Ammonia volatilization (AV) from direct seeded later-rice (DSR) fields was investigated based on plot experiment with different irrigation (traditional flooding irrigation (TI) and controlled irrigation (CI)) and nitrogen (farmers' fertilization practice (FF) and controlled released urea (CU)) managements. Seasonal AV losses were 64.0, 69.5, 33.0 and 24.6 kg N ha -1 from CIFF, TIFF, TICU and CICU fields, accounting for 18.3, 19.9, 13.7 and 10.3% of nitrogen inputs not as high as expected, and falling in the range reported in transplanted rice fields with the similar nitrogen treatments. Thus, it is difficult to answer the question if DSR practice will lead to significantly higher AV loss than transplanted cultivation. Mixed basal nitrogen fertilizer into muddy and frequently rainfall in the first forty days in rice season might account for the low AV loss percentages from DSR field in current research. Both nitrogen and irrigation management significantly affected AV loss from DSR fields, with the nitrogen management as the predominant factor. Compared with the farmers' fertilization, controlled released urea led to the reduced and retarded AV process. The controlled irrigation led to higher AV peaks immediately after nitrogen application in short period, but lower AV rates in long periods after the pulse AV emission than traditional flooding irrigation. The combination of controlled irrigation and controlled released urea is help to reduce AV loss from DSR field.