Urease Inhibitors Effects on the Nitrogen Use Efficiency in a Maize–Wheat Rotation with or without Water Deficit

The use of urease inhibitors in irrigated systems decreases both soil ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) availability, and, thus, could be an easy tool to reduce N loss due to ammonia volatilization and NO3− leaching. The main goal of this experiment was to assess the effect of urease inhibitors on N use efficiency, N losses, and their economic impact in a maize-wheat field experiment. In this study, 10 treatments were compared, combining the urea fertilizer with or without urease inhibitor, applied in one or two dressings, and under optimal or sub-optimal irrigation. A single application of urease inhibitor (IN1d), coupled with the conventional urea, helped to reduce the nitrate leaching risk both during the maize period (even when compared to the two dressing treatment) and after harvest. In addition, this improvement was achieved together with an increase in economic benefit, even when compared with the application of the same amount of regular urea split into two dressings. Under low water availability systems, the benefits of applying urease inhibitors increased with respect to the application of regular urea, making this technique a very promising strategy for adaptation to climate change in arid and semiarid regions.

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Ammonia volatilization of urea in the out-of-season corn

Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo ◽

10.1590/s0100-06832009000600017 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 33 (6) ◽

pp. 1685-1694 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Hamilton Seron Pereira ◽

Anabelisa Ferreira Leão ◽

Adriana Verginassi ◽

Marco Aurélio Carbone Carneiro

Keyword(s):

Urease Activity ◽

Ammonia Volatilization ◽

Urease Inhibitors ◽

Urease Inhibitor ◽

N Losses ◽

Coated Urea ◽

Polymer Coated Urea

The aim of this study was to evaluate the N losses due to volatilization at different rates of common urea, polymer coated urea and urease inhibitor-treated urea in the out-of-season corn, using semi-open static collectors. The treatments consisted of N levels on side-dressing fertilization with urea in different treatments: (a) control (without N), (b) urea 40 kg ha-1 N, (c) urea 80 kg ha-1 N, (d) polymer coated urea 40 kg ha-1 N, (e) polymer coated urea 80 kg ha-1 N and (f) urea with the urease inhibitor (UI) N 80 kg ha-1 N. The results showed that the treatments with polymer coated urea and with urease inhibitor-treated urea reduced the volatilization of N around 50 % compared to common urea, either in the first and the second N side-dressing fertilizations. Thus, they demonstrate that the polymer coat and the urease inhibitors were effective in reducing the volatilization of urea N applied in coverage, which resulted in higher productivity. There was also increasing urease activity in the treatments with application of common urea.

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Gross Ammonification and Nitrification Rates in Soil Amended with Natural and NH4-Enriched Chabazite Zeolite and Nitrification Inhibitor DMPP

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11062605 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 2605

Author(s):

Giacomo Ferretti ◽

Giulio Galamini ◽

Evi Deltedesco ◽

Markus Gorfer ◽

Jennifer Fritz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrification Inhibitor ◽

Natural State ◽

Silty Clay ◽

Short Term ◽

N Losses ◽

15N Pool Dilution ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Silty Clay Soil ◽

N Use ◽

15N Pool Dilution Technique

Using zeolite-rich tuffs for improving soil properties and crop N-use efficiency is becoming popular. However, the mechanistic understanding of their influence on soil N-processes is still poor. This paper aims to shed new light on how natural and NH4+-enriched chabazite zeolites alter short-term N-ammonification and nitrification rates with and without the use of nitrification inhibitor (DMPP). We employed the 15N pool dilution technique to determine short-term gross rates of ammonification and nitrification in a silty-clay soil amended with two typologies of chabazite-rich tuff: (1) at natural state and (2) enriched with NH4+-N from an animal slurry. Archaeal and bacterial amoA, nirS and nosZ genes, N2O-N and CO2-C emissions were also evaluated. The results showed modest short-term effects of chabazite at natural state only on nitrate production rates, which was slightly delayed compared to the unamended soil. On the other hand, the addition of NH4+-enriched chabazite stimulated NH4+-N production, N2O-N emissions, but reduced NO3−-N production and abundance of nirS-nosZ genes. DMPP efficiency in reducing nitrification rates was dependent on N addition but not affected by the two typologies of zeolites tested. The outcomes of this study indicated the good compatibility of both natural and NH4+-enriched chabazite zeolite with DMPP. In particular, the application of NH4+-enriched zeolites with DMPP is recommended to mitigate short-term N losses.

