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Ammonia Volatilization from Urea Amended with Lignosulfonate and Phosphoroamide

Dep. of Earth Sciences, Memorial Univ. of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1B 3X5

A. F. MacKenzie, J. W. Fyles and I. P. O'Halloran

Dep. of Renewable Resources, Macdonald College of McGill Univ., 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada

S. Ghazala

Dep. of Biochemistry, Memorial Univ. of Newfoundland, A1B 3X9, Canada

*Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Concern about losses of fertilizer N and pollution of the environment has stimulated research to find compounds that will reduce these problems by effectively inhibiting urease activity and nitrification. Laboratory studies were carried out to evaluate the effects of ammonium lignosulfonate (LS), thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), and phenylphosphorodiamide (PPD) on NH₃ loss from urea fertilizer. We examined NH₃ losses from surface-applied urea and from banded urea (2 cm below the soil surface) in samples of Ste. Rosalie clay soil (fine, mixed, nonacid, mesic Typic Humaquept) exposed to an initial water pressure of –0.01 MPa. Formulations of solution, physical dry blend, and tablets were used. Measurements of NH₃ volatilization were carried out using an air train system. Ammonia loss from surface-applied unamended urea ranged from 16 to 21% of urea-N applied. Amending urea with LS induced between 46 and 85% reduction in NH₃ losses compared with the unamended urea. For tablet and physical dry blend formulations, banding reduced NH₃ loss compared with tbe surface application. There were no significant differences in NH₃ losses between surface-applied and banded treatments of solid fertilizer. Comparison of tbe effects of LS, NBPT, and PPD on NH₃ volatilization showed that both NBPT and PPD were more effective in reducing NH₃ loss than LS, but no significant differences between NBPT and PPD were found.

Received for publication July 28, 1992.