Ammonium Fertilizer Reduces Nitrous Oxide Emission Compared to Nitrate Fertilizer While Yielding Equally in a Temperate Grassland

Emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas, are a challenge associated with application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers to soil. However, N source selection can play a role in reducing these emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured from ammonium (ammonium sulfate) and nitrate (calcium nitrate) fertilizers over one year in temperate grassland using the closed static chamber method. Nitrogen was applied at a system representative rate of 220 kg ha−1 y−1 in six split applications. Cumulative annual N2O-N emissions were 0.29 kg ha−1 for the control, 1.07 kg ha−1 for the ammonium fertilizer and significantly higher at 2.54 kg ha−1 for the nitrate fertilizer. The annual emission factor (EF) for the ammonium fertilizer was 0.35% vs 1.02% for the nitrate fertilizer, a 66% reduction in the EF for ammonium vs nitrate and a 2.9 times higher EF for nitrate compared with ammonium. No difference in grass yield or N uptake was detected between fertilizers. This study shows that an ammonium fertilizer produces the same yield and N efficiency as a nitrate fertilizer with lower N2O emissions. The results also demonstrate that the nitrate portion of fertilizers is a key factor in N2O emissions in temperate grassland. This work is the first of its kind detailing the annual EF of both a solely ammonium-N and a solely nitrate-N fertilizer we could find.

Nitrate distribution pattern under conventional and trickle irrigation system

Nitrate is a highly mobile ions that moves with water. So that nitrate distribution around the driplines is strongly affected by irrigation and fertigation strategy. Nitrate movement under conventional flood irrigation system was observed 2 to 3.5 times faster as compared with trickle irrigation as well as NO3 "-N concentrations exceeded the threshold limit (i.e. 10 mg l-1) under traditional irrigation method, while stayed below the threshold limit under micro irrigation methods. Nitrate distribution was influenced by hydraulic properties, drip discharge rate, soil layering, timing of nutrient application and irrigation frequency. To maintain larger amounts of nutrient nearby emitter in highly permeable coarse-textured soils, nutrients must be applied at the starting of an irrigation cycle so that it is less susceptible to leaching losses. Study revealed that higher transpiration raised the NO3-N uptake by the plats. The study also revealed that urea moves promptly with irrigation water and urea–ammonium–nitrate fertilizer increased the nitrate concentration, near the drip line immediately after the drip fertigation due to the nitrification, while low concentrations was found near the periphery of the wetting zone.

Trendline and Monthly Variations of Nitrate in Water Supply Wells in Upper Egypt

Safe drinking water is among the most important environmental as well as health challenges facing Egypt. Groundwater from the aquifer of the Nile valley in Upper Egypt accounts for about 40% of the overall source of drinking water. Nearly, all rural residents rely on groundwater as the source of drinking water. Irrigation water is the main source of groundwater recharge in Nile Valley. Moreover, nitrate fertilizer utilization in Egypt has risen significantly due to the requirement for further agricultural production. Nitrate levels higher than the permissible limit (45 mg/L) for drinking water have been related to health issues. To determine the effect of agrochemical nitrate on the health of pumping water, municipal water wellfields established in Upper Egypt have been examined. Pumped water from those municipal wells (60 m depth and 2000 m3/day gross pumping rate) was evaluated from 2000 to 2018 to accomplish this objective. Monthly analysis of the quality of groundwater, in particular nitrate, has been conducted. Sulfate and nitrate concentrations as well as other consistency metrics were assessed. Water sampling findings show that the water already comes under the drinking-water limits. Nevertheless, increased nitrate and sulfate values are found beyond naturally existing levels in the aquifer. Consequently, to determine the possible future likelihood of nitrate contamination in such municipal wells, the trendline of nitrate level has been used. The observations suggest that the intensive utilization of nitrogen fertilizer in Upper Egypt in the last 30 years would endanger the quality of the groundwater supply. Resultantly, the usage of nitrogen fertilizers in Upper Egypt must be regulated and continuous groundwater monitoring must be implemented.

Green route for ammonium nitrate synthesis: fertilizer for plant growth enhancement

Green route for synthesis of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and used plasma N-enriched soil for plants (radish and tomato) growth.