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Closing the yield gap and achieving high N use efficiency and low apparent N losses

Field Crops Research ◽

10.1016/j.fcr.2017.03.016 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 209 ◽

pp. 39-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Meng Wang ◽

Lichun Wang ◽

Zhenling Cui ◽

Xinping Chen ◽

Jiagui Xie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

N Use Efficiency ◽

Yield Gap ◽

N Losses ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

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Controlled Release Urea as a Nitrogen Source for Spring Wheat in Western Canada: Yield, Grain N Content, and N Use Efficiency

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2001.309 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 114-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Lenz Haderlein ◽

T.L. Jensen ◽

R.E. Dowbenko ◽

A.D. Blaylock

Keyword(s):

Controlled Release ◽

Crop Yields ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Western Canada ◽

N Losses ◽

Application Range ◽

Woody Perennials ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use ◽

Controlled Release Urea

Controlled release nitrogen (N) fertilizers have been commonly used in horticultural applications such as turf grasses and container-grown woody perennials. Agrium, a major N manufacturer in North and South America, is developing a low-cost controlled release urea (CRU) product for use in field crops such as grain corn, canola, wheat, and other small grain cereals. From 1998 to 2000, 11 field trials were conducted across western Canada to determine if seed-placed CRU could maintain crop yields and increase grain N and N use efficiency when compared to the practice of side-banding of urea N fertilizer. CRU was designed to release timely and adequate, but not excessive, amounts of N to the crop. Crop uptake of N from seed-placed CRU was sufficient to provide yields similar to those of side-banded urea N. Grain N concentrations of the CRU treatments were higher, on average, than those from side-banded urea, resulting in 4.2% higher N use efficiency across the entire N application range from 25 to 100 kg ha-1. Higher levels of removal of N in grain from CRU compared to side-banded urea can result in less residual N remaining in the soil, and limit the possibility of N losses due to denitrification and leaching.

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Nitrogen performance indicators for dairy production systems

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr16349 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 55 (6) ◽

pp. 479 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Cecile A. M. de Klein ◽

Ross M. Monaghan ◽

Marta Alfaro ◽

Cameron J. P. Gourley ◽

Oene Oenema ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Dairy Production ◽

N Losses ◽

Key Issues ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Environmental Goals ◽

N Use

Nitrogen (N) is invaluable for maintaining agricultural production, but its use, and particularly inefficient use, can lead to environmental losses. This paper reviews N use efficiency (NUE) and N surplus indicators for dairy production systems to assess their utility for optimising N use outcomes and minimising environmental N losses. Using case-study examples, we also assess realistic goals for these indicators and discuss key issues associated with their use. Published whole-farm NUE and whole-farm N surplus values ranged within 10–65% and 40–700 kg N ha–1 year–1 respectively. In a study of five catchments across New Zealand, whole-farm NUE was more strongly affected by catchment differences in soil and climatic conditions than by differences in management. In contrast, whole-farm N surplus differed both between- and within-catchments and was a good indicator of N losses to water. Realistic goals for both NUE and N surplus thus depend on the agro-climatic context of the dairy system and on its economic and environmental goals. Crop and animal NUE values can be valuable indicators for optimising fertiliser and feed use and minimising N losses. However, global or national whole-farm NUE values appear of limited value if the ultimate goal for setting targets is to reduce the environmental impact of N use; whole-farm level targets based on N surplus would be a more useful indicator for this purpose. Our review also reinforces the importance of standardising the variables that should be used to estimate NUE and N surplus values, to ensure equitable comparisons between different systems. Finally, NUE and N surplus targets should also be set in the context of other agro-environmental considerations.

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The effect of grazing season length on nitrogen utilization efficiency and nitrogen balance in spring-calving dairy production systems

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s002185961200010x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 150 (5) ◽

pp. 630-643 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

W. RYAN ◽

D. HENNESSY ◽

T. M. BOLAND ◽

L. SHALLOO

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Dairy Production ◽

N Losses ◽

Grazing Season ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Milk Solids ◽

N Use

SUMMARYThere is a continual requirement for grass-based production systems to optimize economic and environmental sustainability through increased efficiency in the use of all inputs, especially nitrogen (N). An N balance model was used to assess N use efficiency and N surplus, and to predict N losses from grass-based dairy production systems differing in the length of the grazing season (GS). Data from a 3-year grazing study with a 3×3 factorial design, with three turnout dates (1 February, 21 February and 15 March) and three housing dates (25 October, 10 November and 25 November) were used to generate estimates of N use efficiency and N losses. As the length of the GS increased by a mean of 30 days, milk production, milk solids production and milk N output increased by 3, 6 and 6%, respectively. The increase in milk production as the length of the GS increased resulted in a 2% decline in N surplus and a 5% increase in N use efficiency. Increasing GS length increased the proportion of grazed grass in the diet, which increased N cycling within the system, resulting in an 8% increase in milk solids/ha produced/kg of surplus N. The increased cycling of N reduced the quantity of N partitioned for loss to the environment by 8%. Reducing fertilizer N input by 20% increased N use efficiency by 22% and reduced total N losses by 16%. The environmental and production consequences of increased length of the GS and reduced N loss are favourable as the costs associated with N inputs increase.

