Anorganisch-katalytische Umsetzungen von Cyanamid und dessen Metaboliten in Quarzsand II. Cyanamidabbau unter dem Einfluß von Metalloxiden und Temperatur

Inorganic catalytical breakdown of cyanamide and its metabolites in quartz sand II. Cyanamide breakdown as influenced by metal oxides and temperature The inorganically catalysed breakdown of cyanamide with addition of water in presence of metal oxides was studied in quartz sand. Cyanamide breakdown and the formation of metabolites was investigated in relation to the kind and quantity of metal oxides as well as temperature.

• 1 The oxides or hydroxides of Mn, Cu, Zu, Ni, Co influenced the rate of cyanamide breakdown very differently.
• 2 Decreasing the quantity of oxides (amorphous Fe(III) – hydroxide, ochre, rust) from 0.5 to 0.1 g or 0.05g/100g of quartz sand retarded cyanamide breakdown in an oxide specific formation of urea and dicyanamide.
• 3 The influence of temperature (5 and 18°C) on the breakdown was not so great as that of moisture (5% and 150% of the water capacity).
• 4 A low temperature (5°C) and high moisture regime (150% of the water capacity) retarded cyanamide breakdown considerably almost completely stopping it. The type and concentration of the metal oxide (iron oxide) as well as the moisture and temperature of the reaction medium are very important in the inorganically catalysed cyanamide and water reaction leading to the formation of urea or dicyanamide.

     

Anorganisch-katalytische Umsetzungen von Cyanamid und dessen Metaboliten in Quarzsand I. Mechanismus des Cyanamidabbaues unter dem Einfluß von Eisenoxiden und Feuchtigkeit

Inorganic catalytical transformation of cyanamide and its metabolites in quartz sand I. Mechanism of cyanamide breakdown as influenced by iron oxides and moisture A study was made of the inorganically catalysed breakdown of cyanamide by iron oxides in quartz sand, and the formation of metabolites in relation to the type of iron oxide and the moisture level in the system. The possibility that cyanamide breakdown was biological and enzymic was largely eliminated.

• 1 In the absence of iron oxides the added cyanamide was practically unchanged over the 100 days of the experiment.
• 2 With the addition of iron oxides such as amorphous Fe(III)-hydroxide, ochre or rust, the cyanamide rapidly took up water after a few hours and urea was formed. Water uptake was dependent on the type of iron oxide added. When the moisture level in the reaction medium was low (5% of the total water capacity) the process was accelerated.
• 3 Different amounts of dicyanamide and guanylurea were produced depending on the iron oxides applied. When the water content was high, reactions leading to the production of these compounds were slowed down.
• 4 The inorganically catalysed breakdown of cyanamide depends on reaction conditions. It can result either in the uptake of water to produce urea directly or in the production of dicyanamide which gives rise to guanylurea by the further addition of water.

     

Loss of nitrogen from ammoniacal fertilizers incubated under different soil and temperature conditions

Abstract

Ammonium sulfate and urea were added to three soils of widely different composition. After incubation for 28 days at 20°C, from 13 to 89% of the N from ammonium sulfate, and 8 to 71% of the N as urea were not recovered, and at 40°C, 44 to 95% of the N as ammonium sulfate, and 33 to 81% of the N as urea was not recovered as either ammonium‐N or nitrate‐N. Significantly more N was lost from a soil containing 3% calcium carbonate at pH 8.4 as compared to the two other soils containing 25 and 35% calcium carbonate, which have pH's of 7.7 and 7.5, respectively. An incubation temperature of 40°C appeared quite unfavourable for nitrification.     

Dicyandiamidabbau im Boden in Abhängigkeit von der Temperatur

Effect of temperature on the breakdown of dicyandiamide in the soil The breakdown of dicyandiamide in a soil (sandy silty loam, pH 6.2, 0.13 % N) was investigated in relation to temperature. 1. The rate of conversion of dicyandiamide (DCD) (20 mg DCD-N/100 g soil) to guanylurea increased with rising temperature (10°–90°C). After 20 days, 14–100 % of the added DCD was metabolized. Small amounts of DCD (0.67 resp. 1.34 mg DCD-N/100 g soil) were broken down completely within 20–80 days at 8°–20°C. 2. Guanylurea was transformed to guanidine and then to ammonium. Increasing temperature in the region of 10° and 30°C accelerated the transformation. At higher temperatures (up to 70°C) an accumulation of guanidine occurred.     

