100389 Comparison of Ammonia Volatilization from Surface Applied Fertilizers on High, Neutral, and Low pH Soils.

Poster Number 134-203

See more from this Division: Students of Agronomy, Soils and Environmental Sciences (SASES)
See more from this Session: Undergraduate Research Contest - Poster Section III

Monday, November 7, 2016
Phoenix Convention Center North, Exhibit Hall CDE

Brad Davis and Jared D. Williams, Brigham Young University Idaho (BYUI), Rexburg, ID
Abstract:
Urea and ammonium based fertilizer are susceptible to rapid loss via ammonia (NH3+) volatilization immediately following fertilizer application, but NH3+ volatilization losses can be reduced if the fertilizers are incorporated. In pasture and no-till operations, fertilizer incorporation may not be possible leaving the fertilizer susceptible to rapid ammonia volatilization from the soil surface. New N fertilizer products and urease and nitrification inhibitors have been developed that may reduce the rate of NH3+ volatilization. The objective of this study was to compare NH3+ volatilization among these products which includes an ammonium sulfate-nitrate fused fertilizer FUSN, urea and ammonium based fertilizers that utilize this technology. Ammonia volatilization was measured over a twenty eight-day period on soil pH classes 5.9, 6.96, 8,03; showing volatilization peaked the second or third day for urea and peak times varying for products containing urease inhibitors after application of fertilizer.  Among the fertilizers, urea had the highest amount of NH3+ volatilization over the 28 d study (1197.11 mg m-2 NH3+) followed by urea/AMS(301.44mg m-2 NH3+ .  The urea fertilizer combined with urease inhibitors had significantly lower amounts of NH3+ volatilization with highest amount being Eclipse (269.99  mg m-2 NH3+), followed by Limus (262.99 mg m-2 NH3+), Agrotain (253.75 mg m-2 NH3+), and ESN (98.5 mg m-2 NH3+). The non-urea fertilizer had low amounts of NH3+ volatilization (AMS 134.65 mg m-2, and FUSN = 40.4 mg m-2 NH3+; Fig. 3). These results suggest that the urease inhibitors are a reliable product to reduce to NH3+volatilization. Regarding the ammonia volatilization among the three soil pH classes by fertilizer the results differ per class. All soil classes presented had concurring results for highest total NH3+, with urea followed by urea/AMS for the highest. This research indicates FUSN is potentially a good source for crop production, because it had significantly lower NH3 volatilization than Urea and Urea/AMS, and higher N analysis than AMS. As well as indicating that ESN showed a significant decrease  in NH3+ volatilization, , similar to the urease inhibitor products. Although longer observations may be necessary due to indication of increased volatilization at the end of 28 days.

Keywords: Nitrogen, NH3+, volatilization, urease

See more from this Division: Students of Agronomy, Soils and Environmental Sciences (SASES)
See more from this Session: Undergraduate Research Contest - Poster Section III