Search

Ammonia volatilization from urea and ammonium containing compound fertilizers cause higher cost of fertilization in agriculture. In this study, an incubation experiment was carried out to compare the effect of different ratios of compound fertilizer amended with clinoptilolite zeolite on NH3 volatilization, soil exchangeable NH4 and available NO3 contents on Bekenu Series (Tipik Tualemkuts) with surface-applied urea without additives. Treatments with zeolite significantly reduced NH3 loss when compared with urea without addictives. They also improved retention of exchangeable NH4 and NO3 and this was possible because zeolite favoured formation of ammonium and nitrate over ammonia. There is a potential for compound fertilizer with zeolite to improve nitrogen efficiency by lowering ammonia volatilization and increasing accumulation of exchangeable NH4 and NO3. Key words: Ammonia volatilization, compound fertilizers, clinoptilolite zeolite, soil exchangeable ammonium, available nitrate.

Ammonia volatilization is a direct loss of available nitrogen in agriculture. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of amending NPK fertilizer with different rates of clinoptilolite zeolite on ammonia volatilization, soil exchangeable ammonium, and available nitrate. Seven treatments evaluated were: 250 g soil alone (T1), 3.28 g ammonium nitrate (AN) without additive (T2), 44.6 g 5:3:2 formulated fertilizer + 31.77 g zeolite (T3), 44.6 g 5:5:5 formulated fertilizer + 26.36 g zeolite (T4), 37.17 g 6:6:6 formulated fertilizer + 18.92 g zeolite (T5), 22.30 g 10:10:10 formulated fertilizer + 4.06 g zeolite (T6), and 14.87 g 15:15:15 commercial fertilizer (T7). The ammonia loss was measured using close-dynamic air flow system method. Soil pH, exchangeable ammonium and available nitrate at the end of this study were determined using standard procedures. The mixture of formulated fertilizer and zeolite significantly reduced ammonia volatilization. Zeolite in the formulated compound fertilizers did not significantly affect soil exchangeable ammonium and available nitrate. Amending N, P, and K compound fertilizer could minimize ammonia loss. Keywords: Ammonium nitrate, zeolite, ammonia volatilization, soil exchangeable ammonium, soil available nitrate

Application of crude humin with urea and Egyptian rock phosphate (ERP) may reduce ammonia loss from urea. This study was conducted to determine the effect of mixing crude humin with urea and ERP on ammonia volatilization and selected soil chemical properties. Crude humin from four different composts was mixed with urea and ERP and ammonia loss from these treatments were evaluated using the closed-dynamic air flow system. Standard procedures were used to determine ammonia loss, soil pH, total nitrogen, exchangeable ammonium, available nitrate, exchangeable phosphorus, cations, organic matter, total organic carbon and cation exchange capacity. Amending urea with crude humin had no effect on total amount of ammonia loss. However, addition of the crude humin significantly increased pH, organic matter, total organic carbon, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable cations of Bekenu series (Tipik Tualemkuts). Crude humin from selected waste compost can be used to improve soil chemical properties.