Effects of successive soil freeze-thaw cycles on nitrification potential of soils

Abstract

In our previous report (Yanai et al. 2004: Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 50, 821–829), we demonstrated that soil freeze-thaw cycles caused a partial sterilization of the soil microbial communities and exerted limited effects on the potential of organic matter decomposition of soils. In the present study, the effects of soil freeze-thaw cycles on the nitrification potential of soils were examined and the impacts of the freeze-thaw cycles on the nitrifying communities were analyzed. Samples of surface soils (0 to 10 cm depth) were collected, from tropical arable land sites, temperate forest, and arable land sites~ Nitrification potential was assayed by the incubation of soils with or without the addition of 200 fig N of ammonium sulfate per g soil to reach a moisture content adjusted to 60% of maximum water-holding capacity at 27~wC following four successive soil freeze-thaw cycles (-13 and 4°C at 12 h-intervals). Nitrification potential of the soils, in which the decrease in the microbial biomass following the freeze-thaw cycles was less appreciable, was not inhibited by the soil freeze-thaw cycles. On the other hand, the nitrification potential of the soils, in which the decrease in the microbial biomass following the soil freeze-thaw cycles was relatively more appreciable, was clearly inhibited by the freeze-thaw cycles or was undetectable even in the unfrozen control. Surprisingly, nitrate production in the samples of an arable soil collected from Vietnam was inhibited by the addition of ammonium sulfate, and thus the effects of counter-anions of ammonium salts on the nitrification potential of the soils were examined. Since a much larger amount of nitrate was produced in the Vietnam soil with the addition of ammonium acetate and ammonium hydrogen carbonate than that in the soil with the addition of ammonium sulfate, it was considered that ammonium sulfate inhibited nitrification in the soil. These results indicated that ammonium sulfate may not always be a suitable substrate for estimating the nitrification potential of soils. Relationship between soil physicochemical properties and the effect of the soil freeze-thaw cycles on the nitrification potential was evaluated and it was considered that the soil pH(KCI) was likely to be responsible for the difference in the responses among soils, assuming that the pH values changed in unfrozen water under the frozen conditions of soils.     

Einfluß von Wassergehalt und Salzen auf die Nitrifikation in Proben einer podsoligen Braunerde

Influence of watercontent and salts on the nitrification in samples of a Dystric Cambisol Samples of a Dystric Cambisol from a beech site produced nitrate but autotrophic nitrifying microorganisms could not be detected. Net nitrification of the humic layer and the upper 5 cm of the mineral soil during incubation at 22°C was investigated. Nitrification rate increased with increasing water content of the soil. Additions of ammonium or peptone did not increase the nitrification in the humic layer. Supply of (ammonium-)sulphates and chlorides with concentrations higher than 2 mMol per kg soil inhibited nitrification totally. This could not be ascribed to pH-changes. Additions of phosphates, lime or alkali to the soil samples increased nitrification.     

High Water Regime Can Reduce Ammonia Volatilization from Soils under Potato Production

Abstract

This research was conducted with Biscayne marl soil and Krome gravelly loam from Florida and Quincy fine sand and Warden silt loam from Washington to determine ammonia (NH₃) volatilization at various temperature and soil water regimes. Potassium nitrate (KNO₃), ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃), ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄], or urea were applied to the soil at a rate of 75 kg N ha^?1. Soil water regime was maintained at either 20% or 80% of field capacity (FC) and incubated at 11, 20, or 29°C, which represented the minimum, average, and maximum temperatures, respectively, during the potato growing season in Washington. Results indicated that the ammonia volatilization rate at 20% FC soil water regime was two‐ to three‐fold greater than that at 80% FC. The cumulative volatilization loss over 28 days was up to 25.7%. Results of this study demonstrated that ammonia volatilization was accelerated at low soil water regimes.     

Nitrification in two coniferous forest soils after different fertilization treatments

The effects of seven different fertilization treatments on nitrification in the organic horizons of a Myrtillus-type (MT) and a Calluna-type pine forest in southern Finland were studied. No (NO^?₃ + NO^?₂)-N accumulated in unfertilized soils during 6 weeks at 14 or 20°C in the laboratory. Net nitrification was stimulated by urea in both soils (but more in the MT pine forest soil) and to a lesser degree by wood ash but not by ammonium nitrate or nitroform (ureaformaldehyde). Nitrification was not detected in nitroform fertilized soils although ammonium accumulation was high during incubation. In the MT pine forest soil, net nitrification appeared to be stimulated by apatite, biotite and micronutrients. Nitrapyrin inhibited nitrification indicating that it was carried out by autotrophic nitrifiers. In the urea-fertilized MT pine forest soil, nitrification took place at an incubation temperature of 0°C. Accumulation of (N0^?₃ + NO^?₂)-N was highest in soil sampled at < 10°C.     

