Effect of Zeolite, Potassium Humate, Biocher and Biofertilizer on Ammonia Loss From Calcareous Soil

Abstract

Application of urea to agricultural soil may pollute the air environment due to ammonia (NH3) volatilization. Zeolite, Humate, biocher and biofertilizer may be used to control N losses resulting from urea transformation to NH3. A laboratory soil incubation experiment was conducted to determine the effects of zeolite, K-humate, biocher and biofertilizer on controlling NH3 losses out of applied urea. Calcareous soil sample from El-Nobaria area, Beheira Governorate was treated with different amendments and incubated under laboratory condition for 13 weeks. Results obtained showed that soil treated with urea in the presence of different amendments significantly reduced NH3 release from urea as compared to the control. During the first 80 days of the incubation ammonia losses were highest in control compared to soil treated with the different amendments. Biocher treatment showed the highest effect in reducing ammonia volatilization from calcareous soil. Therefore, treating calcareous soil with biocher and biofertilizer can decrease were losses as ammonia and increase nitrogen availability in soil, and hence reduces air pollution by ammonia.