RESPON PERTUMBUHAN DAN HASIL BAWANG MERAH TERHADAP PUPUK KALSIUM NITRAT

ABSTRAKPengelolaan unsur hara Nitrogen (N) melalui pemupukan yang cukup dan berimbang berperan penting untuk meningkatkan produktivitas bawang merah. Penggunaan senyawa nitrat sebagai sumber N dapat menjadi alternatif dalam penambahan unsur N. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui respon pertumbuhan dan hasil bawang merah pada beberapa taraf dosis pupuk kalsium nitrat. Penelitian dilakukan di Kebun Percobaan Mojosari, Kabupaten Mojokerto mulai Maret-Mei 2019. Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok diulang 3 kali menggunakan 9 perlakuan yaitu kontrol, dosis rekomendasi (200 kg/ha Urea dan 500 kg/ha ZA), dosis kombinasi pemberian Urea, ZA, dan Kalsium Nitrat. Parameter yang diamati adalah tinggi tanaman, jumlah anakan, diameter umbi, bobot rumpun, bobot rumpun kering askip, susut bobot, dan produktivitas. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perlakuan dosis 150 kg/ha Urea dan 375 kg/ha ZA ditambahkan dengan dosis 5 g/l kalsium nitrat yang mampu meningkatkan pertumbuhan dan hasil tanaman bawang merah dibandingkan dengan perlakuan lainnya.ABSTRACTNitrogen (N) nutrient management through adequate and balanced fertilization plays an important role in increasing the productivity of shallots. The use of nitrate compounds as a source of N can be an alternative in the addition of the N element. This study was aimed to determine the response of shallot growth and yield from several levels of calcium nitrate fertilizer. The research was conducted at the Mojosari Experimental Garden, Mojokerto Regency from March to May 2019. The study used a Randomized Block Design with 3 replicates. The study used 9 treatments namely control, recommended dosage (200 kg / ha Urea and 500 kg / ha ZA), the combined dose of Urea, ZA, and calcium nitrate. The parameters observed were plant height, number of tillers, tuber diameter, weight of the clump, dry weight of the askip clump, weight loss, and productivity. The results showed that the treatment with dosage of 150 kg / ha Urea and 375 kg / ha ZA which was added with a dose of 5 g / l calcium nitrate was able to increase the shallot growth and yield plants compared to other treatments.

Quantitative Assessment of Specific Vulnerability to Nitrate Pollution of Shallow Alluvial Aquifers by Process-Based and Empirical Approaches

Shallow aquifers of coastal and internal alluvial plains of developed countries are commonly characterized by the challenging management of groundwater resources due to the intense agricultural and industrial activities that determine a high risk of groundwater contamination. Among the principal origins of pollution in these areas are agricultural practices based on the amendment of soils by nitrate fertilizers, which have been recognized as one of the most severe environmental emergencies for which specific policies and regulations have been issued (e.g., EU Directive 2006/118/EC). In such a framework, the results of research aimed at assessing the specific vulnerability of shallow alluvial aquifers to nitrate fertilizer pollutants by coupled process-based and empirical approaches are here proposed. The research focused on assessing the specific vulnerability to nitrate pollution of a shallow alluvial aquifer of the Campania region (southern Italy), which was selected due to its representativeness to other recurrent hydrogeological settings occurring in alluvial plains of the region and worldwide. In this area, 1D hydro-stratigraphic models of the unsaturated zone were reconstructed and applied for simulating the transport of nitrate pollutants at the water table and estimating the associated travel times. Numerical modeling was carried out by the finite differences VS2TDI code and considered a 10-year time series of rainfall and evapotranspiration as well as typical local farming practices of nitrate fertilizer input. Results of the travel time calculated for the 1D hydro-stratigraphic models considered and at different depths were recognized as a proxy to assess the specific vulnerability to nitrate fertilizer pollution. Among the principal outcomes is an empirical multiple correlation between the travel time of the nitrate fertilizer pollutant, water table depth, and equivalent saturated hydraulic conductivity of the unsaturated zone or hydraulic resistance, which was used to assess the travel time at the distributed scale over the whole area studied as well as the related specific vulnerability. Given such results, the coupled process-based and empirical approach is proposed as generally applicable for assessing and mapping groundwater vulnerability in shallow aquifers, for which detailed stratigraphic and piezometric data are available.

The transcriptome variations of Panaxnotoginseng roots treated with different forms of nitrogen fertilizers

Background The sensitivity of plants to ammonia is a worldwide problem that limits crop production. Excessive use of ammonium as the sole nitrogen source results in morphological and physiological disorders, and retarded plant growth. Results In this study we found that the root growth of Panax notoginseng was inhibited when only adding ammonium nitrogen fertilizer, but the supplement of nitrate fertilizer recovered the integrity, activity and growth of root. Twelve RNA-seq profiles in four sample groups were produced and analyzed to identify deregulated genes in samples with different treatments. In comparisons to NH${~}_{4}^{+}$ 4 + treated samples, ACLA-3 gene is up-regulated in samples treated with NO${~}_{3}^{-}$ 3 − and with both NH$_{4}^{+}$ 4 + and NO${~}_{3}^{-}$ 3 − , which is further validated by qRT-PCR in another set of samples. Subsequently, we show that the some key metabolites in the TCA cycle are also significantly enhanced when introducing NO${~}_{3}^{-}$ 3 − . These potentially enhance the integrity and recover the growth of Panax notoginseng roots. Conclusion These results suggest that the activated TCA cycle, as demonstrated by up-regulation of ACLA-3 and several key metabolites in this cycle, contributes to the increased Panax notoginseng root yield when applying both ammonium and nitrate fertilizer.

Effects of urease and nitrification inhibitors on soil N, nitrifier abundance and activity in a sandy loam soil

Inhibitors of urease and ammonia monooxygenase can limit the rate of conversion of urea to ammonia and ammonia to nitrate, respectively, potentially improving N fertilizer use efficiency and reducing gaseous losses. Winter wheat grown on a sandy soil in the UK was treated with urea fertilizer with the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) or a combination of both. The effects on soil microbial community diversity, the abundance of genes involved in nitrification and crop yields and net N recovery were compared. The only significant effect on N-cycle genes was a transient reduction in bacterial ammonia monooxygenase abundance following DCD application. However, overall crop yields and net N recovery were significantly lower in the urea treatments compared with an equivalent application of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, and significantly less for urea with DCD than the other urea treatments.