Umsatz und Wirkung von Harnstoff-Dicyandiamid- sowie Ammonsulfat-Dicyandiamid-Produkten zu Weidelgras und Reis

Transformation and effect of urea – dicyandiamide and ammonium sulphate – dicyandiamide products with ryegrass and rice The transformation of urea or ammonium sulphate fertilizers both in combination with dicyandiamide was tested in soil under aerobic conditions. Nitrification was determined after percolation and different incubation periods by measuring the amount of nitrate leached. The mineralisation of urea and ammonium sulphate in the fertile soil was relatively quick. However the addition of 5 to 10 % DCD of the total fertilizer-N inhibited vigorously the nitrification for 6 weeks, 20 % DCD even for 10 weeks. In this way the danger of nitrate leaching was greatly diminished and a slow and constant release of available nitrogen rendered. After a preceding aerobic incubation (up to 4 weeks), flooding and rice-seeding diminished the nitrogen losses by leaching and denitrification remarkably in the Ha/DCD – as well as AS/DCD-pots if compared to urea or ammonium sulphate alone. This effect was particulary clear after a 4 weeks incubation period. Therefore these urea – and ammonium sulphate-dicy-andiamide products guarantee a proper and constant N-nutrition of the rice plants and may decrease the N-losses caused by leaching and denitrification. Nitrogen fertilizers with nitrification inhibitors are of special interest for rice culture, because they allow a better timing of N-fertilizer application, rice seeding and water flooding and render a more economical utilization of nitrogen fertilizers.     

Nitrification in soils incubated with pig slurry or ammonium sulphate

The effects of temperature, moisture content and the addition of pig slurry on nitrification in two soils were studed. There was no accumulation of NO₂^?-N under the incubation conditions investigated and the accumulation of NO₃^?-N was linear for additions of 50–250 μg NH₄⁺-N g^? soil, either as ammonium sulphate or as pig slurry. Nitrate formation was treated as a single step, zero order process to enable a rate constant to be calculated. Nitrification rate increased with increasing moisture content up to the highest level tested, soil water potential ?8.0 kPa, corresponding to approximately 60% of water holding capacity in both soils. Measurable nitrification was found in both soils at the lowest moisture content (soil water potential ?1.5 MPa) and temperature (5° C) tested. The nitrification rate constant in soils treated with 50 μg NH₄⁺-N g^? soil was not significantly affected (P = 0.05) by the form of ammonium added. Addition of 250 μg NH₄⁺-N as ammonium sulphate caused a marked inhibition of nitrification at all moisture contents and temperatures. Addition of 250 μg NH₄⁺-N as pig slurry caused a marked increase in nitrification rate, the increase being greater at the higher temperatures and moisture contents.     

Umsatz von 15N-Harnstoff und 15N-Ammonsulfatsalpeter mit Zusatz von Dicyandiamid unter aeroben Bedingungen im Boden

Turnover of ¹⁵N-urea and ¹⁵N-ammonium sulfa-nitrate with addition of dicyandiamide under aerobic conditions in the soil In aerobic incubation trials, the turnover of ¹⁵N-labelled urea (UR) and ammonium sulfa-nitrate (ASN) was investigated in the soil (silty loam, pH 6.5) under addition of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD).

• 1 Nitrification of urea at 7°C was markedly inhibited by addition of 10 ppm DCD-N (in relation to soil); at 14°C, a concentration of 20 ppm DCD-N was required for a sufficient inhibition; nitrification of ASN was more inhibited by DCD than nitrification of UR.
• 2 By use of dicyandiamide, up to 14% (as compared with 10% without DCD) of the supplied N was transformed into a non-extractable N-Form from which only a slight release of nitrogen could be observed after 147 days. Also, the proportion of fixed ammoniuum was higher in the treatments with DCD as compared without DCD.
• 3 In all experiments, the recovery was 100% ± max. 2.6%, that means that no essential (gaseous) losses of N occurred under the aerobic conditions of these trials.

