Premium
Factors Influencing Ammonia Losses From Urea Applied to Northwestern Forest Soils
Author(s) -
Watkins S. H.,
Strand R. F.,
DeBell D. S.,
Esch J.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1972.03615995003600020040x
Subject(s) - soil water , urea , ammonia , volatilisation , ammonia volatilization from urea , pellets , chemistry , environmental chemistry , pellet , environmental science , mineralogy , soil science , geology , ecology , biology , oceanography , organic chemistry
Laboratory studies indicated that volatilization losses of NH 3 increased with increasing air movement, temperature, and pH of mineral soils and forest floors. At an air flow rate of 3 liters/min (equivalent to calculated air velocity of approximately 0.01 km/hour) and temperature of 19°C, losses were high—ranging from 6 to 30% of the urea N applied to bare mineral soils and 27 to 46% for mineral soils covered by forest floors. Ammonia losses were less for mixtures of NH 4 Cl and urea crystals than for urea crystals or pellets alone. Losses were not related to urea pellet size.