returns to the floodwater (> 80%) or is retained by the soil (< 20%). Of the following urease inhibitors (K-ethyl-xanthate; 3 amino-1-H-1, 2, 4-triazole; phenylphosphorodiamidate) added at 2% (w/w of urea), only the latter was able to delay the appearance of NH₃ (aq) in the flood-water and thus delay NH₃ volatilization. Use of an algicide addition to the floodwater depressed NH₃ (aq) levels during the entire period studied, but in the presence of PPD the algicide had little additional effect.     

Effects of initial soil calcium content on ammonia losses from surface-applied urea and calcium-urea

Ammonia loss from surface-applied urea occurs because urea hydrolysis increases the pH of the placement site microenvironment. Addition of Ca-salts with urea will control or reduce the microsite pH, thus reducing NH₃ losses. The degree of Ca-saturation of the cation exchange sites may influence the ratio of calcium:urea required to control ammonia loss. A laboratory study was conducted to determine if adsorbed Ca or CaCO₃ additions (acid soils only) had a measureable impact on Ca control of NH₃ loss from surface applied urea at various Ca:urea ratios.With urea alone applied to the soil surface varying the adsorbed Ca content of the treatment soil did not influence NH₃ loss. The addition of CaCl₂ with urea on the same pretreated soils generally resulted in NH₃ losses reflecting the initial pH of the soil. The Ca-saturated acid soils and those acid soils receiving CaCO₃ had higher NH₃ losses than untreated soils in the presence of urea with soluble CaCl₂. It was noted that increasing the calcium:urea ratios progressively depressed the NH₃ loss from all soils. Increasing the percent Na-saturation of the calcareous Harkey soil to 25 and 50% (ESP) reduced Ca control of NH₃ loss due to Ca being exchanged for Na on the cation exchange sites.Inclusion of CaCl₂ with the urea mixture on the surface of the pretreated acid soils resulted in stepwise differences in NH₃ loss concuring with the increases in pretreatment soil pH values (differing exchangeable Ca content). Other parameters that influence the amount of NH₃ loss, such as acidic buffer capacity and CEC, appeared more important than anticipated for control of NH₃ loss with the calcium:urea mixture. On Ca enriched soils the calcium:urea mixture was only slightly less effective in its ability to control NH₃ losses than on untreated soils.Contribution from the Texas Agric. Exp. Sta., Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX 77843, USA     

Ammonia losses from surface-placed mixtures of urea-calcium-potassium salts in the presence of phosphorus

Phosphorus compounds frequently are mixed with urea containing materials for economy in fertilizer operations. There is little published information on NH₃ losses from surface application of these mixtures. However, there is evidence that P can react and precipitate with adsorbed and added Ca and increase the potential for NH₃ loss. This paper compares NH₃ losses from surface applied urea plus KCl or CaCl₂ in the presence of 5 common P sources. The N, with Ca, K, and P salts, was surface-applied to a calcareous (Harkey) and an acid soil (Cuthbert) in a laboratory and the NH₃ losses determined by passage of the exhaust air through a 2% boric acid solution. Ammonia losses were increased with (in the presence of KCl or CaCl₂) KH₂PO₄ (KP) (calcareous soil only) and K₂HPO₄ (K₂P), unaffected by Na₅P₃O₁₀ (PP) but decreased with Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ (CaP) and H₃PO₄ (HP) (No HP or PP applied to the acid soil). Urea which hydrolyses in environments with lower soluble and desorbable Ca levels is susceptible to higher NH₃ losses. The effectiveness of KCl for control of NH₃ loss depended on the existence of desorbable Ca to react with the decomposing urea. Therefore the deleterious impact of P on NH₃ loss was greater with KCl than with CaCl₂. Adding Ca directly with the urea made additional Ca available for reaction with P and urea. Monocalcium phosphate (CaP) alone with urea, in a calcareous soil, did not reduce NH₃ loss; however, NH₃ loss was reduced in the acid soil. The addition of CaCl₂ with urea + CaP reduced NH₃ loss more than CaCl₂ with urea. The HP reaction with CaCO₃ was more rapid and complete than occurred with the acidic CaP. Sodium tripolyphosphate (PP) with urea had little impact on NH₃ loss over that produced by the KCl or CaCl₂ salts alone. The HP and CaP chemicals did not appear to function strictly as acid sources (calcareous soil). The Harkey soil has 8% CaCO₃ which would appear adequate to neutralize any acidity introduced by the P fertilizers. The explanation may lie in double salt formation between the Ca-urea-P materials. Contribution from the Texas Agric. Expt. Sta., Texas A&M Univ. System, College Station, TX 77843, USA     