     

Potential use of karanjin (3-methoxy furano-2′,3′,7,8-flavone) as a nitrification inhibitor in different soil types

Karanjin, a furanoflavonoid (3-methoxy furano –?2 ′ , 3 ′ , 7, 8-flavone), is obtained from the seeds of karanja tree (Pongamia glabra Vent.), which is reported to have nitrification inhibitory properties but has been tested in few soil types. Efficiency of karanjin as a nitrification inhibitor in seven different soils of India was tested in a laboratory incubation study. The soils (800?g) were adjusted to field capacity moisture content, fertilized with urea and urea combined with karanjin at a rate of 20% of applied urea-N (100?mg?kg^???1 soil) and incubated at 35°C for a period of 7 weeks, during which urea [CO(NH₂)₂], ammonium (NH₄ ^?+?), nitrite (NO₂ ^???) and nitrate (NO₃ ^???) content in the soils was measured periodically and nitrification inhibition at different stages was calculated. Urea hydrolysis was almost complete within 72?h of application in all the soils and was not affected by karanjin. Karanjin had conserved ammonium in all the soils at all stages and nitrate formation was effectively minimized. Nitrite in soils was short-lived and low. Nitrification inhibition by karanjin remained high for a period of approximately 6 weeks, decreased with time and ranged from 9?–?76% for all the soils. The study shows that this plant product can be an effective nitrification inhibitor in several types of soil.     

不同氮肥在石灰性潮土中的转化及ATS对尿素氮转化的调控效应

根据氮肥施入土壤后的转化特性进行氮肥的高效调控和管理是提高氮肥利用效率、缓解氮肥污染的重要措施。为探究不同氮肥在石灰性潮土中的转化特性差异及硫代硫酸铵（ammonium thiosulfate，ATS）作为氮肥调控剂对尿素氮转化的影响，该研究采用室内土壤培养（土壤水分含量为田间持水量的60%，温度25 ℃）试验方法，以尿素、硫酸铵、氯化铵和ATS作为供试肥料，比较4种氮肥施入石灰性潮土后的转化特性差异，并以ATS作为氮素调控剂，以单施尿素作为对照，探究尿素配施不同用量ATS对尿素氮转化的影响。结果表明，4种供试氮肥在石灰性潮土中的转化过程明显不同。尿素在石灰性潮土中的水解速率最快，硝化作用强度也最高，硫酸铵其次；氯化铵由于Cl^-的硝化抑制作用，土壤表观硝化率在7～21 d显著低于尿素和硫酸铵（P＜0.05）；ATS施入土壤后，NH₄⁺-N转化为NO₂^--N的速率最高，而NO₂^--N转化为NO₃^--N的速率最低，NH₄⁺-N在土壤中的存留时间最长，出现峰值之后也一直保持最高的含量，表观硝化率最低。将ATS作为氮素调控剂与尿素配合施用，当其用量在60 mg/kg（含S量）以上时，既表现出了明显的抑制尿素水解的作用效果，也表现出了显著的硝化抑制作用（ P <0.05），且随着ATS用量的增加，抑制效应明显增强。这对于减少氮素损失，提高氮肥利用效率具有积极意义。但供试4种氮肥施入土壤后均出现了亚硝酸盐的累积，其中ATS处理的累积量显著高于尿素、硫酸铵和氯化铵（P＜0.05），累积持续时间也最长。ATS作为氮素调控剂调控氮素转化，也出现了类似的结果，且随着ATS用量增加，亚硝酸盐在土壤中存留时间明显延长，含量和峰值明显提高，出现峰值的时间也明显延后。     

氮素浓度和水分对水稻土硝化作用和微生物特性的影响

为了明确不同氮素浓度和水分对土壤硝化作用和微生物特性的影响,特别是高氮素浓度下的响应特异性,以红壤水稻土为供试土壤,设置4个硫铵用量水平[0(CK)、120 mg(N).kg-1(A1)、600 mg(N).kg-1(A2)、1 200 mg(N).kg-1(A3)],调节土壤水分为饱和持水量(WHC)的40%、60%和80%,研究了短期内不同氮素浓度和不同水分条件下土壤硝化作用、微生物生物量碳和微生物功能多样性的变化。结果表明:在40%、60%和80%WHC水分条件时,硫铵A2、A3浓度处理土壤硝化率和硝化速率普遍较低,硫铵A1浓度处理硝化率和硝化速率随土壤含水量的升高而升高;同含水量时随硫铵用量的升高而显著降低。在40%、60%和80%WHC水分条件时,微生物生物量碳随硫铵浓度的升高而降低;同浓度硫铵用量水平时,微生物生物量碳的变化基本表现为:60%WHC80%WHC40%WHC。分析发现不同水分和硫铵处理之间存在交互作用。BIOLOG分析显示:不同氮素浓度和不同水分处理,60%WHC下A1处理的平均吸光值(AWCD)和Shannon、Simpson、McIntosh指数最大,其次为60%WHC的硫铵CK处理,而不同水分下硫铵A2、A3处理,其AWCD值和Shannon、Simpson、McIntosh多样性指数都较低,进一步说明过量施肥导致微生物活性降低。不同氮素浓度和水分条件下土壤微生物和生化性状不同,过量施用化肥后将有可能造成土壤微生物性状和生化功能衰减。     

