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Influence of Urea Fertilizer Placement on Nitrous Oxide Production from a Silt Loam Soil
Author(s) -
Engel R.,
Liang D. L.,
Wallander R.,
Bembenek A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2009.0130
Subject(s) - loam , urea , nitrous oxide , zoology , chemistry , nitrogen , fertilizer , agronomy , environmental science , soil water , soil science , biology , organic chemistry
Urea placement in band or nests has been shown to enhance N use efficiency, but limited work has been done to assess its affect on N 2 O emissions. This study compared N 2 O emissions from urea prills applied to an Amsterdam silt loam (fine‐silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Haplustolls) using broadcast, band, and nest placements. Experiments were conducted in greenhouse pots (200 kg N ha −1 ) and in canola ( Brassica rapa L.) seeded fields using rates of 100 kg N ha −1 (recommended) and 200 kg N ha −1 Urea placement affected N 2 O emission patterns and cumulative N 2 O losses in the greenhouse and field. Urea prills placed in nests, and sometimes bands delayed N 2 O production with peak flux activity occurring later, and elevated emission activity being more prolonged than for broadcast applications. Differences were more obvious at 200 kg N ha −1 These effects were attributed to a delay in urea hydrolysis and inhibition of nitrification. The fraction of applied urea‐N lost as N 2 O for broadcast, band, and nest placements applied at the recommended rate averaged 2.0, 2.7, and 5.8 g N kg −1 N, respectively. The fraction of applied urea‐N lost as N 2 O averaged 2.9, 10.4, and 9.2 g N kg −1 N for broadcast, band, and nest placements when urea‐N rate was increased from 100 to 200 kg N ha −1 , respectively. Greater N 2 O production with nest placement may in part be due to significant soil NO 2 –N accumulations. Potential benefits to crop fertilizer use efficiency that come with placement of urea in concentrated zones may lead to enhanced N 2 O production.