Ammonia volatilization from urea nitricphosphate and urea applied to the soil surface

Urea nitricphosphate (UNP) is an N-P fertilizer prepared by solubilizing phosphate ore with nitric acid and conditioning the product with urea. The product is acidic, and its nutrient analysis is 23-12-0. Urea makes up 74% of the N component of this material and the remainder comes from the nitrate added as nitric acid. In volatilization trials, UNP lost significantly less N than did urea in a noncalcareous soil (13 and 31% respectively). In calcareous soils the urea-N component of UNP exhibited loss patterns similar to those of urea. Soil pH remained stable at the center of the granule placement site during UNP hydrolysis, thereby reducing NH₃ loss, whereas the pH of the same soil treated with urea rose almost 1.9 units. The urea component of UNP appeared to diffuse from the center of the acidic microsite allowing hydrolysis to take place and permitting limited NH₃ volatilization to occur. UNP appears to be an attractive NP fertilizer in terms of nutrient analysis and resistance of the N component to volatile N losses as NH₃.     

Ammonia volatilization from nitrogen fertilizers applied to cereals in two cropping areas of southern Australia

As farmers in southern Australia typically apply nitrogen (N) to cereal crops by top-dressing with ammonia (NH₃) based fertilizer in late winter or early spring there is the potential for large losses of NH₃. This paper describes the results of micrometeorological measurements to determine NH₃ loss and emission factors following applications of urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), and ammonium sulfate (AS) at different rates to cereal crops at two locations in southern Australia. The amounts of NH₃ lost are required for farm economics and management, whilst emission factors are needed for inventory purposes. Ammonia loss varied with fertilizer type (urea?>?UAN?>?AS) and location, and ranged from 1.8 to 23?% of N applied. This compares with the emission factor of 10?% of applied N advocated by IPCC ( 2007). The variation with location seemed to be due to a combination of factors including soil texture, soil moisture content when fertilizer was applied and rainfall after fertilizer application. Two experiments at one location, 1?week apart, demonstrated how small, temporal differences in weather conditions and initial soil water content affected the magnitude of NH₃ loss. The results of these experiments underline the difficulties farmers face in timing fertilization as the potential for loss, depending on rainfall, can be large.     

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.     

Control of gaseous nitrogen losses from urea applied to flooded rice soils

This paper reports field experiments designed to determine whether the two main processes responsible for nitrogen (N) loss from flooded rice (ammonia volatilization and denitrification) are independent or interdependent, and glasshouse studies which investigated the effect of soil characteristics on gaseous nitrogen loss.In the first field experiment ammonia (NH₃) loss from the floodwater was controlled using algicides, biocides, frequent pH adjustment, shade or cetyl alcohol, and the effect of these treatments on total N loss and denitrification was determined. Most treatments reduced NH₃ loss through their effects on algal growth and floodwater pH. Total gaseous N loss (54% to 35%) and NH₃ loss (20% to 1.2%) were affected similarly by individual treatments, indicating that the amount lost by denitrification was not substantially changed by any of the treatments.In a subsequent field experiment NH₃ and total N loss were again affected similarly by the treatments, but denitrification losses were very low. In control treatments with different rates of urea application, NH₃ and total N loss were each a constant proportion of the urea applied (NH₃ loss was 17% and total N loss was 24%). These results indicate that techniques which reduce NH₃ loss can be expected to reduce total gaseous N loss.The glasshouse experiment showed that gaseous N losses could be reduced by draining off the floodwater, and incorporating the urea into the 0–0.05 m soil layer before reflooding. Even with this method, losses varied widely (6–27%); losses were least from a cracking clay and greatest from a coarse sand which allowed the greatest mobility of the applied N. Incorporation of applied urea can therefore be expected to prevent losses more successfully from clay soils with high ammonium retention capacity.