Dynamic of nitrogen from urea added with technologies to reduce volatilization

Author(s)

Letícia de Abreu Faria

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2013-02-22

Examining board members

Godofredo Cesar Vitti; Edmilson José Ambrosano; Waldo Alejandro Ruben Lara Cabezas; Paulo Cesar Ocheuze Trivelin

• Advisor: Godofredo Cesar Vitti

Abstract

Urea application in no-till is favorable for occurrence of high losses by volatilization of NH3. New nitrogen sources or process that may be applied to urea have been studied to reduce it. Three studies were realized to answer questions as: Is it necessary modifications in adjustment equations with use dynamic of the collector semi-open? Is it possible to get lower losses by volatilization of NH3, nutritional influence, quality and productivity with application of urea coated with zeolite or Cu and B, or urea mix with ammonium sulfate applied in surface for corn in no-tillage? Could these technologies applied in urea modify the dynamic of N from fertilizer in soil? Is it possible the application of coating urea get similar or lower losses of NH3 than ammonium sulfate? The carried out studies were: (i) Evaluation and calibration of the collector semi-open dynamic to quantify losses of NH3 volatilized. (ii) evaluation of urea coated with boric acid and copper sulfate (UC) or with zeolite (UZ), beside the mixes of ammonium sulfate + urea (ASU) and ammonium sulfate + urea coated with boric acid and copper sulfate (ASUC) compared to urea and ammonium nitrate (AN) in corn culture in no-tillage, and (iii) the UC and UZ influence in dynamic of N from fertilizer in soil through 15N incubation. In the first experiment was concluded that dynamic use of collector semi-open can be used in evaluation of losses by volatilization of NH3 with the same adjustment equations developed for static use. In the second experiment, UC showed lower losses of NH3 volatilized when the climatic conditions were favorable to volatilization process occurrence. However, all the treatments with urea were similar when heavy rain occurred. The treatments evaluated influenced the productivity and quantity of N exported by grains; however they had no difference for mass of 1000 grains and crude protein. N-ISNT fraction had no effect of the treatments however they shown high quantities of N potentially available for both harvests. In the third experiment, total losses of volatilization of NH3 had no influence of treatments applied to urea. For other hand, the application of UC showed the lower quantity of losses of NH3 volatilized in the first days of incubation. The results were consequence of the UC effect in the rate of urea hydrolysis, as well as the change on NH4+-N flux for this treatment that could improve N-use efficiency. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/12263-0 - Agronomic efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer in corn crop grown under no-tillage system
• Grantee: Letícia de Abreu Faria
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate