ARS | Publication request: Alternative N sources for corn and cotton in Alabama

Submitted to: Agricultural Experiment Station Publication
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: January 9, 2012
Publication Date: January 13, 2012
Citation: Mitchell, C.C., Watts, D.B., Moore, D.P. 2012. Alternative N sources for corn and cotton in Alabama. Agricultural Experiment Station Publication. Bulletin 677. Available: http://www.aaes.auburn.edu/comm/pubs/bulletins/bull677.pdf

Technical Abstract: Because of high fertilizer N prices, growers are interested in using less expensive sources of N and using fertilizer additives to reduce ammonia volatilization losses from urea sources. An experiment on a Lucedale fine sandy loam in Central Alabama (Prattville Research Unit) was conducted in 2007 through 2011 to compare traditional and non-traditional sources of N for high-residue, conservation tilled corn and cotton under non-irrigated conditions. Treatments varied slightly each year. Yield differences in N sources were minor and generally would not justify one product over another. Ammonia volatilization losses occurred within two or three days after application. Materials evaluated included urea, ammonium nitrate, urea-ammonium sulfate blends, UAN solutions, Agrotain®, Nutrisphere®, ESN®, Nitamin N-fusion®, poultry broiler litter, calcium chloride, and others.