Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #313637
Title: A laboratory evaluation of ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching following nitrogen fertilizer application on a coarse-textured soil

Author
item PENG, XIANLONG - Northeast Agricultural University
item MAHARJAN, BIJESH - University Of Nebraska
item YU, CAILIAN - Northeast Agricultural University
item SU, ANVU - Northeast Agricultural University
item Jin, Virginia
item FERGUSON, RICHARD - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2015
Publication Date: 2/27/2015
Citation: Peng, X., Maharjan, B., Yu, C., Su, A., Jin, V.L., Ferguson, R.B. 2015. A laboratory evaluation of ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching following nitrogen fertilizer application on a coarse-textured soil. Agronomy Journal. 107:871-879. DOI: 10.2134/AGRONJ14.0537.

Interpretive Summary: Fertilizer nitrogen (N) losses from agricultural production systems can contribute to degradation in water and air quality. Using fertilizer additives can help reduce these losses to the environment and make fertilizer nitrogen more available to crops instead. This study measured the effect of different additives on fertilizer losses through the leaching of nitrate-N and through volatilization of ammonia-N to the atmosphere. Additives generally decreased fertilizer losses, but differed in their effectiveness depending on soil moisture level. Soils tended to lose more fertilizer nitrogen through leaching than through volatilization. In general, fertilizer losses were minimized most effectively in soils treated with polymer-coated urea compared to all other additives under either wet or dry soil conditions.

Technical Abstract: In a series of field studies, differing rainfall patterns within the first month after nitrogen (N) fertilizer application to a coarse-textured soil significantly affected yields and N-use efficiency of irrigated corn (Zea mays L.), and responses varied with N source. A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate effects of N source with precipitation following N application to a coarse-textured soil. Nitrogen sources included urea-ammonium nitrate solution (UAN), UAN with additives of either nitrapyrin (2-chloro-6-[trichloromethyl] pyridine) as a nitrification inhibitor or maleic-itaconic acid copolymer as a urease and nitrification inhibitor, or polymer-coated urea (PCU). These products were applied to soil in chambers from which ammonia (NH3) volatilization and nitrate (NO3-) leaching were measured over 31 days following fertilization. Precipitation events simulated rainfall frequencies and amounts that occurred in field studies in dry and wet conditions. Ammonia volatilization was lower in wet than dry conditions. Total NH3 loss for the dry precipitation regime ranged from 11-18% of applied N fertilizer for all treatments except PCU (<1%). In contrast, all treatments in wet conditions had low NH3 loss (<1% of applied N). However, substantial NO3- leaching occurred with wet conditions, comprising 48-66% of applied N for most treatments. Leaching loss was the greatest for UAN, followed by UAN with additives. For either dry or wet environments, losses of N from PCU to either NH3 volatilization or NO3- leaching were negligible.