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Evaluation of ammonia volatilization losses by adjusted parameters of a logistic function

Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo ◽

10.1590/s0100-06832014000100022 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 223-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Marcos Lima Campos do Vale ◽

Rogério Oliveira de Sousa ◽

Walkyria Bueno Scivittaro

Keyword(s):

Multivariate Analysis ◽

Ammonia Volatilization ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Logistic Function ◽

Urease Inhibitor ◽

N Losses ◽

Total N ◽

Soil Class ◽

Soil Adsorption ◽

Total Ammonia

The dynamics of N losses in fertilizer by ammonia volatilization is affected by several factors, making investigation of these dynamics more complex. Moreover, some features of the behavior of the variable can lead to deviation from normal distribution, making the main commonly adopted statistical strategies inadequate for data analysis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the patterns of cumulative N losses from urea through ammonia volatilization in order to find a more adequate and detailed way of assessing the behavior of the variable. For that reason, changes in patterns of ammonia volatilization losses as a result of applying different combinations of two soil classes [Planossolo and Chernossolo (Typic Albaqualf and Vertic Argiaquolls)] and different rates of urea (50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1 N), in the presence or absence of a urease inhibitor, were evaluated, adopting a 2 × 3 × 2 factorial design with four replications. Univariate and multivariate analysis of variance were performed using the adjusted parameter values of a logistic function as a response variable. The results obtained from multivariate analysis indicated a prominent effect of the soil class factor on the set of parameters, indicating greater relevance of soil adsorption potential on ammonia volatilization losses. Univariate analysis showed that the parameters related to total N losses and rate of volatilization were more affected by soil class and the rate of urea applied. The urease inhibitor affected only the rate and inflection point parameters, decreasing the rate of losses and delaying the beginning of the process, but had no effect on total ammonia losses. Patterns of ammonia volatilization losses provide details on behavior of the variable, details which can be used to develop and adopt more accurate techniques for more efficient use of urea.

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Mitigating Ammonia Volatilization from Waterlogged Acids Soils Using Organic Amendments

Sustainable Agriculture Research ◽

10.5539/sar.v8n3p12 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 12

Author(s):

Maru Ali ◽

Ahmed Osumanu Haruna ◽

Nik Muhamad Abd Majid ◽

Walter Charles Primus ◽

Audrey Asap ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Leucaena Leucocephala ◽

Ammonia Volatilization ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Forest Litter ◽

Cow Dung ◽

Ammonia Loss ◽

Chicken Litter ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

In production agriculture, granular urea is the most used nitrogen fertilizer in crop production. However, increase in soil pH following application of urea causes ammonia volatilization and reduces N use efficiency. To minimize ammonia loss, organic amendments are used, however, type of organic amendment use could affect urea use efficiency. This study was to determine the effects of organic amendments derived from forest litter, Leucaena leucocephala, chicken litter, and cow dung on ammonia volatilization and chemical properties of a waterlogged acid soil. Treatments evaluated were: (i) T1, Soil only, (ii) T2, Existing recommended fertilization, (iii) T3, Biochar-forest litter compost, (iv) T4, Biochar-chicken litter compost, (v) T5, Biochar-cow dung compost, (vi) T6, Biochar-Leucaena compost, and (vii) T7, Biochar-Leucaena - chicken litter compost. Standard procedures were used to quantify ammonia volatilization and soil chemical properties. The findings of this present study also revealed that the total amount of ammonia loss from urea over a period of forty-two days depends on the influence of the organic amendments on urea hydrolysis. Emissions of ammonia from T6 and T7 were significantly higher because, the decomposition of Leucaena leucocephala favours urea hydrolysis compared with those of T3, T4, and T5. Therefore, Leucaena leucocephala composts should be carefully co-applied with urea to minimize ammonia loss if the aim of using this type of amendments is to improve N use efficiency and soil and crop productivity.

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