Combining 4R Practices Avoids Pollution Swapping

New research published in the Journal of Environmental Quality examines the effects of N-placement and N-source on corn grain yield, ammonia and N2O emissions. Broadcast urea without inhibitors lost 50% of the applied N (64.4 kg N/ ha), whereas adding a urease and nitrification inhibitor with urea reduced ammonia losses by 64% and injecting UAN reduced losses by 60%. The combination of injection and the two inhibitors was the most effective, virtually eliminating ammonia losses and increasing yields by 19%.