Soil Nitrogen Dynamics and Nitrous Oxide Emissions: Broadcast Vs. Banding Application of Conventional Urea and Controlled-Release Fertilizers.

Different application modes of nitrogen (N) fertilizer may alter soil N dynamics and consequently affect soil-to-atmosphere emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O), which is a potent greenhouse gas and major depleter of stratospheric ozone. The objective of this study was to compare soil N dynamics and N₂O emissions from soil under broadcast and banded conventional urea and controlled-release N fertilizers. The field experiment was conducted in a corn field where fertilizers were applied at rate of 180 kg N ha^-1 separately as broadcast and band and using control plot with 0 N. All treatments were replicated four times. The field experiment was complimented with a laboratory incubation to study soil N dynamics and N₂O emissions with more frequent sampling events. This study intends to establish if there is any relation between N₂O flux and soil N in various forms, namely, nitrite, nitrate and ammonium at time of flux measurement. The study may also have a broader implication in determining the optimal rate of N that can be used in banding in field with minimum N₂O emissions.