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Effect of Elemental Sulfur Application on Ammonia Volatilization from Surface Applied Urea Fertilizer to Calcareous Sandy Soils

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Effect of Elemental Sulfur Application on Ammonia Volatilization from Surface Applied Urea Fertilizer to Calcareous Sandy Soils View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by UM Digital Repository AJCS 5(5):611-619 (2011) ISSN:1835-2707 Effect of elemental sulfur application on ammonia volatilization from surface applied urea fertilizer to calcareous sandy soils 1 2 3 4 Abdou A. Soaud , Maher E. Saleh , Khaled A. El-Tarabily , M. Sofian-Azirun and M. Motior 4 Rahman* 1Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt 2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Ain Shams, Cairo, Egypt 3Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, United Arab Emirates University, UAE 4Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia *Corresponding author: [email protected]; [email protected] Abstract Widespread acceptance of urea was delayed in part due to its greater potential for nitrogen (N) loss via ammonia volatilization. Elemental sulfur (S 0) at rates of 0, 1, 5 and 10 t ha -1 combined with or without urea and inoculation of Paracoccus versutus ( Pv ) were tested to determine NH 3-N volatilization from urea in sandy calcareous soils of Masafi-1 and Masafi-2. Daily NH 3-N loss was measured up to 29 days after surface urea application in both soils using the closed dynamic airflow system. Total NH 3-N volatilizations from urea-treated soils were 22.15 to 29.74 % of applied N in Masafi -1 and Masafi -2 soils, respectively. Application 0 of S had a positive influence on reducing NH 3-N volatilization from surface applied urea. In both soils significant reductions in 0 0 -1 -1 NH 3-N volatilization were observed in amended soil by S . The result reveals that S at rates of 1or 5 t ha and 5 or 10 t ha is required to minimize volatile loss of NH 3-N from surface applied urea in Masafi-1 and Masafi-2 soils, respectively. Application of 0 Pv with or without S and urea had no positive influence on reduction of NH 3-N volatilization. Keywords : Ammonia volatilization, elemental sulfur, sandy calcareous soils, urea Abbreviations: DAI-days after incubation, N-nitrogen, Pv- Paracoccus versutus, S-sulfur, S0-elemental sulfur, U-urea, UAE-United Arab Emirates Introduction Urea is the cheapest form of granular nitrogen, widely used reaction site to increase. Soil pH change depends on initial for crop plants (Dong et al., 2009) and accounts for more than pH, net inputs of acid or alkali, and the soil's pH buffeting 50% of the world’s nitrogenous fertilizers (Schwab and capacity (Bloom, 2000) and soils with a larger H+ ion Murdock, 2005). However, one of the great disadvantages of buffering capacity have been shown to also retain more NH 3 urea among nitrogenous fertilizers is its volatile property (Izaurralde et al., 1987). The NH 3 losses due to urea which causes large losses of urea to the environment. The hydrolysis may reach as much as 80% of the total N applied loss of urea is highly dependent on the rate of hydrolysis under field conditions (Gould et al., 1986). Ammonia which in turn is influenced by soil temperature, soil moisture, volatilization is the loss of N to the atmosphere through relative humidity, wind speed, rainfall pattern, cation conversion of the ammonium ion to ammonia gas (NH 3). + Ammonium is an available source of N for plant while exchange capacity, H ion buffering capacity, CaCO 3 content, organic matter content and N source (Jones et al., ammonia is not (Bardy and Weil, 2002). Ammonia loss from 2007) and urease activity as well (Watson et al., 2008). unamended urea varies with soil type and temperature, Ammonia volatilization is directly related to soil pH near the ranging from 8.2 to 31.9% of the applied N (Watson et al., fertilizer droplet or granule, which largely determines the 2008). Nitrogen loss through ammonia volatilization on + calcareous soils is a common concern when NH -N is applied ratio of NH 3 to NH 4 in the soil solution (Jones et al., 2007). 