Efficiency of N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide in retarding hydrolysis of urea and ammonia volatilization losses in a flooded sandy loam soil amended with organic materials

Using a forced-draft chamber technique, the suppression of NH3 volatilization losses by applying N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) was studied in an alkaline sandy loam soil amended with green manure or wheat straw. Applied urea was completely hydrolysed in 12, 8 and 6 days in unamended, green manure and wheat straw amended soil, respectively. By applying 0.5% (w/w of urea) NBPT, complete hydrolysis of urea was delayed up to 16 days in the unamended soil, whereas in wheat straw amended soil urea hydrolysis was completed by the 12th day even when it was treated with 2% NBPT. Applied at 1 or 2% level, NBPT delayed the NH3 volatilization to the 4th day after application of urea in green manure or wheat straw amended soil. Hydrolysis of urea was more effectively retarded by applying NBPT in the unamended soil than in soil amended with green manure or wheat straw. In the unamended soil, 7.1% of the applied urea was lost through NH3 volatilization. The losses were reduced to 1.2 and 0.7% by applying 0.5 and 1% NBPT, respectively. Enhanced NH3 volatilization caused by the green manure or wheat straw was counteracted by applying NBPT.