Publication Date
1989
Description
Recent studies (Black et al., 1984) have indicated that the volatilisation of ammonia (NH3) from urea granules broadcast on to pastures at application rates of 50-100 kgN/ha often exceeds 20 % of the N applied. The extent of this loss becomes an important consideration when manipulating management systems to maximise N efficiency and minimise losses to the environment. This will become especially important as the use of urea fertiliser increases because of relative cheapness and as technological advances in production and in farm handling are made (Gould et al., 1986). The factors influencing the volatilisation of urea in simple systems are reasonably well known (Rachhpal-Singh & -Nye, 1986). In grazed grassland systems the return of urea in urine, as well as resulting in significant losses ofNH3 per se, may induce chemical/environmental changes which will affect losses from other sources such as fertilisers. The present paper describes a laboratory technique for examining the losses ofNH3 under controlled conditions and describes the interactive effects which may occur when urea fertiliser is added to pasture soils in the presence or absence of urine. Comparisons are made with other NH4 -containing fertilisers.
Citation
Meyer, R D. and Jarvis, S C., "The Effects of Fertilizer/Urine Interactions on NH3 -N Losses from Grassland Soils" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 24.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session2/24
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
The Effects of Fertilizer/Urine Interactions on NH3 -N Losses from Grassland Soils
Recent studies (Black et al., 1984) have indicated that the volatilisation of ammonia (NH3) from urea granules broadcast on to pastures at application rates of 50-100 kgN/ha often exceeds 20 % of the N applied. The extent of this loss becomes an important consideration when manipulating management systems to maximise N efficiency and minimise losses to the environment. This will become especially important as the use of urea fertiliser increases because of relative cheapness and as technological advances in production and in farm handling are made (Gould et al., 1986). The factors influencing the volatilisation of urea in simple systems are reasonably well known (Rachhpal-Singh & -Nye, 1986). In grazed grassland systems the return of urea in urine, as well as resulting in significant losses ofNH3 per se, may induce chemical/environmental changes which will affect losses from other sources such as fertilisers. The present paper describes a laboratory technique for examining the losses ofNH3 under controlled conditions and describes the interactive effects which may occur when urea fertiliser is added to pasture soils in the presence or absence of urine. Comparisons are made with other NH4 -containing fertilisers.
