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Ammonia Volatilization from Urea‐Based Fertilizers Applied to Tall Fescue Pastures in Georgia, USA
Author(s) -
Vaio Nicolas,
Cabrera Miguel L.,
Kissel D.E.,
Rema John A.,
Newsome J. Frank,
Calvert Vaughn H.
Publication year - 2008
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/sssaj2007.0300
Subject(s) - urea , festuca arundinacea , volatilisation , ammonia volatilization from urea , ammonia , chemistry , zoology , agronomy , manure , nitrogen , fertilizer , poaceae , biology , organic chemistry
The use of urea fertilizers in grasslands is likely to increase in areas with concentrated animal feeding operations as restrictions on manure applications are implemented. Concerns have been raised about the economic and environmental impacts of NH 3 loss from these urea fertilizers. This study evaluated NH 3 losses from Nitamin (a urea polymer), urea–NH 4 NO 3 (UAN), and granular urea applied to tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plots at 50 kg N ha −1 in fall and spring for 2 yr. Fertilizers were applied to circular plots (30‐m diameter) and NH 3 loss was measured by the modified passive flux method for 69 to 120 d after application. In a separate laboratory study, Nitamin, UAN, and urea were surfaced applied to fescue thatch at 100 kg N ha −1 and treatments were incubated at 24°C and 90% relative humidity for 31 d. In fall applications, urea lost more NH 3 (19% in 2004, 46% in 2005) than UAN or Nitamin, which were not different from each other (6% in 2004, 34% in 2005). In contrast, there were no differences among fertilizers in spring applications, with average losses of 13% in 2005 and 17% in 2006. In the laboratory study, urea lost significantly more NH 3 (24%) than UAN or Nitamin, which were not different from each other (average 9% loss). These results indicate that Nitamin and UAN undergo similar NH 3 losses, and that both fertilizers may lose less NH 3 than urea under conditions favorable to volatilization.