Ammonia volatilization from fertilizer sources on a loam soil in Idaho

Dari, Biswanth and Rogers, C.W. (2021) Ammonia volatilization from fertilizer sources on a loam soil in Idaho. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 4(3):1-7. 15 July 2021.

Text 1709.pdf Download (668kB)

Abstract

Optimizing crop nitrogen (N) uptake while minimizing ammonia (NH3) volatilization from N-fertilizer sources is a critical part of agricultural best management practices. Urea is the most widely used N-fertilizer but also one of the most susceptible to losses as NH3. Fertilizer source and additives can be used to reduce NH3 volatilization. Specifically, urease inhibitors e.g., N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) can reduce NH3 volatilization from urea. Novel fused ammonium sulfate nitrate (ASN) products have recently been developed as another potential alternative N-fertilizer source but have not been studied widely. A field study was performed to quantify NH3 volatilization from the newly available ASN fertilizer as compared to various N-fertilizers (ammonium sulfate (AS) and urea) including urea treated with the urease inhibitor NBPT in an alkaline calcareous loam soil in Idaho. Further, we assessed NH3 volatilization from surface applied and incorporated N-fertilizers from these various N sources. Untreated surface-applied urea volatilized the highest amount of NH3, whereas incorporation of N-fertilizers was effective in reducing volatilization as compared to untreated surface applied urea. Our study indicated that the N-fertilizer sources (AS, ASN, and Urea-NBPT) were equally effective in reducing NH3 volatilization when compared to surface applied urea. Our study will help refine N-fertilize management under multiple field situations and traditional management practices of crop producers in the western United States. Further, site-years and study locations would be needed to provide evidence of the effectiveness of ASN in reducing NH3 volatilization under a wider range of soil and environmental conditions.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	1709
Subjects:	Soil > Fertility Soil > Chemistry > Nitrogen Soil
Depositing User:	Users 6 not found.
Date Deposited:	19 Jul 2021 17:18
Last Modified:	19 Jul 2021 17:18
Item ID:	1747
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1747