Laboratory measurements and simulations of ammonia volatilization from urea applied to calcareous Chinese loess soils

Roelcke, Marco; Han, Yong; Li, S. X.; Richter, J.

doi:10.1007/bf00011298

Cited by 25 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Bouwman et al (2002) summarized NH 3 volatilization data following the application of N sources to agricultural soils and estimated that NH 3 losses from incorporated N were on average 50% lower than those from surface application. However, studies under field conditions typical of dryland agriculture yielded highly variable results with NH 3 volatilization 1.6 to 1.9 (Palma et al, 1998), 1 to 9 (Roelcke et al, 1996), and 7 (Prasertsak et al, 2002) times lower for incorporated than for surface‐applied urea.…”

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confidence: 99%

Banding of Urea Increased Ammonia Volatilization in a Dry Acidic Soil

et al. 2009

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Volatilization of ammonia following application of urea contributes to smog formation and degradation of natural ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of (i) incorporation and banding of urea and (ii) surface broadcast of slow-release urea types on NH(3) volatilization in a dry acidic soil. Volatilization was measured using wind tunnels for 25 d after standard urea (140 kg N ha(-1)) was broadcast, broadcast and incorporated (0-5 cm), or incorporated in shallow bands (3-5 cm) to a conventionally tilled silty loam soil. Urea supplemented with a urease inhibitor or coated with a polymer was also broadcast at the soil surface. Little N diffused out of the polymer-coated granules and ammonia losses were low (4% of applied N). Use of a urease inhibitor also resulted in a low NH(3) loss (5% of applied N) while maintaining soil mineral N at levels similar to plots where untreated urea was broadcast. The rate of hydrolysis of urea broadcast at the soil surface was slowed by the lack of moisture and NH(3) loss (9% applied N) was the lowest of all treatments with standard urea. Incorporation of broadcast urea increased emissions (16% applied N) by increasing urea hydrolysis relative to surface application. Furthermore, incorporation in band also increased emissions (27% applied N) due to a localized increase in soil pH from 6.0 to 8.7. We conclude that incorporating urea in bands in a dry acidic soil can increase NH(3) volatilization compared to broadcast application followed by incorporation.

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confidence: 99%

Banding of Urea Increased Ammonia Volatilization in a Dry Acidic Soil

et al. 2009

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“…Likewise, the effect of NH $ _4^+ $ adsorption on NH 3 losses was less important compared to initial soil pH and soil pH buffer capacity in the sensitivity analysis of the DUPAV model by Singh and Nye (1986c). As described by Singh and Nye (1986a, 1986b) and Roelcke et al (1996), the soil pH rises in the first few days following urea application due to hydrolysis and thereafter decreases again due to protons (H + ) remaining at the immediate soil surface during the volatilization of NH 3 . This rise and decline in pH was also described by the HERMES model, though there were differences in magnitude in the study of Roelcke et al (1996), in which surface CaCO 3 content was high (10%), which buffered pH change.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…As described by Singh and Nye (1986a, 1986b) and Roelcke et al (1996), the soil pH rises in the first few days following urea application due to hydrolysis and thereafter decreases again due to protons (H + ) remaining at the immediate soil surface during the volatilization of NH 3 . This rise and decline in pH was also described by the HERMES model, though there were differences in magnitude in the study of Roelcke et al (1996), in which surface CaCO 3 content was high (10%), which buffered pH change. This suggests that this magnitude may have been overestimated since soil pH buffer capacity, clay and CaCO 3 content, and CO 2 loss was not taken into account.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Zhang et al (2011) pointed out that the NCP belongs to the regions in China having the highest NH 3 losses, with ammonia volatilization from this intensively managed cropland estimated to account for 27% of the total NH 3 emissions in China ( Zhang et al, 2010). Main reasons for this are high soil surface N balance surpluses, the high soil pH of the alluvial soils of this region ( Pacholski et al, 2008), high soil pH buffer capacity ( Roelcke et al, 1996), and the excessive application rates of mineral N fertilizer, especially urea and ABC. Besides nitrate leaching, NH 3 losses are the main reason for low nitrogen use efficiencies (NUE) in the NCP ( Zhang et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Simulatingin situammonia volatilization losses in the North China Plain using a dynamic soil‐crop model

