Abstract
Laboratory incubations were conducted to determine the ammonia (NH3) loss from urea as affected by the addition of coarse and ground (fine) pyrites at 1:1, 1:2 and 1:5 urea: pyrite (w/w) ratios and methods of application (surfaceapplication, incorporation and placement). Coarse pyrites (>-2mm) were not effective in reducing NH3 loss from urea when surface applied even at the highest ratio of pyrite (15.9% vs 18.7% without pyrite). Ground pyrites (0.1–0.25 mm), in 1:1 ratio, had about 5% less NH3 loss than the urea alone treatment. Higher ratios of pyrites reduced NH3 loss much more. Ammonia losses were the most with surface-applied urea (18.9%) and the least (13.5%) when placed (2.5 cm) below the soil surface. Addition of ground pyrite to surface-applied urea (1:1 ratio) decreased the loss to 13.2%. Urea+pyrite placed below the soil surface had the least loss (9.8%). Results indicate that combined application of urea and fine pyrite could reduce NH3 loss.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bangar KC, Kapoor KK & Mishra MM (1988) Effects of pyrite on conservation of nitrogen during composting. Biol Wastes 25:227–231
Blaise D & Prasad R (1995) Effect of pyrite blending and polymer coating of prilled urea on ammonia volatilization from surface applied urea. Biol Fertil Soils 20:83–85
Blaise D, Amberger A & von Tucher S (1996) Influence of iron pyrites and dicyandiamide on nitrification and ammonia volatiliation from urea applied to loess brown earths (luvisols). Biol Fertil Soils (In press)
Bouwmeester RJB, Vlek PLG & Stumpe JM (1985) Effect of environmental factors on ammonia volatilization from a ureafertilized soil. Soil Sci Soc Am J 49:376–381
Buresh RJ, Vlek PLG & Harmsen K (1990) Fate of fertilizer nitrogen applied to wheat under simulated mediterranean environmental conditions. Fert Res 23:25–36
Fenn LB & Kissel DE (1976) The influence of cation exchange capacity and depth of incorporation on ammonia volatilization from ammonium compounds applied to calcareous soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 40:394–398
Ferguson RB, Kissel DE, Koelliker JK & Basel W (1984) Ammonia volatilization from surface applied urea: effect of hydrogen ion buffering capacity. Soil Sci Soc Am J 48: 578–582
Gomez KA & Gomez AA (1984) Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research. 2nd ed. Wiley and Sons, Singapore
Katyal JC, Singh-Bijay, Vlek PLG & Buresh RJ (1987) Efficient nitrogen use as affected by urea application and irrigation sequence. Soil Sci Soc Am J 51:366–370
Keeney DR & Nelson DW (1982) Nitrogen-inorganic forms. In: AL Page, RH Miller & DR Keeney (eds) Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2 Chemical and microbiological Properties. 2nd ed. pp. 643–698. Am Soc Agron, Madison, WI, USA
Malhi SS (1995) Influence of source, time and method of application and simulated rainfall on recovery of nitrogen fetilizers applied. Fert Res 41:1–10
Pichtel JR & Dick WA (1991) Sulfur, iron and solid phase transformations during the biological oxidation of pyritic mine soil. Soil Biol Biochem 23:101–107
Razckowski CW & Kissel DE (1989) Fate of subsurface banded and broadcast nitrogen applied to tall fescue. Soil Sci Soc Am J 53:566–570
Rao DLN (1987) Slow-release urea fertilizers-effect on floodwater chemistry, ammonia volatilization and rice growth in an alkali soil. Fert Res 13:209–221
Schnier HF, Dingkuhn M, DeDatta SK, Marqueses EP & Faronilo JE (1990) Nitrogen-15 balance in transplanted and direct seed flooded rice as affected by different methods of urea application. Biol Fertil Soils 10:89–96
Singh H & Mishra B (1986) Effect of temperature and particle size on oxidation of pyrites in a mollisol. J Indian Soc Soil Sci 34:407–408
Singh-Yadvinder & Beauchamp EG (1987) Nitrification inhibition with large urea granules, dicyandiamide, and low temperature. Soil Sci 144:412–419
Stumpe JM, Vlek PLG & Lindsay WL (1984) Ammonia volatilization from urea and urea-phosphates in calcareous soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 48:921–927
Tiwari KN, Dwivedi BS, Upadhyay GP & Pathak AN (1984) Sedimentary iron pyrites as amendment for sodic soils and carrier of fertilizer sulphur and iron — a review. Fertil News 29 (10):31–41
Urban WJ, Hargrove WL, Bock BR & Raunikar RA (1987) Evaluation of urea-urea phosphate as a nitrogen source for no tillage production. Soil Sci Soc Am J 51:242–246
Vlek PLG & Stumpe JM (1978) Effects of solution chemistry and environmental conditions on ammonia volatilization losses from aqueous systems. Soil Sci Soc Am J 42:416–421
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Blaise, D., Tyagi, P.C. & Khola, O.P.S. Ammonia volatilization from urea as affected by the addition of iron pyrites and method of application. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 46, 97–101 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00704309
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00704309