不同保水剂对土壤水分和氮素保持的比较研究

保水剂应用对土壤水肥利用效率具有重要影响。本文采用土柱模拟试验方法,以不施保水剂处理为对照,比较3种保水剂——聚丙烯酸盐类保水剂(A)、有机–无机复合保水剂(B)、腐植酸型多功能保水剂(C)对土壤水分和两种氮肥(尿素、硝酸铵)的保持效应,筛选保水剂与氮肥的合理施用配合。8次土壤淋溶结果表明:3种保水剂对土壤水分和两种氮肥都有保持作用,但差异明显。在保水方面,A、B保水剂土壤水分保持效果较好且保水效果相近,C保水剂相对较差;随浇水次数增加,3种保水剂的保水效果均有所降低。在保肥方面,C保水剂对两种氮素的保持效果显著优于对照,且对硝酸铵保持效果优于对尿素的保持效果;A保水剂对尿素的保持效果明显,但对硝酸铵的保持效果很小,淋溶8次后,甚至对氮素淋溶有促进作用;B保水剂对尿素的保持效果8次淋溶后与C保水剂相近,对硝酸铵的保持效果介于其他两种保水剂之间。此外,保水剂对土壤脲酶活性有一定影响,其变化与氮素转化有关;施用尿素的土壤中,保水剂对土壤脲酶活性的影响为B保水剂C保水剂A保水剂,而施用硝酸铵的土壤中为A保水剂B保水剂C保水剂。     

Urea transformation in some tropical soils

The effects of incubation at 20°, 30° and 40°C and urea concentrations of 0, 50, 100 and 200 μg N/g soil on urea hydrolysis and nitrification were investigated in three Nigerian soils. At constant temperature urea hydrolysis and rate of NO₃^? accumulation increased with increasing rate of urea addition. Urea was rapidly hydrolyzed within 1 week of incubation. Nitrification in Apomu soil increased with increasing incubation temperature. Nitrification was slow in acid Nkpologu soil (pH 4.7). Texture, cation exchange capacity and C:N ratios of the soils were not related to urea hydrolysis or nitrification. Nitrite accumulation in these soils was insignificant. Soil pH was decreased by nitrification of hydrolyzed urea-N.     

Nitrifikation von Gülle-N in Abhängigkeit von Ausbringungstermin,pH-Wert des Bodens und Dicyandiamidzusatz

Nitrification of slurry N as dependent on application time, soil pH and addition of dicyandiamide Formation of nitrate after slurry application was investigated in relation to soil pH and dicyandiamide application in model trials at simulated outdoor temperatures of October or November till July. In the soil of pH 5.7, a supplement of 20 mg/kg DCD to slurry applied in October was sufficient to remarkably reduce nitrification which started not before March. In the soil of pH 7.2, formation of nitrate without DCD mainly occurred before winter, but was retarded by 20 mg/kg DCD till April/May. Higher amounts of DCD further delayed nitrification for about another month. After slurry application end of November (soil temperature 0°C), nitrification was retarded by dicyandiamide for up to 3 month.     