Michalczyk

Kersebaum

Heimann

et al. 2016

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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Ammonia (NH 3 ) volatilization is an important N loss pathway in intensive agriculture of the North China Plain (NCP). Simulation models can help to assess complex N and water processes of agricultural soil-crop systems. Four variations (Var) of a sub-module for the deterministic, process-based HERMES model were implemented ranging from simple empirical functions (Var 3 and 4) to process-oriented approaches (Var 1 and 2) including the main processes of NH 3 volatilization, urea hydrolysis, nitrification from ammonium-based N fertilizer, and changes in soil solution pH. Ammonia volatilization, plant growth, and changes in ammonium and nitrate pools in the soil over several winter wheat-summer maize double-crop rotations at three locations in the NCP were simulated. Results were calibrated with two data sets (Dongbeiwang 1, Shunyi) and validated using two data sets (Dongbeiwang 2, Quzhou). They showed that the ammonia volatilization sub-module of the HERMES model worked well under the climatic and soil conditions of N China. Although the simpler equations, Var 3 and 4, showed lower deviations to observed volatilization across all sites and treatments with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.8 and 1.4 in % of applied N, respectively, compared to process-oriented approaches, Var 1 and 2, with a MAE of 2.2 and 1.9 in % of applied N, respectively. Environmental conditions were reflected better by the process-oriented approaches. Generally, simulation results were satisfying but simulated changes in topsoil pH need further verification with measurements.

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“…Effective use of urea and ammonium sulfate on crop requiring surface fertilizer application is limited by high ammonia NH 3 loss. Approximately 10-40% of N as urea and ammonium sulfate applied to soils is volatilized during the growing season, especially N from alkaline and calcareous soils (Gezgin and Bayrakll, 1995;Roelcke et al, 1996). Many studies have evaluated the effect of N source on wheat production.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Splitting Some Sources of Nitrogen Frtilizer on Wheat Productivity and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

2011

Journal of Productivity and Development

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Maximizing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is an increasingly important aspect of crop management systems because of both economics and environment pressures. Studies to increase profitability and NUE in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production are needed to develop more sustainable systems in El-Sharkia Governorate. Two field experiments were carried out at an administration field at Sheiba Village, El-Zagazig District, El-Sharkia Governorate. Egypt during two winter seasons 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 to investigate the effect of splitting some sources of nitrogen fertilizer on wheat yield, yield components and nitrogen use efficiency. The study included nine treatments, which were the combinations of three nitrogen sources (urea, ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate) and three splitting of N (one split at sowing, two equal splits given at sowing and tillering stages and three equal splits given at sowing, tillering and jointing stages. A split plot design was followed with three replicates. The three nitrogen sources were allotted to the main plots, whereas the three nitrogen splitting treatments were distributed at random in the sub plots. The results indicate that plant height, number of productive tillers/plant, flag leaf area, number of grains/spike, number of spikes/m 2 , grain yield, straw yield and grain protein % were not significantly affected by nitrogen sources. No significant difference between urea and ammonium nitrate on spike length, grain weight/spike, 1000-grain weight and grain carbohydrate % were noted. Ammonium nitrate improved N recovery efficiency, contributing to improve N use efficiency. The results show that nitrogen splitting affected most characters under this study. The split of nitrogen into three equal doses was favorable than the other two treatments. However, no significant differences among nitrogen splitting treatments on number of productive tillers/plant, flag leaf area and 1000-grain weight. Nitrogen splitting improved N recovery 20 ABD EL-MAKSOUD et al. efficiency and N use efficiency over comparable all nitrogen fertilizer sources. Nitrogen recovery efficiency and N use efficiency were greatest when N applications were split into three equal doses. The interaction effects between nitrogen sources and their splitting were significant on flag leaf area, spike length, number of grains/spike, grain weigh/spike, grain yield and grain carbohydrate %. The grain yield, its components and N use efficiency were superior by the increase of nitrogen splitting under ammonium nitrate than the other nitrogen sources. It is apparent from this study that for maximum grain yield production of wheat and N use efficiency in dryland areas, such as in El-Sharkia Governorate, the N requirement should be applied in three split doses at sowing, tillering and jointing stages as ammonium nitrate.

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Laboratory measurements and simulations of ammonia volatilization from urea applied to calcareous Chinese loess soils

Cited by 25 publications

References 12 publications

Banding of Urea Increased Ammonia Volatilization in a Dry Acidic Soil

Banding of Urea Increased Ammonia Volatilization in a Dry Acidic Soil

Simulatingin situammonia volatilization losses in the North China Plain using a dynamic soil‐crop model

Impact of Splitting Some Sources of Nitrogen Frtilizer on Wheat Productivity and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

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