3 Alkaline soils (pH~8.2 or higher) have proven to increase to the soil surface and remains there without incorporation urea hydrolysis (Christopher et al., 2010) and this condition into the soil. Therefore, in an application of dry fertilizer occurs in calcareous soils, or where the breakdown of the N containing NH 3-N, the fertilizer should be moved into the fertilizer produces alkaline conditions. In addition, the root zone through irrigation or mechanical incorporation formation of the hydroxide ions can cause soils around the (Jones et al., 2007). This means, timing and method of urea applied urea particle to have a pH around 9.0 which increases application is a crucial factor to minimize volatilization loss. ammonia volatilization (Mclnnes et al., 1986). When surface A substantial amount of N losses can occur if urea is not incorporated into the soil soon after application .The amount soil pH value is greater than 7.0, volatilization of NH 3-N fertilizer is significantly increased. The urease-mediated of surface residue and time between urea application and precipitation are also critical. Although the influence of the reaction of soil-applied urea with H 2O results in rapid + + individual factors on NH 3 volatilization has been established, conversion to NH 4 . In this reaction, H ions are consumed + - and NH 4 and HCO 3 are produced, causing the soil pH, at the 611 Table 1. Physicochemical properties of Masafi-1 and Masafi-2 soils Soil properties Masafi soils-1 Masafi soils-2 Texture Sand ( %) 87.50 87.50 Silt ( %) 5.00 5.00 Clay (%) 7.50 7.50 Total carbonate (%) 24.53 26.07 EC (dSm -1) 9.49 12.68 pH 7.58 7.70 Cations (mq L -1) Ca 25.00 38.20 Mg 34.20 39.20 Na 53.80 56.20 K 7.520 11.94 Anions (mq L -1) Cl 46.80 52.00 HCO 3 20.40 8.40 SO 4 0.64 6.20 Mg:Ca Ratio 1.37 1.03 the prediction of actual N volatilization losses under a given (Schwab and Murdock, 2005; McCarty et al., 1989), for set of soil and environmental factors can seldom be achieved, example N losses can be reduced by the use of a urease due to the complex interactions (Ping et al., 2000). Fertilizer inhibitor added to the fertilizer. The use of NPBT allows urea is often applied when field conditions are not optimal, to be used more efficiently and the cost effective delivery particularly in large scale operations. Thus, crop yield is vehicle for nitrogen soil amendment, per unit of nitrogen, reduced and extra costs are incurred from additional N occurs at a lower cost (Watson et al., 2008). Approaches have 0 fertilizer due to rapid volatile loss of ammonia. Therefore, been taken to decrease the NH 3 loss by using S that retard economic efficiency of cropping systems is reduced due to hydrolysis of urea by reducing the activities of urease volatile loss of ammonia. The use of inhibitors can decrease (Abdou, 2001; Al-Kanani et al., 1994; McCarty et al., 1989; the localized zones of high pH common with untreated urea Broadbent et al., 1985). Elemental S has been used for many 612 Table 2. Total ammonia volatilization and reduction of ammonia volatilization from surface applied urea as affected by elemental sulfur and Paracoccus versutus Treatment Masafi Soil-1 Masafi Soil-2 NH 3-N Reduction in NH 3-N loss** NH 3-N loss (%) Reduction in NH 3-N loss (%) (%) loss (%) Control 1.92 2.08 (*S 00+U0+ Pv 0) - - U 22.15 - 29.74 - Pv 2.04 - 2.36 - U+ Pv 24.47 - 10.47 39.04 -31.27 S01 t ha -1 1.86 8.82 2.20 6.78 S05 t ha -1 1.80 11.76 2.41 -2.12 S010 t ha -1 1.83 10.29 2.28 3.39 S01 t ha -1+U 10.02 54.76 20.31 31.71 S05 t ha -1+U 10.45 52.82 17.95 39.64 S010 t ha -1+U 13.50 39.05 15.49 47.92 S01 t ha -1+U+ Pv 16.03 27.63 19.40 34.77 S05 t ha -1+U+ Pv 11.88 46.37 21.17 28.82 S010 t ha -1+U+ Pv 21.32 03.75 21.33 28.29 LSD 0.05 0.88 - 1.25 - 0 *S = elemental sulfur, U-urea, Pv -Paracoccus versutus, ** % Reduction in NH 3-N loss = (A-B/A) x100, where A = % NH 3-N 0 0 0 loss in U treatment, B= % NH 3-N loss in S , S +U, S +U+ Pv treatments. 613 years in the reclamation and improvement of sodic and of 0 and 200 kg ha -1. The treatment arrangements are as calcareous soils (Abdel Fattah et al., 1990; Wassif et al., follows: Control (S 00+U0+ Pv 0), urea (U), Paracoccus 1993). Recently, more attention has been given to S versutus ( Pv) , U+ Pv , S 0 1 t ha -1, S 0 5 t ha -1, S 0 10 t ha -1, S 0 1 t application to soils due to its favorable effects in promoting ha -1+U, S 0 5 t ha -1+U, S 0 10 t ha -1+U, S 0 1 t ha -1+U+ Pv , S 0 5 t nutrient availability in soils (Saleh, 2001; El-Fakharani, ha -1+U+ Pv and S 0 10 t ha -1+U+ Pv . The experiment was 1995).
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