Effects of nitrification inhibitors on transformations of urea nitrogen in soils

The effects of three patented nitrification inhibitors on transformations of urea N in soils were studied by determining the effects of these compounds (10 μg/g of soil) on urea hydrolysis, ammonia volatilization. and production of ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate in soils incubated under aerobic conditions (30°C, 60% WHC) after treatment with urea (400 μg of urea N/g of soil). The inhibitors used (N-Serve, ATC, and CL-1580) had little, if any, effect on urea hydrolysis, but they retarded nitrification of the ammonium formed by urea hydrolysis and increased gaseous loss of urea N as ammonia. They also decreased the amount of (urea + exchangeable ammonium + nitrite + nitrate) — N found in urea-treated soils after various times.Two of the soils used accumulated substantial amounts of nitrite(> 160 μg of nitrite N/g of soil) when incubated under aerobic conditions after treatment with urea. Addition of nitrification inhibitors to these soils eliminated or substantially reduced nitrite accumulation and greatly retarded nitrate formation, but had little, if any, effect on the recovery of urea N as (urea + exchangeable ammonium + nitrite + nitrate + ammonia) — N after various times. This finding and other observations reported indicate that the “nitrogen deficits” observed in studies of urea N transformations in soils may not largely be due to gaseous loss of urea N through chemodenitrification and are at least partly due to volatilization and fixation of the ammonium formed by urea hydrolysis in soils. The work reported also indicates that N-Serve and other nitrification inhibitors may prove useful for reduction of the nitrite toxicity problems associated with the use of urea as a fertilizer but that application of such inhibitors in conjunction with fertilizer urea, when surface applied, may promote gaseous loss of urea N as ammonia.     

A high soil potential net nitrification was observed at 4 m depth: What are the driving factors?

Studies about nitrogen (N) mineralization and nitrification in deep soil layers are rare because N processes are considered to occur mainly in topsoil that hosts active and diverse microbial communities. This study aimed to measure the soil potential net N mineralization (PNM) and nitrification (PNN) down to 4 m depth and to discuss factors controlling their variability. Twenty-one soil cores were collected at the Restinclières agroforestry experimental site, where 14-year-old hybrid walnut trees were intercropped with durum wheat. Soil cores were incubated in the dark in the laboratory at both 6 and 25°C. The soil was a deep calcic fluvisol with a fluctuating water table. It featured a black layer that was very rich in organic matter and permanently water saturated at depths between 3.0 and 4.0 m. The mean soil mineral N content was 3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil in the upper 0.0–0.2 m layer, decreasing until a depth of 2 m and increasing to the maximum value of 25.8 mg N kg⁻¹ soil in the black layer. While nitrate (NO₃⁻) was the dominant form of mineral N (89%) in the upper 0.0–0.2 m layer, its proportion progressively decreased with depth until ammonium (NH₄⁺) became almost the only form of mineral N (97%) in the saturated black layer. Laboratory soil incubation revealed that PNM and PNN occurred at all depths, although the latter remained low at 6°C. The soil nitrate content in the black layer was multiplied by 48 times after 51 days of incubation at 25°C, whereas it was almost inexistent at the sampling date. While the soil total N, the pH and the incubation temperature explained 84% of the variation in PNM, only 29% of the percent nitrification variance was explained by the incubation temperature (T_inc) and the soil C-to-N ratio. These results point out the necessity to consider soil potential net N mineralization and nitrification of deep soil layers to improve model predictions.     

Structural Characteristics and Oxygen Consumption of the Epipelic Biofilm in Three Lowland Streams Exposed to Different Land Uses

Ammonia (NH₃) emission from nitrogen (N) fertilizers used in agriculture decreases N uptake by the crop and negatively impacts air quality. In order to better understand the factors influencing NH₃ emission from agriculture, this research was conducted with four major soils used for potato production: Biscayne Marl Soil (BMS, pH 7.27), and Krome Gravelly Loam (KGL, pH 7.69) from Florida; and Quincy Fine Sand (QFS, pH 6.65), and Warden Silt Loam (WSL, pH 6.46) from Washington. Potassium nitrate (KNO₃), ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃), ammonium sulfate ((NH₄)₂SO₄) or urea ((NH)₂CO) sources were evaluated for ammonia volatilization at 75 kg N ha^?1 rate. The soil water regime was maintained at either 20 or 80% of field capacity (FC), and incubated at 11, 20 or 29°C. Results indicated that NH₃ volatilization rate at 20% FC was 2 to 3-fold greater than that at 80% FC. The cumulative volatilization loss over 28 days ranged from 0.21% of N applied as NH₄NO₃ to 25.7% as (NH₄)₂SO₄. Results of this study demonstrate that NH₃ volatilization was accelerated at the low soil water regime. Moisture quotient (Q) is defined as a ratio of NH₃ emission rate at 20% FC to that at 80% FC both at the same temperature. The peak Q values of NH₃ volatilization were up to 20.8 for the BMS soil at 20°C, 112.9 for the KGL soil at 29°C, 19.0 for the QFS soil at 20°C, and 74.1 for the WSL soil at 29°C, respectively. Thus, maintaining a suitable soil water regime is important to minimize N-loss via NH₃ volatilization and to improve N uptake efficiency and air quality.